The Huge Cost of Caregiving

From NPR:

AARP Finds Toll On Family Caregivers Is 'Huge'

by JENNIFER LUDDEN

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July 18, 2011

A new study by the AARP estimates that for the more than 40 million Americans caring for an elderly or disabled loved one, the value of their work is $450 billion a year.

That's a good deal for society. But for the family members doing the work, the study finds they need a lot more help.

To read more: http://tinyurl.com/6eqfffe

Do You Have a MediGap Policy? Read this

FAQ: Seniors May See Changes in Medigap Policies

By Julie Appleby

KHN Staff Writer

JUL 15, 2011

As debt limit talks drag on, lawmakers are eying possible changes in Medicare supplemental plans - moves that could increase seniors’ out-of-pocket costs.

Photo by toastbrot81 via Flickr

Traditional Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly and disabled, requires beneficiaries to pay hospital deductibles and a portion of the cost of tests and doctor visits.  To protect themselves from those out-of-pocket costs, about 17 percent of beneficiaries buy Medigap plans.   Another 34 percent get such coverage through a former employer.

But some health policy experts say such “first-dollar protection” drives up demand for Medicare services, costing the government money for what may be unnecessary care. One proposal would bar supplemental insurance from completely eliminating out-of-pocket costs – or charge enrollees a $530 a year extra if they want to keep such protection. That change could save up to $53 billion over 10 years, according to a chart used during the bipartisan talks led by Vice President Joe Biden.

To read more: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/July/15/medigap-medicare-supplemental-faq.aspx

Help For Adults With Heat Related Illnesses

This press release is from the National Institute on Health:

NIH tips for older adults to combat heat-related illnesses

Risk of heat-related problems increases with age

Older people can face risks related to hot weather. As people age, their bodies lose some ability to adapt to heat. They may have medical conditions that are worsened by heat. And their medications could reduce their ability to respond to heat.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia occurs when the body overheats. Conditions involving hyperthermia have different names, including heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (lightheadedness or fainting in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion.

Health-related factors that may increase the risk of hyperthermia include:

• Pre-existing diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Decreased ability to move around
• Dementia or cognitive impairment
• Certain medications that may cause dehydration or that may affect the responses to heat by the heart, blood vessels or sweat glands.
• Being substantially overweight
• Drinking alcoholic beverages
• Being dehydrated
• Age-related changes in the skin, such as decreased functioning of small blood vessels and sweat glands

To read more: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2011/nia-18.htm