U.S. Life Expectancy Rises, While Death Rate Falls

Life expectancy in the United States has hit an all-time high and is steadily climbing. Children born in 2009 will live an average of 78 years and 2 months, up from 78 years in 2008, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2008 and 2009, life expectancy rose two-tenths of a year for men to 75.7 years and one-tenth of a year for women to 80.6 years. That’s in stark contrast to 1930, when life expectancy was 58 for men and 62 for women. Meanwhile, the U.S. death rate also dipped to a record low: About 2.4 million Americans died in 2009—36,000 fewer than the year before. Deaths were down for a range of conditions, too, including heart disease (with a 3.7 percent drop), stroke (4.2 percent), Alzheimer’s disease (4.1 percent), diabetes (4.1 percent), and cancer (1.1 percent). The agency speculates that better medical treatment, vaccination campaigns, and public health measures against smoking are likely driving these trends, and plans to more closely analyze the reasons for the decline when final data is released later this year.

SOURCE:  health.usnews.com By Angela Haupt
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What is a POLST?
Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment POLST
A patient’s wishes regarding end-of-life medical interventions such as:
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
Levels of Comfort Care
Artificially Administered Nutrition
That the patient or a health care decision maker have discussed the patient’s medical condition and health care preferences and obtains signatures from both parties.
The list of new POLST changes include:

According to the American Telemedicine Association, about 200,000 people nationwide receive treatment in their homes via mobile monitoring units – including telehealth units. Experts say an aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the high cost of health care and technological advances are fueling growth.

A growing need for virtual care

Harry Wang, a health research analyst with Parks Associates in Dallas, projects the broader home health monitoring market – such as services and equipment to track if an individual has fallen or isn’t taking medications – will increase from $770 million in revenue in 2009 to $2.6 billion in 2014.

For consumers paying out-of-pocket, the fee for leasing home telehealth equipment and monitoring services is generally around $100 to $300 a month, says Lexi Silver, vice chair of the American Telemedicine Association’s home telehealth and remote monitoring special interest group.

A last chance to stay home

For some, technology is all that stands between a loved one and a nursing home. Jasmine Star of Teton Valley, Idaho, keeps an eye on grandmother Mildred Sloan in Houston, who has dementia, by logging into a secure site that streams live video from two cameras in Sloan’s home.

SOURCE: magazine.angieslist.com

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare recipients COULD see a sizable new out-of-pocket charge for home health visits if Congress follows through on a recommendation issued Thursday by its own advisory panel.

Until now, home health visits from nurses and other providers have been free of charge to patients. But the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission says a copayment is needed to discourage overuse of a service whose cost to taxpayers is nearing $20 billion a year amid concerns that fraudsters are also taking advantage.

The panel did not prescribe an amount, but its staff has suggested the charge be $150 for a series of related visits. Medicare requires copays for many other services, so home health has been the exception, not the rule.

Defying opposition by AARP, the seniors’ lobby, the congressionally appointed commission voted 13-1 to recommend that lawmakers impose the new charge. Two commissioners abstained and one was absent.

From caregiverlist.com:

Medicare pays for skilled home care visits currently, as long as a senior’s medical doctor approves of the skilled home care which only includes visits by one of the following skilled professionals: Registered Nurse (if there is an open wound or medical treatment that requires a R.N. to administer or monitor), Speech Therapists (S.T.), Occupational Therapist (O.T.), Physical Therapist (P.T.), and Certified Nursing Aide (C.N.A.).

These visits are approved for a short-time period to assist a senior in recovering from a medical condition such as a stroke or hip replacement. The senior must be showing improvement for the visits to continue to be approved.

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This will have great impact on the RCFE Residential Care for the Elderly Communities, as well as Assisted Living.  How could this affect the care of your parent or loved one?

Potential Issues with the CCL Meltdown

Who will be monitoring and following up on problems and issues?

Inspections of RCFE communities will be affected.

Trying to get a new facility licensed could be an issue

The appeals process for facilities will be on hold

Complaint investigations may be curtailed

Reducing phone coverage for the public

From CALA:

CCL Meltdown

CALA has just engaged in a lengthy conversation with CCL leadership and has learned that CCL is temporarily suspending application processing (with minor exceptions) and appeal processing effective immediately. In addition, orientations will be suspended effective October 1, 2010. According to CCL, this is due to the cumulative effect of the budget shortfalls and repeated cuts to CCL staffing.

Applications
With very limited exceptions, application processing will cease immediately. Application specialists are being reassigned to other duties. CCL is reviewing pending applications to see if any can be processed quickly. On a case by case basis, CCL will make exceptions for immediate health and safety such as an unlicensed operator and situations involving communities where residents are already in care (change of management company, change of owner). These will be determined by Mary Jolls on a case by case basis.

Appeals
Appeal processing has been put on hold, although licensees should continue to submit them. Health condition relocations will be the only exception. LPAs are being instructed to call their manager before citing a licensee if there is any doubt about a regulatory requirement in order to avoid the need for an appeal in the first place.

Orientations
No orientations will take place after October 1, 2010. Those already conducted will not expire while this suspension is in place.

Other
CCL is also suspending all internal training, limiting staff involvement in community events and meetings, and reducing phone coverage for the public.

What Will CCL be Doing?
CCL’s top priority is complaint investigations. Depending on the staffing level of the individual office, 5-year inspections and 30% random sample inspections will take place if staffing allows. CCL also intends to continue processing waivers and exceptions.

What is CALA Doing?
CALA is exploring a budgetary solution to this situation, investigating the possibility of outsourcing these vital functions, and will continue to talk with CCL regarding the details and the “temporary” nature of this new approach. And of course keep members posted!

SOURCE: The California Assisted Living Association (CALA)

Excellent description of baby boomer motivations and vision of aging produced by the Rose Community Foundation (Denver) as part of its Boomers Leading Change initiative

SOURCE:  tla50resource.ning.com