Seniors Overestimate Mobility in Performing Tasks

WASHINGTON, August 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many seniors who visit emergency departments require more assistance with physical tasks than they think they do, which may lead to hospital readmission later on.  The results of the study were published online in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Self-Reported vs. Performance-Based Assessments of a Simple Mobility Task Among Older Adults in the Emergency Department").

"Ensuring that older adults discharged from the emergency department are able to safely function in their home environment is important because those who are unable to function safely at home are at risk for falls and return ER visits," said lead study authorTimothy Platts-Mills, MD, MSc, of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, N.C.  

"Accurately determining the ability of these patients to care for themselves at home is critical for emergency physicians as they make decisions about whether to discharge patients home or elsewhere.  

"A patient who reports they can walk with an assistive device but actually requires human assistance to walk is likely to be bed-bound or to fall if they go home alone."

Overall, only 77 percent of patients in the study accurately assessed their ability to perform tasks.  

Of patients who said they could perform the assigned tasks without assistance, 12 percent required some assistance or were unwilling to complete the tasks.  Of those who said they could perform the task with a cane or walker, 48 percent required either human assistance or were unable to perform the task.  

Of those who said they could perform the task with human assistance, 24 percent were unable to perform the task even with someone helping them.

The tasks assigned were getting out of bed, walking 10 feet and returning to bed. Twenty million people aged 65 and older visit emergency departments every year, and that number is expected to grow as the Baby Boomers continue to age.

"Emergency physicians are experts in deciding who can go home and who needs to come in the hospital," said Dr. Platts-Mills. "But we are not perfect and sometimes we make decisions based on patient statements about abilities, rather than direct assessments. 

"Our results suggest that patient statements are sometimes inaccurate, and, particularly for older adults who need some assistance, directly observing the patient's ambulation can be informative. 

"Of course being able to move around isn't the only determinant of whether an older adult can be safely sent home, but it is a critical piece of information and it's good to get it right."

Annals of Emergency Medicine is the peer-reviewed scientific journal for the American College of Emergency Physicians, the national medical society representing emergency medicine. 

ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. For more information, visit www.acep.org.

From Yappy Hours to Dog Parks: New Trends at Retirement Communities

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- While Yappy Hours are typically found at hotels and bars, a retirement community in South Florida has jumped on the 4-legged trend.

At The Palace Coral Gables, (www.PalaceCoralGables.com), a Yappy Hour is held monthly as part of the luxurious rental community's activities.

Organized by the community's social director, Pam Parker, Yappy Hour is one of the most anticipated monthly get-togethers for The Palace's dog owners. The humans love the opportunity to mix and mingle while their pooches explore their fellow canines. 

Wine and finger-food is served while Fido is given special treats. Parker takes pictures of the pets with their owners and each person receives a memento as well as bag of dog treat favors.

Knowing their potential customer would not relocate without a beloved pet, The Palace adapted a pet policy and requires a nonrefundable deposit of $500 for pet owners moving to the community.

At The Carlisle Naples, a luxury independent living community in Southwest Florida, the pet policy allows dogs up to 25 pounds with the stipulation that a resident is able to provide care. The community's amenities include a dog park and about 20 residents have dogs, mostly Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos.

"With the growing number of seniors owning pets, senior communities recognize the changing needs of resident pet owners," explains senior housing marketing consultant Janis Ehlers. "Whether it's Yappy Hour, dog parks or mobile vets and grooming, when communities want to be competitive, they have to provide services."  

Dogs play a vital role in their owner's life and Shirlye Jacobs of Estero, Fla. will not even consider a community that wouldn't allow for her dog, Daisy, who she adopted two years ago.

"Wherever I move, my dog has to go too," she said. "My life would be empty without Daisy. I exercise more and have made many friends at our local dog park." 

Recognizing that residents may want to adopt a dog was incorporated into Sandwood Village's "Welcome Waggin" event.

Theerancee Schmidt, field market manager for the 55+ community in Naples, said the community has invited Collier County Domestic Animal Services and Naples Humane Society to bring dogs for residents to adopt.

Senior living communities that acknowledge their residents and pets share a common bond are well on their way to staying ahead of the game.

SOURCE The Palace Coral Gables

Budget Impasse Hurts Thousands Of Older Illinois Residents

Springfield , Ill., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The current budget impasse inSpringfield is already hurting older Illinoisans in other parts of the state. While Governor Rauner and the General Assembly seem unable to come to a budget agreement, senior centers in at least five Metro East communities had to shut down, cutting thousands of older residents from critical services, from meals on wheels to energy assistance, to doctor's appointments.

Senior centers in Columbia, Waterloo, Red Bud, Chester and East St. Louis in the Metro East area, have shut down partially or altogether, laying off staff and cancelling services as the support they received from the State has stopped, due to the budget impasse currently affecting services like the Community Care Program (CCP) or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Other centers in three Northern Illinois counties – Putnam,LaSalle and Bureau – are projected to shut down by September 1, if nothing changes.

"Thousands of older Illinoisans who relied on critical services are now at a loss and without anywhere else to go, in situations that endanger their lives," said AARP Illinois Advocacy and Outreach Manager Ryan Gruenenfelder. "AARP urges Gov. Rauner and the legislative leadership to lay differences aside and agree on a budget that provides the programs and services countless Illinoisans rely on and cannot do without."

In the absence of a budget agreement, a Senate committee is taking action today on legislation – Senate Bill 2042 with SA#1 – which provides appropriations for remaining federal funds.  The amendment, introduced by Sen. Steans, appropriates federal pass-through dollars for a wide scope of programs: LIHEAP, domestic violence programs, WIC, homeless veterans program, home delivered meals, elder abuse prevention and ombudsman training. 

"AARP supports SB 2042, Senate Amendment 1, as it will allow for critical programs to receive federal funds, and help keep local organizations open to fulfill their missions.  But it is imperative that the Governor and legislators come to an agreement that provides the state with the FY16 budget it urgently needs," Gruenenfelder added.

Without a state budget, nearly 39,000 older Illinoisans who receive CCP services in their own homes and communities are at great risk of losing those services and have no alternative other than costly and often unnecessary institutional care. An additional 150,000 low-income households depend on LIHEAP for cooling and heating assistance.

The cuts affect not just the individuals receiving the programs and services – the community agencies providing those services will also be gravely hit, as agencies lay workers off or shut down, creating a negative ripple effect in countless local economies across Illinois.

Additionally, those individuals who are caregivers for CCP clients will also be hurt – many will have to cut hours from work or leave their jobs altogether to care for Mom and Dad, further compounding the drastic effect on local economies.