Retirement Living News

October 2005

HEADLINES  (Click on headline to read story)

* Rethinking Retirement Near the Gulf Coast
* AARP Study Says Many Communities Ill Prepared for Aging Population
* New Web Site Offers Information on Technologies for Long-Term Care Settings
* Nursing Home Search Made Easier With 'MyZiva' Web Site
* Medicare Premiums Going Up Again
* Web Site Makes It Easy to Find Flu Shot Clinics; 
Researchers Question Value of Shots

Archive of Past Issues                          New Retirement Communities

NEWS STORIES

Rethinking Retirement Near the Gulf Coast 

As hurricanes continue to increase in frequency and intensity, some people are beginning to think that retirement near the Gulf coastline may not be the best idea. This region, with the notable exception of New Orleans, is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. Its relatively low costs and balmy climate have turned it into the "opportunity coast." Yet clearly the Gulf's history has shown that ignoring nature has its perils. 

Few people now remember Indianola, south of Houston. Until it was wiped out by hurricanes, first in 1875 and then again in 1886, it was Texas's second-largest port. Today, most of the city lies under water. 

Much of the scientific community has now reached a strong consensus regarding the science of global climate change. The world is undoubtedly warming. This warming will have real consequences for the United States and the world, for with that warming will also come additional sea-level rise that will gradually inundate coastal areas, change precipitation patterns, and increase the risk of droughts and floods. 

A new study, published last month in the journal Science, concludes that rising sea temperatures have been accompanied by a significant global increase in the most destructive hurricanes, adding fuel to an international debate over whether global warming contributed to the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is the second study since the beginning of August to draw this conclusion. However, other climatologists dispute the findings and argue that a recent spate of severe storms reflects nothing more than normal weather variability. 

Peter J. Webster, a Georgia Tech atmospheric scientist who co-authored the study, says that higher ocean temperatures result in more water vapor in the air, which, combined with certain wind patterns, help power stronger hurricanes. Small increases in sea temperature can "exponentially provide more and more fuel for the hurricanes. 

The National Hurricane Center predicted that the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season would see above normal tropical storm activity, with 12-15 named storms, 7 reaching hurricane strength. This prediction was close but conservative, as there were 15 named storms and 9 hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center described this number of events as "well above-normal activity." 

The number of hurricanes making landfall in the U.S. in 2004 (four: Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) was also above normal. Monetary damages from these events exceeded $40 billion and were concentrated in Florida, which had never before experienced more than three hurricanes in a single season. 

For 2005, the National Hurricane Center has predicted significantly greater activity, with 18-21 tropical storms and 9-11 hurricanes projected, 5-7 of which are expected to reach Category 3 or greater. Five have done so already. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, although the peak season is from mid-August through October. This year it has the potential to be the most active season on record.
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AARP Study Says Many Communities Ill Prepared for Aging Population

America's cities and neighborhoods aren't ready to handle the aging population with adequate housing, community services or transportation, an AARP study finds. The research is one of the first attempts to link the success or failure of communities' ability to accommodate older residents. 

"The degree to which your house and community meet your needs as you age determines whether you experience good aging or bad aging," said Elinor Ginzler, director of AARP's livable-communities initiative. "Staying connected is critical, and you can't stay connected if your community doesn't support you." 

When older people are not engaged in their communities, they have lower feelings of self-control, less success dealing with aging issues, lower life satisfaction, and a poorer quality of life, the report finds. Only 56 percent of those who report low engagement in their communities said they were satisfied with their lives, compared to 87 percent of those who were highly engaged. The report explores how older residents can maintain independence and exercise choice and control in their lives. 

"Each time an older person finds it is no longer reasonable to live in his or her home or community, it is a crisis on an individual and family level," said John Rother, AARP's Director of Policy and Strategy. "Community features can enhance the lives of older residents. This is increasingly important because between now and 2020, the number of Americans 50 to 64 years old will increase by 13 million, and those 65 and older by 18 million. AARP's vision of a livable community is more than a goal. It is a wakeup call to baby boomers and their parents to become involved in their communities. Public officials need to seek out and engage residents. We hope this report, and AARP's focus on these issues, hastens national efforts on behalf of our members." 

Despite the common perception, according to the study, of "a wave of retirees downsizing and moving to retirement villas in Sunbelt states," Census Bureau research has found that only about 5% of people who are 55 or older move each year, and half remain in the same county, compared with 17% of younger people.

"Almost everybody stays in their community. They age in place," Ms. Ginzler said. As a result, by 2030, the 65-plus population is expected to double in size in 26 states, according to a recent census report. 

Still, 12% of the people surveyed said their homes wouldn't be able to meet their needs well as they grow older. And they were almost twice as likely to say they frequently feel isolated, when compared with individuals who think their homes would meet their needs. 

When the study turned to transportation, people who said they didn't drive -- one out of eight people who are 50-plus -- ended up making less than half the number of trips that drivers make. The nondrivers were six times as likely to miss doing something because they had no transportation. And their most common means of getting around was hitching a ride in someone else's car, not taking a bus or train. Walking accounted for more than three-quarters of all trips not made by personal vehicle. 

AARP's Beyond 50.05 report includes a call to action to focus community attention. It encourages community leaders and civic groups to facilitate social involvement, including organizational membership and volunteering, and actively solicit contributions by persons of all ages and abilities in community decision-making. It promotes the design and modification of homes to meet the needs of older residents, and encourages stability through an adequate supply of diverse, affordable housing options. 

The report recommends that the travel environment be improved to benefit older drivers, while endorsing safety efforts and older driver education. Mobility options, including public transportation, walking and bicycling, and specialized transportation for people with special needs, are also key. 

To help community leaders and civic groups implement its recommendations, AARP's Public Policy Institute has developed Livable Communities: An Evaluation Guide. It includes a community evaluation tool, resources, tips, and innovative ideas and success stories. AARP has also developed a 10-point community self-assessment checklist that can be used to evaluate and assess a community's livability. For details, go to: http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/indliving/
Articles/beyond_50_communities.html. You can also download the entire 108-page report from this page.
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New Web Site Offers Information on Technologies 
for Long-Term Care Settings

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the launch of a comprehensive, searchable Web site that contains information on hundreds of technology products to improve quality of life and care in long-term care residential settings. 

Technology for Long Term Care is the result of a research project initiative by HHS to address barriers to bringing new technologies into residential care settings. Polisher Research Institute and IDEAS, Inc. constructed the Web site -- www.TechForLTC.org -- under an HHS contract. Its purpose is to provide ready access to information on technologies that can help provide higher quality care for the elderly and the disabled. It will be especially useful for professionals in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care facilities, adult day care facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. 

By exploring the site, professionals can learn about low tech and high tech options currently available in four areas -- fall detection and prevention, wander management, calling for assistance, and incontinence. The site also highlights key issues to consider, such as regulatory concerns and resident quality of life, before selecting a technology. Once they decide which technology will meet their needs, they can search the site's extensive database to find specific products. A "Questions for Vendors" feature provides useful questions to ask vendors and manufacturers about their products. 

Product information includes names, descriptions and details, price (when available), date last updated, the care issue and the category the product belongs to, and manufacturer/distributor contact information. The database will be continually updated to include the latest technological developments. Other care issues are to be added to the site in the future.
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Nursing Home Search Made Easier With 'MyZiva' Web Site 

With thousands of nursing homes throughout the nation, assessing and evaluating their services can easily lead to confusion and misinformation. With the help of www.MyZiva.net, families and healthcare professionals can search and compare nursing homes online. The database includes every licensed nursing home in the country and provides dated government survey results from databases maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

In an effort to provide additional facility-specific information to consumers, participating nursing homes are provided an opportunity to tell their story, in pictures and words, in MyZiva.net's Facility Focus section. Earlier this year the company launched a new Web site - www.MyZiva.info - which is described as an online news magazine for the nursing home community. It takes a no-nonsense approach to nursing home news, with the objective of providing information that facilitates quality nursing home care while meeting the unique needs of all persons involved in the nursing home community - consumers and providers alike.
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Medicare Premiums Going Up Again

The Bush administration announced last month that the basic Medicare premium would shoot up next year 13 percent, to $88.50 a month, mainly because of the increased use of doctors' services. 

Many beneficiaries will also pay an additional premium for the new prescription drug benefit, expected to average $32 a month. So the combined premiums for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care and prescription drugs will average slightly more than $120 a month. 

In 2004, a day after President Bush heralded his efforts to help the elderly cope with increased medical expenses, federal officials announced the largest premium increase in dollars in the Medicare program's history, raising the monthly expense by $11.60 to $78.20. The increase amounted to 17 percent. 

Going back two years, in 2003 the Bush administration announced that the Medicare premium would increase to $66.60 a month, an increase of 13.5 percent. At the time, officials said it was one of the largest increases in the history of the program. 

Medicare provides coverage for 42 million people who are 65 and older or disabled. In most cases, Medicare premiums are deducted from monthly Social Security checks. The average monthly Social Security benefit for retired workers is $955 this year. The amount for 2006 will be announced this month and will probably approach $1,000. 

AARP says doctors are billing Medicare for longer, more intensive office visits, more laboratory tests and more frequent and complex imaging procedures. But doctors said that much of the increase in Medicare spending also resulted from research breakthroughs, new drugs and technology approved for coverage and cancer and diabetes screenings encouraged by the government.
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Web Site Makes It Easy to Find Flu Shot Clinics; 
Researchers Question Value of Shots

Many elderly citizens and those who suffer from age-related compromised immune systems are among the most at-risk groups of people for the flu. Because of the seriousness of contracting the flu if someone is in a high-risk group, the American Lung Association has made it easy to find a flu shot clinic. By going to www.flucliniclocator.org visitors can enter their Zip code and be provided with a list of clinics in their area. 

Questions have been raised recently about the value of flu shots. Two studies in the United States and Europe have determined flu vaccinations are not as effective as previously thought, particularly among the elderly. "The effectiveness is modest, at best," said Tom Jefferson, an epidemiologist in Rome who led the analysis for the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent international effort that scientifically evaluates the efficacy of medical care. "It's very disappointing." 

The analysis, published in the British medical journal, Lancet, found that vaccination was only modestly effective, preventing about 30 percent to 42 percent of hospitalizations, the Washington Post reported. 

In the second study, Rick Bright of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues analyzed 7,000 samples of flu virus collected around the world for genetic mutations that indicate the germs have developed resistance to vaccines. The researchers found the rate of resistance increased from 0.4 percent of the samples in 1994 to 12.3 percent in 2004. "We were alarmed to find such a dramatic increase in drug resistance in circulating human influenza viruses in recent years," Bright said.
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