“Ten Targets for Reducing Alzheimer’s Risk,” by Judy George, MedPageToday Quote: “Ten risk factors appeared to have a significant effect on developing Alzheimer’s disease, many of which could be targeted with preventive steps, a meta-analysis suggested. … The suggestions pinpointed 10 risk factors with Class 1 Level A strong evidence, they wrote in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry: Diabetes Hyperhomocysteinemia Poor BMI management Reduced education Hypertension in midlife Orthostatic hypotension Head trauma Less cognitive activity Stress Depression” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Good news: you can reduce dementia risk. Bad news: it
Read More

“Now Available: 2019 Profile of Older Americans,” Administration for Community Living Quote: “The Profile of Older Americans is an annual summary of the available statistics related to the older population in the United States. Principal sources of data are the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Profile illustrates the shifting demographics of Americans age 65 and older. It includes key topic areas such as income, living arrangements, education, health, and caregiving. This year’s report includes special sections on obesity as well as aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities.” LTC Comment (from
Read More

“Elderly who distinctly smell roses, paint-thinner or lemons ‘have half the risk of dementia‘,” by Alexandra Thompson, Yahoo! News     Quote: “Elderly people who really can smell the roses may have a lower risk of dementia, research suggests. Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed 1,800 people in their seventies for up to 10 years. They found those who retained good sensory function – including being able to identify the scent of roses, paint-thinner and lemons – were up to half as likely to develop the memory-robbing disease.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center
Read More

“Federal Government Will Send Point-of-Care COVID-19 Testing Units, Kits to All Nursing Homes in U.S. [Updated],” by Maggie Flynn, Skilled Nursing News   Quote: “The federal government on Tuesday announced that it would send point-of-care testing supplies for COVID-19 to all skilled nursing facilities in the country, starting next week, according to Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Where would you rather reside? In a mostly Medicaid
Read More

  “Medi(long-term)care for All: A Look into the Future of Long-Term Care Insurance—Part Two,” by Stephanie Moench and Shawn Stender, Society of Actuaries Long-Term Care News   Quote: “Conclusion: While the case study performed demonstrates that a social LTC program similar to that adopted in Washington state could be beneficial for both consumers and LTC insurers, it is still un-clear whether this type of program would be the best fit for the current social, political and economic environment in the United States. Additionally, there are a number of unknowns, including funding and program features, which would need to be addressed
Read More

“State Regulators May Form LTCI ‘Rate Hike v. Reduced Benefits’ Panel,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor   Quote: “State insurance regulators may look harder at the options long-term care insurance (LTCI) issuers present when giving policyholders a choice between big premium increases or reduced benefits. The Long-Term Care Insurance Task Force is thinking about setting up an LTCI Reduced Benefit Options Subgroup.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): The government is coming to help you.      
Read More