“Scientists close in on blood test for Alzheimer’s,” by Marilynn Marchione, Associated Press “Scientists are closing in on a long-sought goal — a blood test to screen people for possible signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. On Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, half a dozen research groups gave new results on various experimental tests, including one that seems 88% accurate at indicating Alzheimer’s risk. Doctors are hoping for something to use during routine exams, where most dementia symptoms are evaluated, to gauge who needs more extensive testing. Current tools such as brain scans and spinal
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“Liz Weston: 3 steps to keep ‘solo agers’ happier and safer,” by Liz Weston, Washington Post “Many people won’t have children to look after them as they age, either because they didn’t have kids or the ones they have aren’t available or reliable. Without that help, they face greater risks of isolation, financial exploitation, malnutrition and other ills, says Geber, author of ‘Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers.’ Who will let them know when it’s time to stop driving? Who will notice signs of physical or cognitive decline and find appropriate help? Who will pay their bills, vet their financial
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“Can Alzheimer’s be stopped? Five lifestyle behaviors are key, new research suggests,” by Linda Carroll, NBC News “In 2017, 22,000 Medicaid-only patients in need of skilled nursing care were twice as likely to be admitted to one-star than five-star homes, and health department data from that year showed the contrast was more marked in certain regions. In Western New York, for example, Medicaid beneficiaries were four times more likely to be admitted to one-star homes. …State and federal regulations prohibit nursing homes from discriminating against individuals based on how they will pay their bills.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen
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“Can Alzheimer’s be stopped? Five lifestyle behaviors are key, new research suggests,” by Linda Carroll, NBC News “There’s no cure for or drug to stop Alzheimer’s disease, but it may be possible to hold off dementia — even in people who have a genetic risk, researchers reported Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The key is not any one factor, several studies show, but following a combination of healthy lifestyle habits. And the more healthy habits a person adopts, the lower the risk of cognitive decline. … Participants were given lifestyle scores that depended on how many of five possible healthy
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“Do you have enough home equity to pay for long-term care in retirement?,” by Bill Schmick, The Berkshire Eagle “A home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) might simply be a fancy term for a reverse mortgage, but there are an increasing number of advisers and planners who are using them for an entirely different strategic planning purpose. If you ask most couples in their 60s and beyond what is one of the greatest fears for their future, I’m betting that going bankrupt and/or losing their home and life savings as a result of nursing home bills would be right up there
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“Bonnie Kraham: What you can and can’t do with a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust,” by Bonnie Kraham, Times Herald-Record “Following is what you may and may not do with the amazing MAPT. Although the MAPT is an irrevocable trust, you may revoke irrevocable trusts in New York if all the parties, usually the parents and adult children, consent in writing. You may also amend the MAPT, such as changing beneficiaries. … You may save money from nursing home costs even if the assets have not been in the MAPT for five years. For single applicants for Medicaid in a nursing
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“Medicare Advantage And The Future Of Value-Based Care,” by Bruce D. Broussard and William H. Shrank, Health Affairs Blog “The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, which allows Medicare beneficiaries to voluntarily enroll in a private plan that administers health benefits, was established by the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 as a vehicle to bring private-sector competition and innovation to Medicare beneficiaries. When the program was announced, the goal was to create greater competition on benefits, care management, and costs, and to offer greater choice and consumer-centricity to America’s seniors. At the time, value-based care, where providers are reimbursed for the health
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“Americans Lose Trillions Claiming Social Security at the Wrong Time,” by Ben Steverman, ThinkAdvisor “Almost all American retirees claim Social Security at the wrong time, a new report estimates, which means they will miss out on a collective $3.4 trillion in benefits before they die. … Only 4% of U.S. retirees are waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security; some 57% should be doing so, the report calculated. Meanwhile, more than 70% start taking checks before turning 64, a time when—ideally—only 6.5% of retirees should be cashing checks. The lost income from these less-than-optimal decisions amounts to about $111,000 per household, the researchers estimate.”
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