Friday, September 29, 2006
Caregiving
http://www.ilcusa.org/_lib/pdf/Caregiving%20in%20America-%20Final.pdf
"Demand for home-based caregivers likely will double by 2050 as baby boomers age, but an expected shortage likely will limit access to caregivers in the future, according to a new report released by the International Longevity Center USA and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. It finds that 20% of elderly patients currently lack access to professional and family caregivers and that the shortage will increase in the future. In addition, the report, titled "Caregiving in America," finds that caregiver wages are among the lowest in the nation, an indication that U.S. residents likely will not "be more willing to take these low-wage jobs in the future."
"Demand for home-based caregivers likely will double by 2050 as baby boomers age, but an expected shortage likely will limit access to caregivers in the future, according to a new report released by the International Longevity Center USA and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. It finds that 20% of elderly patients currently lack access to professional and family caregivers and that the shortage will increase in the future. In addition, the report, titled "Caregiving in America," finds that caregiver wages are among the lowest in the nation, an indication that U.S. residents likely will not "be more willing to take these low-wage jobs in the future."
Thursday, September 21, 2006
article: perceived barriers to walking for physical activity
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/oct/05_0185.htm?s_cid=pcd34a116_x
Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC)
“Factor analyses confirmed the existence of three factors underlying the perceived barriers to walking questions: appearance (four items), footwear (three items), and situation (three items). Appearance and situational barriers demonstrated acceptable reliability, discriminant validity, and relations with physical activity criteria. After we controlled for barriers to vigorous exercise, appearance and situational barriers to walking explained additional variation in objectively-measured moderate physical activity.”
Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC)
“Factor analyses confirmed the existence of three factors underlying the perceived barriers to walking questions: appearance (four items), footwear (three items), and situation (three items). Appearance and situational barriers demonstrated acceptable reliability, discriminant validity, and relations with physical activity criteria. After we controlled for barriers to vigorous exercise, appearance and situational barriers to walking explained additional variation in objectively-measured moderate physical activity.”
The Booming Dynamics of Aging
http://www.whcoa.gov/press/05_Report_1.pdf
White House Conference on Aging
In areas such as Social Security, health care planning, and the workforce, we are already behind the curve. While experience is always important, it is unlikely that we will find all the answers to future problems in the past because tomorrow’s older population can be expected to differ in distinct ways from prior generations:
+ They will be healthier and wealthier.
+ They will be better educated and desire to make contributions beyond traditional retirement.
+ They will be more racially and ethnically diverse.
+ The average age of the older population will increase as the number of centenarians continues to grow, and there will be longer life expectancy.
+ People are likely to stay in the workforce longer than in the last seven decades.
White House Conference on Aging
In areas such as Social Security, health care planning, and the workforce, we are already behind the curve. While experience is always important, it is unlikely that we will find all the answers to future problems in the past because tomorrow’s older population can be expected to differ in distinct ways from prior generations:
+ They will be healthier and wealthier.
+ They will be better educated and desire to make contributions beyond traditional retirement.
+ They will be more racially and ethnically diverse.
+ The average age of the older population will increase as the number of centenarians continues to grow, and there will be longer life expectancy.
+ People are likely to stay in the workforce longer than in the last seven decades.
Cost of Living and Geographic Distribution of Poverty
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR26/
Source: USDA Economic Research Service
“Economic Research Reports present original economic analysis, findings, and implications primarily for public and private decisionmakers’ staff and researchers. The prevalence of poverty has been greater in nonmetro areas than in metro areas in every year since the 1960s when poverty rates were first officially recorded. This study suggests that adjusting poverty measures to account for cost-of-living differences between metro and nonmetro areas reverses that ranking.”
Source: USDA Economic Research Service
“Economic Research Reports present original economic analysis, findings, and implications primarily for public and private decisionmakers’ staff and researchers. The prevalence of poverty has been greater in nonmetro areas than in metro areas in every year since the 1960s when poverty rates were first officially recorded. This study suggests that adjusting poverty measures to account for cost-of-living differences between metro and nonmetro areas reverses that ranking.”
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Number of Teen Mothers on the Decline
http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/sld/snapshot_teenmother.jsp
Annie E. Casey Foundation
"The number of teen mothers in the United States is on the decline. The downward trend in adolescent motherhood is evident in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as for White, Black, Asian, American Indian, and Hispanic teens.
Despite the good news, it is important to note that U.S. teen birth rates remain higher than those of other industrialized countries. Teen birth rates in the United States remain particularly high for teens of color and those living in low-income communities. Many of these teens have grown up in poverty, and are vulnerable – along with their children – to further disadvantage and disconnection from society."
Annie E. Casey Foundation
"The number of teen mothers in the United States is on the decline. The downward trend in adolescent motherhood is evident in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as for White, Black, Asian, American Indian, and Hispanic teens.
Despite the good news, it is important to note that U.S. teen birth rates remain higher than those of other industrialized countries. Teen birth rates in the United States remain particularly high for teens of color and those living in low-income communities. Many of these teens have grown up in poverty, and are vulnerable – along with their children – to further disadvantage and disconnection from society."
State-Specific Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults -- 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5536a1.htm?s_cid=mm5536a1_x
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
“Among states in 2005, obesity prevalences ranged from 17.4% to 30.3%, and prevalence of extreme obesity ranged from 1.8% to 5.3%. During 1995–2005, obesity prevalence increased significantly (p25%, including three (Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia) with prevalences >30%.”
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
“Among states in 2005, obesity prevalences ranged from 17.4% to 30.3%, and prevalence of extreme obesity ranged from 1.8% to 5.3%. During 1995–2005, obesity prevalence increased significantly (p25%, including three (Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia) with prevalences >30%.”
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Disability and Health
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh/chartbook/
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“About 50 million American adults have a disability, such as hearing loss, mental disability, physical limitation, or vision loss. Improving the health of this large segment of the population is a central concern for public health. This Chartbook is the first in a series to present information about the health of people with disabilities by state and territory. It has three purposes: 1) to show that a large percentage of adults have a disability, 2) to show that the health of people with disabilities is not as good as that of the people without disabilities, and 3) to highlight areas in which public health systems can include more people with disabilities in their programs.”
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“About 50 million American adults have a disability, such as hearing loss, mental disability, physical limitation, or vision loss. Improving the health of this large segment of the population is a central concern for public health. This Chartbook is the first in a series to present information about the health of people with disabilities by state and territory. It has three purposes: 1) to show that a large percentage of adults have a disability, 2) to show that the health of people with disabilities is not as good as that of the people without disabilities, and 3) to highlight areas in which public health systems can include more people with disabilities in their programs.”
biotechnology and pharmacogenomics
article: Phillips, Kathryn A. The Intersection Of Biotechnology And Pharmacogenomics: Health Policy Implications. Health Affairs. 2006. 25(5) : 1271-1280.
“Increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of disease is changing the landscape of health care. Two critical aspects are growth in biotechnology and growth in personalized health care, particularly targeting medicines based on genetic information (pharmacogenomics). This paper provides an overview of the health policy implications of the integration of biotechnology and pharmacogenomics. I examine four factors that determine whether relevant technologies will be successfully adopted, using case studies for illustration. Key policy challenges include determining the appropriate role of policy in (1) providing incentives to develop socially beneficial interventions and (2) facilitating development of the evidence base.”
“Increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of disease is changing the landscape of health care. Two critical aspects are growth in biotechnology and growth in personalized health care, particularly targeting medicines based on genetic information (pharmacogenomics). This paper provides an overview of the health policy implications of the integration of biotechnology and pharmacogenomics. I examine four factors that determine whether relevant technologies will be successfully adopted, using case studies for illustration. Key policy challenges include determining the appropriate role of policy in (1) providing incentives to develop socially beneficial interventions and (2) facilitating development of the evidence base.”
Friday, September 08, 2006
Meth Epidemic in America
http://www.naco.org/Content/ContentGroups/Publications1/Surveys1/Special_Surveys/MethSurveyReport-Jul2006.pdf
Source: National Association of Counties
“Results indicated that 48 percent of the 500 sheriffs surveyed reported that methamphetamine was the primary drug problem in their counties. Precursor legislation to prevent the production of methamphetamine was active in 90 percent of counties surveyed and 48 percent reported that the rate of methamphetamine laboratory busts was down due to the effectiveness of the precursor legislation. Increases in robberies and burglaries were linked to methamphetamine by 50 percent of sheriffs while 48 percent linked increasing domestic violence rates to methamphetamine. Over 48 percent of sheriffs indicated that approximately 20 percent of their total arrests during the previous year were related to methamphetamine. Sixty-three percent of sheriffs reported that they experienced continued increases in workload because of the methamphetamine problem. The majority of sheriffs (85 percent) reported that methamphetamine was imported to their States; another 71 percent reported methamphetamine was imported from Mexico. A full 81 percent of sheriffs reported that their county did not sponsor or facilitate a methamphetamine rehabilitation program or center.”
Source: National Association of Counties
“Results indicated that 48 percent of the 500 sheriffs surveyed reported that methamphetamine was the primary drug problem in their counties. Precursor legislation to prevent the production of methamphetamine was active in 90 percent of counties surveyed and 48 percent reported that the rate of methamphetamine laboratory busts was down due to the effectiveness of the precursor legislation. Increases in robberies and burglaries were linked to methamphetamine by 50 percent of sheriffs while 48 percent linked increasing domestic violence rates to methamphetamine. Over 48 percent of sheriffs indicated that approximately 20 percent of their total arrests during the previous year were related to methamphetamine. Sixty-three percent of sheriffs reported that they experienced continued increases in workload because of the methamphetamine problem. The majority of sheriffs (85 percent) reported that methamphetamine was imported to their States; another 71 percent reported methamphetamine was imported from Mexico. A full 81 percent of sheriffs reported that their county did not sponsor or facilitate a methamphetamine rehabilitation program or center.”
