Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Physical Activity among Adults: 2000 and 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/physicalactivity/physicalactivity.htm
National Center for Health Statistics
"The positive influence that physical activity has on health has been well established. Among adults, regular physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of stroke, impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, mortality, and cardiovascular disease incident events. Engaging in physical activity daily has also proven to be helpful in both losing weight and maintaining weight loss. This report compares national estimates of physical activity, both usual daily activity and leisure-time physical activity, among adults based on responses to the physical activity questions found in the 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS)."
National Center for Health Statistics
"The positive influence that physical activity has on health has been well established. Among adults, regular physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of stroke, impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, mortality, and cardiovascular disease incident events. Engaging in physical activity daily has also proven to be helpful in both losing weight and maintaining weight loss. This report compares national estimates of physical activity, both usual daily activity and leisure-time physical activity, among adults based on responses to the physical activity questions found in the 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS)."
Labels: Physical Activity
Assessing Fall Risks in the Elderly
http://www.jnrbm.com/content/6/1/2
Source: Journal of Negative Results in BioMedicine
“Individuals with poor balance were identified but falls were not predicted by this test battery. Physiological balance characteristics can apparently not be used in isolation as adequate indicators of fall risk in this population of community dwelling elderly. Falling is a complex phenomenon of multifactorial origin. The crucial factor in relation to fall risk is the redundancy of balance capacity against the balance demands of the individuals levels of fall-risky lifestyle and behavior. This calls for an approach to fall risk assessment in which the physiological performance is evaluated in relation to the activity profile of the individual.”
Source: Journal of Negative Results in BioMedicine
“Individuals with poor balance were identified but falls were not predicted by this test battery. Physiological balance characteristics can apparently not be used in isolation as adequate indicators of fall risk in this population of community dwelling elderly. Falling is a complex phenomenon of multifactorial origin. The crucial factor in relation to fall risk is the redundancy of balance capacity against the balance demands of the individuals levels of fall-risky lifestyle and behavior. This calls for an approach to fall risk assessment in which the physiological performance is evaluated in relation to the activity profile of the individual.”
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Population Aging, Entitlement Growth, and the Economy
http://www.aarp.org/research/assistance/entitlement/2007_01_security.html
AARP Policy & Research
"The aging of the baby boom generation, low fertility rates and increasing longevity are transforming the age structure of the United States. By 2030, the number of age 65+ Americans is expected to double, increasing from 12 percent to nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population.
This “graying” of America has caused alarm among many experts that the future cost of federal health and retirement programs will create huge federal deficits, dry up capital for investment, and jeopardize long-term economic growth. Spending entitlements–specifically Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid–are generally seen as the main factor driving this scenario.
This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper shows that an aging population is not the primary cause of our projected fiscal problems, and it points to hopeful trends that may portend a more sustainable economic future. A future “train wreck” can be averted if we are able to maintain the same level of spending restraint in our health programs that we have already achieved in the past decade, we allow revenues to rise automatically without legislating additional tax cuts, and we make other attainable reforms to our health and retirement systems."
AARP Policy & Research
"The aging of the baby boom generation, low fertility rates and increasing longevity are transforming the age structure of the United States. By 2030, the number of age 65+ Americans is expected to double, increasing from 12 percent to nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population.
This “graying” of America has caused alarm among many experts that the future cost of federal health and retirement programs will create huge federal deficits, dry up capital for investment, and jeopardize long-term economic growth. Spending entitlements–specifically Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid–are generally seen as the main factor driving this scenario.
This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper shows that an aging population is not the primary cause of our projected fiscal problems, and it points to hopeful trends that may portend a more sustainable economic future. A future “train wreck” can be averted if we are able to maintain the same level of spending restraint in our health programs that we have already achieved in the past decade, we allow revenues to rise automatically without legislating additional tax cuts, and we make other attainable reforms to our health and retirement systems."
Labels: Aging, Entitlement
Thursday, January 18, 2007
http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"The Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives provides material about this initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that "welcomes the participation of faith-based and community-based organizations as valued and essential partners assisting Americans in need." Includes links to faith-based activities of specific agencies, funding opportunities, publications (such as manuals for faith- and community-based service providers), and related resources."
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"The Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives provides material about this initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that "welcomes the participation of faith-based and community-based organizations as valued and essential partners assisting Americans in need." Includes links to faith-based activities of specific agencies, funding opportunities, publications (such as manuals for faith- and community-based service providers), and related resources."
Labels: faith-based initiatives
Long Term Care website
http://www.longtermcare.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"Welcome to the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. This is a new web site developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs.
About 60 percent of people over age 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives. Planning is essential for you to be prepared. This site provides a wide range of information and options to help you plan for future long-term care needs, but it can't tell you which ones will work best for you. Everyone's situation is different. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information is primarily intended as an information and planning resource for individuals who don't yet require long-term care, but it includes information on services and financing options that can be helpful to all individuals. "
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"Welcome to the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. This is a new web site developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs.
About 60 percent of people over age 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives. Planning is essential for you to be prepared. This site provides a wide range of information and options to help you plan for future long-term care needs, but it can't tell you which ones will work best for you. Everyone's situation is different. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information is primarily intended as an information and planning resource for individuals who don't yet require long-term care, but it includes information on services and financing options that can be helpful to all individuals. "
Labels: Long Term Care
Thursday, January 11, 2007
To Have or Not Have a Pet for Better Health
http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000109
PLoS One
“Pet ownership was very lightly associated with poor health in the general working-aged population when using several health and disease indicators. Pet owners had a slightly higher BMI than the rest, which indicates that people having a pet (particularly a dog) could use some exercise. A great challenge is awaiting public health workers in making a combined exercise and nutrition program for the kind of middle-aged population group that has established itself in life, has a low level of basic education, and owns the most pets, particularly living in rural locations. Investigation of effects generated by pet ownership is at the good but early beginning, and it is now important to establish studies with representative population based databases in order to test hypotheses involving effects of pet ownership and various health related dimensions within population groups that are composed of different kinds of background characteristics.”
PLoS One
“Pet ownership was very lightly associated with poor health in the general working-aged population when using several health and disease indicators. Pet owners had a slightly higher BMI than the rest, which indicates that people having a pet (particularly a dog) could use some exercise. A great challenge is awaiting public health workers in making a combined exercise and nutrition program for the kind of middle-aged population group that has established itself in life, has a low level of basic education, and owns the most pets, particularly living in rural locations. Investigation of effects generated by pet ownership is at the good but early beginning, and it is now important to establish studies with representative population based databases in order to test hypotheses involving effects of pet ownership and various health related dimensions within population groups that are composed of different kinds of background characteristics.”
Labels: Pets
SCHIP coverage
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/kcmu010907pkg.cfm
Kaiser Family Foundation
"Maintaining and expanding health coverage for children and parents will likely be in the forefront of health care policy debates in Washington and state capitols in 2007. With states generally in better financial shape since the fiscal crisis earlier in the decade, many have expressed interest in improving access to their Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). A new 50-state survey shows that one-third of states (17) increased access to health coverage in 2006, and no state cut income eligibility in Medicaid and SCHIP for the first time in four years"
Kaiser Family Foundation
"Maintaining and expanding health coverage for children and parents will likely be in the forefront of health care policy debates in Washington and state capitols in 2007. With states generally in better financial shape since the fiscal crisis earlier in the decade, many have expressed interest in improving access to their Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). A new 50-state survey shows that one-third of states (17) increased access to health coverage in 2006, and no state cut income eligibility in Medicaid and SCHIP for the first time in four years"
Labels: SCHIP
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
State of Tobacco Control
http://lungaction.org/reports/tobacco-control06.html
American Lung Association
"Dramatic growth in the number of states with smokefree workplace laws and an average cigarette tax of $1 per pack indicate that some progress was made in 2006 to protect the public from the dangers of smoking, according to a report card issued today by the American Lung Association. However, the annual report also notes that the majority of states are failing to adequately fund programs to prevent tobacco use – a critical component in keeping kids from starting to smoke.
The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2006 report graded the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in four categories: smokefree air, tobacco taxes, prevention funding and restrictions on youth access to tobacco products. For the second year in a row, Maine was the only state to earn “A” grade in all four categories."
Labels: Tobacco
End-of-Life Care
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/167/1/40
Archives of Internal Medicine
“An estimated 11.2% of the chronically disabled community-dwelling older adults died within 1 year of being interviewed. Among persons who died, 72.3% were receiving help from an informal caregiver at the time of the interview. End-of-life primary informal caregivers helped an average of 43 hours per week, 84.4% provided daily assistance, and caregiver support services were infrequently used (ie, respite care and support groups were used by less than 5% of caregivers). While end-of-life caregivers reported significant emotional (28.9%), physical (18.4%), and financial (14.0%) strains, more than two thirds endorsed personal rewards related to their helping role. Compared with primary informal caregivers of persons who survived the following 12 months, end-of-life caregivers provided significantly higher levels of assistance and reported more challenges and strains, but they were no less likely to endorse rewards related to their helping role.”
Archives of Internal Medicine
“An estimated 11.2% of the chronically disabled community-dwelling older adults died within 1 year of being interviewed. Among persons who died, 72.3% were receiving help from an informal caregiver at the time of the interview. End-of-life primary informal caregivers helped an average of 43 hours per week, 84.4% provided daily assistance, and caregiver support services were infrequently used (ie, respite care and support groups were used by less than 5% of caregivers). While end-of-life caregivers reported significant emotional (28.9%), physical (18.4%), and financial (14.0%) strains, more than two thirds endorsed personal rewards related to their helping role. Compared with primary informal caregivers of persons who survived the following 12 months, end-of-life caregivers provided significantly higher levels of assistance and reported more challenges and strains, but they were no less likely to endorse rewards related to their helping role.”
Labels: Caregivers, Elderly
Monday, January 08, 2007
Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2006/RAND_RB9230.pdf
The Public Spends Little to Provide Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants
RAND Corporation
“The policy debate over immigration should focus not on health care costs but rather on a fuller analysis of all the fiscal benefits and costs of immigrants. Such an analysis should incorporate the taxes paid by immigrants and also the other public benefits received—in particular, public school costs—where the public costs for all types of immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, is likely to be much larger than those for nonimmigrants.”
The Public Spends Little to Provide Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants
RAND Corporation
“The policy debate over immigration should focus not on health care costs but rather on a fuller analysis of all the fiscal benefits and costs of immigrants. Such an analysis should incorporate the taxes paid by immigrants and also the other public benefits received—in particular, public school costs—where the public costs for all types of immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, is likely to be much larger than those for nonimmigrants.”
