Choosing Elder Care

Creativity linked to mental health

2010-05-18T13:11:00.001-05:00

[18 May 2010 - Karolinska Institutet via EurekAlert!] New research shows a possible explanation for the link between mental health and creativity. By studying receptors in the brain, researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have managed to show that the dopamine system in healthy, highly creative people is similar in some respects to that seen in people with schizophrenia. High creative skills have been shown to be somewhat more common in people who have mental illness in the family. Creativity is also linked to a slightly higher risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Certain psychological traits, such as the ability to make unusual pr bizarre associations are also shared by schizophrenics and healthy, highly creative people. And now the correlation between creativity and mental health has scientific backing. "We have studied the brain and the dopamine D2 receptors, and have shown that the dopamine system of healthy, highly creative people is similar to that found in people with schizophrenia," says associate professor Fredrik Ullén from Karolinska Institutet's Department of Women's and Children's Health. Just which brain mechanisms are responsible for this correlation is still something of a mystery, but Dr Ullén conjectures that the function of systems in the brain that use dopamine is significant; for example, studies have shown that dopamine receptor genes are linked to ability for divergent thought. Dr Ullén's study measured the creativity of healthy individuals using divergent psychological tests, in which the task was to find many different solutions to a problem. "The study shows that highly creative people who did well on the divergent tests had a lower density of D2 receptors in the thalamus than less creative people," says Dr Ullén. "Schizophrenics are also known to have low D2 density in this part of the brain, suggesting a cause of the link between mental illness and creativity." More - Press Release | More - Article

Living Your Purpose Through Creativity - Listen Live Thursday

2009-12-08T08:21:00.001-06:00

[7 December 2009 - The Intuitive Path with Anja Weiland] Anja's topic for this episode will be "Living Your Purpose Through Creativity" with Steven Dahlberg, head of the International Centre for Creativity and Imagination. Steven is dedicated to helping others develop and apply their creativity for their overall well-being. He works with individuals, organizations, businesses, and educational institutions. We will speak about the relevance of creative thinking in uncovering and realizing our purpose in life and career. Steven will give us an insight into the creative thinking process and share useful tips and resources that we can implement in our lives instantly. More
Thursday, December 10, 2009
12:30pm - 1:00pm EST
Listen live or streamed online:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheIntuitivePath
Or live via call-in by phone at:
+1 646 721 9435

Loneliness as Harmful as Smoking - Loneliness Affects Brain

2009-02-16T12:53:00.001-06:00

[16 February 2009 - Psych Central News] A new study finds that social isolation affects not only how people behave, but also how their brains operate. University of Chicago scientists presented their research, "Social Emotion and the Brain," at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The work is the first to use fMRI scans to study the connections between perceived social isolation (or loneliness) and activity in the brain. Combining fMRI scans with data relevant to social behavior is part of an emerging field examining brain mechanisms. Researchers found that the ventral striatum -- a region of the brain associated with rewards -- is much more activated in non-lonely people than in the lonely when they view pictures of people in pleasant settings. In contrast, the temporoparietal junction -- a region associated with taking the perspective of another person -- is much less activated among lonely than in the non-lonely when viewing pictures of people in unpleasant settings. ... John Cacioppo, one of the nation's leading scholars on loneliness, has shown that loneliness undermines health and can be as detrimental as smoking. About one in five Americans experience loneliness, he said. Decety is one of the nation's leading researchers to use fMRI scans to explore empathy. More

Having Happy Friends Can Make You Happy

2009-01-05T09:24:00.001-06:00

[5 December 2008 - Harvard Medical School] If you're happy and you know it, thank your friends -- and their friends. And while you're at it, their friends' friends. But if you're sad, hold the blame. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego, have found that "happiness" is not the result solely of a cloistered journey filled with individually tailored self-help techniques. Happiness is also a collective phenomenon that spreads through social networks like an emotional contagion. In a study that looked at the happiness of nearly 5,000 individuals over a period of 20 years, researchers found that when an individual becomes happy, the network effect can be measured up to three degrees. One person's happiness triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only their friends, but their friends' friends, and their friends' friends' friends. The effect lasts for up to one year. The flip side, interestingly, is not the case: Sadness does not spread through social networks as robustly as happiness. Happiness appears to love company more so than misery. More

Helping those who provide aid to others

2008-05-08T04:39:00.002-05:00

Warren Wolfe has a great piece in today's Star Tribune at Elder Care Expo:

Caregivers who assist aging relatives will find a vast array of services -- and knowledgeable advice -- at the two-day event at the State Fairgrounds. ... The calls from frantic caregivers of older people come to social service agencies every day -- dad got lost while driving, or mom won't seem to eat, or I need to find a good nursing home fast. For the first time in Minnesota, hundreds of experts from government, nonprofit agencies and businesses will offer presentations and workshops at an Elder Care Expo Friday and Saturday at the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights. "When you look at this, it's pretty darned comprehensive," said Jean Wood, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging, which funnels state and federal money to local agencies. "Most of the expos I'm aware of are pretty commercial. This one is a lot more oriented to services and advice," she said. "I don't know of anything like it anywhere, which is what attracted us to be part of it." More

"Look, Ma, No Plan!"; Elder Care Expo is Place to Start a Family Conversation About Aging

2008-05-07T15:37:00.004-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

St. Paul, Minn., May 6, 2008 -- No one likes to talk about elder care. Almost no one plans enough for getting older. And no one wants aging to happen to them. During Mother's Day weekend, Minnesotans will have the opportunity to give mom (and dad) the best gift ever -- a conversation about aging. A gift that doesn't wilt.

Elder Care Expo 2008 provides to the more than half-million Minnesota caregivers the elder care resources, answers and solutions they need to get started -- all in one place. The Expo is May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/

"Most people's introduction to the world of elder care happens unexpectedly, when they are in crisis mode and something bad happens to them or to a loved one," says Elder Care Expo Co-Founder Julie Groshens. "The purpose of Elder Care Expo is to help people plan ahead and to be less reactionary in their approach to elder care.

"We also link the resources and the answers that people who are grappling with these issues right now are frantic to find."

The Expo brings together under one roof the government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations that can help people make better caregiving choices. Elder Care Expo attendees will have access to more than 90 educational seminars on topics such as reverse mortgages, avoiding scams, choosing the right insurance and healthcare, reporting elder abuse, identifying housing options, exploring Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, and many more important topics. Attendees also can receive a free, elder care planning consultation from county and state aging experts.

The Expo features more than 100 companies, nonprofits and government organizations that will showcase products and services that can help people stay independent and improve their quality of life. These exhibitors will be on site to personally discuss ways to help seniors care for themselves and their families now, and to help boomers care for their parents and plan for their own futures.

"We all have an elder care story to tell," says Groshens. "Elder Care Expo will provide the knowledge and tools that Minnesotans need to ensure that their elder care story unfolds in the best possible way."

Find more information about the Expo by visiting http://www.choosingeldercare.com/ or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, Vital Aging Network, and the University of Minnesota Center on Aging.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

Elder Care Expo Featured Today on Twin Cities Live

2008-05-06T17:55:00.002-05:00

[6 May 2008 - Elder Care Expos, LLC] Elder Care Expo Community Partnerships Manager Joe Groshens was a guest today on KSTP's "Twin Cities Live" TV show in St. Paul/Minneapolis. He shared highlights about what people can find at the Expo, how the Expo was inspired by his own family's story, and technology that people will find at the Expo that allows people to stay more independent. Watch the video clip online and join us May 9 and 10 at the Education Building of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minn.

The long-term-care puzzle: Elder Care Expo designed to put pieces in place

2008-05-05T19:01:00.000-05:00

[5 May 2008 - MinnPost - By Kay Harvey] Making choices as we — or our parents — age about where to live, get the care we need and how to pay for it are just part of life. But for many elders and their adult children, the first question is, "Where do we start?" Julie Groshens has been there. When her aging mother faced a series of decisions, she and her nine siblings, one a geriatric social worker, thought they had all the resources a family would need. But in years of trying to navigate the system, they found it a frustrating task. The lesson they learned, she says: "It's not an easy thing." More

Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities

2008-05-01T09:42:00.002-05:00

[1 May 2008 - U.S. Administration on Aging eNews] Older Americans Month Message from Josefina G. Carbonell ... We celebrate older Americans and their families by praising their contributions to our country. We also celebrate and express our gratitude to the countless number of dedicated health and human service professionals, scientists and volunteers that work with or on behalf of elders in communities across the country every day.

As a nation we are beginning to experience in "real time" the aging of our population with the first wave of Baby Boomers beginning to turn 65 now and building the ranks of the 78 million Baby Boomers into the future. We have a unique opportunity to address these changing demographics and some of the solutions are right in front of us.

We need to listen to what older consumers and their families are telling us. We know that the overwhelming preference of the American people is to remain at home for as long as possible and to have the ability to choose where they live as they age. Making long-term care more person-centered and more responsive to the needs and preferences of the individual consumer has been at the top of my agenda. Together with our aging network, we have developed a strategy to advance meaningful and important changes in health and long-term care, while reducing fiscal pressures on our nation and embedded those principles in the reauthorized Older Americans Act (OAA).

The national aging services network, comprised of State, tribal and area agencies on aging, as well as thousands of community service providers, caregivers and volunteers, know this and have used the OAA as a foundation for building community-based long term care supports that appeal to the unique needs and preferences of older Americans. But there is still more that needs to be done.

In fulfilling the President's commitment to providing Americans enhanced consumer choice and the freedom to live independently; AoA together with our U.S. Department of Health and Human Services colleagues have been working hard to develop initiatives advancing consumer education, wellness and nursing home diversion.

I am so pleased that States, area agencies on aging and other community-based organizations are leading the way by developing integrated strategies that are cost effectively keeping people in their homes and communities where they will want to be. These critical building blocks include the establishment of single points of entry for consumers to learn about and access existing long-term care options and support services in the community; the development of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion tools and programs to reduce the risk of chronic disease and disability; and providing more options and choices to help people remain at home through an array of home-based care supports that promote independence and dignity for those who are at high risk of nursing home placement. We need to build upon and improve the quality of the core programs under the OAA and the successes of the aging network and work together to strengthen the home and community-based care services infrastructure that is already in place across our country. It is absolutely critical that we move quickly to give consumers better choices and control as well as encourage and promote the principles of local flexibility and accountability.

I am very excited about what the future holds. I am confident that this aging network will continue to carry out its mandate for older Americans and will continue to keeps its sights on the needs and preferences of the citizens we are entrusted to serve.

We urge people of all ages to celebrate Older Americans Month. Ensure that every older person in this great country is treated with dignity and respect to enjoy a healthy and rewarding future. Discuss with your own family and friends your long term aspirations. States and area agencies should celebrate the richness of your elder population. Encourage the public and private sectors to invest in market-based approaches to meet the needs of the graying consumers. Continue to expand coalitions and partnerships to strengthen your community's response to the Aging of America.

Technology Can Make Caregiving Easier; Find Out More at Elder Care Expo 2008

2008-04-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

[30 April 2008 - Elder Care Expos, LLC] For many years, the telephone was about the only technology that supported families in caring for elderly parents. These days, cutting-edge technologies – that use the Internet, telephones, TVs, cameras, sensors and more – help keep people safe on a 24-hour basis with automatic contact with family and medical staff.

Elder Care Expo 2008 ( http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com ) will feature technologies that can help improve the quality of later life by keeping people more independent and in their homes longer. The Expo will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

Some of the more than 90 educational seminars and more than 100 exhibitors will be showcasing technologies such as monitoring sensors, assistive listening devices, brain-based memory software and more.

Sensors are one example of technology being used within spaces, such as homes, to give elders options for living with independence, autonomy and dignity – without forgoing safety and security.

"Caregivers gain peace of mind knowing their loved one will quickly have a responder if they are in need of assistance," says Sue Gronemeyer, director of operations for Sengistix, LLC, which is an Elder Care Expo exhibitor that provides wireless sensing technology.

Multiple sensors can send activities-of-daily-living reports and safety alerts in real-time via the monitoring company to family, staff or support persons. The sensor system can call automatically when the individual needs assistance, even if they cannot call, from anywhere in the residence. Sensors can monitor whether a person gets out of bed, opens the refrigerator for a meal, gets enough movement during the day, takes medication and more.

Other technologies are placed on the individual person, such as life-line monitors that can be used to contact help if a person falls or is having an immediate medical problem. Other devices help people who have hearing loss.

"If you or a family member has a hearing loss, you know that it can be more than a minor annoyance," says Lori Foss, marketing director, Harris Communications. "Having to continually repeat what you are saying can be frustrating. In addition, those with hearing loss often become isolated from friends and family. But there are many different technologies that can improve the quality of life for the person with hearing loss."

An assistive listening device (ALD) can provide hearing assistance for those with a hearing loss, especially for someone without a hearing aid or when a hearing aid is not enough. ALDs include tools such as an amplified telephone, infrared system, FM system, personal amplification system, or loud clock. People can try out these different devices at Harris Communications' booth during Elder Care Expo.

Elder Care Expo will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors make better decisions about elder care choices. Find more information about the Expo by visiting http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo Sponsors include: Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, Vital Aging Network, and the University of Minnesota Center on Aging.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

Twin Cities suburban trend: Silver-lined home market

2008-04-24T19:01:00.001-05:00

Elder Care Expo 2008 sponsor, Presbyterian Homes, featured in Star Tribune story today about senior housing in the Twin Cities suburbs:

[23 April 2008 - Star Tribune] In a suburban housing market chilled by recession and mortgage woes, one segment of housing is still hot: independent housing for seniors. In the development pipeline are almost 600 units in Bloomington, more than 700 units in Edina, and about 145 units in Richfield. Roseville's first housing development proposal in three years is a 93-unit senior co-op that would be the sister to a successful co-op built a few years ago. Demand is highest for ownership and rental units aimed at middle-income seniors. But in suburbs where open land is limited and the population skews older -- places like Edina, Richfield, Roseville and Bloomington, where at least a quarter and sometimes more than a third of single-family homes are owned by people 65 and older -- how much senior housing should be developed? "That's what a lot of communities are wondering about," said Ron Rankin, Minnetonka's community development director. ...

The State Demographer's Office predicts that by 2035, the Twin Cities' 65-and-over population will increase by 145 percent. Historically, about 60 percent of housing here has been single-family homes, according to the Metropolitan Council. The council has suggested that half of all new housing added by 2030 be "attached housing" like condos, townhouses or apartments. With senior housing targeting people from ages 55 to 90, developments range from maintenance-free townhouses and co-ops for active residents to assisted-living and memory-care units. Presbyterian Homes & Services alone has recently opened or is planning suburban Twin Cities developments that include about 800 units for independent seniors. Ecumen, another large nonprofit specializing in senior housing and services, is doing a condo conversion in Cannon Falls that will include 40 senior apartments, and also is planning a senior development in Maple Grove with 96 apartments for active seniors. Eventually townhomes will be added. More

Elder Care Expo Attendees to Receive Free "Caregiving Choices" Guide from Minnesota Senior Federation

2008-04-24T15:48:00.004-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Paul, Minn., April 24, 2008 -- The Minnesota Senior Federation has just released its "Caregiving Choices: A Minnesota Elder Care Resource Guide" and has partnered with Elder Care Expo 2008 to provide a free copy of this publication to everyone who attends the Expo.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn. The Expo will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors make better decisions about elder care choices. More information is available at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/

"Caregiving Choices" provides information about caregiving at home, in nursing homes, at adult day-care service centers and in assisted-living and senior housing. It also includes a handy directory of crucial caregiving resources.

Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Non-professional caregivers are a critical part of the healthcare system in the United States. In Minnesota, family members provide 95 percent of all caregiving for older adults and there are more than a half-million caregivers in the state.

The Senior Federation Health Plan Information Center helps caregivers help their loved ones. In addition to "Caregiving Choices," the Senior Federation also publishes "Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare," which provides even more resources related to healthcare questions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will provide face-to-face answers to many questions that boomers have about planning for their own futures, as well as challenges they face in caring for an aging parent. In addition, seniors can find products and services to support their own care now, as well as for their spouses.

"Everyone has a caregiving story to tell," says Elder Care Expos Co-Founder Julie Groshens. "We want to help people make sure their story unfolds in the best possible way by finding the resources they need to make better decisions. People don't have to go it alone. Elder Care Expo 2008 offers resources, answers, solutions in one place, under one roof. Plus, they can go home with the 'Caregiving Choices' guide to help them in the future."

Find more information about Elder Care Expo 2008, the more than 100 exhibitors, and more than 90 seminars by visiting http://www.choosingeldercare.com/ or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo 2008 Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, Vital Aging Network, and the University of Minnesota Center on Aging.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the
finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

For More Information, Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

Keywords:
elder care, minnesota, aging, retirement, eldercare, baby boomers, aging parents, hennepin county, ramsey county, elder care expo, long-term care, caregiving, caregiver, care giving, care giver, st. paul, baby boomer, healthcare, health care

The Creative Power of Aging Film Premiere in Minnesota

2008-04-24T14:18:00.001-05:00

Elder Care Expo 2008 congratulates the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, a Supporting Partner of Elder Care Expo 2008, on the coming premiere of their new film about creativity, arts and aging, based on artists and program models from Minnesota ...

[24 April 2008 - Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN)] Check out the April 23 MinnPost article about aging and the arts, "We want more than bingo': Artists cater to seniors" by Kay Harvey. It highlights the work of MnCAAN, the National Center for Creative Aging, and two Twin Cities community arts programs for older adults.

Second, you are invited to the premiere of "The Creative Power of Aging" to view this 30-minute film featuring Minnesota artists and model arts programs for older adults:
Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Bloomington Center for the Arts - 1800 West Old Shakopee Road

Following the film, stay for lunch and the kickoff of a statewide campaign by MnCAAN: CREATIVITY MATTERS FOR OLDER MINNESOTANS. Discover the benefits of lifelong creative engagement. Learn about training, print and Web-based resources for organizations and groups that want to engage older adults in creative arts programs. Register by May 12 at http://www.MnCAAN.net or call 763-560-5199. $10 includes box lunch. Pre-registration required.

The film was a collaborative production with MnCAAN, Twin Cities Public Television, HealthEast, Ebenezer Foundation, and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. This event is co-sponsored and hosted by City of Bloomington Human Services. More

Find about more about MnCAAN and the film at Elder Care Expo 2008, Booth 322.

Richard Leider Offers New Book on Purposeful Aging

2008-04-24T11:40:00.000-05:00

[24 April 2008 - The Inventure Group] The Inventure Group is excited to announce the upcoming release of Richard Leider's newest book, Something To Live For: Find Your Way in the Second Half of Life. Co-authored by David Shapiro, the book has a June publication date. Something to Live For distills traditional wisdom and modern research to offer those now moving past 50 new ways of thinking about their lives. The book is filled with dozens of inspiring personal stories about people who, in very different ways, have found meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the second half of life. More

New National Ad Campaign Features the Theme "Real Men Wear Gowns"; Encouraging Men To Take Preventive Steps in Their Health Care

2008-04-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

[22 April 2008 - U.S. Administration On Aging eNews Letter] AHRQ and Ad Council Encourage Men To Take Preventive Steps in Their Health Care ... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) joined with The Advertising Council today to launch a national public service campaign designed to raise awareness among middle-aged men about the importance of preventive medical testing. Men are 25 percent less likely than women to have visited the doctor within the past year and are 38 percent more likely than women to have neglected their cholesterol tests (Source: AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005). Furthermore, men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005). The campaign highlights the work of the AHRQ-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services. Created pro bono for the Ad Council by McCann Erickson Detroit, the public service advertising campaign includes new television, radio, print and Web advertising featuring the theme "Real Men Wear Gowns." The lighthearted ads incorporate family as a key motivating factor for men to take a more active role in preventive health. They show the target audience that being a real man means taking care of themselves (and their health) in order to be there for their families and in the future. Ad Council research showed this was a strong motivating factor for men. The campaign encourages men to visit a comprehensive Web site, http://www.ahrq.gov/realmen. The site provides the recommended ages for preventive testing (as well as a list of tests), a quiz designed to test your knowledge of preventive health care, tips for talking with your doctor, a glossary of consumer health terms, and links to online resources where you can find more medical information.

The Odds for a Retirement Nest Egg, Recalculated

2008-04-21T10:16:00.001-05:00

[21 April 2008 - New York Times] Though it may go against conventional wisdom, you can simply pick an allocation of stocks and bonds that you can live with for a long while and stick with it. More

Elder Care Expo 2008 to Help Minnesotans Make Better Healthcare Decisions

2008-04-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

St. Paul, Minn., April 16, 2008 -- The U.S. Administration on Aging announced that today is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). This nationwide initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions and to encourage the use of advance directives to communicate important healthcare decisions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors begin to explore these questions - and more - during the expo, which will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

Making end of life decisions can be an extremely difficult challenge. It is an important responsibility that people should be willing to assume for their own sake and the sake of their loved ones. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in the United States have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive.

The Administration on Aging wants to raise public awareness about the need for advance planning and help as many people as possible get the information they need to make choices and decisions that will ensure their dignity and care at the end of life. More information about NHDD is available online:
http://www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/Welcome.htm

Find more information about Elder Care Expo 2008, the exhibitors, and more than 90 seminars by visiting http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo 2008 Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, and Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network.

NHDD is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions.

About Elder Care Expo: Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

National Healthcare Decisions Day

2008-04-16T10:52:00.001-05:00

[16 April 2008 - U.S. Administration on Aging] National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is on Wednesday, April 16th. This nationwide initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions and to encourage the use of advance directives to communicate important health care decisions. NHDD is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions. Several aging services network organizations are currently participating in NHDD. Making end of life decisions can be an extremely difficult challenge. It is an important responsibility that each of us should be willing to assume for our sake and the sake of our loved ones. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in the United States have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive. We hope you will help raise public awareness about the need for advance planning. We want as many people as possible to have the information they need to make choices and decisions that will ensure their dignity and care at the end of life. More

White House Portraits of Compassion Video Contest

2008-04-04T12:16:00.003-05:00

[2 April 2008 - Administration on Aging eNews Letter] The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives invites you to participate in the Portraits of Compassion video story contest. This contest is designed to shine a light on the countless caring Americans who offer help and hope to their neighbors in need as part of President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The mission of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is to strengthen both faith-based and other community-based service organizations and to grow government's collaboration with them to aid people in need. Over the past seven years, tens of thousands of partnerships have formed between government and dedicated nonprofits, extending service and hope to millions of needy individuals both at home and abroad. The Portraits of Compassion video story contest is a chance to honor this vital work and inspire others to service as well. Eligible applicants include any domestic or international nonprofit organization that has partnered with a federally-funded program since 2001 to serve the needy. Applications must include a "video story" of three minutes or less that can be uploaded on a free online video sharing service such as YouTube, Google Video, iTunes, or MySpace. All videos must be submitted as an Internet link by May 1, 2008. To learn more or to submit an application, visit http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/portraits/index.html. Winning videos will be premiered during the White House National Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C., on June 26 and 27, 2008 and showcased nationally on the Conference website. This Conference is free and open to the public. Online registration for the Conference is available at http://www.fbci.gov/ by clicking on the "Washington DC" conference link at the top right corner.

Problems getting around in old age? Blame your brain

2008-03-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

[17 March 2008 - EurekAlert! / American Academy of Neurology] New research shows how well people get around and keep their balance in old age is linked to the severity of changes happening in their brains. The study is published in the March 18, 2008, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. White matter changes, also called leukoaraiosis, are frequently seen in older people and differ in severity. The three-year study called LADIS (Leukoaraiosis and Disability), coordinated by the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences of the University of Florence, involved 639 men and women between the ages of 65 and 84 who underwent brain scans and walking and balance tests. Of the group, 284 had mild age-related white matter changes, 197 moderate changes, and 158 severe changes. The study found people with severe white matter changes were twice as likely to score poorly on the walking and balance tests as those people with mild white matter changes. The study also found people with severe changes were twice as likely as the mild group to have a history of falls. The moderate group was one-and-a-half times as likely as the mild group to have a history of falls. “Walking difficulties and falls are major symptoms of people with white matter changes and a significant cause of illness and death in the elderly,” said study author Hansjoerg Baezner, MD, PhD, with the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany. “Exercise may have the potential to reduce the risk of these problems since exercise is associated with improved walking and balance. We’ll be testing whether exercise has such a protective effect in our long-term study of this group. ... Mobility is one of the key determinants of independent aging,” said Baezner. “Limitations in mobility often lead to hospitalization and nursing home placement. This will become a major problem for our social and economic systems in the upcoming decades.” In addition, Baezner says monitoring white matter changes may be useful in the early detection of walking problems, which have been linked to other health problems. “Recently, gait abnormalities have been shown to predict non-Alzheimer’s disease dementia, so recognition, early diagnosis and treatment of this disabling condition may be possible through early detection of walking and balance problems.” Baezner says researchers do not fully understand why some people’s white matter changes are worse than others or what causes the changes, however, a clear link to insufficiently treated high blood pressure has been shown. More

Understanding age and dementia

2008-03-08T08:44:00.001-06:00

Elder Care Expo 2008 presenter Kari Berit (author of "The Unexpected Caregiver: How Boomers Can Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent") writes:

[7 March 2008 - The Republican Eagle - Red Wing, MN] In recent years, we've become painfully aware that as age increases, so too does the potential for the onset of dementia. It’s a scary prospect, but maybe not as scary as we’ve made it. ... If you’re caregiving for a parent with dementia, here are four ways to cope.

Caregiving Employees Need Support; Elder Care Expo 2008 Offers Solutions

2008-03-06T13:22:00.002-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Paul, Minn., March 6, 2008 -- Caregiving not only affects individuals and their families, but also the organizations for which the caregivers work. United States businesses lose up to $33.6 billion per year in productivity from caregivers who take time from work responsibilities, according to the 2007 "MetLife Caregiving Costs Study." This translates to an average cost of $2,110 per year per employee who is caring for a loved one.

Elder Care Expo 2008 is designed to help the half-million caregivers in Minnesota make more-informed care choices. The expo will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Education Building, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, Minn.

"Among our different audiences, we are encouraging Minnesota companies and organizations to send their employees to Elder Care Expo," says Elder Care Expo Co-founder Julie Groshens. "Employees who are caring for a dependent family member spend lots of time trying to find answers on their own, which takes a mental and physical toll on them personally and creates enormous productivity losses to the organization. But companies that help their employees deal with these caregiving challenges can benefit greatly."

AARP reports that "companies reap a $3 to $14 return on every $1 they spend on elder care benefits," adding that both employers and employees benefit when workers have options that make caregiving more manageable.

Elder care responsibilities don't discriminate between women and men. Though women are traditionally associated with caregiving, men make up 45 percent of today's working caregivers, according to AARP.

In addition, many of these employees are parents raising children while simultaneously caring for an older family member -- making these caregivers the so-called "Sandwich Generation." AARP says that while 30 percent of employees have caregiving responsibilities, 40 percent of them also have children at home.

Elder Care Expo 2008 can help alleviate some of the stress associated with making care choices. The expo will showcase leading Minnesota vendors that provide products and services to help people make better elder care decisions. Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota, Presbyterian Homes and Services, ACCRA Care Corp, Humana, and WCCO Radio.

Elder Care Expo 2008 features trusted resources about aging from the State of Minnesota, the county agencies, community aging organizations and elder care experts. Expo participants can receive a free long-term care consultation and leave with a plan.

More than 90 information-packed, educational sessions will include topics such as elder care basics; understanding insurance, financial and legal issues; navigating home healthcare issues; identifying and choosing the right housing; exploring Medicare Part D choices; and many other topics.

Find more information about attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at Elder Care Expo 2008 by visiting http://www.choosingeldercare.com or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog .

Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

Subscribe to Free Elder Law Podcast

2008-03-03T10:59:00.000-06:00

Check out the Elder Law Today blog and and subscribe to their free podcast.

Civic Ventures' Encore Profiles Elder Care Expo Founder

2008-02-27T07:22:00.001-06:00

[25 February 2008 - Encore] ELDER CARE ANGUISH: Trying Experience Turns Into Second Career ... Frustration with patching together care for her aging mother prompted one baby boomer to start a second job bringing together elder-care resources in one venue. Julie Groshens, 52, of St. Paul, Minn., was bewildered when the elaborate support system she helped set up for her elderly mother failed. Although Groshens has 10 siblings to help as caretakers and a doctor, lawyer and geriatric social worker in the family, her mother broke her hip three times, had to move several times, suffered medical problems and experienced sudden memory loss. More

Creativity and Aging White Paper Released by Americans for the Arts; Authored by Elder Care Expo Co-Founder

2008-02-25T08:47:00.003-06:00

[20 February 2008 - Americans for the Arts] Americans for the Arts has just released a white paper on creativity and aging, "Think and Be Heard: Creativity, Aging and Community Engagement" (PDF). Elder Care Expos Partner Steven Dahlberg wrote this report as a follow up to the 2007 National Arts Forum Series, which is supported by the MetLife Foundation. "Arts and aging is neither just about art, nor just about aging. Rather, it is about creativity and positive engagement -- that is, creativity as both a goal and a process for shaping the self and society. ... It is through such creative thinking and self-expression that people connect with others and shape the world. Such a work of art is a lifelong process," writes Dahlberg. Please distribute and share this white paper -- and share your feedback online about this topic, as well.

Minnesota Boomer Launches Elder Care Event to Help Others Find Answers

2008-02-20T21:00:00.004-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

Overwhelmed by Trying to Care for Aging Parents, Minnesota Boomer Launches Elder Care Event to Help Others

St. Paul, Minn., February 21, 2008 -- Good intentions only get baby boomers so far in trying to care for their aging parents. No matter how hard one tries to get the best care possible for a loved one, it's still easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated, angry and disappointed in the process.

One Minnesota baby boomer seemed to have an ideal combination of resources to care for her aging mother -- 10 siblings as caretakers; a doctor, a lawyer and a geriatric social worker in the family; and multiple housing options from which to choose. Even with these resources and a carefully considered plan, this was not enough. Her mother experienced three broken hips (including two in one week), staffing issues that added to medical problems, continual shifts in housing to address changing care needs, medication complications, and sudden memory problems. The greatest frustrations and struggles though, have resulted from the bureaucracy of the elder care system, which culminated in a letter sent from the government telling the family members their mother was dead (she wasn't).

Julie Groshens wondered how families get through the maze of elder care options without a social-worker sibling to guide them. Nearly everyday, she heard similar stories from colleagues, friends and family. So Groshens decided to form Elder Care Expos, LLC, a Minnesota-based company that produces elder-care resource events for the public.

On May 9 and 10, Groshens and her two partners will launch the Elder Care Expo 2008 in St. Paul, Minn. The expo will be held in the Education Building at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

"Elder Care Expo brings together many of the answers people like us are searching for -- in one place," says Groshens. "This kind of event is desperately needed. We hear stories everyday from people as young as twenty-something who are caring for aging and sick parents. Yet they feel like they are alone in facing these challenges and are stressed out about the endless options. They just don't know where to start finding help.

"Tickets are only $8 per person for attending the expo and more than 90 educational sessions. We have deliberately kept the ticket price low so that those struggling with these issues can get the help they need in an affordable and accessible way," says Groshens.

Nationally, nearly 34 million caregivers provide help to persons age 50 and older. Elder Care Expo 2008 is designed to help the more than half-million Minnesota caregivers make more-informed care choices. "We are really encouraging family members to bring at least one other person with them, even a friend," says Groshens. "Having someone else to share ideas with creates a stronger support network. Plus, it gets us boomers talking about these questions for our own future."

The expo will showcase leading Minnesota vendors that provide products and services to help people make better elder care decisions. Current sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and ACCRA Care Corp. As the Official Radio Sponsor, WCCO Radio will help Minnesotans explore the key challenges they are facing related to elder care.

Elder Care Expo 2008 features trusted resources about aging from the State of Minnesota, county agencies, community aging organizations and elder care experts. More than 90 information-packed educational sessions will focus on topics such as elder care basics; understanding insurance, financial and legal issues; navigating home healthcare issues; identifying and choosing the right housing; exploring Medicare Part D choices; and many other important issues. In addition, participants can receive a free long-term care consultation and leave the expo with a plan.

Find more information about attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at Elder Care Expo 2008 by visiting http://www.choosingeldercare.com/ or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first-ever educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog .

# # #

Retention Strategies: How Employers Can Support Working Caregivers

2008-02-19T07:41:00.002-06:00

[AARP] Addressing caregiver support issues in the workplace is not just a benevolent response; it's smart business. It is reported that companies reap a $3-$14 return on every $1 they spend on eldercare benefits. Today's Baby Boomers may well be called "the Eldercare Generation." As more employees remain in the labor force and their parents live longer, businesses have begun stepping up to help overwhelmed workers better balance their professional and family responsibilities. Companies are finding eldercare help to be timely "insurance." That is because both employers and employees benefit when workers have options that make caregiving more manageable. No wonder eldercare benefits and flexible work arrangements are fast becoming a potent recruiting and retention tool. More

Aging of America to force changes in the workplace

2008-02-19T07:38:00.001-06:00

[15 February 2008 - News-Gazette] America's population is aging, and the nation's employers need to deal with it, a Naperville consultant says. The baby-boomer generation is beginning to retire, and that ultimately will leave the United States with a deficit of younger workers, Bill Forssander said at a Champaign County Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday at Urbana's Holiday Inn. Between 2002 and 2012, the U.S. population 55 and older is expected to grow by 49 percent, while the population under 55 is projected to grow only 5 percent, he said. The main reason: a huge drop in the birth rate over the last half-century that stands to leave not only the United States, but also Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, short of workers. Two workers are expected to exit the work force for every person entering it, he said. As a result, employers must figure new ways to attract and retain older workers, said Forssander, the founder and president of Coda Consulting Group. That means helping older employees stay current with new technologies and building a reputation for their companies of being truly multigenerational, he said. Forssander said older workers tend to have "more balanced" emotional circuitry, though it sometimes takes them longer to process things. That's why judges, counselors and senior diplomats tend to be older people, he said. At the same time, employers must remember that today's workplace has four generations in it, each with different values, preferences and approaches. More

Talking To Your Parents About Aging

2008-02-16T07:59:00.001-06:00

[15 February 2008 - WCCO TV - Minneapolis] As we get older, so do our parents and right now a lot of baby boomers are dealing with a difficult problem. They are trying to take care of their aging parents and in many cases are having trouble talking to them about important issues. There can be a real communication problem, especially when the adult child has to help that parent deal with sensitive issues like health problems or money matters. That's why the folks with Home Instead Senior Care invested time and money into research on the matter. They came up with expert advice on how people in their 40s can help their aging parents adjust to life-changing events, including the death of a spouse, memory loss or the inability to drive safely. That advice was just published in a free booklet called the 40-70 Rule, and they want people to take advantage of it. More

Caregivers Staying Connected

2008-02-15T19:50:00.001-06:00

[15 February 2008 - AARP] New gadgets, both simple and advanced, can extend an independent life at home for the aged or ailing. They also help long-distance caregivers stay connected to their loved ones. Need help getting your caregiving house in order? Here are some tips to get you started. More

More Brain Research Suggests 'Use It Or Lose It'

2008-02-15T10:34:00.001-06:00

[12 February 2008 - ScienceDaily] Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) scientists have found another important clue to why nerve cells die in neurodegenerative diseases, based on studies of the developing brain. Neuroscientists at The University of Queensland have just published findings, which add more weight to the "use it or lose it" model for brain function. QBI's Dr Elizabeth Coulson said a baby's brain generates roughly double the number of nerve cells it needs to function; with those cells that receive both chemical and electrical stimuli surviving, and the remaining cells dying. In research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Dr Coulson and her colleagues have identified a crucial step in the cell-death process. More

2008 Minnesota Age & Disability Odyssey Conference - Save the Date

2008-02-14T15:57:00.002-06:00

[13 February 2008 - University of Minnesota Aging Education] The Odyssey Conference, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, The Minnesota Board on Aging, and the Aging and Disability Services Divisions of DHS, will again host the Age and Disabilities Odyssey on August 18-20 in Duluth at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Their website http://www.mnaging.org/odyssey/index.htm is under construction but please visit it often for additions and updates to learn what's new, to register yourself, or to submit a workshop proposal. The workshop proposal information will be available to submit a proposal on February 15. Questions about the Odyssey may be sent to DHS.Odysseyconference@state.mn.us.

The sandwich generation: Cash squeeze for couples who have ageing parents AND young children

2008-02-14T15:51:00.001-06:00

[12 February 2008 - Daily Mail - UK] Couples with young children and ageing parents are battling to cope with record financial responsibilities, according to a report. Millions face a never-ending cycle of financial struggle, researchers found. They are squeezed between two layers of a "sandwich" - their children and their parents. Many will spend so much looking after the young and the old that they are left with little or nothing for themselves and can expect a bleak financial future. Norwich Union interviewed more than 1,000 working adults about their personal lives for the report, which is published today. The findings throw a worrying spotlight on a generation with too many responsibilities and too little money to cope with them. More

What is Alzheimer's, Anyway?

2008-02-01T09:21:00.001-06:00

[1 February 2008 - Human Values in Aging Newsletter] What's the difference between Alzheimer's Disease and normal brain aging? That provocative question is addressed in the new book THE MYTH OF ALZHEIMER'S: What You Aren't Being Told about Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis (St. Martin's Press, 2008), by Peter Whitehouse, M.D. and Daniel George. More about this ground-breaking book. See also the film "Almost Home" inspired by the work of Tom Kitwood, pioneering advocate for "person-first" care of dementia, as well as the Eden Alternative approach. More on the film and related activities. See also THE MAGIC TAPE RECORDER, by Joyce Simard, is a book intended to help children understand cognitive challenges of aging. More

Couch potato lifestyle may speed up ageing

2008-01-29T09:03:00.001-06:00

[29 January 2008 - New Scientist] Being a couch potato in your free time could make you a decade older biologically than someone who is physically active, according to a major study of people's "chromosomal clocks". Tim Spector at St Thomas’ hospital in London, UK, and colleagues measured the lengths of telomeres – the DNA that bookends our chromosomes – in the white blood cells of 2401 twins. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides, and when they become too short a cell can no longer divide, so telomeres act as a kind of timer counting down our biological age. The researchers found that people who did not exercise in their spare time had shorter telomeres than very active people. ... David Gems, who researches ageing, at University College London, notes: "These days older folks spend more and more money on various dietary supplements in the hope of ageing more slowly, but really they would be better off keeping the money and just walking the dog more often". More

Home Safe Home

2008-01-28T19:34:00.001-06:00

[28 January 2008 - CBS News] For Those Eager To Grow Old In The Comfort Of Home, High-Tech Solutions ... For Sandy Davis and her 89-year-old mother, Margaret, the idea of growing old together comes with both comfort and fear. "See, my brother wants us to move to an assisted-care program," Sandy says. "But I don't want to," Margaret said. Sandy is convinced their age-old problem could be improved with some new-age ideas.
"The technology is there, we just need to figure out how we can orchestrate it to live comfortably," Sandy said. That's exactly what Prof. Gregory Abowd of Georgia Tech is trying to do in an experimental home, full of high-tech tools to help the elderly. For example, motion detectors throughout the house track a resident's daily movements and send them to an unobtrusive photo frame located in any relative's home. It's connected to the Internet. More

Home but not alone ... nonmedical home health care

2008-01-25T17:38:00.001-06:00

[27 November 2007 - Star Tribune] When adult children realize their parents can no longer live independently, the search for help can be lonely, frustrating and stressful. Nonmedical home health care has been a lifesaver for many families. More

OnStage: Age is the rage on his stage

2008-01-25T17:20:00.000-06:00

[23 November 2007 - Star Tribune] Some years ago, renowned British actor Charles Keating was visited by his mother, who was then frail and ravaged by Alzheimer's. It was a sad encounter as he tried different ways of getting her to recognize him. He told her that he was her son, and reminded her of experiences that they had shared. He held her hands and touched her face. Nothing seemed to jog her memory. Then, in the midst of her confusion, Keating began to recite "Crabbed Old Woman," a poem that he had learned while a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and had taught her. The rhymes quickened something in Peg Keating and she joined in the recitation. Keating dropped out, listening with joy as his mother finished the poem. More

Minnesota Aging Agencies Spotlighted at Elder Care Expo 2008

2008-01-25T08:28:00.001-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
info@choosingeldercare.com
651.204.0266

State and County Aging Agencies Spotlighted at Elder Care Expo 2008

St. Paul, Minn., January 24, 2008 -- Minnesota state and county aging agencies, which deliver long-term care services and provide information to seniors and their families, will be spotlighted at the Elder Care Expo 2008. The Expo will deliver educational programs and outreach to consumers who are seeking answers to elder care questions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held from May 9 to 10, 2008, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn. The Expo program will include presentations from the Minnesota Board on Aging, the Area Agencies on Aging, Ramsey County Community Human Services, Hennepin County Aging and Disability Department, research groups, and vendor/service organizations. Experts will provide information on home care and housing options, adult protection, mental health issues, elder law, reverse mortgages, insurance coverage and more. County social workers and public health nurses will administer mini-long-term care consultations (including home healthcare and social service assessments). That’s just some of what is planned.

"Having these agencies represented at Elder Care Expo 2008 is an important addition to the Expo program," said Julie Groshens, Elder Care Expo founding partner. "They provide valuable resources for helping Minnesotans find help with caring for their loved ones, yet many citizens are not aware of what help is available. Elder Care Expo will bring together in one place the key elder-care resources from the state and county."

Additional sponsors include ACCRA Care Inc, Augustana Care Corporation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and WCCO Radio.

The Elder Care Expo will offer tremendous value to those struggling with the challenges of planning for later life. In this educational, solutions-focused event, baby boomers and elders will find concrete help in planning for their own needs, as well as their families' needs.

Statistics show that people are living longer than ever before and this trend will continue. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota's 65-and-older population is forecast to increase by 27 percent during the next 10 years, while the number of those 85 and older will increase a staggering 115 percent by 2035. Research also suggests that baby boomers have not adequately planned for their later years and now face the prospect of simultaneously planning for their own future needs while trying to find answers for their parents' care today.

For more information about exhibiting at, sponsoring or attending Elder Care Expo 2008, call 651.204.0266 or visit:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com

About Elder Care Expo:
Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first-ever educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges.

# # #

Finding Day Care for Aging Parents

2008-01-22T12:13:00.000-06:00

[22 January 2008 - Good Morning America] Need for Centers Grows as Number of Elderly in Need of Full-Time Care Increases ... Approximately 400,000 elderly Americans now attend adult day care and the demand is growing, according to the National Adult Day Services Association. The average cost is about $61 a day versus the cost of a home health aide, which can range from $114 to $152 per day. Recently Medicare and Medicaid began a pilot program that allows a portion of Medicare home health-care benefits to go toward adult day care. The benefits of adult day care go well beyond the dollars saved. More

Healthy life 'can give you another 14 years'

2008-01-13T10:36:00.001-06:00

[8 January 2008 - Telegraph (UK)] A healthy lifestyle can increase a person's lifespan by as much as 14 years, scientists have claimed. Researchers have calculated people can extend the length of their lives by up to 17 per cent by not smoking, drinking only moderately, eating healthily and keeping physically active. Many studies have highlighted the health risks associated with cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of exercise. However, few have looked at the combined effects of all four on longevity. Prof Kay-Tee Khaw, a gerontologist at Cambridge University who led the new study, said: "There were substantial differences in mortality associated with the four health behaviours combined. More

Unlocking the secrets of the aging mind

2008-01-09T18:10:00.001-06:00

[8 January 2008 - Star Tribune] Dr. Gene D. Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, will speak on the aging process and mind power at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka. Cohen's new book, "The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain," describes new research that has shown that as it ages, "the brain is far more flexible and adaptable than once thought." His program, titled "Age + Experience = Creativity," is free and part of Hennepin County Library's "55+: Age Well, Live Smart" series. For more information, call 952-847-8800 or go to http://www.hclib.org.

WCCO Signs on as Official Radio Sponsor of Elder Care Expo 2008

2008-01-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
info@choosingeldercare.com
651.204.0266

St. Paul, Minn., January 8, 2008 -- WCCO Radio has teamed up with Elder Care Expo 2008 as the Official Radio Sponsor for the St. Paul, Minn., show to be held May 9-10.

“WCCO Radio has a strong reputation as a leader in our community,” said Julie Groshens, Elder Care Expo founding partner. “We know personally that this type of expo is desperately needed. We also know it will take forward-thinking companies to ‘get it’ because this Expo is truly the first of its kind.”

The Elder Care Expo will offer tremendous value to those struggling with the challenges of planning for later life. In this educational, solutions-focused event, baby boomers and elders will find concrete help in planning for their own needs, as well as their families’ needs.

“When we asked ourselves, ‘Who in the Twin Cities helps Minnesotans explore the key challenges they are facing?’ WCCO Radio was hands down our number one desired partner,” Groshens said. “WCCO’s audience includes both baby boomers and seniors who are facing unprecedented questions about elder care, so we are delighted to have them on board.”

Statistics show that people are living longer than ever before and this trend will continue. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota’s 65-and-older population is forecast to increase by 27 percent during the next 10 years, while the number of those 85 and older will increase a staggering 115 percent by 2035.

Research also suggests that baby boomers have not adequately planned for their later years and now face the prospect of simultaneously planning for their own future needs while trying to find answers for their parents’ care today.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held from May 9 to 10, 2008, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

For more information about exhibiting at, sponsoring or attending Elder Care Expo 2008, call 651.204.0266 or visit http://www.choosingeldercare.com/.

About Elder Care Expo:
Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota’s first-ever educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges.

# # #

Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging 2nd Annual Aging Policy Summit - January 10

2008-01-08T18:08:00.000-06:00

[8 January 2008 - Minnesota Leadership Council - Press Release] Aging Policy in Play ... Connecting the Dots -- This year's Summit seeks to create a vision and framework that aligns and integrates long-term care policy, systems reform and legislative initiatives.

January 10, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - Noon
Earle Brown Heritage Center
6155 Earle Brown Drive
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNLCOA) coalesces the resources and power of consumer, advocacy, social and health service organizations, to advocate boldly for and achieve positive system changes for older adults and their families in Minnesota.

The Leadership Council formed in 2004 around its key organizing agenda to advocate for the strengthening of home and community-based services. The Council was actively involved in shaping policy at the state level during the 2005 legislative session supporting efforts to develop an adequately funded, cost-effective, community care system that ensures quality of care and quality of life for older adults.

In addition to working with policy makers the Council is meeting with community leaders outside of aging services to raise awareness of and discuss the demographic, social and economic issues related to the aging of the Baby Boom generation. Through a series of Listening to Leaders dialogue sessions, the Council is gathering information about community aging issues as viewed by foundations, housing and community developers, civic groups, education officials, transportation representatives, faith communities, disability organizations, business and industry, and others.

Thirteen leading nonprofit organizations that help older adults live independently at home formed the Council. The Council is an informal collaborative and governs itself through an initial organizing structure. Current members are: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, DARTS, Elderberry Institute/Living at Home Block Nurse Programs, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Hospice Minnesota, Lutheran Social Services of MN, Metropolitan Senior Federation, MN Association of Area Agencies on Aging, MN Health and Housing Alliance, MN Home Care Association, MN Senior Federation, Senior Community Services, and Volunteers of America of MN.

Together these organizations serve more than 300,000 seniors and family caregivers and represent more than 120,000 older persons interested in aging issues. More | Register

Home care for seniors has new urgency

2008-01-08T18:04:00.001-06:00

[6 January 2008 - Star Tribune] A wave of retiring boomers will soon swamp home health care providers unless businesses and policymakers plan for it. ... It's called the senior tsunami. As more than 78 million baby boomers are approaching retirement age, U.S. age demographics are shifting significantly. Seniors 65 and older will soon constitute 20 percent of the population. By 2020, it's estimated that 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. With this aging of our population, home care takes on a new urgency. Elder care is fast becoming more of a growth industry than child care. The infrastructure, however, is not yet in place to handle this coming age wave of American retirees. More