September 26, 2014

Today's Top Alzheimer's News

A stark portrait of nursing home care in the US, the impact of the nation's long-term care crisis on minority communities, and a new campaign to increase NIH research funding (read more).

Must reads

  • A September 25, 2014 New York Times article profiled a daughter's efforts to meet her father's last wish of dying at home after coordinating care for her mother with Alzheimer's. According to the article, "In their last days, older patients are increasingly likely to be shuttled among hospitals, nursing homes and hospices in pursuit of Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Ultimately, most die in an institution, rather than at home." Full article attached. 
  • A September 25, 2014 New York Times article reported on the impact of the nation's long-term care crisis on minority communities. According to the article, "With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, the United States is in a long-term care crisis. Those without assets cannot get care at home. Low-income seniors are often enrolled in lower-quality nursing facilities. Growing racial and ethnic diversity adds another level of complexity to this crisis. By 2050, the number of African-Americans age 65 and older will more than triple, and the number of older Latinos will increase 11-fold. Consequently, the number of multiple, complex chronic conditions, rates of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and social and health care needs will also increase. Between 1999 and 2008, the number of whites in nursing homes had decreased by 10 percent, while the number of African-Americans increased by 11 percent and the number of Latinos by 55 percent." 
  • A September 24, 2014 MedCity News article reported that "Supporters of National Institutes of Health research are following the lead of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge – they just turned to social media to try and get the general public jazzed about increasing federal funding for medical research." According to the article, "The Act for NIH: Advancing Cures Today campaign solicits researchers and patients to share their stories and post photos of themselves online with a sign advocating their cause of choice. The photo will get posted on actfornih.org – an organization that’s actually separate from the NIH but run by Pat White, a former NIH Associate Director for Legislative Policy and Analysis. The hashtag attached to this social media push is #Act4NIH."