It’s about as frightening as it gets: an elderly woman who suffers from dementia wandering the city streets alone in the early morning hours. But unfortunately, this story is real. Earlier this week, the Post-Gazette.com posted an article about a 75-year-old nursing home resident who was finally found after she…
According to agingcare.com, skin problems are common among the elderly but while some problems are considered a normal part of aging, others can be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, heart or liver disease, or malnutrition. Skin problems can also be an adverse reaction to medication.…
With nearly 1,600,000 Pennsylvania drivers over the age of 65, travel in a private vehicle is the most common mode of transportation by these older drivers because it is safe and convenient. According to tripnet.org, many seniors self regulate their driving traveling only on familiar routes, during daylight hours, and…
Closing nursing home facilities due to rising health costs and diminishing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements have forced an emergence of a new model of care that allows many elderly patients to remain in their homes while still receiving the medical care and social services offered in nursing homes. According to…
According to the Pennsylvania Care Planning Council, many adults, who as children received counsel and wisdom from their parents, are now facing concerns about their aging parents and what will be needed as their health and mental abilities fail. In an article on carepennsylvania.org, while some children who live miles…
Medicare will cover a cardiovascular screening every 5 years according to Medicare.gov. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, it is important to take care of your heart to stay healthy. Information on the Medicare website suggests starting by talking to your doctor about…
As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled their annual Nursing Home Compare List, USA TODAY revealed their own analysis of the list, showing that an alarming number of nursing homes across the country have maintained a 1 star rating – the lowest on the 5-star scale – since…
The home health care industry is facing a serious dilemma: low wages are causing high turnover among home health care workers. But to provide better wages, benefits, and overtime pay, the industry would be forced to make seniors pay more for care. In an article on USAToday.com, Catherine Ruckelshaus of…
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, PA Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget, released last week, calls for a four percent cut in Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes with the projected loss about $46.5 million. That translates to an almost $8-per-day loss in the average Medicaid patient reimbursement of $194, according to…
A Minnesota nursing home is being blamed in the choking death of a resident after it was discovered that he was not supervised while eating, according to an article on AustinDailyHerald.com. In the article, a Minnesota Department of Health report said the resident was found choking in his room with…