Elder Rights
United States
Background Documents
Older
American Act (1965)
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Older
Americans Act into law on July 14, 1965. This
Act aims at providing help for older persons by
claiming indisputable elder rights such as
adequate incomes in retirement and the best
possible physical and mental health. The Act
established the Administration of Aging, a
federal advocacy agency to represent and protect
older US citizens. This agency is empowered to
oversee services and providing opportunities for
older people across the Nation. The Act also
authorizes grants to States for community
planning and services programs aimed at older
persons. Title XVIII covering Medicare and Title
XIX covering Medicaid were also signed into law
in 1965.
Amendment
to Older American Act (2000)
The Amendment to Older American Act in 2000
added grants to Area Agencies on Aging. It also
established an important new program, the
National Family Caregiver Support Program. This
Support Program aimed at addressing the nation’s
needs of caregivers. It was intended to help
hundreds of thousands of family members who care
for their older loved ones. Also, the 2000
Amendment maintains the original ten objectives
of the Older American Act about the protection
of the older US citizens’ rights and dignity.
Reauthorization
to Older American Act Choice for
Independence (2006)
The 2006 Reauthorization of the Older
American Act includes a project called “Choices
for Independence” which promotes
consumer-directed and community-based long term
care options.
Violence
Against Women Act of 1994
President
Bill
Clinton
signed
into
law
The
Violence
against
Women
Act
of
1994
(VAWA).
It
is
enacted
as
Title
IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act of 1994. It enhances the
investigation and prosecution of violent
crimes perpetrated against women. Also the Act
changes federal criminal laws by including a
civil rights remedy for victims of “gender
motivated violence,” a provision declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
Violence
Against Women Act of 2000
On
October 28, 2000, President Bill Clinton
signed into law the Violence against Women Act
of 2000 as division B of the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of
2000. The VAWA 2000 continues the essential
work begun in 1994 and creates new grant
programs, in order to create transitional
housing for victims of domestic abuse or
enhance protection for elderly and disabled
victims of domestic abuse among others.
CRS Report:
Violence against Women Act: History, Federal
Funding and Reauthorizing Legislation
(October 2001)
Read this report to have complete knowledge
about the Violence against Women Act.
Care-Giving
and Nursing Homes
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
Elder
Abuse: Study Finds Agencies Recruit Dangerous
Caregivers (July 13, 2012)
Research published in the Journal of American
Geriatrics Society reveals that a large number of
nursing and care-taking agencies recruit and hire
people from websites such as Craigslist.
They often fail to run criminal background checks
or administer drug tests to their employees. In
fact, of the 180 agencies surveyed, only
fifty-five percent run federal criminal background
checks and one third test workers for drugs.
Having so many unqualified, untrained caregivers
puts many vulnerable seniors at risk. By making
unannounced visits, checking in on caregivers and
asking for referrals, loved ones may feel more
protected.
Who’s
Watching Mom (July 19, 2012)
Researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg
School of Medicine looked at the agencies that
supply caregivers, companions, homemakers,
personal care attendant and non-nursing home
health aides to people who need help living
independently at home. The disturbing news:
It is an unregulated business with little consumer
protection. How should competency be measured?
Please read more on this interesting –but
disturbing - discussion.
New
Numbers on Elder Care (July 5, 2012)
Only recently has the Bureau of Labor Statistics
inquired into elder care. During the past three
months, 39.8 million people over the age of 15
years have provided unpaid care to someone over 65
years due to the natural conditions of aging.
Women make up the majority of these caregivers.
What is surprising is that male caregivers are
catching up. These surveys can encourage more
discussion and knowledge about how elder care
responsibilities impact our work and lives.
US:
Consumer Bureau Launches Inquiry into Financial
Abuse of Elderly (June 14, 2012)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is
investigating the financial exploitation of older
adults, marking World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day. The inquiry is soliciting public
commentary on unfair, deceptive and abusive
practices toward older persons. The Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau will also seek out
public opinion on the evaluation of financial
advisors who may aid elders and of possible
resources that may help older adults with
financial planning.
When
Alzheimer's Meets Race, Black Caregivers Face
Toughest Challenges (May 30, 2012)
Family caregivers often experience high levels of
stress that can impact their careers and
well-being. According to a recent Alzheimer's
Association report, African American caregivers
spend a weekly average of 30 hours providing care
and are more likely to experience a higher level
of burden. The National Institutes of Health
are urging the healthcare system and providers to
be more aware of cultural differences and needs in
order to better serve the healthcare community on
all levels. Will this happen?
NYUCN's
Dr. Laura Wagner: Study Finds Accreditation
Improves Safety Culture at Nursing Homes (April
25, 2012)
According to a study published in the May 2012
issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality
and Patient Safety, accredited nursing homes show
a stronger resident safety culture than non
accredited facilities. The positive influences
shows itself in staffing, teamwork, training,
responses to mistakes and open communication. The
study results confirm that the process of
sustaining the level of standards for
accreditation can create a safety-oriented
environment.
Northeast
Florida Nonprofit Examining Needs of Older
People in LGBT Community (April 23, 2012)
Elder Source, a nonprofit resource center for the
older people in Northeast Florida, has started to
look at aging issues faced by the LGBT community.
Common issues are legal in nature—legal protection
for themselves and their partners—and being able
to fit in socially with those living in retirement
communities and nursing homes. The Elder Source
initiative hopes to learn the needs of the aging
LGBT community, train caregivers and
organizations, and increase awareness.
“Gen
Silent” Documentary (April 2012)
Filmmaker Stu Maddux tells the stories of six LGBT
seniors and their lives in care facilities. They
often have to hide their sexual orientations to
survive in the care system. Many of these
victorious civil rights activists now have little
social support. “Gen Silent” shows the disparities
in the quality of care in institutions committed
to serving LGBT seniors and those that
discriminate against them. For more information
and screening schedule, check out the
documentary's official
website.
The
Caregiver’s Bookshelf: A Law Guide for Seniors
(April 2, 2012)
Learning about the law as an older adult or on
behalf of one can be daunting. There are many
regulations, requirements and exceptions which can
be confusing. Everyday Law for Seniors, written by
law professors Lawrence Frolik and Linda Whitton,
helps readers navigate the elder law area. Seniors
can also receive individualized advice by way of
an elder attorney.
Nursing
Homes
Won’t
Have
to
Hire
Independent Pharmacists (April 3, 2012)
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
backtracked on a plan that would have required
nursing homes to hire independent pharmacists to
evaluate residents’ prescriptions. The issue is
that the relationships between the nursing homes
and pharmacists can create conflicts of in
interest if the pharmacists are pressured to fill
prescriptions residents don’t actually need or if
these medications are substituted with
higher-priced drugs.
Caring
for Elderly Parents Catches Many Unprepared
(March 25, 2012)
According to a 2009 survey, more than 42 million
Americans cared for older family members needing
help with daily activities. Many children are
unprepared when they are forced into caring for
their older parents, especially since Medicare
does not pay for long-term care and many lack
advance care directives. Without an advance care
directive, family members have to petition the
court to be appointed guardians. Caregivers also
have to watch out for their own health. Bottom
line: plan ahead.
Few US
Cities Prepared for Aging Baby Boomers (March
25, 2012)
The National Association of Area Agencies on
Aging, a D.C.-based group, reports that in five
years little has changed in how prepared cities
are to deal with aging populations. Less than half
of the cities surveyed are prepared or preparing
to deal with the needs of older people. Economic
woes are preventing cities from doing more. The
most unmet need is that of transportation.
Eldercare
Stress:
What’s
Different
for
Males--Especially
Black Men (March 4, 2012)
The number of men caring for an older adult has
doubled in the past 15 years, from 19 percent of
caregivers in 1996 to 40 percent by 2009. Why?
Smaller family sizes, which makes the role fall
more often to men; the economy, which makes men
less able to outsource the role; the increasing
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which affects
women more than men, making many men spousal
caregivers. Men are often less socially prepared
for caregiving and underuse resources that can
ease the caregiver burden. Additionally, men may
neglect themselves emotionally and physically.
Together, these are sources of stress, especially
for African-American men who may lack support and
resources.
A
Shift from Nursing Homes to Managed Care at Home
(February 23, 2012)
In a newer model of long-term care, a team of
doctors, social workers, physical and occupational
therapists and other specialists provide managed
care for individual patients at home and at adult
day-care centers. Studies suggest that it can be
less expensive than traditional nursing homes
while providing better medical results. The number
of these programs is growing and has expanded to
29 states.
Fair
Pay
for
2.5
Million
Home
Care
Aides
Facing
Industry
Opposition (February 16, 2012)
President Obama and the U.S. Department of Labor
have joined efforts to change the federal labor
law that currently excludes home care workers from
minimum-wage and overtime protections. The home
care workforce is largely composed of females and
immigrants. However, the home health
industry opposes the possible change and cites
financial burden as their reason. The industry
believes that this change will decrease
availability of care to the elderly and that
provider payment levels should be increased from
Medicaid or other third-party organizations. But
the Department of Labor projects the cost of
compliance with the new rule would be an
insignificant fraction of the industry’s $84
billion revenue.
Tracking
Down
Government Aid (February 16, 2012)
The National Council on Aging and the National
Association of Area Agencies on Aging are trying
to raise awareness among older people to take
advantage of programs they could qualify for but
don’t necessarily apply for.
NAHB:
Growing Market for Aging-in-Place Remodeling
(February 9, 2012)
At the annual National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) conference, certified
aging-in-place specialists and AARP
representatives discussed the evolution of the
aging-in-place market. Some 90% of people aged 50
and above want to remain in their homes for as
long as possible, driving demand for
aging-in-place remodeling.
Fair
Pay
for
Home
Health
Aides
(February
8,
2012)
Home care workers are one indispensable component
of elders aging in place. For close to 40 years,
however, home health aides and other domestic
workers have been left out of the Federal Fair
Labor Standard Act that dictates minimum wages and
overtime pay for most other American workers. The
campaign to win federal protection for these
workers has both gained and lost momentum. But
will higher wages mean lower accessibility for
those that cannot afford home care?
Talking
to Aging Parents About Changes (February 6,
2012)
Parents do not react well when their children
suggest changes that they perceive as limiting
their independence and autonomy. Author David
Solie tells adult children to avoid role
reversal situations; they are not parenting their
parents but rather partnering with them.
Nursing
Home Investigation Finds Errors by Druggists
(January 27, 2012)
According to state
investigations, pharmacists responsible for
revising the medication of patients in
California nursing homes regularly allowed
inappropriate and potentially fatal
prescriptions of antipsychotic medications. They
also failed to correct other possibly dangerous
drug indiscretions. The investigations suggest a
probable correlation between the inadequate
review of nursing home patients’ medications by
pharmacists and possibly inadequate pay for the
pharmacists’ services.
Millions
Now Manage Aging Parents’ Care from Afar
(January 27, 2012)
The National Institute
on Aging estimates around 7 million US people
are long-distance caregivers. They experience
greater stress and incur more costs. In 2007,
the National Alliance for Caregiving and
Evercare reported that long-distance caretakers
spent an average of $8,728 annually. The numbers
of caregivers are likely to increase sharply as
the population ages and lifespans lengthen.
Economic
Focus
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
Seniors
Grow Old Under Debt (May 29, 2012)
According to credit counselors, elder law
attorneys and economists, older Americans are
drowning in debt across the United States. Many
seniors are filing for bankruptcy alongside
looking for financial assistance and work.
Sadly, healthcare bills, mortgage payments,
credit card balances and student loans are the
main reasons behind this debt for the elderly.
Moreover, the financial crisis and few employment
opportunities have proved to be just as punishing.
Gray Nation: The
Very Real Economic Dangers of an Aging America
(March 26, 2012)
Economists James Stock and Mark Watson have
identified slow expansion of the labor force as
the main reason for slowing economic growth. As
the population ages, a lower proportion of the
population is working, even though more resources
are needed to support retirees. The economists
also argue that aging baby boomers would worsen
stock market performance. If demographic change is
indeed to blame for slow growth, the author
suggests that the US could be proactive in
increasing the labor supply, such as through
migration.
Winner
of
$336
Million
Powerball
Jackpot
is an 81-year-old Newport Woman (March 6, 2012)
An 81-year-old woman from Newport won last month's
$336.4 million Powerball jackpot, sleeping with
the ticket in her Bible.
Can Boomer Women Afford to Retire? (February
8, 2012)
The majority of boomer women
will earn their own Social Security and will
receive higher benefits than previous
generations of women. Additionally, more women
will have their own retirement accounts.
Researchers also found that women are delaying
retirement. However, the fact that women earn
less than men has serious effects because this
means Social Security and pension payouts will
be reduced. Another factor not considered is
that women take time off to raise a family or
care for an aging relative. Compared to men,
women are behind in saving for retirement. The
question still remains: Can boomer women afford
to retire?
Hispanics
Are Least Prepared for Retirement, Report
Finds (February 3, 2012)
According to an ING study
that compares how different ethnic groups are
planning for the future, Hispanic Americans, the
nation’s fastest-growing minority group, are
least prepared for retirement. The subjects of
the study were all employed full-time and earned
a household income of $40K or more. The major
obstacle for Hispanic respondents was
understanding their retirement options. Minority
groups who do not have retirement funds will
more than likely rely on Social Security as
their safety net.
99% to NYT’s David Brooks: Get Real,
Not Simple (January 15, 2012)
Conservative commentator David Brooks
recently put forth an assertion that along with
Wall Street, old people are also responsible for
the redistribution of money to the 1%. But there
are holes in his argument. For example,
ethnically diverse aging boomers will be
affected negatively by proposed Medicare cuts.
Brooks also does not consider the fact that half
of seniors are struggling to get by: nearly half
of Americans over the age of 55 have less than
$25,000 saved for retirement. Simplifying is not
the answer.
Old
Age Employment
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
Behind
the Spike in Seniors' Unemployment (May 16,
2012)
The Government Accountability Office has found
that many American seniors face financial
instability as a result of not having jobs. The
combination of health problems, inadequate skill
sets and a tough labor market all contribute to
the growing unemployment rates among seniors.
Since the recession, older workers have faced
long term unemployment, thereby forcing them to
use retirement savings and deplete their
finances. What is their main obstacle? Age
discrimination.
How
Older Workers Weather Layoffs (May 15, 2012)
According to a Government Accountability Office
Report, once older workers lose their jobs, they
tend to spend a longer time trying to find new
work. Using focus groups, it was found that
older workers believed that they faced age
discrimination and had trouble adjusting to new
technological advances, including online job
searches. Employers believed that older workers
would incur higher health-care costs and would
not stay long enough for the employer to reap
some benefits.
Seniors
Take Jobs Typically Filled by Teenagers (May
13, 2012) Decreasing retirement investment
returns have led older workers to re-enter the
workforce. This development has changed the
average age of workers, with the percentage of
young people dropping to the lowest level since
1948. At the same time, the percentage of
persons over 65 years in the workforce is at its
highest since 1965. With healthier and longer
life spans, many spend their retirement working
part-time. However, young workers often want
these part-time jobs. From a business
perspective, older workers come with more
experience and employers appreciate their
reliability. How can the economy serve
everyone?
Baby
Boomers and the Shrinking Work Force (May 7,
2012)
The labor force participation rate for adults in
the US has fallen considerably, as indicated in
April job reports. Part of the reason may be
attributed to the fact that older people are
less likely to work. However, the real reason is
likely due to the rapid decline of men, ages 25
to 54, in the labor force.
80
is the New 50: City Seniors Are Not the
Retiring Type: Census Data (April 29, 2012)
Over 9,000 New York seniors are working into
their 80s and 90s. Geneticist Nir Barzilai says
that such exceptional longevity could be
attributed to exercise, healthy diets, no
smoking, medical advances that take care of
cancers and heart disease and protective genes.
Featured in the article is Helen Hamlin, an
89-year-old who works as a representative to the
UN for the International Federation on Ageing.
She insists that staying busy and going to the
doctor are her recipes for a long, healthy life.
Later
Life ‘Encore Work’ Replaces Income, Reinvents
Retirement (April 16, 2012)
With downsizing, rightsizing, outsourcing and
plant closings, many older boomers don’t have
the wealth of high paying opportunities they
once did. Seniors are now creating work and life
decisions in tune with what is do-able and
important to them. An initiative known as
Lifelong Learning Accounts offers job training
that people can use in their current job or
apply for education for a new career. It is not
about money but rather defining an experience
that is meaningful, productive and stimulating
such as volunteerism.
People
Don’t Want to Retire: Many Seniors Prefer
Reinventing Themselves (April 8, 2012)
The Urban Institute reports
that “90% of workers age 60 to 64, or 5.4
million men and women, say they enjoy going to
work. The share increases to 97% of workers 70
and older, or 3 million people.” While much has
been said about the inability of baby boomers to
retire due to insufficient savings and pensions,
this article reminds us that many seniors,
blessed with good health, prefer to work,
perhaps even forging new careers such as working
in Disneyland.
Seniors
Rise in Work Force After Slump (March 25,
2012)
Compared to 2007, the
proportion of the labor force aged 55 and above
has increased while those aged 25 to 54 has
decreased. One in five working New Yorkers is
now 55 or older. While it shows that older
workers are now more educated and healthier, the
increased employment also points to the trend of
baby boomers holding on to their jobs, as
savings and social security diminish.
Older
Workers Seeing Biggest Job Gains (March 11,
2012)
The US Bureau of Labor
Statistics shows that older workers have been
the biggest beneficiaries of the improving job
market. The number of people over age 55 who
have a job has increased by 1.69 million over
the past year to approximately 30.2 million
workers. This is a larger increase than for any
other age group. One reason why older workers
are holding on to their jobs is due their need
for health care benefits that come with
employment.
In US,
We're Not Just Aging, We're Also More Educated
(February 24, 2012)
In an unprecedented twist,
employment among young adults 16-29 fell 8
percent from 2000 to 2010 while labor force
participation rates for those aged 55-74 rose by
8 percent. Today, older Americans are more
educated and are holding skilled jobs. They are
harder to replace, are least hit by the
recession, and are more able to continue working
later in life, thanks to education. The rate of
increase in older people (60-69) holding college
degrees is now faster than the rate of increase
in younger age groups as baby boomers age.
'Work
Until You Drop': In Aging America, It's a New
Era for Baby Boomers (February 21, 2012)
Aging baby boomers find
themselves pushing back retirement or never
contemplating retirement at all. As 401(k) nest
eggs shrink, defined benefits pensions no longer
offered, and jobs disappear, many cannot afford
to retire.
Jobs
Program for Older Americans Struggles (Jan 2,
2012)
With passage of the 2012
budget, Congress failed to reestablish cuts made
last year to the Senior Community Service
Employment Program, a federally funded program
that employs older adults. Additionally, the
participation rate in the program has decreased
drastically. The present unemployment rate for
workers over the age of 55 is the highest since
World War II.
More
Americans
Put Retirement on Hold (December 31, 2011)
Americans are increasingly staying on the job
past the traditional retirement age of 65.
Employment Security Department economist Scott
Bailey states that older workers are swayed by
pull factors, the reasons they'd want to remain
employed, and push factors, the reasons they
can't retire.
Neglect/Abuse
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
New
Research: 40% of Elderly Latinos Abused (July
30, 2012)
Researchers at the University Of Southern
California Davis School Of Gerontology revealed
that 40 percent of elderly Latinos are abuse --
either physically or mentally. While cultural
norms, such as loyalty, often lead outsiders to
believe that Hispanic elders are less likely to be
abused, "sometimes solidarity just leads to
silence." In fact, 39 percent of
elders admitted to having suffered some type of
abuse but only 1.5 percent reported the abuse to
the proper authorities.
'Silent Crime'
-- Defrauding Elders Grows in Ethnic Communities
(May 18, 2012)
According to the 2011 MetLife Study of Financial
Elder Abuse, fraud against seniors has grown by 12
percent within the past three years. A 2011 report
by the California Elder Justice Coalition found
that African American seniors are potentially five
times more likely than non-blacks to be subject to
financial fraud. In an effort to combat financial
abuses, seniors are urged to talk to community
social workers or other trustworthy individuals
before giving out money.
Tips for Fighting Fraud (April 23, 2012)
Recent research finds that older people are
more vulnerable to scams than others. While
the reasons are not completely clear, elders
often expose themselves to potential scams by
opening and reading junk mail or by accepting
fraudulent sale attempts. Unfortunately they
do not take advantage of protection, such as
do-not-call lists. Blaming the elder person is
not effective. They can be trained to
recognize phony sales pitches and begin to
understand how manipulation works.
Additionally, warnings can help. At the same
time, older fraud victims rarely report these
crimes and the perpetrators move quickly to
the next victim. Family members, caregivers
and older people must work together to fend
off those who would victimize them.
Study:
LGBT Ethnic Elders See More Poverty,
Isolation, Bias (April 5, 2012)
Mark Segal, co-founder and publisher
of Philadelphia Gay News, has successfully
applied for $11 million in state tax credit to
build an affordable housing complex for LGBT
seniors. Seniors have to be at least 62 years
old, but not necessarily LGBT, to live there.
The housing project will include retail space,
community services and public spaces, and will
allow LGBT seniors to live in a nonjudgmental
community.
Abuse
of
Mind-Altering
Drugs
Rising
in
Eldercare Facilities (March 5, 2012)
Across the nation, the use of drugs as
chemical straightjackets in nursing homes and
hospitals is a growing problem. The abuse of
antipsychotic medications is the leading form
of elder abuse in nursing homes. Treatment of
elders often falls to professionals who may
have insufficient training in the special
needs of older adults because there is a
shortage of geriatric psychiatrists. The
Department of Public Health is responsible for
monitoring and reporting potential violations
of the use of drugs. At the same time, medical
privacy concerns leave things a bit
complicated to resolve.
Up
to
10
Percent
of
Nation’s
Elderly
Suffer Abuse from In-Home Caregivers (March
5, 2012)
According to independent studies compiled by
the National Center on Elder Abuse,
approximately one to two million Americans age
65 and older have been injured, exploited, or
mistreated by a caregiver. Elder abuse
continues to be prevalent because safety nets
designed to protect have not been established
for the elderly. Bills constituting the “Elder
Protection Package” are being recommended for
passage in Michigan.
Finding Them Easier
Prey, Scammers Target the Elderly (March 5,
2012)
In the US, financial frauds targeting older
persons are a growing multibillion-dollar
industry. Five percent of Americans ages 60
and older reported being financially exploited
by members of their family, while 6.5 percent
were victims of non-family members. Older
persons, who often have tangible assets such
as homes, are tempting preys as they may be
more dependent on others, unsophisticated
about financial matters, or more socially
isolated. The article describes three common
scams.
Political
Rights and Legal Actions
Reports | Articles
Reports
Special
Report: Human Rights Watch on Old Behind
Bars (January 27, 2012)
Between 2007 and 2010, prisoners aged 65 or
older increased by 63%; the overall
population only grew by 0.7%. This
phenomenon is largely driven by longer
sentences and life sentences without parole.
States spend more money on older prisoners
especially since insurance companies do not
insure inmates. This report highlights how
prisons are ill-equipped to deal with an
aging prison population and catalogs the
ways in which elder rights may be violated,
for example being housed in the same cell as
violent younger inmates. The report
concludes with recommendations such as a
review of sentencing laws.
Articles
Voter
Photo ID Laws Have Harsh Impact on Poor, Elderly
and Minority Voters, Study Says ( July 21, 2012)
Poverty, states' continuous underinvestment in
public transportation, especially in rural areas,
and bureaucratic inefficiencies among agencies, all
combine to create challenges for many Americans to
obtain the necessary documentation to vote in states
where such restrictive laws have been enforced.
Voter
Disenfranchisement’s
Real Female Face (April 14, 2012)
Brentin Mock, contributor to The Nation, spoke with
voting-rights “evangelist” Faye Anderson, who
believes that the focus of the voter registration
movement should be re-evaluated. Instead of trying
to register elderly persons, the movement should
target middle-aged women without driver’s licenses
because they are most impacted by voter ID laws.
Law
Associations,
Industry
Groups
Support
Older
Americans
Act
of
2011
(January
30,
2012)
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, an
association of attorneys devoted to improving the
quality of legal services for the elderly, announced
their support for the reauthorization of the Older
Americans Act. This Act provides help through
community planning and social services. A new bill
will better reflect future costs of living that
affect people 62 or older.
Elderly Inmates:
Aging Prison Population Strains Tight State
Budgets (January 27, 2012)
States are struggling to deal with an aging prison
population. Some have already started early
release programs and specialized care and even
retrofitted cells. States are legally obliged to
provide decent medical care to inmates;
however, prison personnel and facilities are
ill-equipped to deal with older inmates. Why is this
happening? More persons are receiving longer
sentences and life sentences without parole.
92-year-old
American Decides to Learn How to Read (January 17,
2012)
(Article in
Russian)
Jim Arruda Henry spent his adult life hiding the
fact that he could not read. Even close members of
his family had no idea of this large gap in his
education. Henry was able to complete only three
classes of elementary school but had to drop out to
help his parents earn a livelihood. When he turned
92 years old, he decided to rectify the situation.
He began learning how to read, starting with the
alphabet and children's books.
Aging
Lives
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
Ageless
Education: Researchers Create Guide for
Intergenerational Classrooms in Nursing Homes
(July 25, 2012)
A new approach to education allows intermixing of
elders and children in the classroom. In an effort
to integrate kindergartens and nursing homes into
one environment, researcher Stephanie Geller, wrote
a book entitled, "Uniting Wonder With Wisdom, An
Intergenerational Classroom Replication Guide." She
thinks that such projects help ensure that society
sees elders as valuable members of society, improve
their health, and enhance children's academic and
social development.
Facing
Foreclosure After 50 (July 19, 2012)
Older Americans over the age of 50 are increasingly
losing their homes to foreclosure in this recession.
The highest foreclosure rare was for homeowners over
75 years. Millions of Americans are carrying more
mortgage debt than ever before. They are losing
their homes because of pension cuts, rising medical
costs and decreasing stock portfolios and falling
property values. Additionally, they are not saving
enough money in their retirement accounts. With this
crisis, elders are less able to find new jobs and
are vulnerable to becoming homeless.
IOM:
Elderly Need Better Access to Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Care (July 10, 2012)
Researchers at the Institute of Medicine have
documented the alarmingly low number of health care
workers who are trained to help seniors with mental
health and substance abuse conditions. Between 5.6
and 8 million elders suffer from one of these
conditions. Apparently health workers need better
incentives and access to pursue careers in
geriatrics, as geriatricians and psychiatrists are
at the "'lowest end of the pay scale.'"
Surely advocates must acknowledge that such low pay
rates of health care workers for elders confirms yet
another form of discrimination against older
persons.
As
"Lone Deaths" Rise in U.S., Korean Elders "Reverse
Immigrate" Home (July 9, 2012)
According to the US Census Bureau, the number of
Korean elders living alone throughout the United
States has sharply increased. As Korean
seniors' fears of being unable to provide for
themselves due to the recession and worries about
dying alone grow, many decide to return to South
Korea. Those Korean elders who stay in the United
States despite being abandoned by their families are
often unaware of available help and respite care
programs available to them in the
US.
Ten
Resources to Help Prepare for Aging With Dignity
and Independence (June 29, 2012)
As people age, they will need some form of help with
daily activities such as cooking, transportation and
even health care. Consider the resources of your
community, especially in terms of available
resources. However, knowing about standard resources
that are available to all and being aware will allow
you to be prepared for special needs in old age.
Read further to research more into these options.
Aging:
A Collective Response (June 25, 2012)
In the new book “Independent for Life: Homes and
Neighborhoods for an Aging America," writers explore
many aspects of aging from economics, finance,
technology, architecture, interior design, housing
development, city planning and politics. They
explore how to put forth perspectives and possible
solutions to aging in place. They demonstrate how to
make households safer and more pleasing to older
people with physical or cognitive limitations. It
also investigates how neighborhoods and communities
can become more accommodating to the senior
demographic.
They
Still Don't Want to Live with You (June 20, 2012)
According to a US survey, the prospect of moving in
with adult children does not make aging parents'
entirely joyous. People in the sample were asked
whether they would want to have a parent live with
them. Some 53% of those ages 35 to 64 answered yes.
Approximately 43% of those over 65 were accepting of
the notion. When asked about their willingness to
live with a younger family member, those over the
age 65 were less than enthusiastic. Only a quarter
said yes. Another 38% said they were not certain.
What is interesting to note is that in certain
ethnic communities, multigenerational households
remain an unchallenged norm.
Poverty
Increasing Among Retirees (May 21, 2012)
Between 2005 and 2009, poverty rates increased among
older Americans, most strongly impacting the oldest
citizens. Medical costs and health problems
contributed to occurrences of poverty among
individuals. Older adults also depleted their
savings and pensions accounts, possibly as a result
of the recession.
Great
Recession Reflux Amounts to More Hunger Among
Seniors (May 14, 2012)
The number of older adults threatened by hunger has
increased by 78% over the course of a 10 year study
by the University of Illinois. Currently, more
than one in seven older adults, or 8.3 million
individuals, encounter hunger due to financial
difficulties
More
Residents are Opting for Aging-in-Place (May 17,
2012)
A Center for Housing Policy study shows that one in
four adults will likely end up with a mobility
limitation that requires some home renovations. This
represents a big potential home building and home
modification market. Additionally, most elder
homeowners say they want to age in place. In
response, the National Association of Home Builders
has started a Certification Programs in Aging in
Place Specialization for contractors.
A
Twist in the Driving Debate (May 16, 2012)
According to a Yale Geriatrics study, many older
drivers who stopped driving resumed at some point
and were healthier and more functional than those
who did not return to driving. Why did these people
stop driving? These matters are being investigated.
Assisted
Living Alternatives that Keep Aging Parents Close
(May 14, 2012)
The transitional home phenomenon is a growing in
senior housing options. This affordable alternative
to assisted living in the form of a small structure
can be built in the backyard of adult children or
primary caregivers. Accessory dwelling units
allow elders to be independent but close to loved
ones. Another option is to remodel a home to
accommodate aging parents.
Women
and Retirement: Issues of Transition, Denial and
Loss (May 9, 2012)
Upon retiring, women of all backgrounds suffer from
feelings of isolation, fears of having too much free
time, and worries about finances and more. This
writer suggests steps a woman should take in order
to transition successfully into retirement.
Acknowledging that life will be different and
discovering new passions are a few of the ways of
coping with this change.
Therapy
of a Different Sort (May 4, 2012)
Vibrant Seniors is a workshop styled group therapy
where discussion and sharing is at the
forefront. Elders talk about topics
they otherwise never would have discussed. It is a
90-minute gathering around a questionnaire that
explores subjects such as longevity, friendship,
finances, sexuality, inheritances, family disputes
and wisdom. This model may be replicated in
assisted living facilities, senior centers and
therapists’ offices. Many old people find a dearth
of professionals trained to work with people their
age. Such therapy raises the issue of how Medicare
would cover such service since it would require a
specific diagnosis.
Chinatown
Death Triggers Worries About Isolated Elders
(May 7, 2012)
After a 91-year-old woman accidentally fell from
her San Francisco apartment window, low-income
seniors are becoming increasingly concerned about
the unsafe living conditions to which they are
exposed. Although many of California's elders get
help from the In Home Supportive Service Program
(IHSS), recent budget cuts have led to a reduction
in service. Several concerns of elders who live
alone include: depression, falls and chronic
illness. Will low-income seniors be able to cope
with a further reduction in funds when they depend
on such programs for help and even survival?
Threat
of Hunger Skyrockets Among Seniors over Last
Decade: Report (May 3, 2012)
According to a study conducted by Meals on Wheels,
a nonprofit that delivers meals to the homebound,
about 8.3 million US seniors faced the threat of
hunger in 2010. The risk of hunger was
particularly strong for the 60 years and older
demographic earning less than $30,000 yearly.
These statistics dramatically reveal how the US
government is failing its older citizens. Food
insecurity is greatest for seniors living in the
South and Southwest, minorities, women, people who
were divorced or separated, the disabled and
seniors age 60 to 69.
In
the Backyard, Grandma’s New Apartment (May 1,
2012)
When Dr. Socorrito Baez-Page faced the issue of
taking care of her older mother, she found a very
interesting and personal option-a MEDCottage. This
prefabricated small open-plan home was set up as a
free-standing structure in their backyard with
special amenities to meet the needs of older
people. However, zoning rules create barriers to
these structures; only about half of the states
allow accessory housing for a family member. These
homes allow the elderly to age in place.
Additionally, a provision of the Affordable Care
Act will pay for health care delivered in the home
instead of at the doctor’s office, which
broadens the capacities of a MEDCottage.
Another alternative is Practical Assisted Living
Structures.
The
Caregiver's Bookshelf: Essays on the End
(April 26, 2012)
A new anthology called "At the End of Life: True
Stories About How We Die," contains poignant
narratives reveal a truth about death in our
culture: it is complex. The thoughts and
experiences of social workers, doctors, nurses,
family members, hospice staff and a 911
dispatcher are recorded. Raw emotions, conflict
and decision-making are common in these final
weeks and months.
Looking
for a Few Good Boomers to Help Others (April
25, 2012)
The current generation of retirees is the
healthiest and best educated the US has ever
experienced. Such retirees are especially
attractive as volunteers. They are better able
to take on community roles that require good
health and specialized skills. A third of
boomers who volunteer, aged 48 to 66, are
attracted to opportunities with religious
underpinnings. There are 77 million boomers
today. In 2010, 28.8% of boomers volunteered in
their communities, a slight decrease from
before.
Most
Don’t
Make End-of-Life Decisions (April 16, 2012)
US medical professionals believe that physicians
should discuss end-of-life issues such as living
wills and artificial nutrition with terminally
ill patients. The US Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality found in 2003 that fewer
than 50 percent of the terminally ill had any
kind of directive in their medical record.
Individuals can provide instruction on what
actions should be taken for their health in the
event they no longer can make those decisions
because of illness. Additionally, families
should be fully informed of the risks and
benefits of certain procedures such as
artificial nutrition.
Baby
Boomers Will Transform Aging in America, Panel
Says (April 2, 2012)
Ken Dychtwald, president and CEO of the
consulting firm AgeWave, comments that Americans
no longer lead ‘linear’ lives. The longevity
bonus means that we must begin to think of
people as having beginnings over and over again.
There will be a shortfall in entitlement
programs and we may see a new generation of grey
activists. Professor Torres-Gil thinks that this
older voting bloc could trump political
divisiveness over immigration policy as they
realize that immigrants are necessary to the US
economy if social programs are to be funded.
The
Future: No Lattes, No Movies (March 14, 2012)
Wider Opportunities for Women has created a
national database that calculates an Elder Index
projecting a monetary amount sufficient to meet
the basic needs of a healthy old person. It
takes into account the costs of housing,
transportation, healthcare and food. But it does
not factor in entertainment, travel and gifts.
The cost of a basic and secure life varies by
region. The states with the greatest gaps
between elders’ median income and the cost of
living are Massachusetts, New York, Mississippi,
Maine, Vermont, Louisiana and the District
of Columbia.
“Unassisted
Living”
by
Wid
Chapman
and
Jeffrey
Rosenfeld Highlights Beautifully Ageless Homes
(March 6, 2012)
If you are considering moving, downsizing or
building a home in retirement, you will find
inspiration in Unassisted Living: Ageless Homes
for Later Life by architects Wid Chapman and
Jeffrey Rosenfeld. The book features homes for
baby boomers ranging from single family to
apartments to cottages. These houses all share
open spaces, modern aesthetics, natural lighting
and materials. However, they do not focus on
accommodations typically required by aging.
Instead, the emphasis is on being challenged by
one’s home in a healthy manner with future
modifications in mind. Post 50s want homes that
balance privacy and connection and
sustainability.
More
Americans
Rejecting
Marriage
in
50s
and
Beyond (March 1, 2012)
A growing number of men and women in their 50s
and 60s are opting out of marriage and venturing
into old age on their own. The divorce rate
among baby boomers has increased by more than 50
percent over the past two decades. Concurrently,
more adults are remaining single. This shift is
changing the traditional representation of older
Americans. As a consequence, these elder
Americans will also struggle to fend for
themselves in terms of financial security and
retirement.
Farewell
to
Youth, But Not Beauty (March 1, 2012)
The beauty industry has been broadening the
range of looks. Middle age and even old age are
losing their beauty stigma. Iris Apfel, a former
textile entrepreneur and style icon, is the
oldest woman at 90 to personally represent a
line of beauty products. Perhaps we are
naturally inclining towards our grandparents’
generation.
Are American
Roads Ready for Aging Baby Boomers? (February
24, 2012)
With the
growing numbers of baby boomers reaching old
age, there is an increased risk of highway
fatalities. Some changes such as tightening
license requirements, driver education, better
street lighting and clear signage would help
create safer driving conditions for motorists.
Seniors Use Online Dating in
Bigger Numbers (February 20, 2012)
The
fastest growing demographic in online dating are
those above 60 who market themselves differently
and have different desires from younger users.
Women also realize that ‘life is too short for
dating games.’ Dr. McNicoll, a gerontologist,
reminds us that older people with dementia are
vulnerable to fraud and that older people have
to protect themselves from STDs. The rate of HIV
in older persons has been increasing due to a
lack of awareness.
Study Finds
Aging Baby Boomer Generation Without Living
Wills (January 25, 2012)
According
to a new report from the California Budget
Project and Women’s Foundation of California,
women are recovering from the recession at a
slower rate than men. The recession reduced
older women’s retirement savings, causing them
to remain on the job. The slower recovery is
partly due to shrinking workweeks and scarcity
of jobs. Budget cuts to public programs,
including healthcare and education, will
negatively impact this vulnerable group.
Age
Discrimination Takes Its Toll (January 12, 2012)
In a
study published by Research on Aging, it was
found that a surprising proportion of older
people report that they have experienced
discrimination: 63 percent! However, the most
commonly cited cause was their age. What is more
unfortunate is that daily discrimination is
correlated with higher rates of depression and
poorer self-rated health. What is also
interesting is that blacks, those who were
separated or divorced or widowed, and those with
fewer household assets had higher levels of
perceived discrimination. Everyday
discrimination may be even more difficult to
adapt to than previously realized.
Tutors
Teach
Seniors
New
High-Tech
Tricks
(January
2,
2012)
A number of inventive programs across the nation
are helping to guide old adults into the digital
age. Teenagers and young adults not only support
senior citizens with new technology but also
undergo special sensitivity training to
understand the physical challenges experienced
by the aging population. The benefits to the
teachers and participants have been surprisingly
mutual.
The
Unspoken Diagnosis: Old Age (December 29, 2011)
Dr.
Alexander K. Smith, a palliative care specialist
at the University of California, San Francisco,
believes doctors should offer to discuss life
expectancy with older patients, even if the
prognosis is limited. Understanding how much
time remains could help older patients make the
most of those years and help them make
informative decisions regarding treatments. The
emphasis would be on quality of life.
Nonetheless, patients, their caregivers and
professionals have strong reactions, pro and
con.
Demographics
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
A
Profile of Older Americans: 2011 (February 10,
2012)
According to the US Census, 3.5 million elderly
lived below the poverty level in 2010, while 2.3
million experienced a “near-poor” living
status. The US Census classified 6.8% of
elderly Whites, 14.6% of older Asians, 18.0% of
older African Americans, and 18.0% of elderly
Hispanics as poor. Some 10.7% of
elderly women and 6.7% of elderly men were
classified as poor at the time of the
census.
Queens
Seniors On Food Stamps Up 31% Since 2008 (May
21, 2012)
With food and home costs rising, more seniors are
turning to food stamps to supplement their income.
In fact, the number New York City residents over
65 who receive such benefits has increased by 30
percent since 2008. Maria Cuadrado, president of
the Queens Interagency Council on Aging,
encourages seniors to find out if they're eligible
and apply, as the requirements are more flexible
that other programs.
Where the Oldest Die Now (April 18, 2012)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
report that the death rate of those over 85 years
in hospitals has decreased. However, the rate of
death in homes has increased. This trend is
similar for the population over age 65 years old.
At the same time, Dr. Joan Teno, a professor of
community health and medicine at the Brown Medical
School, points out that the rates of very old
people dying in nursing homes and other long-term
care facilities has also increased, reaching 40%
of those over age 85. The place of death does not
tell the story of the transitions leading to that
point.
Both
Parties
Wooing Seniors (April 8, 2012)
President Barack Obama and Democrats are trying to
regain support from older voters who switched to
the GOP in 2008 and 2010. However, the Republican
presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, has drawn
large crowds of older voters during the primaries.
The battle to get the senior vote is mainly being
fought over the House Republican Budget written by
Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Starting in
2023, seniors will choose among private health
insurance plans or the traditional government-run
option and receive financial aid from the
government for premiums. It appears that older
voters are now more conservative regarding social
issues and are focused on the state of the
economy.
More
US
Children
Raised
by
Grandparents
(March 2012)
Increasingly, children in the United States are
living with a grandparent. In 2010, approximately
one in 14 U.S. children lived in households with a
grandparent, for a total of 5.4 million children.
Three-generation and skipped generation families
reflect different family situations, needs, and
concerns. However, according to a study supported
by the National Institute of Mental Health,
children supported by their grandparents have
higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems
than children in the overall U.S. population. On
the flipside, these grandparents face a wide range
of stressors including strained relationships with
birth parents, social stigma, financial pressure
and their own aging related health concerns.
Growing
Old,
Sick
and
Latino
in
the South Without Papers (March 16, 2012)
Elders not only face the threat of unexpected
illness but also the threat to finances that comes
along with medical treatment. This scenario
becomes bleaker for those without proper
immigration status. These elders do not have
access to public health services such as Medicaid
or Medicare. Many undocumented elders fight to
survive. It is harder for them to get to the
resources they need to stay well. Surprisingly,
the problem that this group of people confronts is
worse in the Southeastern United States.
Study:
California
Women
“Falling
Behind”
and
Held
Back
by
Budget
Cuts
(February
3,
2012)
According to a new report by the California Budget
Project and Women’s Foundation of California,
women are recovering from the recession at a
slower rate than men. The recession damaged older
women’s retirement savings, causing them to remain
employed. The slower recovery is partly due to
shrinking workweeks and scarcity of jobs. Budget
cuts to public programs, including healthcare and
education, will negatively impact this vulnerable
group.
Promising
Initiatives
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
The
Insight of Elders (June 2, 2012)
Granger Cobb, president and CEO of Emeritus Senior
Living, was inspired to start a senior residential
community that combines assisted living and
responds to staff suggestions to institute helpful
changes.
Housing
Project for Aging LGBT Community Finally a Go
(April 16, 2012)
Mark Segal, co-founder and publisher of
Philadelphia Gay News, has successfully applied
for $11 million in state tax credit to build an
affordable housing complex for LGBT seniors.
Seniors have to be at least 62, but not
necessarily LGBT, to live there. The housing
project will include retail space, community
services and public spaces, and will allow LGBT
seniors to live in a nonjudgmental community.
New York Opens
First Gay Senior Citizens Center (March 3, 2012)
SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders)
opened the first gay senior citizens center in the
US as one of eight initiatives launched by New
York City to improve the lives of the elderly.
Services include meals and fitness classes. New
York has the largest urban population of gays,
lesbians or bisexuals in the country and there are
1.3 million elderly persons living in New York out
of 8.17 million residents (15.9 percent).
$1.3
Billion
to
Improve
the
Health
And
Independence of America’s Older Adults (March 2,
2012)
Grants of more than $1.3 billion to every state,
the District of Columbia and five territories to
sustain programs that help older adults live
healthily, safely and independently in their
communities were awarded by Kathy Greenlee,
assistant secretary for aging in the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. These
grants will help seniors avoid institutional care
through home and community-based programs with a
strong focus on prevention, nutrition and family
caregiver services.
Life, With
Dementia (February 25, 2012)
As the Human Rights Watch report “Old Behind Bars”
points out, the US prison population is rapidly
aging and many elder inmates are succumbing to
dementia. Prisons probably underreport such
numbers because prison guards are not trained to
look out for symptoms that may appear simply as
‘bad behavior’ (for example, resisting orders).
Some prison systems such as in New York choose the
expensive route of financing a separate ward for
dementia patients. In California and other states,
prisons train inmates to take care of other
patients. The Gold Coats in California (trained
prison inmates) are paid more than for other
prison jobs and are considered favorably for
parole. Many of them committed violent crimes, yet
their roles as caregivers and protectors have
touched them and drawn out their compassionate
sides.
Ethos
Launches First Fund for LGBT Seniors (February
20, 2012)
The Ethos Equality Fund is the Boston area’s first
fund solely dedicated to programs targeted at
enhancing the quality of life for LGBT elders.
While Ethos has always been a pioneer in providing
LGBT care, Dale Mitchell, executive director of
Ethos, says more needs to be done, such as better
care and support for LGBTs aging with
HIV/AIDS.
A Community
Time Bank (January 5, 2012)
A Vermont City
program called the Reach Service Exchange
Network began operation in the fall of 2010,
driven by a grant of $1 million from the Federal
Administration on Aging. The network functions
as a time bank. Montpelier residents of all ages
join for $25 and get access to a site listing
requests and offers such as driving, help with
grocery shopping and computer tutoring sessions.
People desire community, but they also want
privacy. An organization like Reach can make
this happen. The question is whether Montpelier
can keep Reach going once the grant is ended.
Trade Unions
Reports | Articles
Reports
Articles
|