Top Stories of this Week

Pension 

Mexico: Estimated 7.1 Million Seniors in Mexico for 2025 (June 16, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Mexico’s senior population will skyrocket between now and 2050.  Currently, 5.1 million older adults reside in Mexico.  In 2025, some 7.1 million persons will be seniors, and in 2050, 18.4 million individuals will be older adults in Mexico.  Although these seniors will have worked for years and deserve a decent retirement, the rapid growth of older people in Mexico may leave them with empty pockets.  To prevent widespread poverty among Mexicans who have worked through many years, the program “70 and older” (70 y más) has been re-introduced by the Social Development Secretary (Desarrollo Social), Heriberto Félix Guerra.  Thanks to extending the program this year, 3.5 million seniors from rural, urban, and suburban areas will benefit.

Health

Truvada: FDA Delays Decision On First HIV Prevention Drug (June 8, 2012)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delayed the decision to approve (or disapprove) the first HIV prevention drug, Truvada.  The FDA will need three more months to review the drug, delaying its decision until September 14, 2012.  In May, 2012, a panel of FDA experts recommended that Truvada be approved for the prevention of HIV in healthy individuals who are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

Elder Rights

Issues This Week

 

Pension | Health | Elder Rights PENSION WORLD Spain: Cospedal Eliminates the Assistance to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (June 21, 2012) (Article in Spanish) The Executive of Castilla-La Mancha, María Dolores de Cospedal, eliminated annual assistance of 400-750 euros to seniors and individuals with special needs.  She instituted annual assistances of only 120 euros. Mexico: Estimated 7.1 Million Seniors in Mexico for 2025 (June 16, 2012) (Article in Spanish) Mexico’s senior population will skyrocket between now and 2050.  Currently, 5.1 million older adults reside in Mexico.  In 2025, some 7.1 million persons will be seniors, and in 2050, 18.4 million individuals will be older adults in Mexico.  Although these seniors will have worked for years and deserve a decent retirement, the rapid growth of older people in Mexico may leave them with empty pockets.  To prevent widespread poverty among Mexicans who have worked through many years, the program “70 and older” (70 y más) has been re-introduced by the Social Development Secretary (Desarrollo Social), Heriberto Félix Guerra.  Thanks to extending the program this year, 3.5 million seniors from rural, urban, and suburban areas will benefit. Colombia: Only 5% of Seniors in Cali Receive the Government’s Attention: Legal Status (June 15, 2012) (Article in Spanish) Only 17,500 out of the 300,000 older adults living in Cali, Colombia, receive support from the State assistance programs. The Older Adult programs and National Governmental Social Protection programs (programas al Adulto Mayor y de Protección Social del Gobierno Nacional) cover only 5% of the older population. Some 65,000 seniors have solicited subsidies, but the Social Protection Program (Programa de Protección Social) has helped only 12,000 of them.  Another 53.000 are waiting for assistance from this program. HEALTH US What the Health Care Ruling Means for Medicare (June 28, 2012) In the long term, the new health care rulings will preserve many initiatives strengthening efforts to support older and disabled people in their homes, rather than in nursing centers. The Act will improve health services for seniors in many ways. A Pioneer in Aging (June 26, 2012) Linda P. Fried, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, has spent years creating measures of frailty that allow for more focused health care and prevention. She wants to change the way society views aging. Dr. Fried also argues against the notion that increased life spans necessarily mean a financial and social burden. Truvada: FDA Delays Decision On First HIV Prevention Drug (June 8, 2012) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delayed the decision to approve (or disapprove) the first HIV prevention drug, Truvada.  The FDA will need three more months to review the drug, delaying its decision until September 14, 2012.  In May, 2012, a panel of FDA experts recommended that Truvada be approved for the prevention of HIV in healthy individuals who are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. WORLD  Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean Lawmakers Get Circumcised for AIDS Awareness (June 22, 2012) More than Zimbabwean 40 lawmakers have volunteered to be circumcised, as part of a campaign to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS.  Zimbabwe reports an infection rate of 15% for HIV/AIDS.  Studies indicate that circumcision reduces a man’s likelihood of contracting HIV by 76%. Australia: Lotus Valve May Save Elderly Patients (June 18, 2012) The first trial of the Lotus Valve has been completed in Australia, successfully saving 11 geriatric patients by inserting a synthetic aortic heart valve from the groin and into the heart.  The device is unique among heart valves that have been used over the past few years. This valve may be withdrawn and repositioned, if necessary, during surgery.  The trial had a 100% success rate.  Researchers will now proceed with further testing. World: In Seniors Dehydration is the Cause of 1 in 5 Visits to the Hospital During the Summer (June 18, 2012) (Article in Spanish) Why do some older adults become dehydrated in their advanced years? Changes in anatomy, kidney function, interactions of drugs with nutrients, mineral absorption, the ability of homeostatic systems to maintain equilibrium, and the intake of diuretics or laxatives can precipitate an occurrence of dehydration. To prevent such a situation, seniors should take in more liquids.  Water, juices, broths, liquid preparations of fruits and vegetables, iced drinks, ice cream, or event Jell-O® can all help relieve this condition. World: Broken Heart = Broken Bones in Elderly (June 18, 2012) The journal Age and Ageing in Australia reports on researchers searching for links between falls and depression in participants ages 65 to 91 years.  Individuals with depression often fell: some 40% of individuals who repeatedly fell and 28% of those who fell only once had experienced depression.  Only 16% of individuals who did not fall had depression.  Because the research participants did not take antidepressants during the study, these falls cannot be attributed to antidepressants. Kenya: People Living with HIV Await Key Government Word on Drug Successfully Tried in Kenya (June 15, 2012) A recent study, Partners Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Study, a Kenya determined that two HIV preventative treatments were effective in preventing the spread of HIV from an infected individual to an uninfected individual during intercourse.  Tenofivir offers 65% protection while Truvada provides 75% protection in preventing the spread of HIV; PrEP drugs are not vaccines. PrEP would be taken prior to sexual intercourse to prevent the spread of HIV and would be complemented by post exposure prophylaxis, taken after intercourse.  Additionally, individuals who are HIV positive would continue with their antiretroviral treatments.  As a result, another weapon would be added to the arsenal in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Kenyans await two governmental agencies to determine if costs will hinder accessibility of HIV preventatives, to identify target groups, and to decide if the drug will be provided to specific individuals or to the general population. ELDER RIGHTS US 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, multi-generational households remain an unchallenged norm. WORLD United Kingdom: NHS Doctors "Ending the Lives of Thousands of Elderly Patients to Free Beds" (June 20, 2012) In the United Kingdom, 450,000 deaths occur annually in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals.  Of these 450,000 deaths, 29% or 130,000 deaths occur when the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is initiated, a pathway commonly used in hospitals for severely ill patients whose recovery is not anticipated and death is projected to occur soon.  Professor Patrick Pullicino has revealed that NHS physicians are using the LCP as a form of euthanasia for older adults due to “pressure on beds and difficulty with nursing confused or difficult-to-manage elderly patients.”  Bolivia: Maltreatment to Older Adults Climbs 244% in 1 Year (June 17, 2012) (Article in Spanish) Reports of abuse and mistreatment of seniors submitted to the City Defendor (el Defensor del Pueblo) sky rocketed by 244% in one year.  In 2010, only 355 abuse reports of older adults were registered in 16 offices.  During the past year, 1,154 abuse reports were submitted.  The majority involved psychological and physical pain caused by their relatives.