PCA: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

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Week of 1/29/2012:

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The pcaCares.org News Bulletin provides a headline service, five days a week, of news and information on health and aging from publications across the country. The Aging Network News, Events and Action Items include information targeted to Philadelphia's aging network.

Aging Network News

Week of January 29, 2012

Free Webinar: Legal Issues of Housing & Homeownership on February 9 (CARIE and SeniorLAW Center)

A free webinar for consumers and professionals on Thursday, February 9 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. will explore common legal problems of homeownership. Representatives from SeniorLAW Center and Center for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) will provide information to help protect a person’s greatest asset. Topics will include: preventing deed fraud, home repair/contractor scams, and avoiding a sheriff sale of your property for delinquent taxes or mortgage payments. Space is limited. Click Here>> to register now. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions about joining the webinar.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Top Headlines

Path Is Found for the Spread of Alzheimer’s (NYT)
Alzheimer's-Linked Brain Plaques May Affect Memory in Healthy People (HealthDay)
Communities Learn the Good Life Can Be a Killer (NYT)
Worrying Too Much Might Raise Your Risk for Stroke (HealthDay)
Severe, rapid memory loss linked to future, fatal strokes (American Heart Association)
Heart failure is associated with loss of brain cells and a decline in mental processes (European Society of Cardiology)
Government health spending seen hitting $1.8 trillion (Reuters)
Decaffeinated coffee preserves memory function by improving brain energy metabolism (Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine )
Health law delivers $2.1 billion in savings on drugs for seniors (Los Angeles Times)
Lack of Sunlight May Raise Stroke Risk (HealthDay)
Exercise as Housecleaning for the Body (NYT)
Same Genes Key to Early & Late-Onset Alzheimer's: Study (HealthDay)
Go Red for Heart Health This Friday (Huffington Post)
Is HHS Medicare Advantage Celebration Premature? (KHN)
Corbett raises limit on assets for food stamps, but critics blast the idea of a test (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Experimental Drug Might Beat Aspirin in Preventing Repeat Strokes: Study (HealthDay)
New Anti-Clotting Drug May Cut Brain Bleeding Risk: Study (HealthDay)
Massage Eases Inflammation In Worn-Out Muscles (NPR)
House Votes To Repeal CLASS Act — A Part Of The 2010 Health Law (KHN)
Being confined to bed… (Deutsches Aerzteblatt International)
DRPA panel OKs ramp for cyclists (Courier-Post)

Quote of the Day

"That's what they do -- they pick them up by the neck and hold them up. But ours is in the ground. We always kid them and say ours is more accurate."
Bob Will, caretaker for Dunkirk Dave, groundhog rival to Punxsutawney Phil. See " Groundhog Day confusion: More winter, says Phil; nope, say rivals " (Los Angeles Times, 2/2/12).

This newsletter is maintained by the PCA Library.
Please note that access to some sites may require free registration. Click here to visit pcaCares.org

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Aging Network News

Free Library Pilots E-Reader Program for Seniors(The Free Library of Philadelphia)

The Free Library of Philadelphia recently started an e-reader lending pilot program for older adults, age 50+. The program lends NOOK e-readers, pre-loaded with New York Times best sellers, to seniors and includes training on additional e-readers, such as Kindle and iPad. Based in Central Senior Services in the Parkway Central Library, the program will increase resources for seniors and bridge the digital divide, while fulfilling the Library’s broader goal of circulating mobile devices to the general public. The Free Library offers more than 32,000 ebooks and audio books for e-readers, mobile devices and computers. Digital media are checked out more than 20,000 times a month. To learn more about the e-reader lending program, contact Central Senior Services at 215-686-5331. Read More>>

Top Headlines

The New Old Age: The Lioness in Winter (NYT)
Mind Reading May Be Reality Soon (Discovery News)
Breast Cancer Surgery Rules Are Called Unclear (NYT)
Hip fracture risk rises with acid reflux drug use (CBC)
Sleep Apnea May Be Tied to 'Silent' Strokes, Study Finds (HealthDay)
Study: Radioactive Seeds Beat Out Other Prostate Cancer Treatments (WebMD)
Cancer Group Halts Financing to Planned Parenthood (NYT)
The NIH urges women to protect their heart health (NIH)
Many In High Risk Pools Aren’t Protected From Lifetime Coverage Limits (KHN)
F.D.A. Approves New Cystic Fibrosis Drug (NYT)
Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Stroke, Studies Say (HealthDay)
What to do about too many medical tests (Philadelphia Inquirer)
A Computer Beats A Pen For Getting Prescriptions Right (NPR)
Exercise a Good Pick-Me-Up After Cancer Treatment: Study (HealthDay)
Global contest will lead to help during heart attack (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Why the brain is more reluctant to function as we age (University of Bristol)
Science Shows How Exercise Might Help in Prostate Cancer (HealthDay)
Concern on a prostate-cancer therapy (AP)
Insulin resistance linked to brain health in elderly (Uppsala University)
Experimental Drugs Do Battle Against Advanced Prostate Cancer (HealthDay)
Medicare Advantage's enrollment is up; premiums are down (USA Today)

Quote of the Day

"Introversion is really about having a preference for lower stimulation environments. So it's just a preference for quiet, for less noise, for less action. Whereas extroverts really crave more stimulation in order to feel at their best."
Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. See " Quiet, Please: Unleashing 'The Power Of Introverts' " (NPR, 1/30/12)

This newsletter is maintained by the PCA Library.
Please note that access to some sites may require free registration. Click here to visit pcaCares.org

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Aging Network News

Nominations Sought by February 10 for 2012 Community Development Awards(Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations – PACDC)

PACDC seeks nominations for its annual awards to recognize success in community development. The Blue Ribbon Awards honor smaller and larger organizations (based on operating budget) for excellence in community development. Entries should showcase a community development corporation’s (CDC) neighborhood success story. The Community Leadership Award recognizes an individual volunteer who has made a significant difference in the quality of life in the community. The Rising Star Award honors young leaders, younger than age 40, with at least three years’ experience in Community Development and provides free training from NeighborWorks America. Winners will be recognized at PACDC's 20th Anniversary Gala and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 19 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 10. For more information or to download an application for any of these awards, Click Here>> Questions about the awards or eligibility? Contact Pamela Bridgeforth at 215-732-5829 or pbridgeforth@pacdc.org.

Top Headlines

Feeling Strain When Violent Patients Need Care (NYT)
Statins Equally Effective in Women and Men (HealthDay)
Does Obesity Cause Pain? (WebMD)
‘Oy Vey’: Jewish Republicans In South Florida See Little To Like In Health Care Law (kHN)
'I Wanted To Live': New Depression Drugs Offer Hope For Toughest Cases (NPR)
Four-Week Vaccination Regimen Knocks Out Early Breast Cancer Tumors, Penn Researchers Report (University of Pennsylvania)
Cancer Patients Pain Can Be Helped By Psychosocial Interventions, Say Moffitt Cancer Center Researchers (Moffitt Cancer Center)
Nursing Homes Hope To 'Fend Off' Deep Medicare Cuts With New Approach (KHN)
Study: EHRs Can Boost Some Measures of Care for Diabetes Patients (iHealthBeat)
Generics take toll on Pfizer, Lilly profits (Reuters)
Mostashari Outlines His Predictions for Health IT Developments in 2012 (iHealthBeat)
Senior-friendly tech as seen dashing through the show (CES in one 6-mile Fitbit day) (Aging in Place Technology Watch)
Recommendation to censor bird flu research driven by fears of terrorism (Washington Post)
Hospitality Not a Friendly Industry for Disabled Workers: Study (HealthDay)
The Golden Age: Florida Primary Centers On Seniors (NPR)
Sen. Sanders OAA Bill Champions NCOA Priorities (NCOA)
Reinventing Family in the Face of Alzheimer's (PBS)
Electronic Tattoo Monitors Brain, Heart and Muscles (LiveScience)
HHS launches health IT challenge to improve care transitions for hospital-discharge patients (HHS)
As Eldercare Grows, So Do Labor Battles (New American Media)
Aging Groups Argue That Most Provisions Affecting Seniors Should Not Be Tied to Supreme Court's Ruling on Individual Mandate (NSCLC)

Quote of the Day

"There is more slime being slung back and forth among candidates today than in Ghostbusters II. Maybe we should just rename the whole thing the Slimary Process."
Linton Weeks. See " The Slimary Process: Is This The Nastiest Race Ever? " (NPR, 1/31/12)

This newsletter is maintained by the PCA Library.
Please note that access to some sites may require free registration. Click here to visit pcaCares.org

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Aging Network News

Update on SNAP Asset Test(Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger)

Last week, the Philadelphia Jewish Federation, United Way of Southeastern PA and Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger met with Rep. DiGirolamo (chair of the House Human Services Committee) and a hearing about the SNAP asset test will be held on March 15. Senator Williams recently filed Senate Bill 1387, which would amend the Welfare Code to prevent the asset test for SNAP (food stamps). However, analysis suggests the current language of the bill would actually prevent an asset test for cash and medical, while not impacting SNAP at all. On the federal front, several organizations had the opportunity to meet with USDA Secretary Vilsack while he was in Philadelphia last week. Members of the Coalition expressed opposition to PA’s proposal and urged USDA to delay its implementation. Secretary Vilsack has made strong statements against the asset test, as have Mayor Nutter and Rep Brady. (Click Here for Philadelphia Inquirer Article>>) Collective efforts to generate calls to Gov. Corbett’s office about the asset test have been very successful. AARP reports that for the first four days of the campaign alone generated 515 calls! The toll-free number, which AARP provided (800-515-8134), should be functioning at least through February 7. Please continue to urge support of this issue.

Top Headlines

Take Blood Pressure in Both Arms, Study Says (NYT)
Health Reform Law Gaining Wider Acceptance: Poll (HealthDay)
Not Diseases, but Categories of Suffering [Opinion] (NYT)
Heavier Docs Less Likely to Tackle Patient Weight (MedPage Today)
Doctor, Did You Check Your Checklist? (KHN)
GenPhilly aims to help seniors deal with snow removal (Newsworks)
New wrinkles for Botox (Philadelphia Inquirer)
OIG: Feds Don't Know Who's Opted Out of Medicare (MedPage Today)
Bipartisan Report Highlights Gaps, Recommendations For Health IT (KHN)
Lab Notes: Steak and Surgery May Not Mix (MedPage Today)
Could A Club Drug Offer 'Almost Immediate' Relief From Depression? (NPR)
Those Extra Pounds Could Harm Your Back (HealthDay)
Biological time-keeper linked to diabetes (INSERM)
The Clash Over Fingerprinting For Food Stamps (NPR)
Alcohol consumption and risk of colon cancer in people with a family history of such cancer (Boston University)
Controversial Amendments Injected Into Florida Vaccine Bill (KHN)
Opportunities and challenges of palliative care in the ICU discussed in expert roundtable (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News)
Music Training Has Biological Impact on Aging Process (Northwestern University)
Medicare Seen as Battleground Issue in Congressional Races (NYT)
Making memories last (Stowers Institute for Medical Research)
The New Old Age: Fewer Beds for Men Entering Nursing Homes (NYT)

Quote of the Day

"What I've noticed is that people who love what they do, regardless of what that might be, tend to live longer."
Philip Glass, composer, is 75 today.

This newsletter is maintained by the PCA Library.
Please note that access to some sites may require free registration. Click here to visit pcaCares.org

Monday, January 30, 2012

Aging Network News

Seniors on The Move Event March 9 to Focus on Innovation Around Transportation(Generation Appreciation Philadelphia – GenPhilly)

Join GenPhilly on Friday, March 9 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. for a free breakfast program about innovative ways to help seniors access transportation options. For older adults, there is a very strong relationship between access to transportation and health outcomes; the ability to access social services, health facilities, and healthy foods; and regular physical activity. This event will provide information about local programs and innovative models around the country. The event, which will be held at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission at 190 N. Independence Mall West in Philadelphia, will include opportunities to network and catalyze new partnerships/programs. Seating is very limited. Immediate RSVP strongly encouraged at http://gptransportation.eventbrite.com.

Top Headlines

Study Finds Virus to Be Fast Learner on Infecting (NYT)
New Gene Test Could 'Sort' Lung Cancer Cases (ABC)
Health Insurers Say Telling Truth On Costs Is Just Too Expensive (Forbes)
Positive Reinforcement May Help Patients Take Their Meds (HealthDay)
Using Symptom Checklists to Sell Drugs (NYT)
Statins May Stave Off Liver Cancer in People With Hepatitis B (HealthDay)
Caffeine May Alter Women's Estrogen Levels (HealthDay)
Nursing Home Investigation Finds Errors by Druggists (NYT)
Factors Linked to Age of Onset of Menopause Identified (HealthDay)
Number of Older Inmates Grows, Stressing Prisons (NYT)
Health Law Is A Family Affair For CMS’ Tavenner (KHN)
Pilot training launched to administer mental health first aid (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Longer Looks: Obama's Health Reform Memos; Romney's Medicare Mistake? (KHN)
Report: Electronic health records still need work (AP)
How Health Care Dropped Out Of The Presidential Conversation (NPR)
Why heart doctors are leaving practice to work for hospitals (Philadelphia Inquirer)
HHS Initiative To Develop Best Practices for Mobile Device Use (iHealthBeat)
Medicaid Medical Homes in North Carolina Save $894 Million (Medscape)
Medicare Overpaid Insurers $3.1 Billion in 2010 on U.S. Errors (Bloomberg)
New research sheds light on gene destruction linked to aggressive prostate cancer (Queens University)
Jon Stewart, Health Policy Wonk (KHN)

Quote of the Day

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Mark Twain, quoted by James P. Richardson, MD, MPH, Chief, Geriatric Medicine, St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD, in his " Myths and misses about Alzheimer’s Disease " posting on Medpage Today's KevnMD.com blog (1/25/12).

This newsletter is maintained by the PCA Library.
Please note that access to some sites may require free registration. Click here to visit pcaCares.org

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Upcoming Events

02.24.12 : Food Justice Conference (features panel on food justince & aging)

03.26.12 : 2012 M. Powell Lawton Conference on Urban Aging & Award Luncheon: Aging in Community

04.04.12 : Understanding Dementia: Diagnosis, Treatment and Behavioral Management

06.02.12 : Chocolate Symphony After Party for Young Professionals

+ All Events

Action Items

PCA’s 2012 Lawton Conference is on Mar. 26. Register>>

Bright Stars of Aging Community Service Awards Nomination Form - Return no later than Feb. 17 to: Rick Spector, PCA Community Relations, 642 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, E-mail: rspector@pcaphl.org, Fax: 215-765-9066

GenPhilly: "Seniors on the Move:Innovation Around Transportation" - Mar. 9, 8:30 - 11:30 am ET. Register>>

SEPTA Accessible Travel Center - Suburban Station Concourse - Room 108 - "To train people with disabilities, their aids and companion animals how to use and navigate SEPTA’s transit system in a low-stress environment." More>>

United Way of Southeastern PA Seeks Project Consultant to Work with Healthy Aging. More>>

White House LGBT Conference on Health - Feb. 16, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm ET - Thomas Jeffereson University. Space is limited and registration is required. More Info & Registration>>