MATURE MARKET HEADLINES POSTED 05/22/97
Doctors and Hospitals Are Enough to Make You Sick
Contrary to traditional wisdom, doctors often don't know best and hospitals can be the worst place to be when you're sick. That's because 40% of all hospital admissions each year, says the Rand Corporation, may turn out to be unnecessary.
In a related study by Duke University, it was found that more than half the doctors who perform a common medical procedure to unblock clogged arteries (angioplasty) failed to meet the minimum professional guidelines. There's more.
One out of four operations is performed to correct problems caused by a previous operation. Of 100 people whose autopsies proved they had died of heart attacks, doctors had failed to diagnose a heart attack in nearly half. This finding was doubly surprising because half of the doctors were cardiologists. "Hospital errors occur far more often than you might think", says New Choices magazine.
The most common errors often involve simple medication mix-ups. When researchers studied more than 300 adverse drug reactions at two Harvard University teaching hospitals in Boston, they found that nearly one out of three resulted from mistakes by hospital personnel. What's more, 12 percent of these mistakes were life-threatening. Source: News Choices.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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A Closer Look at Age-related Macular Degeneration
What you don't know can hurt you, when it comes to maintaining vision after age 50. That's the message from the Washington, DC-based not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research. The Alliance is launching a national campaign to help close a disturbing information gap about age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older Americans.
A free 12-page brochure, "Taking a Closer Look at Age-Related Macular Degeneration", is available to consumers by calling 1-800-497-0360. The brochure describes AMD, identifies the risk factors, and explains how to protect your eyes. AMD is a slow, progressive condition which occurs with the breakdown of cells in the macula, the small central part of the retina that allows one to see fine detail. The condition eventually causes loss of sight in the central part of the field of vision, and is strongly associated with aging.
As many as 13 million people over the age of 40 have some signs of AMD, while 1.2 million have the later, vision-threatening form of the disease. While there is no cure for AMD, research has shown that nutrition and diet may play a role in its prevention. The Alliance for Aging Research is a citizen's advocacy organization for research to improve the health and independence of older Americans. Source: Alliance for Aging Research.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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This Money is "on the house"
A new program to help elderly homeowners find reputable reverse mortgage lenders and counselors has been launched by the National Center for Home Equity Conversion (NCHEC). Reverse mortgages convert home equity into cash with no repayment for as long as borrowers live in their homes.
That's a great idea for many equity-rich, but cash-poor retirees. According to NCHEC director Ken Scholen, "Scams and ripoffs are beginning to appear in this market, but now we have a way to recognize lenders and counselors who pledge to uphold strict ethical standards". In order to qualify as "NCHEC-Preferred" lenders and counselors, individuals must agree to a code of conduct, and must give a copy of that code to each consumer upon initial contact.
The code requires lenders to present all homeowner options, including a range of twelve reverse mortgage choices and a variety of alternatives to reverse mortgages. The options and alternatives are presented in a 13-page report, "Personal Reverse Mortgage Analysis". Lenders are advised not to charge a fee for the reverse mortgage analysis. Source: National Center for Home Equity Conversion.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Free Stuff for Seniors
Taking care of the elderly just got easier and far less expensive. Matthew Lesko has just published a 700 page book providing 2,500 government sources of free or low cost services for seniors. Here's a sampling of the resources. Many universities and states offer free or low-cost dental care, including home visits for the handicapped or home-bound.
The Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C. has nearly 7,000 staff that have provided help to 1.5 needy adults and seniors. Some seniors in need of home repairs may qualify to receive up to $15,000 for needed fix-ups from the government's Rural Housing and Development Services. Many colleges offer tuition-free courses for seniors.
There's also help for those trying to select a quality nursing home, or in need of extra money to pay utility bills, or those who need expert help in the preparation of a will. For the active senior, there is information about travel discounts, free job training, and even free gifts for the grandchildren. "Free Stuff for Seniors" is available at a cost of $19.95 from the publisher, Information USA Inc at 1-800-862-5372.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Medicare Resources on the Internet and in Print
Only 15% of adult Americans consider themselves "very well informed" about how Medicare works to protect millions of older people and their families. As a result, AARP has created an Internet Medicare website on AARP's Internet homepage.
The Medicare website is presented in easy-to-understand terms and is designed to provide in-depth information on the Medicare program, current legislative activities and suggests possible scenarios for the future of Medicare. "The Facts" component of the website provides the fundamentals on how Medicare works, who it covers, and what benefits are provided.
The "Issues and Challenges" component, scheduled to be on-line in late May, will detail the current Medicare budget debate step-by-step and introduce some of the long-term challenges facing the program. "Viewpoints", to be launched in the month of June, will provide an exchange between health care experts and policymakers on the future of Medicare.
Also just out this month is "The Medicare Answer Book" from Race Point Press, Provincetown, MA. This A-Z guide, accompanied by real life examples, costs $19.95 plus $3.95 S/H. Source: Race Point Press: 1-888-446-5544.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Power Pants
Now, the difference between winning and losing may come down to your shorts. In fact, a five-year study conducted at the Penn State Center for Sports Medicine has shown that wearing specially designed garments can allow aging athletes to maintain their peak performance. The special garment is a pair of DuPont certified Lycra Power compression shorts.
The garment reduces fatigue and increases strength, providing an average increase of 12% in athletic performance, according to the manufacturer. "Our groundbreaking research", says Penn State, "makes an unprecedented link between apparel and performance". That study investigated the relationship between compression and muscle performance.
The secret of the Lycra Power garments is in the design and fabric technology which surrounds and supports the muscle. This compression significantly reduces muscle vibration, a main cause of muscle fatigue. And less fatigue means greater power, strength, and endurance. Lycra Power pants hit the consumer counters in sporting goods stores this spring. Source: DuPont.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Maximize Your Body Potential
Thirty-five percent of the nation's adults now weigh dangerously more than they should, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now help is at hand. "The New Maximize Your Body Potential: lifetime skills for successful weight management" by Joyce D. Nash, PhD, offers a sane approach to weight management through a personalized program aimed at improving overall health.
The program includes: how to set realistic goals, set eating habits, design an exercise program, cope with binge eating, combat irrational beliefs, and how to motivate yourself. Throughout the book, the author provides a variety of strategies and tools to help people face the day-to-day challenges of weight management. $24.95. 640 pages. Publishers Group West: 1-800-676-2855. In stores this May.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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