FDA OKs Use of Mifepristone Later in Pregnancy

(MedPage Today) -- Now can be used up to 70 days into pregnancy

Use of Naltrexone Beneficial for Opioid Addicts?

(MedPage Today) -- Study suggests long-term use of the drug to prevent relapses

Use of Naltrexone Beneficial for Opioid Addicts?

(MedPage Today) -- Study suggests long-term use of the drug to prevent relapses

FDA OKs Use of Mifepristone Later in Pregnancy

(MedPage Today) -- Now can be used up to 70 days into pregnancy

Could Less Time Spent Online Signal Early Alzheimer's?

Title: Could Less Time Spent Online Signal Early Alzheimer's?
Category: Health News
Created: 3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

Medicare Competitive Bidding Program Under Fire

(MedPage Today) -- Diabetes, endocrinology groups say supplies have been disrupted

Could Less Time Spent Online Signal Early Alzheimer's?

Title: Could Less Time Spent Online Signal Early Alzheimer's?
Category: Health News
Created: 3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

Medicare Competitive Bidding Program Under Fire

(MedPage Today) -- Diabetes, endocrinology groups say supplies have been disrupted

P-TAC: Ready, Willing, Able to Tackle Payment Reform

(MedPage Today) -- But little-known advisory committee must await HHS orders

Simple Steps Can Ease Care of Loved One With Alzheimer's

Title: Simple Steps Can Ease Care of Loved One With Alzheimer's
Category: Health News
Created: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM

P-TAC: Ready, Willing, Able to Tackle Payment Reform

(MedPage Today) -- But little-known advisory committee must await HHS orders

Simple Steps Can Ease Care of Loved One With Alzheimer's

Title: Simple Steps Can Ease Care of Loved One With Alzheimer's
Category: Health News
Created: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM

D.C. Week: Officials to Congress: Help Needed for Overdose Fight

(MedPage Today) -- Also, a busy week for FDA

"The Worse Things Look": What We Heard This Week

(MedPage Today) -- Quotable quotes from MedPage Today's sources

Tiny Genome Is Big Step Forward (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- "Minimal genome" allows synthetic bacteria to flourish in the lab

Silverado Senior Living SPOTLIGHT Story - Love Lives Here

Love Lives Here

Love Lives Here is a new documentary short that explores the innovative way Silverado gives life to residents. Produced by retired Rutgers University professor Dr. Cathy Greenblat and award-winning Australian filmmaker Corinne Maunder, this film is the third installment in Fire Films' documentary series Side by Side: Love and Joy in Dementia Care.

Detailing how Silverado gives life to residents through our philosophy of love and recognizing the value of the human spirit, Love Lives Here was shot at four different Silverado communities in California, and features interviews with associates, residents, family members and dementia-care experts as well as photographs and video footage of the daily life at Silverado.

http://www.silveradocare.com/features/love-lives-here/

 “Silverado has a unique approach that sees them getting people to do things that the top neurologists in the world said was impossible, which presented an ideal opportunity to create a thought provoking piece about dementia care,” says Dr. Greenblat, who has been photographing at Silverado communities since 2001. Her books Alive with Alzheimer’s (2004) and Love, Loss and Laughter (2012) both feature numerous photos from Silverado communities. Galleries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East as well as the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the US National Academy of Sciences have all exhibited Dr. Greenblat’s photographs.

Ms. Maunder, who produced and directed the film, was initially inspired to explore Alzheimer’s care in films by her grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Since 2013 she has produced over two dozen short films and educational videos about dementia, with more currently in production.

Dr. Greenblat says, “The vision for Side by Side is to create a multimedia resource for individuals and organizations to learn about better practice person-centered dementia care.” The first two films in the series, Finding the Why (Starrett Lodge, Uniting, Australia) and It Takes a Community (Arcare Helensvale, Australia), have informed and inspired countless viewers and have been used in universities, professional forums and care facilities around the world.

“The beautiful thing about this series of films is that the creative process has been very organic,” says Ms. Maunder. “There are no scripts, no marketing departments, no one telling me what messages to push. I’m free to capture and present everything just as I see it, which makes it very authentic. These are real stories about real people.”

Visit us online @ www.silveradocare.com 

Debate Arises Over HHS Plans for Privacy Rules on Addiction Treatment

(MedPage Today) -- Some feel proposed rules don't go far enough

Drug Abuse Experts Stump for Opioid Addiction Tx Bill

(MedPage Today) -- Ninety percent of patients needing treatment don't get it

Driving Restrictions After ICD Shock Too Restrictive? (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- One month off the road may be enough, analysis suggests

Taming the Beast of Healthcare Spending

(MedPage Today) -- Narrower networks or savvier consumers?

How to Develop a Successful Observation Unit

(MedPage Today) -- Two physicians detail the ins and outs

Health Tip: Alzheimer's Disease Can Interfere With Sleep

Title: Health Tip: Alzheimer's Disease Can Interfere With Sleep
Category: Health News
Created: 3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM

"I Should Be So Lucky": What We Heard This Week

(MedPage Today) -- Quotable quotes from MedPage Today's sources

Turing Execs Grilled Again in Senate Hearing

(MedPage Today) -- Bipartisan price-gouging probe continues

Women With Alzheimer's May Keep Verbal Skills Longer Than Men

Title: Women With Alzheimer's May Keep Verbal Skills Longer Than Men
Category: Health News
Created: 3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM

No Change for Doc Pay: MedPac

(MedPage Today) -- Current Medicare payments seen as 'adequate'

Tips to Help Avoid Medication Mistakes

Ninety-one-year-old Fred lives in an independent retirement community and is usually skilled at managing all of his many medications. After a bout with congestive heart failure, he was prescribed a diuretic to help eliminate fluid from his system. It worked and he got better. So he quit taking the medication. It was one less pill he had to remember to take. He viewed the prescription as a temporary medication when the doctor actually intended for him to keep taking the prescription. Soon the fluid began to build up again and Fred was back in the hospital.

Nearly 20 percent of seniors who are taking five or more prescription medications surveyed by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, reported challenges in managing their medication regimen including understanding directions for taking the medications.

Such medication management uncertainty could put seniors at higher risk for a medical issue or emergency due to incorrect dosage or adverse medication interactions. And that can lead to potentially devastating consequences. Each year, there are nearly 100,000 emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in U.S. adults aged 65 years or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following, from Home Instead Senior Care and Dr. Jane Potter, geriatrician and director of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, are suggested ways to help minimize the risk of medication mistakes.

Get a pill organization system or service

Approximately 50 percent of patients do not take their prescriptions as prescribed, according to the 2011 study, “Medication Adherence: WHO Cares?”. That’s why a pill organizer can be such an important tool.

Check out Simple Meds℠ to learn more about the benefits of an organized system for medication management. Simple Meds pharmacists dispense prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins in simple, multi-dose packets. The medications will be sorted and conveniently organized into single serving packets, labeled with the date and time they should be taken as prescribed by the senior’s doctor.

Make one doctor the gatekeeper to manage medications

It’s typical for an older adult to have multiple doctors, which is potentially dangerous. Dr. Potter suggests that your senior designate a primary doctor as the gatekeeper. Most people assume that doctors talk to one another, but you can’t assume that’s the case. They may not be aware of everyone involved in your older adult’s care. It’s best to keep a list of all providers and who is managing what, and update the list at least annually or whenever a change in medications is made.

“Bring into doctor appointments the actual medication bottles along with bottles of over the counter drugs your senior is taking so the doctor can cross check those each time,” Dr. Potter recommends. Medication tracker worksheets, where you can help your loved one record all the necessary information, can help as well.

Know why your loved one is taking the medication

What specific condition(s) or symptom(s) was the medication prescribed to help alleviate? Make sure your senior can read and understand the medication’s instructions. And verify with the pharmacist that the medication being given is what the doctor prescribed. Double check with the pharmacist to make sure the medication won’t interact with any other prescriptions being administered. Make sure you and your senior are aware of all potential side effects.

Call the doctor about any changes in how your senior is thinking, feeling or looking

Many people have a sense when they feel different, especially after a change in their medication. But your senior could also develop a reaction after years on the same medication. Be sure to bring these issues to the attention of a health care provider.

Keep regularly scheduled appointments and an open dialogue with your loved one’s health care provider

Encourage your senior loved one to keep a regularly scheduled appointments and maintain open communication with the doctor to help avert medication problems. Consider writing down questions in advance so you and your loved one remember everything you intended to discuss during an appointment.

If your senior is having trouble paying for medications, talk with the doctor

One of the biggest deterrents to medication adherence is cost. If an older adult is having trouble paying for a medication, discuss this with the doctor and pharmacist. Generic options can be cheaper and some pharmaceutical companies offer discounts.

Tell your senior loved one’s health care provider if you suspect he/she is depressed

Depression might make sticking to a medication regimen more difficult. Furthermore, some medications can contribute to depression. Be sure to let your doctor know if your senior loved one seems depressed.

Discuss any problems an older adult may have in taking a medication, such as the inability to swallow or difficulty opening a pill bottle

Solutions exist for some medication challenges. For instance, a liquid can be prescribed as an alternative to pills for some medicines. What’s more, pharmacists are required to provide easy-open bottles that can help individuals with arthritis. Discuss these options with your senior’s pharmacist.

Tell a health care provider if you suspect a loved one is forgetting to take a medication

It’s easy to become confused about the medications that have been prescribed, when they should be taken and how often. Confer with your senior’s health care provider about the appropriate level of medication assistance for your loved one.

Consider a caregiver

Help a senior assess the risk of medication mismanagement or side effects by going to the Let’s Talk About Rx℠ Solutions Guide. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage medications—or you’re a family caregiver worried about an older adult’s ability to manage medications—consider hiring a caregiver companion. Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office to learn more.

FDA Panel Strongly Favors Absorb Stent

(MedPage Today) -- Near-unanimous votes of confidence for first bioresorbable scaffold stent

Diagnostic Accuracy Drops With Difficult Patients (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Physicians could use simple mind-games to safeguard against negative emotions

Even Gardening or Dancing Might Cut Alzheimer's Risk

Title: Even Gardening or Dancing Might Cut Alzheimer's Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

Europe's Winter of Discontent

(MedPage Today) -- Refugee crisis brings new tension for healthcare systems

D.C. Week: Medicare Proposes Change in Part B Drug Payments

(MedPage Today) -- Oncologists say new strategy 'missed the mark'

5 Memorable Questions to End a Job Interview

(MedPage Today) -- Must reads about the latest news and trends in healthcare careers

Insurers, Academics Protest High-Cost Drugs, Propose Solutions

(MedPage Today) -- Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices seen as useful step

Trials Show Malaria Safely Treatable in Pregnant Women (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Drug combo proves out in two African studies

Deprivation, Mental Health Issues Linked in Young Kids

(MedPage Today) -- Parental mental health also major factor

FDA Concedes Defeat on Off-Label Drug Marketing

(MedPage Today) -- Amarin can market its fish-oil product (Vascepa) for unapproved indications

Trump's Healthcare Plan Fails to Impress

(MedPage Today) -- Health policy experts pan "Trumpcare"

Report: Current and Future Needs in Ovarian Cancer

(MedPage Today) -- Suboptimal care, outcomes still the norm for many patients

Computer Use May Help Deflect Seniors' Memory Problems

Title: Computer Use May Help Deflect Seniors' Memory Problems
Category: Health News
Created: 3/3/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM

D.C. Week: HHS Announces Agreement on Health Data Interoperability

(MedPage Today) -- Also, health agency chiefs lobby for more Zika funding

"Just Throwing Chemicals at People": What We Heard This Week

(MedPage Today) -- Quotable quotes from people talking to MedPage Today

Lessons from Lytics: Endovascular Tx Promises More Advances

(MedPage Today) -- What helps a minority could, again, advance care for all

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ Mobile Dentistry of Arizona

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser

Mobile Dentistry of Arizona

in our Phoenix SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options

Mobile Dentistry of Arizona provides comprehensive dental services with a personal touch! This practice caters to individuals who find it problematic to leave their home due to mobility challenges, or find it hard to take time off of work. Bringing dental care directly to our patients also allows them to age in place. We know from experience that many people who have difficulty obtaining dental care are often faced with tooth decay and gum disease. This is a national concern and compromises the entire health of an individual. 

Our staff includes professionals that are the very best in their field.  Our practitioners are highly skilled in caring for patients with very complex medical histories as well as behavioral and cognitive concerns.  We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive care both in our mobile unit as well as at your bedside. 

Our fully equipped mobile dental office is complete with a lift for mobile scooters, wheel chairs, and ambulatory devices. Our staff consists of three dentists, six assistants, two hygienists and a fully staffed business office. All are caring and experienced, providing that special touch with the aging population, and anyone who needs that extra personal assistance.

Visit us online @ www.mobiledentistryofaz.com 

Guidelines for CV Imaging in the ED Under Fire

(MedPage Today) -- SCAI, ASE upset with appropriate use criteria from other groups

Where 'Super Tuesday' States Stand on Healthcare Issues

(MedPage Today) -- States holding primaries Tuesday vary in how they handle healthcare issues