Aging News Alert

Colorado

 

Researchers Find Mortality Rates Rising; Reverses Trend

Deaths among white U.S. men and women aged 45-54 rose significantly between 1999 and 2013, according to a new analysis funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This change reverses decades of progress in mortality and was unique to non-Hispanic whites in the United States.

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‘Linkage Lab’ to Help Community-Based Organizations

The SCAN Foundation has launched the Linkage Lab Initiative to help community-based organizations that are seeking partnerships with the health care sector.

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Projects to Boost Disability Employment

The program supports the establishment of model demonstration projects that engage state vocational rehabilitation agencies in partnerships with other entities to develop and use career pathways to help individuals with disabilities.

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Colorado Senior Living Community Gets $17 Million Mortgage

Atlanta-based seniors housing and healthcare financial services provider Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has closed a $17 million first mortgage loan secured by Arvada Estates Senior Living in Arvada, CO.

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Colorado Seniors Community Closes $17 Million-Plus Mortgage

The Atlanta-based Seniors Housing and Healthcare Finance Team of Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has closed a $17,150,000 first mortgage loan secured by Arvada Estates Senior Living in Arvada, CO. Funding for the acquisition was provided by BB&T Real Estate Capital, Grandbridge’s exclusive...

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Settlement Creates Housing Opportunities for Non-Elderly Disabled

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the Englewood Housing Authority (EHA) in Englewood, CO, settling allegations that EHA violated the Fair Housing Act when it implemented a point system at Orchard Place Apartments that effectively denied housing to applicants with disabilities unless they were elderly.

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AAA Meets Needs of LGBT Seniors Through Impressive Slate of Programming

While LGBT programs are primarily privately funded through donations and grants to the department's Aging Services Foundation, the county department provides overview and supervision for the LGBT Programs.

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Colorado Venture Offers Healthy Living Resource for Seniors

A new Colorado-based company focusing on providing free resources and health workshops, low-cost wellness activities and healthy living advice for health-minded Baby Boomers and seniors (45 and over) launched Oct. 22 in Greenwood Village, near Denver.

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Aurora, CO Center Helps Clients Get Past Tragedy; Presses On With Events

Officials at the Center for Active Adults in Aurora, CO are doing everything they can to help the community's older residents get past the tragic events of July 20 when an armed assailant shot and killed 12 people and injured 58 others in a darkened movie theater. Among other things, staffers at the Center are bound and determined to keep the facility's regular programming on track.

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Fund to Make $33 Million in Grants to Nonprofits

The Fund this year has already awarded dozens of nonprofits -- organizations serving seniors, youth, and people afflicted by alcoholism and/or dug abuse -- totaling $9.5 million.

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Colorado Seniors Benefitting From Free Aquatic Aerobics Program

For seniors in Grand County, CO, the issue of cost is no longer a problem. The Grand County Council on Aging (COA), in partnership with the Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District, offers weekly aquatic aerobics classes free of charge to area seniors. Transportation is also provided.

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(ALZHEIMER'S) Debate Rages over Study on Cell Phone Radiation as Alzheimer's Therapy

If a newly released university study holds up to further scrutiny, it could lead to a completely new way of attacking Alzheimer's disease. It involves radiation produced by cell phones, which other research suggests can be harmful.

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(MENTAL HEALTH) Company's Unique Business Plan Includes Behavioral Healthcare for Seniors

Haven Behavioral Healthcare (HBH), based in Nashville, TN, is a senior-centered behavioral health company specializing in care for a demographic disproportionately affected by mental and emotional issues. Founded in 2006 by CEO Vernon Westrich, the company has facilities in Tennessee and five more states -- Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia -- and recently received funding from private equity groups interested in helping it expand its unique business model.

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(AWARDS) Five Social Innovators Each Win $100,000 Purpose Prize

This year's top five winners of The Purpose Prize, a $100,000 award for social innovators in their encore careers, are using a new stage of life to do extraordinary things to improve life for millions of people worldwide.

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(LONG-TERM CARE) Colorado Launches Campaign Encouraging Residents to Plan for Long-Term Care Needs

The average cost to live in a Denver-area nursing home in a semi-private room for one year in Colorado is $66,527. For the percentage of nursing home residents in Colorado who are there longer than five years, the costs can exceed $330,000. The good news is Coloradans have access to long-term care options and solutions. The state has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to help Coloradans with the long-term care planning process though the Own Your Future campaign.

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(DUAL ELIGIBLES) States to Pursue Integrated Care Approaches for 'Dual Eligibles'

The Hamilton, NJ-based Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is launching Transforming Care for Dual Eligibles, a state initiative to test innovative care models for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (aka: "dual eligibles"). Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont will implement strategies to improve care and control costs for dual eligibles, a high-need population with health care costs nearly five times those of other Medicare beneficiaries.

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CMS Names Final Five Medicare Contractors To Administer Claims Payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named the final five contractors that will process and pay Medicare claims for healthcare services under the Medicare Fee-for-Service program. The new contracts that will be administered for up to five years will process and pay 36% of the national volume of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) claims payments in 14 states, mostly in the South and Midwest.

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ACE Demo Sites Selected By CMS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made its selections for the Acute Care Episode (ACE) demonstration. ACE is a new hospital-based demonstration that will test the use of a bundled payment for both hospital and physician services for a select set of inpatient episodes of care to improve the quality of care delivered through Medicare fee-for-service.

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Xcel Energy Foundation Offers Seniors-Related Grants

Among the organizations the Xcel Energy Foundation supports with its generous grants are those involved with housing, financial counseling, diversity, senior citizens, and economically disadvantaged people.

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Healthiness I Old Age Requires Advance Planning

If you plan to "thrive" when you are 65, you need to invest in your health decades earlier. A new study in the October issue of The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences (Volume 63A, Number 10) finds that fewer than 10% of people aged 65-85 maintain exceptional emotional and physical health throughout their golden years. These so-called "thrivers" share specific behavioral and lifestyle characteristics that may hold the key to healthy aging, according to the study's authors.

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AMA To Congress: Now Is The Time To Reform Medicare Physician Payment System

Congress has created a window of time to fix the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment system, says the head of the American Medical Asssociation (AMA), Dr. Nancy Nielsen. In testimony today (Thursday, Sept. 11) before the House Ways & Means health subcommittee, Nelson urged lawmakers to quickly enact permanent reform in order to "achieve the vision of a healthcare system that provides quality, cost-effective care."

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ASA, BFA Seek Nominations For Business & Aging Awards

The American Society on Aging (ASA), in conjunction with its Business Forum on Aging, is now soliciting nominations for its 20th annual Business and Aging Awards. The awards recognize for-profit companies for exemplary programs and services that meet the needs of older people and their families, expand public awareness of the private sector's increasing involvement with older adults and create performance models for other companies to emulate.

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Stroke-Prevention Surgical Procedure Does Not Equate With High Surgical Risk

New research published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that "high-risk" patients with multiple medical conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, can safely undergo carotid endarterectomy -- a stroke-preventing surgical procedure that clears blockages from the neck's carotid arteries.

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AHA Foundation Accepting LOIs For Macular Degeneration Research Program

The American Health Assistance Foundation's Macular Degeneration Research Program supports basic research into the causes and potential treatments of the disease. The program is accepting Letters of Intent for Standard Awards (maximum of $50,000 per year for up to two years, renewable on a competitive basis).

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Seniors Reject Cutting Medicare Advantage To Fund Docs' Payment Fix

Regardless of whether they are enrolled in traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, most seniors oppose cutting the Medicare Advantage program to fund the Medicare physician payment fix and believe cuts to Medicare Advantage will have a negative effect on seniors, a new survey finds.

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Where To Turn When Caregivers Need 'Lotsa Helping Hands'

With 44.4 million caregivers in America, chances are you or someone you know is providing care to a loved one who has been affected by illness, injury or the effects of age. The stress of taking care of a loved one can be overwhelming. However, it can be difficult for caregivers to ask for help. Even when help is offered, it can be challenging to manage.

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Legislation Would Bar Voluntary Arbitration Agreements In LTC Facilities

Legislation is now before the House and Senate to prohibit long-term care providers from asking residents to sign an arbitration agreement when they enter a long-term care facility, even if the arbitration agreement is not required for admission.

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Center's White Paper Examines Nursing Home Diversion Program

The Washington, DC-based National Senior Citizen Law Center has produced an eight-page white paper, titled "The Administration on Aging's Nursing Home Diversion Program" which provides an excellent description of the program and its history.

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CMS Demo Project Aims To Boost Quality Using Bundled Hospital Payments

CMS unveils a new demonstration project designed to allow hospitals to test the use of a bundled payment for both hospital and physician services for a select set of episodes of care. The aim is to improve the quality of care delivered through Medicare fee-for-service, the agency says.

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Online Meeting To Focus On Culture Change In Nursing Homes

The Picker/Commonwealth Fund Quality of Care for Frail Elders program and the Pioneer Network on Monday, May 19, will co-host an online meeting, "Culture Change in Nursing Homes: How Far Have We Come?"

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Retirees, Disabled Vets Still Can File for 2008 Stimulus Payments

Even though April 15 has passed, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding retirees, disabled veterans and others who normally do not file a tax return that there is still time to submit a 2007 form to receive an economic stimulus payment.

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Grants Improve Access To Primary Care, Avoid Unnecessary ER Visits

CMS) unveils grants of $50 million to 20 states to help improve access to primary medical care so that Medicaid beneficiaries could avoid improper use of costly hospital emergency rooms.

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Prior Determination Of Medicare Coverage Needed For Some Items, Services

In order for Medicare and Medicare contractors to cover medical services and items, the item or service must be medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury, say experts at the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) in Washington, DC.

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EEOC Rule May Mean Second Class Status for Some Medicare Beneficiaries

As a result of new rules adopted by the EEOC, advocates will need to monitor the trend in retiree coverage and be familiar with Medicare protections available to beneficiaries when employer coverage is reduced or eliminated.

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Survey: Aging Americans Lack Critical Facts about Maintaining Eye Health

Most Americans -- especially seniors -- do not know the risks and warning signs of diseases that could blind them if they don't seek timely detection and treatment, according to recent findings of the Survey of Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Eye Health and Disease.

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2nd Annual Rachel Carson Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photo Contest

The EPA Aging Initiative, in partnership with Generations United and the Rachel Carson Council Inc., is inviting submissions for its Second Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photography Contest.

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Announcing The Latest CD Publications Funding Directory

Guide to Private and Federal Funding For K-12 Education Programs ... Our newest grants directory is now available at Special Prepublication Savings through May 15.

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Phishing Scams, Frivolous Arguments Top the 2008 'Dirty Dozen' Tax Scams

If you're offering income tax advice to seniors, you should be aware the Internal Revenue Service has just released its 2008 list of the 12 most egregious tax schemes and scams, highlighted by Internet phishing scams and several frivolous tax arguments.

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Consumer Fraud, Identity Theft Continue Upward Trend

In its latest report on consumer fraud and identity theft, the FTC says it received more than 800,000 fraud complaints during calendar year 2007 -- at least 23% of them were reported by people 50-years old and older.

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Attention Former President Bush: Broccoli Sprout Extract May Protect Against Bladder Cancer

A concentrated extract of freeze dried broccoli sprouts cut development of bladder tumors in an animal model by more than 50%.

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Survey Shows States Embracing E-Health Initiatives

A new Commonwealth Fund report describes the range of state e-health activities, the challenges states are facing, and emerging best practices.

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CNS Seeks Nat'l Nonprofit to Oversee Volunteer Efforts

Five million dolalrs is available for one three-year cooperative agreement to be made with a national nonprofit to provide financial and technical resources to local organizations to help them identify, place and support volunteers engaged in addressing critical community needs.

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CDC Funds State Arthritis Efforts

The funding is designed to help build state arthritis programs that exponentially expand access and use of evidence-based interventions.

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U. of Colorado to Lead Research in Animal-Assisted Therapy

As relationships between humans and animals become more important and more complex, there is growing evidence of the effectiveness of therapy involving humans -- especially the elderly -- and animals.

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What's Ahead for Active Aging?

The International Council on Active Aging offers eight trends to watch in 2008 that will further define the term "active aging," especially among boomers.

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More Medicaid Funding Could Stimulate Economy, CBO Honcho Says

CBO Director Peter Orszag tells the Senate Finance Committee that increasing the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid probably would help stimulate the economy, but the ultimate effect might vary for one state to another.

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'Good Samaritans' Take to Capitol Hill

Some 45 representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society visit Washington, DC, for the organization's regional meeting and use the occasion to discuss issues of concern with their congressional representatives.

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Program Focuses on Older Adults' Mental Health

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Admin.'s Center for Mental Health Services seeks applicants for its Older Adults Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program.

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Directory of Grants for Social Services

Many of your peers already have ordered these valuable publications. Don't get left behind! Click here to order the Social Service Directory for only $85Click here to order the Children & Youth Directory for only $69These new directories detail hundreds of freshly-researched priva...

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Did Boomers Get What They Wanted from Santa?

What did big-spending baby boomers want Santa to leave in their stockings? Age Lessons, a boomer think tank, conducted an analysis of issues and trends impacting boomers in 2007 and compiled a top-10 list of most-wanted items.

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Depression Seen Hardest on the Elderly

"Depression kills not just through suicide," says Barry Lebowitz, director of treatment research at the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Nominations for the Purpose Prize

(Deadline March 1, 2008) Civic Ventures is accepting nominations for the 2008 Purpose Prize, a major initiative that invests in Americans over 60 who are leading a new age of social innovation. The "Purpose Prize" provides five awards of $100,000 and 10 awards of $10,000 to people over 60 who are ta...

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