Creating Livable Communities for Older Adults

The AARP, along with the Center for Home Care Policy and Research, has issued a report entitled, “Opportunities for Creating Livable Communities.” This paper provides a framework for understanding the most common barriers to implementing livable communities and outlines ways in which they have been overcome. For full story, click here.

Study Supports Health Benefits of Smoking Ban

A new study from Scotland is being touted by U.S. public health experts as the strongest evidence yet that public bans on smoking lead to improved health from reduced secondhand exposure. For full story, click here.

Obesity Linked to Newer, Less Walkable Neighborhoods

Researchers at the University of Utah recently linked Body Mass Index (BMI) data to the 2000 Census for nearly half a million Salt Lake County residents. They found that residents were less likely to be obese or overweight if they lived in walkable neighborhoods.. For full story, click here.

Physical Fitness Leads to Reduced Falls in Alzheimer’s Patients

Physical fitness can help the mind, body, and quality of life for people with early Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, according to two new studies presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer ’s Disease held on July 27, 2008. For full story, click here.

Strategies for Living Free of Cardiovascular Disease

A diverse set of medical researchers recently published an article in the journal Circulation that describes the American Heart Association’s (AHA) work to support the delivery of evidence-based medicine. This particular article is the first installment of a two-part series that presents an overview of the work that the AHA has undertaken to translate research evidence into medical practice. For full story, click here.

Scientists Look to Link Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease

Researchers at the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology just released a joint scientific statement urging more research be done on the relationship between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Sleep-related breathing disorders are highly prevalent in patients with established cardiovascular diseases. For full story, click here.

Japan’s Heart-Healthy Diet: Fish is Key

A recent study provides some evidence that Japanese men who smoke are less likely than white and Japanese American men to have heart disease and arthrosclerosis (the plaque that clogs arteries which can lead to heart attacks and strokes). The evidence points to a correlation between high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and decreased levels of plaque buildup in arteries due to increased fish consumption. For full story, click here.

Hospitalizations for Heart Failure are Increasing

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that the number of hospitalizations due to heart failure have almost tripled in the past two decades, and do not foresee this trend slowing down. For full story, click here.

Economy Hitting Older Adults Especially Hard

Older Americans are filing for bankruptcy in record numbers according to a study by the AARP. At the same time, less support is available from meal, transportation, and other home assistance agencies that are having trouble paying their own bills. For full story, click here.

A New Report on the Potential Demand for Older Workers

Older workers are expected to be in higher demand in tomorrow’s workforce and are already showing signs of working longer than their recent predecessors. However, this willingness to work longer is not necessarily a guarantee for employment since employers may be unwilling to hire and retain older workers. For full story, click here.

Older Adults and the Environment

According to a report appearing in the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report

(PPAR), a publication of The Gerontological Society of America, volunteering for environmental protection activities can be physically and mentally sustaining for older people. For full story, click here.

Patronizing Communication Creates Resistance to Dementia Care

The results of a recent study suggest that care episodes involving Elderspeak significantly increase the likelihood of treatment resistance, a common finding in older adults with dementia. It can disrupt nursing care and has been estimated to increase the cost of care as much as 30 percent. For full story, click here.

New Cancer Treatment Enters into Human Testing Phase

Scientists at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are about to begin a human trial testing the effectiveness of a new cancer treatment. The treatment involves transfusing specific white blood cells called granulocytes from select donors to patients with advanced forms of cancer. For full story, click here.

Mather LifeWays Begins New Aging in the Workplace Project

Mather LifeWays recently finished pilot testing its new Aging in the Workplace Survey. The survey is designed to provide employers with strategic aging-related workforce management information. For full story, click here.

Contributors
Richard Shank	Editor	Kim Deng	Staff Writer
Paula J. Fenza	Staff Writer	Jayne Schaefer	Staff Writer
Saher Selod	Staff Writer	Cecilia Grefalda	Staff Writer

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