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Barriers To Aging And Thriving In Place In A Rural New England County, David Wihry, Lenard W. Kaye, Jennifer Crittenden
Barriers To Aging And Thriving In Place In A Rural New England County, David Wihry, Lenard W. Kaye, Jennifer Crittenden
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
This project was developed in order to understand challenges to aging in place faced by a rural New England county as well as the systemic issues preventing coordination of services to support thriving in place. It utilized a needs assessment to inform the direction of health and human service providers in implementing services. The median age of respondents was 73. They all lived in their own home, and 55 percent lived along. Challenges identified through a needs assessment by hospital systems included a high poverty rate, low median income, fair to poor health, high mortality rate, high incidence of chronic …
Cohort Differences In Aging In Place Needs Among A Rural-Serving Area Agency On Aging Client Population, David C. Wihry, Lenard W. Kaye, Dyan Walsh, Jennifer Crittenden
Cohort Differences In Aging In Place Needs Among A Rural-Serving Area Agency On Aging Client Population, David C. Wihry, Lenard W. Kaye, Dyan Walsh, Jennifer Crittenden
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
This study was conducted as part of a foundation-funded initiative to better coordinate the system of care in a rural New England area for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. It utilized a needs assessment in order to identify challenges and needs of area community members. Respondents included 347 individuals from the community, ranging from 55 to 105 years old, with a mean of 73.4 years old. Among the respondents, 57.7 percent lived along, 55.7 percent identified as having a chronic condition or disability, 70.3 percent lived in their own home, and 87.9 percent were not receiving …
A Subgroup Analysis Of Legal Needs Among Older Adults In Rural Communities, David C. Wihry, Jennifer A. Crittenden, Lenard W. Kaye, Jaye L. Martin
A Subgroup Analysis Of Legal Needs Among Older Adults In Rural Communities, David C. Wihry, Jennifer A. Crittenden, Lenard W. Kaye, Jaye L. Martin
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
A legal needs assessment of older adults in Maine was conducted by surveying key populations of older adults who are often hard to reach through traditional outreach and service provision methods. The focus of this assessment was on basic demographics, use of LSE services, legal issues, preferred methods for receiving legal information, and the utility of various legal service options. Surveys were distributed via area agencies on aging, and concluded that the ley legal issues included financial scams, home repair problems, obtaining or retaining government benefits, debt collection, and accessing medical services. Sixty-seven percent of individuals aged 70 or older …
Legal Needs Assessment Of Older Adults In Maine: 2011 Survey Findings From Key Populations Of Older Adults, Lenard Kaye, Jennifer Crittenden
Legal Needs Assessment Of Older Adults In Maine: 2011 Survey Findings From Key Populations Of Older Adults, Lenard Kaye, Jennifer Crittenden
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
The purpose of this report was to provide guidance to Legal Services for the elderly in developing outreach and services for older adults. Participants in the survey included 96 older adults who had recently experienced a benefits denial with assistance from the Maine Office of Elder Services, 125 homebound individuals, and 125 adults 70 years or older. Respondents were generally females over the age of 70 who were living with a disability and have lower incomes. The key legal issues in evaluation for future efforts include scams, obtaining or keeping government benefits, home repair problems, debt collection, and getting medical …
An Analysis Of Current And Projected Rural Older Adult Legal Services Needs, Lenard W. Kaye, Jennifer A. Crittenden, Melissa Adle, David C. Wihry, Jaye L. Martin
An Analysis Of Current And Projected Rural Older Adult Legal Services Needs, Lenard W. Kaye, Jennifer A. Crittenden, Melissa Adle, David C. Wihry, Jaye L. Martin
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Maine is now the oldest state in the nation, and is one of the most rural states. A legal needs assessment of older adults in Maine was conducted by analyzing the findings from recent research conducted in six other states and service data from Maine Legal Services for the Elderly over a one-year time period. The six states analyzed were Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah. There were a total of over 7,300 older adults that responded to the legal needs surveys. The assessment concluded that the high-level service needs included the following: health insurance, government benefits, estate …
Legal Needs Assessment Of Older Adults In Maine, Lenard Kaye, Melissa Adle, Jennifer Crittenden
Legal Needs Assessment Of Older Adults In Maine, Lenard Kaye, Melissa Adle, Jennifer Crittenden
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
A clear understanding of the most pertinent legal issues for older adults is necessary to maximize the available resources and increase the capacity of the legal service delivery system most effectively. This legal needs assessment was conducted by analyzing recent research in six other states over a one year time period. The assessment analyzes more than 7,300 older adults in these six states. It was concluded that up to half of all older adults will need legal assistance in the next five to ten years, but LSE can serve less than five thousand people per year. The greatest need was …
Health Promotion For Maine’S Aging Population: A Legislative Roadmap, Lenard W. Kaye, Rachel Hutchins, Dyan Walsh
Health Promotion For Maine’S Aging Population: A Legislative Roadmap, Lenard W. Kaye, Rachel Hutchins, Dyan Walsh
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Maine has the distinction of being the oldest state in the nation. This policy brief considers strategies for promoting the health of aging Mainers. As of 2005, 7.5 million individuals living in rural America were over the age of 65. Challenges of living in a rural area can make it difficult for older individuals to access services that are vital to their daily living. Older adults in rural regions are found to be less educated, have worse health outcomes, and have incomes that fall below the poverty level. Recommended strategies include utilizing the Federally Qualified Health Centers, encourage greater collaboration, …
Elder Abuse Screening Protocol For Physicians: Lessons Learned From The Maine Partners For Elder Protection Pilot Project, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Elder Abuse Screening Protocol For Physicians: Lessons Learned From The Maine Partners For Elder Protection Pilot Project, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
This manual was designed to assist physicians, nurses, and medical office managers become aware on means to incorporate screening processes in regard to elder abuse. The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging has reported that as many as five million elderly persons are abuses each year in the United States. By implementing proper screening procedures, disclosure will be made easier, thus protecting patients from harm. The screening procedure involves evaluating for mistreatment among patients 60 years or older, at least once per year. The protocol has been tested in 16 healthcare facilities with a total of 2,082 patients being …
Health And Aging: A Roadmap For Maine’S Older Adults And Their Families, Lenard W. Kaye, Dyan M. Villeneuve
Health And Aging: A Roadmap For Maine’S Older Adults And Their Families, Lenard W. Kaye, Dyan M. Villeneuve
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
The rapid aging of Maine’s population has created a range of challenges associated with maximizing the health and well-being of our older citizens. This issue brief considers a series of policy and programmatic approaches to promoting healthy aging lifestyles in the state while ensuring the continued involvement of relatives and other informal supports in all such efforts. Much of the current legislation that governs policy decisions regarding social service delivery and allocation of funds for Maine’s elders is funneled through the Older Americans Act, but this has not kept pace over the past 20 years. One key factor that is …
Healthy Aging, Mary Walsh, Peggy Haynes, Chris Sady, Matt L'Italien
Healthy Aging, Mary Walsh, Peggy Haynes, Chris Sady, Matt L'Italien
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
It has been scientifically proven that preventative measures such as regular physical activity and healthy eating are crucial in maintaining good health, reducing the impact of disease, delaying disability, and reducing the need for expensive long term care for older adults. Among individuals in Maine aged 65 or older, 43 percent are overweight, 18 percent are obese, and 36 percent do not do any leisure time physical activities. Most of these individuals suffer from one or more chronic health problems. This can be avoided by incorporating moderate physical activity, good nutrition, and no smoking, thus delaying disability by as much …
Informal Caregiving, Julie Ann Scott, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Informal Caregiving, Julie Ann Scott, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
With advances in medicine and nutrition resulting in longevity comes increased risk of debilitating diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Although trained professionals can provide care to these individuals, simple aspects of care may be provided by family members or friends. There are now over 52.4 million informal caregivers in the United States. Although informal caregiving comes with personal rewards, it also has emotional, physical, and financial challenges. This role is underappreciated, yet is crucial to society. Sixty-five percent of older individuals with long-term care needs rely exclusively on family and friends for assistance. The economic …
Meeting Maine’S Need For Frontline Workers In Long-Term Care And Service Options, Lisa Pohlmann, Maine Center For Economic Policy
Meeting Maine’S Need For Frontline Workers In Long-Term Care And Service Options, Lisa Pohlmann, Maine Center For Economic Policy
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Thousands of workers across Maine and the nation provide assistance and health care for elders as well as adults and children with disabilities. The Maine Department of Labor estimates that there were about 17,600 direct care workers employed in 2005, which does not include self-employed workers in private pay arrangements. As baby boomers retire over the next 20 years, the demand for direct care and personal assistance services will continue to grow, making direct care occupations some of the highest demand jobs in the state. There is already a labor shortage in this area of work, and thus long-term consumers …
The Eastern Maine Transportation Collaborative’S (Emtc) Health Services Initiative Needs Assessment Research Final Report, University Of Maine Center On Aging
The Eastern Maine Transportation Collaborative’S (Emtc) Health Services Initiative Needs Assessment Research Final Report, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
The University of Maine Center on Aging (CoA) in collaboration with members of the Eastern Maine Transportation Collaborative (EMTC) conducted a twelve month needs assessment focusing on the challenges and barriers that older adults face in accessing chronic care medical services such as diabetes care, cancer care, dialysis, cardiac rehabilitation, and physical therapy in Hancock, Washington, and Penobscot Counties. The assessment was conducted through phone interviews, surveys, and community case studies. Participants included older adult chronic care patients, escorts and family members accompanying patients to chronic care appointments, medical office schedulers, and transportation providers. The goals of the assessment were …
A Whole Woman Strategy And Action Plan To Raise National Awareness About Osteoporosis, Lenard W. Kaye, Majorie A. Harris, Clifford Rosen
A Whole Woman Strategy And Action Plan To Raise National Awareness About Osteoporosis, Lenard W. Kaye, Majorie A. Harris, Clifford Rosen
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
The University of Maine Center on Aging, in partnership with the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education, was one of three grantees taking part in a U.S. Administration on Aging-funded project to develop a national osteoporosis awareness and action plan targeting postmenopausal women
The University of Maine Center on Aging’s portion of the research entailed several phases of activity. Initially, focus groups were conducted with 147 ethnically and racially diverse older women around the country (Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Kansas) to determine where older women obtain their health information, what they consider reliable and unreliable informational sources, …
Polypharmacy In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Polypharmacy In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Polypharmacy is the ingestion of four or more medications. This is a common occurrence in correspondence with the aging process, as 30 percent of older adults are taking eight or more medications, and 80 percent of older adults are taking an average of three prescription medications per day. Awareness of this topic is crucial to avoid drug misuse and to promote healthy living for as long as possible.
Potential Adverse Consequences Of Benzodiazepines In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Potential Adverse Consequences Of Benzodiazepines In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
There are many potential negative consequences that come with Benzodiazepine usage in older adults. These include neuropsychological effects (e.g., cognitive impairments and psychomotor impairments), physiological and psychological dependence, and withdrawal symptoms. It is important to become properly educated on the effects of these drugs and to communicate with a doctor.
Managing Multiple Medications, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Managing Multiple Medications, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
As an older adult, you may find yourself with multiple prescriptions to take in one day. It is crucial to know the hazards of taking multiple drugs and carefully monitor them in order to maintain your health and independence. The risks of taking multiple medications includes increased risk of falls and hospitalizations. It is important to regularly discuss the details with your doctor, inform your pharmacist of any medications you are taking, ask about alternatives, and utilize reminders. By taking these steps, it will be easier to protect your health and independence for as long as possible.
Benzodiazepines And You, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Benzodiazepines And You, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Benzodiazepines are a group of commonly prescribed drugs utilized to manage anxiety, sleep problems, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, or as a muscle relaxant. Older adults are a common population to be prescribed these drugs, and the prescriptions often come in inappropriate amounts. Long term use of Benzodiazepines increases the risk of negative side effects, such as addiction, misuse, memory loss, and falls. It is important to discuss these factors with your health care provider and to discuss possible alternatives.
Benzodiazepine Use And Misuse In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Benzodiazepine Use And Misuse In Older Adults, University Of Maine Center On Aging
Maine Center on Aging Research and Evaluation
Benzodiazepines are utilized by an average of 25 percent of individuals over the age of 65. They are the most commonly misused medication by elders. It is important to know the risk factors of inappropriate usage of these drugs, and to openly discuss this with your doctor.