Nutrition Programs Renewed for the New Year 12/08/2010
TOMS RIVER - A warm nutritious meal delivered with a friendly smile and a caring heart can be a lifeline for the elderly living in Ocean County.
"Making certain our seniors receive proper nutrition in addition to having contact with caring individuals is a priority of the Board of Chosen Freeholders," said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of Senior Services. "In order to make sure these programs continue to provide the benefits they do we are awarding six contracts to continue our congregate meals, and home delivered meals programs, social support services and the chronic disease management program.
"These programs are a integral part of our senior program network and the action we take today will make certain our elderly residents will be taken care of in the New Year," Vicari said.
The six contracts, totaling $2,541,262 are expected to be awarded to Community Services Inc. of Lakewood during the Dec. 15 meeting of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
"Community Services, Inc. plans to provide over 68,000 congregate meals and 220,000 home delivered meals in 2011," Vicari said.
The cost of the congregate meal contract is $782,173 and the home delivered meal contract totals $1,250,507 for 2011. In addition to the meals, nutrition education and nutrition counseling is provided to both congregate and home delivered meals participants.
"Under this program, we don't just deliver a meal – that is the first step," Vicari said. "We also deliver a network of services stressing to the participants the importance of eating right, exercising both body and mind, in order to continue to live independently."
Community Services, Inc. will also provide Social Support Services such as outreach, benefits screening, transportation, language translation and others to at least 3,000 older adults totaling about 42,000 units of service. The contract for those services totals $478,749.
And, Ocean County will enter into a contract with Community Services, Inc. for the expansion of the Chronic Disease Self Management Program. The amount of the contract is $29,834.
"The average age for a congregate meals participants is 84-years-old therefore, providing an evidence-based health education program such as the Chronic Disease Self Management Program will help to support individuals in their goal of remaining independent," Vicari said. "All of these programs and services provide a host of benefits to our older adults in Ocean County. Good nutrition, proper exercise and socialization are vital to a long and healthy life."
Please share this information with the senior citizens you serve.
Rutgers University Senior Citizen Audit Program
This special program was created by the Rutgers University Board of Governors to permit retired New Jersey residents, age 62 or older, to attend courses on a space-available, noncredit basis. There are no tuition costs for auditing courses.
Here are details about the program:
Only courses offered during the spring and fall semesters on the Camden, Newark, or New Brunswick campuses are open to auditors. No other courses offered at the university are available under the Senior Citizen Audit Program, including courses offered during other terms.
Auditors are not permitted to audit on-line courses.
Courses listed as closed in the online Schedule of Classes at http://soc.ess.rutgers.edu/soc —those that have reached maximum capacity—are not open to auditors.
Auditing is a courtesy offered at the discretion of the professor. If the professor informs you that auditors are not permitted, please select another course.
Auditors must wait until the first day of class to have a professor approve and sign the Permission to Audit form for the appropriate semester.
Auditors are passive participants. Please wait for the professor's invitation to participate. Registered, matriculated students are always given priority for the professor's time.
Your name will not appear on the professor's roster. Your status is that of a nonregistered auditor.
Please go to the website and select the campus nearest your location and download the Camden, New Brunswick,or Newark Senior Citizen Auditor Packet.
It is estimated that there are currently 35.6 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. This figure is projected to grow to more than 115.4 million people by 2050.
DHA ‘Fish Oil’ Supplements Do Not Appear To Slow Cognitive, Functional Decline In Alzheimer’s Disease
November 3, 2010
Adapted from JAMA
Video courtesy of JAMA
Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who received supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), believed to possibly reduce the risk of AD, did not experience a reduction in the rate of cognitive and functional decline, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a study in the November 3 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on aging.
Joseph F. Quinn, M.D., of Oregon Health and Science University and the Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Ore., presented the findings of the study at a JAMA media briefing at the National Press Club.
“Several studies have found that consumption of fish, the primary dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline or dementia. Some studies have found that consumption of DHA, but not other omega-3 fatty acids, is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer disease,” the authors write. However, those studies were observational and did not control who received DHA. Animal studies that used DHA showed reductions in Alzheimer-like brain pathology.
Dr. Quinn and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial to examine whether DHA supplementation would slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The study, which was conducted between November 2007 and May 2009 at 51 U.S. clinical research sites, included 402 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Participants were randomly assigned to DHA at a dose of 2 grams/day or to identical placebo (60 percent were assigned to DHA and 40 percent were assigned to placebo). Duration of treatment was 18 months. Changes in cognitive and functional abilities were assessed with the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale.
“In summary, these results indicate that DHA supplementation is not useful for the population of individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease,” the authors write.
The researchers add that “because part of the rationale for the trial was epidemiological evidence that DHA use before disease onset modifies the risk of Alzheimer disease, it remains possible that an intervention with DHA might be more effective if initiated earlier in the course of the disease in patients who do not have overt dementia.”
Disclaimer:The information provided in this section is a public service of the American Health Assistance Foundation, and should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Although we take efforts to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information on our website reflects the most up-to-date research. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice; all medications and supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. The American Health Assistance Foundation does not endorse any medical product or therapy.
Programs and Services for Seniors Outlined 11/10/2010
TOMS RIVER – From community support to home support, and from nutrition support to caregiver services, Ocean County is ready to submit its 2011 Senior Area Plan Contract Update to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services for program funding.
"This is a major funding source for programs affecting Ocean County seniors," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, Chairman of Senior Services. "This funding, which totals $4,056,988, helps us to provide the essential programs and services that help keep our seniors healthy and independent and also provides help to their caregivers.
"It is often a lifeline for our aging population in Ocean County," Vicari said.
The 2011 Senior Area Plan Update includes 52 programs with 22 service providers from throughout the county. The programs are funded through federal, state and county funds totaling more than $6 million. A break down of the funding sources includes 45 percent from the federal government, 22 percent from the state and 33 percent from the county.
"Ocean County is unique with its large population of retirees who have moved here from other areas of the state," Vicari said. "Ocean County leads the way with the highest percentage of households with Social Security income - totaling 43 percent.
"More than 50 percent of the residents accessing the services from the Ocean County Office of Senior Services are 75 and older while 17 percent are 85 and over," Vicari said. "These populations begin to have more and more special needs as they get older."
The staff of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, from Jan. 1 through the end of October 2010, have responded to over 10,000 clients and there were 6,000 visitors to the office's website.
"Through our Area Plan Contracts, there were over 460,000 units of service provided to over 33,000 individuals," said Jane Maloney, Director of Senior Services. "Of those served 2,820 were caregivers and 1,492 of these caregivers were over 60 years of age.
"In addition, there were almost 210,000 home delivered meals during the first 10 months of the year and 56,000 congregate meals served totaling 266,000 meals that were provided so far this year," she said.
Vicari noted the Ocean County Office of Senior Services serves as the focal point where older adults and their families can turn to for information regarding services and programs. The 2011 Area Plan Contract Update outlines Ocean County's plan for addressing the current and future needs of seniors living in Ocean County.
Through its 2011 Aging Services Plan, Ocean County again expects to serve over 35,000 individuals with access, home support, community support, nutrition and caregiver services.
"These are key areas that help our seniors maintain their independence and their quality of life," Vicari said.
Vicari stated that many are familiar with Ocean County's safety network of services for the frail/disabled elderly, however, he said, the Office of Senior Services also has an important role in assisting the newly arrived older adult in preparing for a healthy future.
"Our Office of Senior Services has a wide array of information and programs to promote healthy aging," he said. "Whether it is one of the four HealthEASE activities or educational programs to help people prepare for the numerous aspects of Medicare, we try to meet the many needs of our older adult population."
He noted that there is continued emphasis on the accessibility of services within the aging services plan.
"Ocean County has developed a good system of outreach sites countywide," Vicari said. "These sites provide for trained outreach staff to link older persons with programs; the services are there, people just need help connecting." A major emphasis for the Office of Senior Services is to get the word out to the county's residents.
"So far this year, the Office of Senior Services has provided 136 presentations to residents in communities throughout Ocean County," Vicari said. "Providing good information is essential when outreaching the people who will benefit most from our programs and services. Older adults can get help from Ocean County. It's important we let them know how to access it."
More information on senior programs in Ocean County is available by calling the Office of Senior Services at 732-929-2091 or by visiting it's website at www.co.ocean.nj.us.
Heavy Smoking Doubles Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia Risk
October 28, 2010
Adapted from GolinHarris International
Heavy smoking in midlife is associated with a 157 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and a 172 percent increased risk of developing vascular dementia, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This is the first study to look at the long-term consequences of heavy smoking on dementia.
Researchers followed an ethnically diverse population of 21,123 men and women from midlife onward for an average of 23 years. Compared with non-smokers, those who had smoked more than two packs of cigarettes a day had more than a 157 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and 172 percent increased risk of vascular dementia during the mean follow-up period of 23 years.
Vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, is a group of dementia syndromes caused by conditions affecting the blood supply to the brain.
"This study shows that the brain is not immune to the long-term consequences of heavy smoking," said the study's principal investigator, Rachel A. Whitmer, Ph.D., a research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. "We know smoking compromises the vascular system by affecting blood pressure and elevates blood clotting factors, and we know vascular health plays a role in risk of Alzheimer's disease."
Researchers analyzed prospective data from of 21,123 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members who participated in a survey between 1978 and 1985. Diagnoses of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia made in internal medicine, neurology, and neuropsychology were collected from 1994 to 2008. The researchers adjusted for age, sex, education, race, marital status, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, body mass index, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and alcohol use.
"While we don't know for sure, we think the mechanisms between smoking and Alzheimer's and vascular dementia are complex, including possible deleterious effects to brain blood vessels as well as brain cells," said study co-author Minna Rusanen, M.D., of the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital in Finland.
This study is the latest in a series of published Kaiser Permanente research to better understand the modifiable risk factors for dementia. This ongoing body of research adds to evidence base that what is good for the heart is good for the brain, and that midlife is not too soon to begin preventing dementia with good health. The other studies led by Whitmer found that a large abdomen in midlife increases risk of late-life dementia, elevated cholesterol levels in midlife increase risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, and low blood-sugar events in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes increase dementia risk. Another Kaiser Permanente study led by Valerie Crooks of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California found that having a strong social network of friends and family appears to decrease risk for dementia.
County Can Help with Medicare Questions 10/28/2010
OLDER ADULTS living in Ocean County who receive Medicare should be aware that a postcard from the National Processing Center is a form of solicitation for insurance companies and not an official document from the federal government.
The card, which has been mailed to Medicare beneficiaries, carried the warning: "Important: Projected Medicare Changes."
The postcard states that proposed cuts to existing government programs include a significant reduction in the federal Medicare program, which may result in an increase in premiums and fees that you must pay… and a decrease in some benefits.
The postcard encourages recipients to sign and return the postage paid card in order to receive more information about the changes and how they will personally affect the beneficiary and their present health care provider.
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, Chairman of Senior Services, noted the card is not an official document from Medicare and appears to be a marketing tool that will result in older adults unknowingly signing up to receive materials from insurance companies.
"Our seniors need to know this is not an official notification from the federal government," Vicari said. "If seniors have questions about Medicare or their coverage they should ask the experts and that help is available right here in Ocean County."
Vicari said seniors can call the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 732-929-2091 or visit the County Connection at the Ocean County Mall, Toms River, for assistance and information on the Medicare program.
"Insurance can be a very difficult road to navigate," Vicari said. "In Ocean County we make every effort to provide the information our seniors need so they can make the best choices for them.
"This sort of marketing just makes worse the confusion that already may exist for our seniors when attempting to determine the insurance coverage they need," Vicari said. "Marketing materials that can be misleading are of no benefit to seniors living in Ocean County."
Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety, noted that if seniors feel they are being scammed they can turn to law enforcement in Ocean County and also the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs.
"Making certain our seniors are safe is a priority in Ocean County," Kelly said. "It's important to bring these kinds of situations to light so seniors can make informed decisions on how to handle this kind of marketing material."
TOMS RIVER – Noting November is recognized as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Family Caregivers month, Ocean County public and law enforcement officials joined with state representatives to raise awareness about the importance of the newly implemented Silver Alert System.
“Law enforcement in Ocean County knows the importance of implementing programs that will help our older adults, their caregivers and the more vulnerable residents of the county,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. “Much like anything else though, unless people are made aware of the importance of Silver Alert it won’t do much to help those individuals that may go missing because of Alzheimer’s or a cognitive impairment regardless of age.”
Under the law, the state Attorney General established a “Silver Alert System” which provides a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
“The more eyes and ears you have aware of a missing person, the better,” said Ford, who was joined by Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari and 9th District State Sen. Christopher Connors at an awareness kickoff at the Ocean County Administration Building.
Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as Chairman of Senior Services in Ocean County, noted this program has special significance in Ocean County because of the large senior population that lives here.
“With more than 160,000 seniors living in Ocean County and with an increasing number of people 85 and over, it’s important that people are made aware of what Silver Alert means,” Vicari said. “We don’t want motorists to see the words Silver Alert on the overhead LED signs on Route 37 and not be aware of its significance.”
He noted it was also important to get the information out to caregivers, because these are the individuals who are charged with the safety and welfare of aging adults in Ocean County.
According to Sgt. Cindy Boyd of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, local law enforcement will be provided with training so the Silver Alert Program has positive results in Ocean County.
“When it comes to a missing person, you can never have too much information,” said Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Chief Michael Osborn, who helps oversee Ocean County’s Project Lifesaver Program.
In 2003, members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department with the support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders initiated a program that reduces the amount of time it takes to successfully conclude a search for a person who is lost in particular those people who have Alzheimer’s disease or suffer from other dementias.
Under the program Project Lifesaver, an individual is equipped with a bracelet that holds a transmitter. Each transmitter has a separate radio frequency that allows sheriff’s officers to hone in on a missing individual who is wearing a bracelet.
(add one)
Today, 52 individuals are equipped with these bracelets in Ocean County including 21 adults and 31 children. The program has had many success stories including 10 searches where the person was found within 10 to 15 minutes of being reported missing.
Silver Alert complements programs like Project Lifesaver, Vicari said.
“More than 50 percent of people who have Alzheimer’s can develop the tendency to wander. Many of them repeat their actions. If they are outside for more than 24 hours their chance of survival drops by 50 percent,” Osborn said.
“Because time is of the essence we want people to understand the significance of Silver Alert,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “We encourage family members and caregivers to contact their local police department immediately when aperson who suffers from some form of dementia wanders away.”
According to Silver Alert criteria, the person believed to be missing is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment regardless of age; a missing person’s report has been submitted to the local law enforcement agency where the person went missing; the person believed to be missing may be in danger of death or serious injury and there is sufficient information that a Silver Alert would assist in locating the missing person.
“There is a spirit of cooperation that will make this measure successful,” said Sen. Connors. “This law brings all the resources together to make sure we bring this individual – a mother, a father, a grandparent - home safely.”
Connors noted that New Jersey was one of 11 states to adopt the Silver Alert System.
The ‘wet’ form of age-related macular degeneration accounts for approximately 10 percent of cases, but results in 90 percent of legal blindness.
Discovery Shows Promise To Restore Lost Vision
September 14, 2010
Adapted from the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Adult stem cells within the retina may be chemically induced to regenerate photoreceptors and restore vision in people with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a research study at UNMC shows.
The research, which was done on mice and rats, is reported in the August 26, 2010 edition of PLoS One.
The research represents the first indication that the retina can be repaired from within by its own cells. It would be a significant departure from transplantation of stem cells, which is now being studied for restoring lost vision and brings with it a variety of concerns such as immune rejection and the source of cells.
"It's a tantalizing stem cell approach to correct vision loss ... to harness existing stem cells and coax them into repairing the retina," said Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences for UNMC and the lead investigator on the study. "Before, stem cell transplantation was regarded to be the only practical way to restore vision. This is a radically different approach, and best of all, it is relatively safe and free from controversy."
The degeneration of photoreceptors, cells in the retina that capture light, is the cause of vision loss in AMD and RP. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for photoreceptor degeneration.
Dr. Ahmad and his team, led by Carolina Del Debbio, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate, have activated adult stem cells taken from the retina with a combination of chemicals and peptides.
A small proportion of the activated stem cells migrated to the location of dying photoreceptors and differentiated into photoreceptor-like cells. An accompanying result was that rats that were chemically treated demonstrated a transient but significant improvement in light perception.
Preliminary results suggest that the improvement in light perception is likely due to the regeneration of photoreceptors, but further studies are needed to confirm it, Dr. Ahmad said.
Disclaimer:The information provided in this section is a public service of the American Health Assistance Foundation, and should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Although we take efforts to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information on our website reflects the most up-to-date research. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice; all medications and supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. The American Health Assistance Foundation does not endorse any medical product or therapy.
Some of the content in this section is adapted from other sources, which are clearly identified within each individual item of information.
These devices often resemble a pen and have the means to remove and replace the lancet after each use, allowing the device to be used more than once (see Figure 1). Due to difficulties with cleaning and disinfection after use and their link to numerous outbreaks, CDC recommends that these devices never be used for more than one person. If these devices are used, it should only be by individual persons using these devices for self-monitoring of blood glucose.
The shared use of fingerstick devices is one of the common root causes of exposure and infection in settings such as long-term care (LTC) facilities, where multiple persons require assistance with blood glucose monitoring. Risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens is not limited to LTC settings but can exist anywhere multiple persons are undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling. For example, at a health fair in New Mexico earlier this year, dozens of attendees were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens when fingerstick devices were reused to conduct diabetes screening.
Use of Fingerstick Devices on More than One Person Poses Risk for Transmitting Bloodborne Pathogens
Single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices:
These are devices that are disposable and prevent reuse through an auto-disabling feature (see Figure 2). In settings where assisted monitoring of blood glucose is performed, single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices should be used.
Summary:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly concerned about the risks for transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other bloodborne pathogens to persons undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling -- for instance, persons with diabetes who require assistance monitoring their blood glucose levels. Reports of HBV infection outbreaks linked to diabetes care have been increasing1,2,3. This notice serves as a reminder that fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person.
Background
Fingerstick devices are devices that are used to prick the skin and obtain drops of blood for testing. There are two main types of fingerstick devices: those that are designed for reuse on a single person and those that are disposable and for single-use.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
CDC CLINICAL REMINDER
Recommendations
Anyone performing fingerstick procedures should review the following recommendations to ensure that they are not placing persons in their care at risk for infection.
Fingerstick devices should
never be used for more than one person.
Auto-disabling
single-use fingerstick devices should be used for assisted monitoring of blood glucose.
These recommendations apply not only to licensed healthcare facilities but also to any setting where fingerstick procedures are performed, including assisted living or residential care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, health fairs, shelters, detention facilities, senior centers, schools, and camps. Protection from infections, including bloodborne pathogens, is a basic requirement and expectation anywhere healthcare is provided.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transmission of hepatitis B virus among persons undergoing blood glucose monitoring in long-term-care facilities – Mississippi, North Carolina, and Los Angeles County, California, 2003-2004. MMWR 2005;54:220-223.
2. Patel AS, White-Comstock MB, Woolard D, Perz JF. Infection Control Practices in Assisted Living Facilities: A Response to Hepatitis B Virus Infection Outbreaks. ICHE 2009;30(3):209-214.
3. Thompson ND, Perz JF. Eliminating the Blood: Ongoing Outbreaks of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and the Need for Innovative Glucose Monitoring Technologies. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2009;3(2):283-288
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