Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Information Website Launched

A consumer educational website focused on the Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership program has been launched by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) the national trade group focused on creating heightened awareness of the importance of long term care planning.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of AALTCI, the Partnership programs provide some very unique asset protection benefits designed to encourage more middle income individuals to undertake long term care planning.

Connecticut was one of the four original states to offer the special Long Term Care Partnership program, Slome explains.  New York, California and Indiana were the other three original states launched in the early 1990s.

“The Partnership program was originally made possible by grants from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation with the specific goal of making affordable long term care insurance protection available and attractive to as many individuals as possible,” Slome adds.

Connecticut residents are eligible for the program that can only be offered by approved insurers and licensed professionals who take part in special training.  The Association will be working closely with designated professionals to help consumers seeking information as well as cost proposals for this important protection.

The web address for the new website is http://www.connecticutpartnershiponly.com and provides the latest information on the program.   AALTCI recently posted a website for New York residents interested in partnership information.  The New York Long Term Care Partnership website provides New York residents with meaningful information.

Established in 1998, the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance is the national organization created to educate consumers about the importance of long term care planning and to support insurance professionals who market these products.

Long Term Care Insurance Sales Awards Open

The Long Term Care Insurance Sales Achievement Awards will be open for entries on January 1, 2012. 

The yearly award based on 2011 sales is organized by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), the national trade organization.  The 2011 award ranked producers from all states broken down into categories including individual LTC insurance, multilife long term care as well as sales of asset-based annuity and life insurance products offering long term care benefits.

The awards are designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements by those working to educate and help protect Americans.  “From those producers just starting out to the many seasoned specialists, there’s no more passionate and hard-working group of professionals than those selling long-term care insurance protection,” explains Jesse Slome, AALTCI’s executive director.

A special “Rookie of the Year” category now recognizes those producers who first started selling in 2011.   A key component of the awards program is the State-by-State ranking.  “This gives 50 agents the opportunity to show that they are number 1 in their particular state,” Slome explains.  “That’s certainly a powerful marketing tool and these leaders are often called on to teach others and share their knowledge.”

Online applications are available at www.aaltci.org/awards.  The closing date for free entries is February 29.

Established in 1998, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is the national trade organization that supports insurance professionals as well as conducts awareness programs to educate American adults about the importance of long-term care planning.  

Long Term care Insurance Expert Reports Low Vitamin B12 Linked To Cognitive Decline In Elderly

Older individuals who have low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood have a greater risk of brain shrinkage, losing cognitive skills and greater risk of needing long term health care.

"The number of U.S. adults aged 65 years and older is projected to nearly double over the next two decades," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, the national trade organization.  "As a result, the incidence of cognitive issues especially Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is also expected to rise as will the need for costly long term care."

According to Chicago researchers foods rich in vitamin B12 include those derived from animals and include, eggs, milk, liver, meat, and fish.  Vitamin B12 plays a key role in normal nervous system functioning and brain development. It is also involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Scientists undertook a study of individuals aged at least 65 years. They underwent blood tests to check for B12 and B12-related metabolites levels. They were also assessed for memory and other cognitive skills. Some five years later magnetic resonance imaging scans of their brains were taken to measure comparative brain size and to identify other signs of brain damage.

Those with four of five markers for vitamin B12 deficiency were found to have a higher risk of getting lower cognitive test scores and smaller total brain volumes.  The National Institute of Aging funded the study.

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in normal nervous system functioning and brain development. It is also involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Planning experts advise those seeking to learn more about long-term care planning and get long-term care insurance cost contact a designated expert via the Association's Consumer Information Center at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/free-quote/.  They point out that the best ages to look into this protection is prior to age 65 when health issues can make it harder or more costly to medically qualify for coverage.

Women Aged Over 85 Have Higher Prevalence Of Arthritis And Joint Pain

A new study finds that the lifetime prevalence of arthritis is 65.4% in individuals aged 85, with women impacted more than men.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, while arthritis is strongly connected with age, few investigations have studied how the oldest individuals (those aged 85+ years) are affected by the disease.

The study looked at over 1,000 individuals aged 85 years old and revealed that for any arthritis the lifetime prevalence was high, with 65.4% of the participants having arthritis.  According to Slome, the researchers discovered that the disease was more common in women than men: 69.1% vs 58.8%.

Osteoarthritis the researchers found was most prevalent in the knee joint followed by the hip and hand. A percentage of those participating in the study identified the knee as the most painful joint, even though the foot, ankle and lower back received the highest pain score. With the exception of the shoulder and foot, for all joints women reported a higher average pain score.

The study was published today in the journal Age and Ageing.  According to AALTCI, arthritis is the fourth leading cause of long term care insurance claims for nursing home care, following Alzheimer's, nervous system conditions and stroke.

"With more Americans living into their 80s and beyond, having a long term care plan in place is more important than ever," declares Slome.  "Most people wait too long to consider their options because the right time to plan is prior to turning age 65."

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association's Consumer Information center that can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/.

Just 15 Minutes Of Exercise Increases Life Expectency By Three Years

New research reports that just 15 minutes of daily physical activity can reduce your risk of death by 14 percent and increase your life expectancy by three years.

The current generally accepted recommendations call for adults to do at least 150 minutes, or a total of 2.5 hours, of physical activity weekly.

Researchers releasing the findings of their new study found that doing even less than that, only a quarter-hour of daily exercise or about 105 minutes a week still provides benefits.

The study included more than 390,000 residents of  Taiwan.  Researchers followed these individuals for an average of eight years and, based on self-reported amounts of weekly exercise, placed them into five categories.

People in the low-activity group, the scientists explained, exercised for an average of 92 minutes per week, or just under 15 minutes a day.   Compared to those categorized as being in the inactive group, individuals who did almost no physical activity, those in the low-activity group were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause, 10 percent less likely to die of cancer, and had a three-year longer life expectancy, on average.

Every additional 15 minutes of daily exercise beyond the minimum 15 minutes further reduced the risk of all-cause death by 4 percent and the risk of cancer death by 1 percent.

"The research is welcome news for millions of Americans who would benefit from even a minimum amount of exercise," suggests Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org.  "Death from heart disease, diabetes and cancer could be reduced and lifespans can be lengthened, though this means people will need to plan for living a long life."

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance  http://www.aaltci.org is the national trade organization focused on educating individuals about the importance of long-term care planning.  The Association's Consumer Information Center was voted the #1 source for information by consumer interest group rating and can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance.

Cancer Death Rate Declines Will Create Greater Long-Term Care Need

A steady decline in overall cancer death rates among America's aging adult population will create added stress on the long-term care needs of seniors.

Medical advances and better lifestyles among the aging population appears to have saved 898,000 deaths from cancer between 1990 and 2007.  According to the latest statistics presented today by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, this is both good and bad news for the primary targets of cancer - senior citizens.

"When you live a long life, the risk of needing costly long-term care services is great," explains Jesse Slome, AALTCI executive director.  "When you live a longer life, the risk and cost will be even greater.  More Americans will need home care and nursing home care services.  Medicare which pays for cancer treatments for millions of seniors does not cover the long term health care costs associated with aging, or pays very little of them," Slome notes.  "Millions of senior or aging baby boomers have no plan in place and will be quite surprised by the outcome."

Progress in the survival rate of those once impacted by cancer has not benefited all segments of the population equally.  According to researchers, cancer death rates for individuals with the least education are more than twice those of the most educated.

Cancer death rates according to the American Cancer Society are still declining in the U.S., but some are declining faster than others -- and cancer remains the leading cause of death for Americans younger than 85.

In it's yearly report they estimated that 1,596,670 new cancer diagnoses and more than 570,000 cancer deaths are expected to occur this year.

Slome shared that death rates fell by about 22% for men and 14% for women between 1990 and 2007. Since the early 2000’s, the decline has been 1.9% a year in men and 1.5% each year in women.  Better early detection and better treatment as well as reduced tobacco use over the past half-century that helped turned the tide in cancer-related deaths.

The long term care insurance Association recently reported that some 500,000 Americans would apply for insurance coverage this year.  "That is certainly an indication that responsible people understand they need to have a plan in place," Slome adds.  The Association will launch a monthlong effort to provide free long-term care insurance cost comparisons for consumers.  Click here to request a free long term care insurance cost comparison or visit their website at http://www.aaltci.org/free-quote/.

Nursing Home Closures Set Stafe For 2-Class System

January 12, 2011.  A five percent drop in available nursing home beds across the United States have affected many but worst hit are poor, urban neighborhoods.

According to new research, the country's minority population is aging at a steeper rate compared with the white population.  The study conducted by the Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research at Brown University in Providence, R.I. found that the potential need for long-term care is rising fastest in minority communities, even as nursing home closings are happening more often in their areas.

"The impact of nursing home closings on minority and low-income communities will have all sorts of implications in terms of access and quality of care issues for all,"  states Jesse Slome, executuive director of the American Assopciation for Long-Term Care Insurance.  "We are heading to a twp-class society, those who can pay and those dependent on whatever government programs exist."

The study findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, explored nursing home trends and analyzed information drawn from the National Online Survey Certification and Reporting database on closings of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities between 1999 and 2008.

During that time, the research team found that 11 percent of stand-alone nursing homes (1,776) and almost half (1,126) of all hospital-based nursing homes in the country shut their doors. Together, they represented a loss of 16 percent of all Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes and nearly 97,000 -- or more than 5 percent -- of nursing home beds.

Using U.S. Census data from 2000, the authors further noted that overall closure rates were about twice as high in zip codes that are home to low-income and minority (black/Hispanic) communities than in the richest zip codes.

Nursing homes in zip codes comprised primarily of Hispanic or black residents were 37 and 38 percent more likely, respectively, to close than those in areas with the fewest Hispanics or blacks.

The team concluded that nursing homes in minority and low-income communities are bearing the lion's share of financial pressures and closures, which raises concerns about rapidly diminishing senior care options and the quality of the remaining facilities in those places.

Experts explain that people in low-income neighborhoods who use nursing homes are generally Medicaid recipients, whose reimbursement rates are lower than the fees of private-pay patients. The result is that those places that care for these patients are more likely to close.

More than 27 million Americans will need long-term care by 2050, nearly twice as many as in 2000.  Either the federal government will have to increase the reimbursement rate for nursing home services, or state and federal policies will have to fund less expensive -- and perhaps more preferable lifestyle -- options, such as assisted living, the study researchers concluded.  Otherwise, only the wealthy will have access to nursing homes, the authors said.

Milk, Cheese, Dairy Products May Cut Diabetes Risk

Harvard scientists have identified a natural substance in dairy fat that may substantially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

According to the researchers, the compound, trans-palmitoleic (TP) acid, is a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. It is not produced by the body and so only comes from the diet.  Diabetes is an increasingly common condition that can result in disability for older individuals according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

A report in the Annals of Internal Medicine explains that TP acid may underlie epidemiological evidence in recent years that diets rich in dairy foods are linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic abnormalities. Health experts generally advise reducing full-fat dairy products, but TP acid is found in dairy fat.

The researchers examined nearly 4,000 participants and followed them for 20 years in an observational study to evaluate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in older adults. Metabolic risk factors such as blood glucose and insulin levels, and also levels of circulating blood fatty acids, including trans-palmitoleic acid, were measured using stored blood samples in 1992, and participants were followed for development of type 2 diabetes.

At baseline, higher circulating levels of TP acid were associated with healthier levels of blood cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity, after adjustment for other risk factors.

During follow-up exams, individuals with higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid had a much lower risk of developing diabetes, with about a 60% lower risk among participants in the highest quintile (fifth) of TP acid levels, compared to individuals in the lowest quintile.

Support for the study was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Medicaid Must Change; Middle Class Most Impacted

The following is from an excellent story in the New York Times (link below).   The inability of taxpayer-paid programs (Medicaid specifically) to pay mounting bills for long-term care will mandate changes in the current system.
For that reason, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance urges education and advocates planning.  If you are age 50-to-60, and middle class this is especially vital.  If Medicaid (taxpayers) are strapped today ... you can only imagine what it will be in 20 or 30 years.
Here's the blurb from the NY Times and the link to the full article.

Last year, more than 1,200 people in New York City officially turned their backs on their husbands and wives to qualify for Medicaid, triple the number of people five years ago. The practice, known as “spousal refusal,” is becoming more common as the population ages and the cost of nursing care rises — and it is coming under increasing attack by government officials looking to curb ballooning Medicaid expenses.
In a recent report, Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch warned that spousal refusal could be abused as “an entitlement for the less needy” and urged state officials to rethink it, noting that long-term care accounts for nearly half the state’s Medicaid spending.

Lawyers for the elderly argue the tactic of spousal refusal is legal nationwide, and it is most commonly used in New York and Florida, where 136 people refused to support a sick spouse last year.

Without the option of spousal refusal, lawyers say, American health care is like a ghoulish lottery. Those who need doctors’ care for illnesses like cancer or heart disease are covered by Medicare, the insurance program for the elderly, while those who need more custodial care for Alzheimer’s or stroke must pay for it themselves or dispose of their assets to qualify for Medicaid.

The federal government allows a healthy spouse to keep a house, a car, up to about $2,700 a month in income and up to about $110,000 in other resources. Anything above that must be spent on nursing care before Medicaid kicks in.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/nyregion/12medicaid.html?_r=1

Read the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance's guide about reducing the cost of long-term care insurance. Click here.  http://www.aaltci.org/free-guide.

Vision Of Elderly Can Improve

Elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training.

According to a study from the University of California, Riverside and Boston University elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training.  This has positive implications for the health and mobility of senior citizens.

UCR researchers and Boston University psychology professors conducted a series of experiments to determine whether repeated performance of certain visual tasks that are at the limits that one can see can improve the vision of adults older than 65.

The researchers found that with just two days of training, in one-hour sessions, with difficult stimuli resulted in older subjects seeing as well as younger college-age subjects.  The improvement was maintained for up to three months and the results were dependent on the location in the visual field where the stimuli were located - suggesting that the brain changed in early levels of visual cortex.

Age-related changes in vision - such as contrast sensitivity, dark adaptation, visual acuity, spatial vision, orientation, depth perception and motion perception - have been substantiated in numerous previous studies. This is the first study that demonstrates that perceptual training can be used to improve vision among the elderly in the earliest levels of visual processing.

The researchers used a texture discrimination test in which the participants were presented with stimuli consisting of a letter embedded in the center of a field of horizontally oriented lines. In addition to the letter, an array of peripherally located lines was oriented diagonally and formed either a vertical or horizontal object, always presented in the same quadrant. That was followed quickly with the display of a masking pattern. The task was to identify the central letter and the peripheral object.

 After age 60 there is a steady increase in the incidence of falls and automobile crashes that are associated with changes in visual processing reports the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance which tracks health related issues impacting aging Americans.

Free Guide Outlines Ways To Reduce Cost Of Long-Term Care Insurance

November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month and even the U.S. Congress has urged "the people of the United States to recognize (this) as an opportunity to learn more about the potential risks and costs … and the options available."

Some 10 million Americans currently require long-term care according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) with annual expenditures exceeding $200 billion.

"We're proud to support this important educational campaign," says Lisa Wendt, president and CEO of LifeSecure Insurance Company.  Experts expect the number of aging adults needing care will grow significantly in the next decade as the 76 million baby boomers begin to turn 65. 

To inform individuals about the importance of long-term care planning and simple ways to make insurance protection more affordable, AALTCI is making available a free online informational consumer guide.

"Few people are aware of the available discounts and planning techniques that can make long-term care insurance quite affordable," explains Jesse Slome, the organization's executive director.  "It is possible to reduce the cost by between 20-and-50 percent yearly."

For example, significant discounts are available when applicants meet certain health qualifications that can vary from one insurer to another.  "Non-smokers may qualify for savings and couples or partners who apply for protection may be eligible for savings," Slome adds.  "Savings can apply even when only one spouse obtains insurance coverage."

The "2 Minute Guide: Reducing The Cost" can be accessed online.  No sign-in or personal information is required.  To access the free guide, visit www.aaltci.org/free-guide/.

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About LifeSecure Insurance Company

LifeSecure Insurance Company is based in Brighton, MI and offers long-term care and post-hospital recovery insurance products. The company's insurance products are sold through a network of independent marketing organizations, brokers and agents and licensed in 44 states. Additional information is available at www.YourLifeSecure.com.

About The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI)

Established in 1998, AALTCI is the national professional organization serving over 3,000 insurance professionals who market long-term care insurance.  The organization's online Consumer Information Center www.aaltci.org/ has been recognized as a leading resource of current information and relevant statistical data.

Discovery Could Treat Obesity-Related Diabetes And Heart Disease

Researchers have found a new cellular pathway that could help in developing therapeutic treatments for obesity-related disorders, like diabetes and heart disease.

The medical scientists found that action by the enzyme histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) could be targets for potential treatment options in obesity-related diseases.

Researchers were really interested in the tie between increased HDAC9 levels in fat tissue of mice and the caloric overload.  Fat tissues from these obese mice showed dysfunction, with increased expression of pro-inflammatory agents and decreased expression of hormones responsible for maintaining whole body lipid and glucose stability.

HDAC9 level in fat cells is the underlying molecular culprit for dysfunctional fat tissue during obesity.

The researchers are currently examining HDAC9 knockout mice subjected to chronic high-fat feeding and think that HDAC9 gene removal will protect mice from obesity-linked adipose tissue dysfunction and associated metabolic disorders.

The team is pursuing studies to understand how diet regulates HDAC9 levels in fat tissue and how HDAC9 up-regulation can be prevented during diet-induced obesity through pharmacological means.  Their findings may help lead researchers to targeted therapies that may prevent the development of obesity-related disorders in humans reports the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance which tracks scientific research impacting the long-term health of Americans.

Scientists Find Speak Two Languages To Delay Alzheimer's Onset

Speaking two languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by as much as five years.

The study conducted by Canadian scientists found more dramatic evidence that those who have spoken two or more languages consistently over many years experienced a delay in the onset of their symptoms by as much as five years.

"We are not claiming that bilingualism in any way prevents Alzheimer's or other dementias, but it may contribute to cognitive reserve in the brain which appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms for quite some time," said Dr. Craik, lead investigator and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Memory.

The brains of people who speak two languages still show deterioration from Alzheimer's pathology; however, their special ability with two languages seems to equip them with compensatory skills to hold back the tell-tale symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as memory loss, confusion, and difficulties with problem-solving and planning.

Observations were made on patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's from 2007 to 2009. The patients' date of diagnosis and age of onset of cognitive impairment were recorded along with information on occupational history, education and language history (i.e. fluency in English and any other languages).

The researchers found that bilingual patients had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's 4.3 years later and had reported the onset of symptoms five years later than the monolingual patients. The groups were equivalent on measures of cognitive and occupational level, there was no apparent effect of immigration status, and there were no gender differences.

According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the current study adds to mounting scientific evidence that lifestyle factors - such as regular cardiovascular exercise, a healthy diet, and speaking more than one language - can play a central role in how the brain copes with age-related cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer's.

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alzheimer's Society of Canada.

Record Poor Will Impact Long Term Care Services

A record number of Americans signed up for Medicaid last year and experts warn it will impact those needing long term care.

According to a report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation enrollment in Medicaid, medical insurance program for the poor, increased to more than 48 million - a record 15.7 percent share of the U.S. population.  

"There will be two classes of Americans, those who will have to accept whatever care the government programs can afford, and those who have assets or insurance to pay," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  "People in their 50s today are in for a real shock unless they expect things to get much better."

With the economy barely improving, states are forecasting a 6 percent increase in the rolls next year, meaning another strain on their cash-depleted budgets. The Medicaid numbers are the latest piece to emerge in a grim statistical picture of the recession's toll.

The ranks of the working-age poor climbed to the highest level since the 1960s last year, according to a recent Census report. Nearly 12 million households received food stamps, a record.

The $814 billion federal economic stimulus plan passed last year provided extra funding for states for Medicaid, in the hope of covering the costs of the increased number of enrollees and of freeing up state budgets for spending in other areas.

The plan helped states drop their spending on Medicaid, which can take up a third of their budgets, by 7.1 percent in fiscal 2010 and by 10.9 percent in fiscal 2009, Kaiser found. But even with the U.S. government shouldering a greater share of the burden, states were forced to make cuts. In fiscal 2010 48 of the 50 states made cuts to some part of their Medicaid programs, according to the report. In fiscal 2011, 46 states intend to cut back on Medicaid spending.

Altogether, 20 states restricted the types of benefits enrollees could use in fiscal 2010, the largest number since records began in 2001.

23 Million Seniors Can Expect Less From Social Security

The combination of rising Medicare premiums and no annual cost-of-living adjustment would reduce Social Security payments for about 23 million of the nation's seniors.

The decrease in 2011 according to The Senior Citizens League represents two-thirds of the 37 million seniors who receive Social Security benefits.

The estimate is based on the group's recent survey of more than 2,400 seniors. Half of them said they received lower Social Security benefits after Medicare premium deductions this year, due to the lack of a COLA for the first time in 35 years.

The same situation is expected next year, because the Social Security Trustees and Congressional Budget Office have predicted that inflation will again remain too low to pay a COLA. Medicare premiums, on the other hand, are expected to increase.

Another year of no COLA will put Social Security benefits through the wringer said an expert. After paying their Medicare health insurance premiums, seniors will have even less to spend on other essentials. This will force many of them to fall below the poverty line.

Forty-seven percent of those surveyed said their annual Social Security benefits were reduced by at least $132 in 2010; about ten percent reported that their benefits dropped by more than $840.

The Senior Citizens League strongly supports legislation that would provide an emergency COLA or guarantee a minimum average COLA to prevent the erosion in Social Security benefits.

This is simply more proof that aging Americans must plan for their own future including retirement savings plans and long term insurance protection states Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  For more information and a free on reducing the cost of insurance, visit the organization's website.

Alzheimer's Tab Surpasses $600 Billion

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are having an enormous and growing impact on the world economy.  Today is World Alzheimer's Day.

According to a new report the cost will surpass $601 billion by the end of this year; over 1% of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product).  The new report published by Alzheimer's Disease International.

The report was authored by Professor Anders Wimo of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and Professor Martin Prince, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.

"This should be an important wake-up call that Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are the single most significant health and social crisis of the 21st century," declared Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  "Individuals are woefully unprepared for the social and economic disruptions this disease will cause."

The reports highlights the following information:

Global costs of dementia will surpass 1% of global GDP this year

Global costs of dementia will exceed $601 billion for the year 2010

There will be two times as many people with dementia in 2030 as there are today

There will be three times as many people with dementia by 2050 as there arean today

The costs of caring for individuals with dementia will probably increase faster than the increase in prevalence. This will be especially so in developing nations.

Although dementia is one of the costliest illnesses, research and development, as well as investments are considerably smaller than for other major illnesses which do not impact as much on national economies.

One expert nooted that this new Report gives us the clearest, most comprehensive picture yet of the global economic and social costs of dementia. The World Alzheimer Report 2010, merged the best available data and the most recent insights regarding the worldwide economic cost of dementia. This enabled researchers to provide more detailed estimates than before, by making use of recently available data that considerably strengthens the evidence base.

Study Examines Falls Among Seniors

The risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls for older adults are different, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, reported a fact that is often missed when the two are combined.  Their findings may affect how falls prevention programs are structured.

The scientists noted that indoor and outdoor falls are both important.  But they note that  people at high risk for indoor falls are different in many ways from those at high risk of outdoor falls.

The findings which were published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that indoor falls are associated with an inactive lifestyle, disability, and poor health, while outdoor falls are associated with higher levels of activity and average or better-than-average health.

Older adults who fell outdoors were somewhat younger than those who fell indoors, more likely to be male and better educated, and had lifestyle characteristics indicative of better health. Those who fell indoors had more physical disabilities, took more medications, and had lower cognitive function than those who fell outdoors.

The study examined nearly 800 men and women, age 70 and older, from randomly sampled households in the Boston area. Study participants underwent a comprehensive baseline falls assessment, including a home visit and clinic examination. Falls were reported on monthly calendars submitted to the researchers. Over a nearly two-year period, 598 indoor falls and 524 outdoor falls were reported. When a participant reported a fall, a structured telephone interview was conducted to determine the circumstances.

A fall the scientists report is not necessarily a marker of poor health. In fact, almost half of all falls occurred outdoors, and people who fell outdoors had the same or better health than those who did not fall at all. Second, epidemiological studies of risk factors for falls in older people may be hampered when falls are combined, with important associations between risk factors and indoor and outdoor falls potentially being missed. Third, intervention programs need to be tailored differently for people more likely to fall outdoors than those who tend to fall indoors.

According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, seniors who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, including hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries. At least half of these falls occur outdoors.  Falls are a leading cause for needing long-term care.

Consumer Guide On Long-Term Care Insurance To Appear In Kiplinger's

A special eight-page consumer guide focused on encouraging long-term care insurance planning will be included in the November 2010 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

The "3-Step Guide To Smarter Long-Term Care Planning" will be bound into the national magazine that is read by approximately two million individuals. Made possible with support from four leading long-term care insurers including John Hancock, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha and Prudential, the consumer guide was prepared by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance ( www.aaltci.org ) as part of the industry's consumer outreach efforts during Long-Term Care Awareness Month (November).

"The commitment of leading insurers working together marks a significant milestone," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the national organization that established Long-Term Care Awareness Month in 2001. "The effort undertaken with their support and involvement will create higher levels of consumer awareness at a most important time."

"As Americans live longer lives, it is vitally important that financial planning include long-term care planning,” according to Knight Kiplinger, editor in chief of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “We certainly advocate that to our readers and welcome the consumer educational efforts undertaken by leading insurers and the Association."

The November issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance is delivered to subscribers in October and newsstand copies will begin selling around October 10. The Association will be making free reprints of the Kiplinger's magazine guide available. For more information call the Association at (818) 597-3227 or visit their website: www.aaltci.org.

Vitamin B May Help Dementia Alzheimer's Disease

A new study reveals that elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment who take huge doses of B vitamins everyday may reduce the rate at which their brains shrink by 50%, resulting in a much slower progression toward dementia, and eventually Alzheimer's disease.

According to the findings of studies conducted by researchers from Oxford University, England, in an article published in Plos One (Public Library of Science One), this two-year clinical trial is the largest ever which examined the effect of B vitamins on "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI).

Individuals with MCI have a higher risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia notes Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance the industry's trade group.

"People with mild cognitive impairment can function in everyday activities, but they may have problems with memory, such as recalling people's names, losing the flow of a conversation, and not remembering where they left things," Slome explains. Approximately 16% of individuals aged over 70 years are affected by mild cognitive impairment.

David Smith, University Department of Pharmacology and Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, trial co-leader, said:

The single-center, randomized, double-blind controlled trial involved 168 volunteers who all had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. One group received high daily doses of vitamins B6 (0.5 mg/d) and B12 (20 mg/d), as well as folic acid (0.8 mg/d). This was 300 times the recommended daily intake for B12, 15 times daily recommended amounts of B6, and 4 times daily recommended intake of folic acid.

The other group received a placebo (tablets without any active ingredients). Treatment lasted 24 months.

The principal outcome measure was the change in the rate of atrophy of the whole brain, assessed by serial volumetric MRI scans.

The researchers found that the B vitamin with folic acid group had an average brain shrinkage of 0.76% per year. The placebo group had an average brain shrinkage of 1.08% per year.

Those with the highest homocysteine blood levels at the start of the trial who took the B vitamins and folic acid experienced half the brain shrinkage compared to individuals with the highest homocysteine blood levels at the start and who received the placebo.

To learn more about long-term care insurance and receive a free, no obligation quote for this protection, visit the Association's Consumer Information Center. Click here now.

Mild Cognitive Problems More Common In Men

A new study by the Mayo Clinic has found that the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment was 1.5 times higher in men than in women.
The research which is part of the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging also showed a prevalence rate of 16 percent in the population-based study of individuals aged 70-89 without dementia. These are residents of Olmsted County, Minn.

According to the researchers, the finding that the frequency of mild cognitive impairment is greater in men was unexpected. They noted this was due to the fact that the frequency of Alzheimer's disease is actually greater in women.

Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center notes, "If we consider the 16 percent prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in individuals without dementia, then add the 10-11 percent of individuals who already have dementia or Alzheimer's disease, we're looking at 25 percent or more of the population aged 70 or older who have dementia or are at risk of developing dementia in the near future."

With the aging of America, these numbers are staggering and the impact on the health care economy, states Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. "There is a financial, emotional and physical toll on millions of individuals and their families." Slome notes, "and few have taken any steps to prepare."

According to the organization, some eight million Americans currently have long-term care insurance in place. This coverage provides payments and benefits for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Experts advise consumers to look into this protection in their 50s when rates are most affordable and tbe ability to health qualify is higher.

A free guide on reducing the cost of long-term care insurance can be accessed on the Association's website.


The Mayo study will be published in the September issue of Neurology.