HEALTH & WELLNESS



CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

cdc.gov

CDC Vital Signs

Current Issue
Past Issues

NIH — National Institutes of Health

nih.gov

NIH News in Health

Current Issue
Past Issues

AoA — Administration on Aging   (U.S. HHS)

aoa.gov

CDC Flu Updates

cdc.gov/flu/about/season/index.htm

Massachusetts H1N1 Flu Situation Weekly Reports   (MA HHS)

Weekly Situation Report


Severe Flu Strain 2013 Influenza A H3N2 Spreading Across US

Differences between Cold, Seasonal Flu, and H1N1 Symptoms

Extreme Heat

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)

New More Effective CPR Method

Short Video on Continuous CPR

More People Walk to Better Health


— 2011 —


SNAP's Medical Expense Deductions

Please know that a user-friendly website with respect to Medical Expense Deductions that may enhance support from the SNAP program may be found at:
http://www.masslegalhelp.org/income-benefits/food-stamps/medical-expense-deductions
(with special thanks to Kathy Urquhart and Colleen Ranshaw-Fiorello)
Courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, ELD

Kaiser Family Foundation Resources on Deficit-Reduction Plans

With Congress' debt-reduction Super Committee facing a Wednesday deadline, the Kaiser Family Foundation has compiled a number of its resources that shed light on how the ongoing national debate about deficit reduction may affect Medicare, Medicaid and other health-care programs.
The resources include summaries and comparisons of relevant elements of major deficit-reduction plans, analyses of specific savings proposals, and explanatory briefs and backgrounders describing key issues related to the debate.   All can be found online at http://www.kff.org/medicare/Medicare-Medicaid-Deficit-Resources.cfm.

"A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day"

    — John Tierney, New York Times columnist
Start with "gratitude lite." ...     ¶ The gratitude journal was brief — just one sentence for each of the five things — and done only once a week, but after two months there were significant effects.   Compared with a control group, the people keeping the gratitude journal were more optimistic and felt happier.   They reported fewer physical problems and spent more time working out.   ... Cont'd
A version of this article appeared in print on November 22, 2011, on page D1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day...
— courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, Exec. Office of Elder Affairs

Want to Live Long and Prosper?   Donate More!

"No matter what the motive, research shows that generosity directly benefits the well-being of those who give."

Neuro-Rehab Management Resource

NRM provides community-based case management services to individuals with neurologic impairment, cognitive disability, and dual diagnoses.   Services are individualized and are provided to individuals in their homes, on their jobs or in the community.
NRM provides consultation to individuals with neurologic impairment resulting from brain injury, families, employers, insurance companies, rehabilitation programs & agencies, and attorneys.
• Office location is 171 Tremont Street, Suite 1 in Melrose.
• Serves towns east of Worcester.
  Additional Services:
  • Case management to individuals with multiple sclerosis
  • Homeless Case Management
  • Assessment
  • File Reviews
  • Life Care Planning
  • Organizational Skills Training
  • Supportive Living Services
  • Vocational Consultation
  • Head Injury Community Services - Day Service
Contact Julie Sullivan, jsullivan@neurorehabmgt.com   or Maryjane Quinn, info@neurorehabmgt.com
at 781-979-0018 for additional information.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Given inquiries from participants at the recent MCOA conference, please find below a link to a DRAFT of best management practices for unused pharmaceuticals (at health care facilities), courtesy of Mary Yebba, Public Affairs Specialist, at the US Food and Drug Administration.   (You can reach her at mary.yebba@fda.hhs.gov or TEL 781-587-7466.   http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/upload/unuseddraft.pdf
The next Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will take place Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10 AM to 2 PM, providing consumers in every state with a safe means for the disposal of unwanted, unused prescription medications.   Authorized DEA take-back sites are coordinated with local law enforcement agencies so that prescription controlled substances m ay be accepted for disposal.   DEA reminds consumers that the take-back service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.   Sites will accept tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of unwanted medication.   Personal information may be blacked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events.   To find take-back locations in your area, visit the DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Web page and click on "Find a collection site near you." — http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html
— courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, Exec. Office of Elder Affairs

CDC — Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Reports for 2004 and 2007 in PDF format.

US Department of Health & Human Services

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The 2010 State Snapshots, an interactive Web-based tool, show whether a state has improved or worsened on specific health care quality measures.   For each state and the District of Columbia, this tool features an individual performance summary of more than 100 measures... See Massachusetts.

NIH's Go4Life Campaign

Being physically active is vital to maintaining health and independence as we age, and a new federal campaign for people 50 and older will help them to get active and keep going.   Introduced today by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Go4Life campaign encourages sedentary older adults to reap health benefits by making physical activity part of their daily lives.   Only 25 percent of people aged 65-74 say they engage in regular physical activity.

MassMedLine Information for COAs

Worried about the cost of your prescription medications?   Wondering what your medications are for and what their possible side effects may be?   Help from the Pharmacy Outreach Program's MassMedLine is just a phone call away!

Senior Site at American Foundation for the Blind

Preventing Falls by Adapting Your Home
As we age, a great many things we once took for granted can become hazardous.   This is certainly true when it comes to navigating one's home.   A simple fall in the bathroom, on the stairs, or almost anywhere could be life threatening to anyone of advanced age.   Vision loss increases risk of falling, as well as one's vulnerability to injury.

Strong Social Ties Prolong Life in Women with Cancer

Six months after diagnosis, only greater social well-being was significantly associated with a decreased risk of dying or having a cancer recurrence.   Compared to women with the lowest scores, women who scored highest on the social well-being quality of life scale had a 48 percent reduction in their risk of a cancer recurrence and a 38 percent reduction in the risk of death.   (Courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, EOEA)

Walking Keeps the Brain Younger

Research shows that walking can actually boost the connectivity within brain circuits, which tends to diminish as the grey hairs multiply.

Your walking speed may predict your life span

The Boston Globe, Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Turns out, your walking speed may predict how long you'll live. That's according to a new study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.   (Courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, EOEA)

Mind/Body — Dance Away Dementia

"The 21-year study of senior citizens, 75 and older, was led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, funded by the National Institute on Aging, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.   Their method for objectively measuring mental acuity in aging was to monitor rates of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease."

Higher Levels of Social Activity Decrease the Risk of Developing Disability in Old Age

"Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better everyday functioning and less disability in old age"   (By Sharon Butler, Rush University Medical Center via EurekAlert!, February 17, 2011)
www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/rumc-hlo021711.php

Diet High in Fiber Might Lengthen Your Life

"Eating lots of whole grains reduced risk of dying from any cause, study found"   (By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, February 14, 2011)
http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=649899

Light Therapy Shows Promise for Seniors' Depression

"The bright-light therapy often used to fight the 'winter blues' may also ease major depression symptoms in older adults, a small clinical trial suggests."   (By Amy Norton, Reuters Health, January 6, 2011)

Our New Healthcare Explained

The new one-stop-shop that helps you take control of your health care coverage — President Obama wanted to be sure you know about this great resource.   Check out this video he made demonstrating the website and learn how you can benefit from the tools and resources on www.HealthCare.gov

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet

Did you know that carbon monoxide (CO) is the most common cause of poisoning death in the United States?   Unintentional CO poisonings are responsible for about 500 deaths and 15,000 visits to the emergency room each year.   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has prepared a fact sheet that explains how to prevent CO poisoning and how to tell the difference between CO poisoning and the flu since many of the symptoms are similar.   Soon the winter will be upon us and it is important to make sure that all interior fuel-burning appliances are in good condition and have proper ventilation.   In an effort to reach persons for whom English is a second language, this fact sheet has been translated into 16 languages.   To learn more and access PDF copies of this fact sheet, please see:   www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/pcmp/index.htm

Compulsive Gambling Training

I have attached a flyer for upcoming half-day training in Canton MA on Friday 10 December.   It is titled, A Focus on Priority Populations: Prevention, Intervention and Treatment of Gambling Problems within Asian, African American and Latino populations in Massachusetts.   Space is limited, so sign-up online as soon as possible.   If you have any questions, please call me.   Thank you.
Peggie Milisci, Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, 190 High Street, Suite 5, Boston MA 02110 — 617-426-4554 / 617-426-4555 -- fax / 800-426-1234 - 24 hour helpline / 857-383-3553 -- direct line — www.masscompulsivegambling.org

CDC Free Materials

(CDC's Flu Resources are available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese):
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/index.htm

Swine Flu Fact Sheets

Physical Activity for Arthritis

    Why is physical activity important for arthritis?
Scientific studies have shown that physical activity can reduce pain and improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis. Physical activity can also help manage other chronic conditions that are common among adults with arthritis, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
    How much physical activity do adults with arthritis need?
2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week OR
1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week OR
an equivalent combination* of moderate and vigorous activity.

SAM — Suitability Assessment of Materials

for evaluation of health-related information for adults

Don't give your personal information to anyone who calls you about the $250 rebate check!

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report anyone who does this.
TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
For further information regarding "Donut Hole" concerns, please contact:
Cynthia Phillips, State SHINE Director, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Suite 517, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-222-7416 — Fax: 617-727-9368 —   Email: Cynthia.Phillips@state.ma.us

Consejos para Tomar sus Medicamentos de Forma Segura:
Tips for Taking Medicines Safely

This AHRQ Podcast advises Spanish speakers to tell their health care providers about all the medications they're taking, including herbal supplements, so they can avoid dangerous interactions.   Listen to the Podcast at:   http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/radiocastseg.aspx?id=1123&type=seg.
For other Spanish language Podcasts and consumer information, go to:   http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/espanoix.htm.

BU Study: How Emotion Affects Memory for Details

Healthy adults, ages 59-85, needed for noninvasive study examining How Emotion Affects Memory for Details.   Research conducted at Boston College (average time commitment is 2 hours).   Complete pen-and-paper tasks, perform computerized tasks, and receive $10/hour for participation.   For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.   Phone: 617-552-2083   Email: canlab@bc.edu

— 2010 —


Expansion of Long Term Care Options Counseling

Home Oxygen Fire Safety

Dear Colleagues:
    Thank you for your participation in our campaign to promote Home Oxygen Fire Safety.   In addition to the brochures, we have just printed posters that are suitable for places such as physician's waiting rooms.   The goal of the posters is to start conversations between patients and medical professionals on the special fire dangers of bringing oxygen into the home.
    If you would assist us again, by alerting your network of professional colleagues that this brochure and poster are available to help raise the awareness of the fire danger of home oxygen use and how people can use it safely, we would be very grateful.   To see them and get additional resources, please go to the Department of Fire Services website at www.mass.gov/dfs and search on "home oxygen safety".   Please contact our staff, Adrienne Beaudoin, at (978) 567-3721 — Adrienne.Beaudoin@state.ma.us, or Jennifer Mieth, (978) 567-3381 — Jennifer.Mieth@state.ma.us if we can send you copies of either the brochure or the poster or both.
    Thank you again for helping to spread this safety message.
Stephen D. Coan - State Fire Marshal, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Department of Fire Services
P.O. Box 1025 - State Road, Stow, MA 01775-1025
978-567-3111 (direct), 978-567-3121 (fax), http://www.mass.gov/dfs

Arthritis Foundation training courses

April to June 2010

Samaritans — Workshops

Stay Cool During Hot, Humid Weather


— 2009 —


DPH Press Release on E. Coli Outbreak in New England

Lifelines for Elders Living on the Edge

Ann Hartstein, Secretary of Elder Affairs

CDC Public Health and Aging Listserv Announcement

  • I. Resources
  • II. Articles and Reports
  • III. Conference and Event Announcements
  • IV. Funding Opportunities






MCOA Logo   Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging

    116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306, Easthampton MA 01027-2781
    Phone:   413-527-6425       Fax:   413-527-7138

    webmaster — peter@mcoaonline.com