Fatal Injuries Increase in Older Americans

An article by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the journal Injury Prevention examines the increase in fatal injuries among American over the age of 65. The rate of deaths attributed to falls increased by 38%.

Press release is available
Abstract in Injury Prevention

Record unemployment among older workers does not keep them out of the job market

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics examine current employment statistics for older adults. They find that while the unemployment rate for adults age 55 and older has increased, labor force participation for that age group had risen.

Report is available

Maximizing the Potential of Older Adults – Benefits to State Economies and Individual Well-Being,

National Governors Association presents an issue brief which examines ways in which to engage older adults, through paid employment and volunteerism. In both instances, engaged seniors contribute to the economy.

Issue Brief is available

Can equity release help older home-owners improve their quality of life?

Joseph Rowntree Foundation examines ways in which local authorities, the equity release industry, voluntary bodies and relevant government departments can work together to ensure that access funds without endangering their entitlement to benefits.

Summary document is available

Examples of Taxpayers Facing Medicare Tax Increase under Health Care Bill

The Tax Foundation examines tax hikes that will take effect under current health care reform on high-income taxpayers.

Link to Fiscal Fact No. 219
Press Release

Hospitalized Community-Dwelling Elderly Veterans: Cognitive and Functional Assessments and Follow-up after Discharge

U.S Department of Veterans Affairs assesses whether veterans, aged 75 or older, who were admitted to an acute-care facility, had a functional and cognitive assessment performed prior to discharge. Such assessments are seen as a basic level-of-care for vulnerable elderly.

Full report is available

Fact Check: Has Social Security begun tapping its trust funds?

Economic Policy Institute presents data which shows that the Social Security Administration has not invaded their trust funds, and is, in fact, still showing a surplus.

Article is available

Improving Chronic Illness Care

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has funded the Improving Chronic Illness Care initiative, which is investigating ways in which people with chronic conditions can be assisted, through the training of health care providers and by looking at a preventive, rather than reactive, model.

Care for the aged and disabled: Who cares?

The Economist discusses the issues facing frail elderly, who are not sick enough for assistance via National Health Care, but are unable to care for themselves.

Full article is available
White Paper: Building the National Care Service

Reports on Health Disparities from the Center for Demography and Ecology

Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison presents two working papers:

Early life conditions and health disparities among aging populations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia which examines the effects of poor childhood conditions on aging populations. The study looked at adults aged 60 and over for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and poor self-reported health.

The health transition and mortality among older adults in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa examines the effects of poor childhood conditions their adult health, looking at the different stages (regimes) of the health transition.

Explaining Health Care Reform: Key Changes to the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit Coverage Gap

Kaiser Family Foundation looks at provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which would affect Medicare Part D coverage, and how this will affect the current "doughnut hole".

Issue Brief is available

The Use of Health Savings Accounts for Health Care in Retirement

Employee Benefit Research Institute discusses the impact of health care savings accounts on retirement, finding that current contribution limits make them irrelevant for major health issues in the future.

Full report is available

Health Care Utilization Among Adults Aged 55–64 Years: How Has It Changed Over the Past 10 Years?

This Data Brief from the National Center for Health Statistics examines the health utilization of adults in the years just prior to eligibility for Medicare, in order to more appropriately plan for their future health care utilization.

Data Brief is available