Hands to Help Seniors

Those with type 2 diabetes need to closely watch their diet as it causes myriad health problems.  “Diabetes is the strongest risk factor for heart disease,” Dr. Matthew Budhoff  (a cardiologist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center) recently told a reporter.  “It’s the only thing that really matters,” he said as heart attacks and strokes kill 70% of people with type 2 diabetes compared with 30% of people who don’t have it.  Although statins can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by up to a third for those with type 2 diabetes, a good diet helps as well.  

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There’s been a lot of news about gay marriage becoming legal in a number of states and it’s an important issue because our Federal Government pays those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) and are widowed a different Social Security payment based not just on their marital status, but where they live.   A widowed person who was married to someone of the same sex would be paid a Social Security payment based on being single if they live in a state where same sex marriage is not legal.  This seems to me to be bizarre given that it’s a benefit distributed by the U.S. government which I think should have a standard payment calculation.  The Associated Press recently interviewed a woman named Kathy Murphy who was married to another woman who passed away after they were together for more than three decades.  She would be paid $582/month more in Social Security if she would have moved from Texas to neighboring New Mexico prior to her spouse passing away.  Although the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last year which enabled LGBT widows to get Social Security benefits for the first time, President Obama has been unsuccessful getting the law changed.  It currently requires federal programs to use individual states’ definition of marriage.  “The Social Security Administration knows this is a problem, but there is little they can do, because they’re bound to the letter of the law,” Karen Loewy, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal, told a reporter.

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The magazine Diabetes Forecast had some good advice for seniors dealing with diabetes, which can cause a number of health problems.  First, more than 28% of adults over the age of 40 with diabetes experience damage to the small blood vessels (called diabetic retinopathy).  As people age, the problem often gets worth, particularly if blood glucose levels aren’t closely controlled.  Cataracts can also be a problem.  Hearing loss is another potential side effect of diabetes, and you should tell your doctor if people are having to repeat things to you.  Fine motor skills often get difficult as you age, and if you have arthritis and/or vision problems, these can make it difficult for you to manage your diabetes.  In order to stay as healthy as possible, make sure that you take your medication as directed and get the proper amount of exercise. 

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have proposed new rules which would provide transparency around clinical trials.  Doctors and patients would be able to find out if the treatment worked for those who participated in the clinical trials.  Although many successful trials are published in reputable Journals, many go unpublished (particularly those which didn’t produce the results that the scientists had hoped for).  A recent analysis found that less than half of studies were published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal within 30 months of completion.  “This is simply not acceptable,” Dr. Francis Collins (director of the NIH), told a reporter.  “This dissemination of trial results is the way in which medical progress occurs,” said Dr. Collins.  The proposal is open for public comment through February 19.  If it goes through, much more data will be published at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

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At Family inHome Caregiving, we always stress to our senior clients that eating right, getting plenty of social stimulation and exercise are keys to longevity.  A new report in The Wall Street Journal highlighted that, stating that many doctors are now prescribing a certain amount of physical activity and then doing follow-ups to make sure the patients are sticking to it.  This is critical as obesity can cause a number of health problems.  I wrote yesterday on my blog about the fact that 25% of seniors have diabetes.  Heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are also side effects of obesity.  The so-called exercise counseling that doctors are doing involves telling patients that different diseases require different exercise protocols and sometimes doctors are referring them to personal trainers, physical therapists or nutritionists which can analyze their personal situation.  Doctors are looking at the "Exercise is Medicine" program which is overseen by the American College of Sports Medicine as a model to follow.  At a recent conference held at Harvard Medical School, participants were able to ride on stationary bikes while listening to the speakers.  Talk about practicing what you preach!

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