Vancouver, Canada, April 15, 2013

A non-partisan compilation of links to some of the latest news items from around the globe affecting seniors of all stripes and ages.

Please enjoy this newsletter, it composed of links to stories and articles affecting seniors, their caregivers, family members, and seniors’ organizations.  Seniors issues, (medical, financial, political, sociological etc.) are important to everyone, not just seniors.

Readers are now from Canada, the United States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Russian Federation, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, and Namibia, and most recently, Germany.

Go figure.

CHERRY PICK THE LINKS. (THAT’S HOW IT IS SET UP). IT TAKES ONLY A FEW MINUTES TO READ THE HEADLINES. READ THE STORIES THAT INTEREST YOU.

Pass along any suitable items you run across that you think may be of interest to others, and/or send along this blogsite.  And let me know if you don’t wish to receive any further newsletters.

Seniors Finance and Pension Matters

“For years, problems with California’s pension fund for teachers and school employees have been growing. Now a new report says the fund needs an additional $4.5 billion every year — more than Sacramento spends on both university systems combined — to stay above water”. (see article below)

California teachers pension fund in freefall – LA Times (USA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/political/la-me-pc-steinberg-teacher-pensions-20130321,0,1439443.story

Judge says city pensions exempt from bankruptcy of Stockton, Calif – LA Times (USA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stockton-bankrupt-20130402,0,3880552.story

…prompting NY Times to weigh in – NY Times (USA)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/opinion/sunday/public-pensions-in-bankruptcy-court.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

Cry me a river department – Globe & Mail (Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/retirement-rrsps/can-well-off-couple-in-their-70s-maintain-their-lifestyle/article10211954/

Seniors General Matters

“Eliminating price-gouging on that scale would go a long way toward addressing the fiscal challenges that are constantly under discussion in Washington — without harming seniors and middle-class families,” Rome’s piece says”. (see article below)

US pharmaceutical companies fleeced public of $700B over ten years – Marketwatch.com (USA)

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/health-exchange/2013/04/08/top-11-drug-firms-made-711-billion-in-last-decade-report-points-out/

Costs to treat dementia in US will jump by 80% by 2040 – from $200B annually today – Medpage Today (USA)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/Dementia/38243?trw=yes&hr=kmd

Aussies develop new software app to help isolated seniors – news.com (Australia)

http://www.news.com.au/technology/appwatch/social-networking-for-seniors/story-fn81y8rt-1226613933586

New approach to elderly driving privileges – Cinncinnati.com (USA)

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130407/COL01/304070035/Helping-seniors-decide-to-retire-from-driving?nclick_check=1

Difficulty for older workers seeking jobs – Boston Globe (USA)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/03/24/shut-out-unemployed-older-americans-struggle-recover-from-job-loss/T13K1lSpVCItuztkb966rN/story.html

Axe looming for US medicare – Medpage Today (USA)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Medicare/38289?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2013-04-06&eun=g554310d0r&userid=554310&email=ftwilliamson@shaw.ca&mu_id=5681589

Obama medicare reform will sting lower middle class – Miami Herald (USA)

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/13/3341801/medicare-hike-could-also-hit-some.html

More cuts to US social security/medicare in the works – LA Times (USA)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-budget-would-cut-entitlements-in-exchange-for-tax-increases/2013/04/05/2ee93f82-9dd6-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

Depth of these cuts explained – CNN.com (USA)

http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/11/news/economy/social-security-chained-cpi/

Bank fees deals for seniors in Canada – Toronto Star (Canada)

http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/spending_saving/2013/04/08/bank_accounts_for_seniors_a_look_at_some_options.html

Home hot-water scald risk to elderly can be avoided – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258430.php

A commune (for seniors) by any other name – C.A.R.P. (Canada)

http://www.carp.ca/2013/01/14/new-concept-in-works-to-provide-housing-for-seniors/

1 in 5  health care dollars in Canada now spent on seniors – Globe & Mail (Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/health-costs-elderly-loom-large-over-this-budget/article10090612/%3bjsessionid=GqQcRLyWhfdQ4T8G2M7YsF7w9pvPnv0L2FZXngThL5vQPC2syjpM!834184800/?ord=1

Canadian woman, 92, bilked of $2000, very angry fuzz in hot pursuit – Times Colonist (Victoria)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/security-photo-released-of-man-suspected-of-scamming-nonagenarian-at-victoria-seniors-home-1.96347

Scam warning signs – Globe & Mail (Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/if-you-get-an-e-mail-saying-youve-won-1-million-a-red-flag-should-go-up/article10093360/

US predator on seniors’ 7 year sentence upheld on appeal – San Francisco Chronicle (USA)

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Allen-s-conviction-in-telemarketing-scam-upheld-4422679.php

Something in the air -no more free entry for seniors to New Hampshire State Parks – Boston Globe (USA)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2013/04/09/considers-ending-seniors-free-park-access/Pt3AlAeSyOzktcVsTuX8CN/story.html

A connection – elderly abuse and hospital admissions – Medpage Today (USA)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/GeneralGeriatrics/38323?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2013-04-09&eun=g554310d0r&userid=554310&email=ftwilliamson@shaw.ca&mu_id=5681589

Cars tailored to older drivers not just on the horizon – Calgary Herald (Canada)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/older%2Bdriver%2Bvehicle%2Bauto%2Bindustry%2Bnext%2Bthing/8147467/story.html

Older women having kids – slammed  – Globe & Mail (Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/margaret-wente-why-old-age-parenting-is-a-bad-idea/article10527549/

Obama creates huge fund for brain and alzheimers research – LA Times (USA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-funding-brain-mapping-20130402,0,7490745.story

One size doesn’t fit all for seniors physical trainers – Denver Post (USA)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22979289/fitness-seniors-tailor-exercise-individuals

Facebook to deal with nasty ageist postings – National Post (Canada)

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/09/canadian-group-petitioning-facebook-to-ban-senior-abuse-age-related-hate-speech-and-bigotry/

Grossly inadequate care in some seniors homes in Canada – CTV (Canada)

http://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-woman-says-care-at-seniors-home-dangerously-inadequate-1.1231665

Japanese woman, 62, bit by wild boar, survives – Japan Times (Japan)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/04/06/national/boar-rampage-leaves-eight-hurt-in-hyogo-town/#.UV8ZFTckRv0

Canadian tourist, 62, barely survives snake bite in Costa Rica – Vancouver Sun (Canada)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Snake+bite+almost+funeral/8142678/story.html

Seniors Health

“The Choosing Wisely campaign, an initiative by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation in partnership with Consumer Reports, kicked off last spring. It is an attempt to alert both doctors and patients to problematic and commonly overused medical tests, procedures and treatments.

It took an elegantly simple approach: By working through professional organizations representing medical specialties, Choosing Wisely asked doctors to identify “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question.” ’ (see article below)

Unnecessary and dangerous medical tests on elderly – NY Times (USA)

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/for-the-elderly-lists-of–to-avoid/

“For the millions and millions and millions of you who – like me – can’t stand running or jogging or whatever that mode of exercise is called, the good news is that a study in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology has concluded that walking is every bit as good for all intents and purposes given that the major two intents of any exercise regime – or even any extra effort at all – are of course to live longer and in better health”. See article below)

Walk, don’t run for your health – drarthister.blogspot.ca (Canada)

http://drarthister.blogspot.ca/2013/04/walk-your-way-to-beter-health.html

Ageing is in the mind – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258829.php

Stress in middle age causing alzheimers – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257809.php

Seniors and elderly must get shingles vaccine (and there is nothing to it) – Philadelphia Inquirer (USA)

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/topics/HealthDay675230_20130409_Few_U_S__Seniors_Take_Advantage_of_Shingles_Vaccine.html

Women over 75 urged to get mammograms – Medpage Today (USA)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AACR/38311?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2013-04-09&eun=g554310d0r&userid=554310&email=ftwilliamson@shaw.ca&mu_id=5681589

Huge breakthrough in alzheimers research – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258938.php

Avoiding cataracts when you are 50 and beyond – newsmax.com (USA)

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Dr-Blaylock/cataracts-eye-health-Russell-Blaylock-M-D-/2013/04/10/id/498734?s=al&promo_code=131CF-1

Video game combined with neuro stimulation combats alzheimers onset – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258635.php

Big US alzheimers project – National Institute on Aging (USA)

http://www.nia.nih.gov/newsroom/features/national-effort-against-alzheimers-ramps/

Thinking and working out stalls alzheimers – Medical News Today (UK)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/258475.php

Stroke test also a predictor of dementia – Medpage Today (USA)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Dementia/38185?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2013-04-02&eun=g554310d0r&userid=554310&email=ftwilliamson@shaw.ca&mu_id=5681589

Seniors in US south getting shafted on their prescriptions – Futurity.org (USA)

http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/seniors-in-us-south-get-risky-meds-more-often/

Pack an aspirin pack on your keychain – LA Times (USA)

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-0406-aspirin-pack-20130406,0,6970798.story

And, once again, may I recommend to all those interested in seniors’ (and not just seniors’) health matters to subscribe to Vancouver celebrity doctor Art Hister MD’s blog, http://drarthister.blogspot.ca/  for informative, pertinent, topical and sometimes smart-alecky medical news and advice.

Seniors Lighter Fare

78 year old baseball coach – LA Times (USA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-sp-angels-bill-lachemann-20130315,0,2907899,full.story

Retired Mississippi river boat captain, 81, tells his story – The Telegraph (USA)

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/local/article_0aa0c1be-78be-11e2-ab04-001a4bcf6878.html

Louisiana man, 98, K of C member since age 20 – Times-Picayune (USA)

http://blog.nola.com/eastjefferson/2013/04/metairie_man_98_member_of_knig.html

Prohibition repealed 80 years ago – Detroit Free Press (USA)

http://www.freep.com/article/20130410/NEWS06/130410039/Raise-glass-80-years-ago-today-Michigan-first-state-vote-down-Prohibition

US income tax turns 100 – AZcentral.com (USA)

http://www.azcentral.com/business/news/articles/20130413federal-income-tax-birthday.html?nclick_check=1

Until next time……