Elder Law Prof Blog

GAO says CMS needs to provide more oversight over supplemental Medicaid payments

Medicaid program is shared between the federal government and states. States pay qualified providers for covered Medicaid services and receive federal matching funds from the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for expenditures authorized in their state Medicaid plans. In addition to these standard Medicaid payments, most states make supplemental payments to certain providers, which are also matched by federal funds. GAO was asked for information about Medicaid supplemental payments. GAO examined (1) what information states report about supplemental payments on Medicaid expenditure reports and (2) in selected states, how much was distributed as supplemental payments, to what types of providers, and for what purposes. GAO analyzed CMS’s Medicaid expenditure reports and surveyed five states that make large supplemental payments.

What GAO Recommends
GAO recommends that the Administrator of CMS (1) expedite issuance of the final rule implementing additional DSH reporting requirements and (2) develop a strategy to identify all of the supplemental payment programs established in states’ Medicaid plans and review those programs that have not been subject to review under CMS’s 2003 initiative. CMS generally agreed with these recommendations.

Get Report:  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08614.pdf?source=ra

National Health Service publishes snapshots of itself then and now

In 60 years the NHS has changed dramatically - in terms of what it provides, how it is administered, who works there and how much it costs to run.  Here is an at-a-glance look at some of the changes.

Kinda cool...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7475035.stm

the 17th International Congress on Palliative Care is September 23-26, 2008

The Detailed Programme of the 17^th International Congress on Palliative Care, to be held September 23-26, 2008 at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada, is now available on the Congress web site at www.pal2008.com 

Founded in 1976 under the leadership of palliative care pioneer Dr. Balfour Mount and presented by the Palliative Care Division of the Departments of Medicine and Oncology of McGill University, this biennial Congress has grown to become one of the premier international events in palliative care. Bringing together over 1500 participants from around the world, the Congress provides an opportunity to review and share the latest developments in research as well as perspectives on end-of-life care from different cultures, spiritual traditions, and professions.

This year’s outstanding programme features five plenary sessions, four all-day Concurrent Seminars, research fora, 160 workshops, proffered papers and symposia, and over 200 posters.

 

NCEA Webcast--Tomorrow-- the latest Elder Abuse research

Upcoming Webcast:  JUNE 26, 2008, 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST
The New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study Plus Other Elder Abuse Research
Featuring Dr. Mark Lachs
Brought to you by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
Hosted by the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)

The first in-depth, statewide study of elder abuse prevalence in the nation is currently being carried out in New York. The webcast will provide an overview of how this vitally important and critically needed research came about, how it is being undertaken, and what the researchers hope the field will learn from it. The project is a partnership between LIFESPAN of Rochester, NY, the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC DFTA), and Cornell University. Principal investigators are Mark Lachs, MD (Cornell) and Jackie Berman, PhD, (DFTA). The project is funded, in part, through the New York State Children and Family Trust Fund, a program administered under the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

This is a rare opportunity to hear one of the most respected researchers in the elder abuse field.

The webcast will be presented by:

· Dr. Mark Lachs, an internist and geriatrician, is the Irene and Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Co-Chief of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and the Director of Geriatrics for the New York Presbyterian Health System. Both a clinician  and researcher, Dr. Lachs has conducted numerous study of elder abuse outcomes and epidemiology, and he is principal investigator of the largest
longitudinal study of elder abuse victims which was funded by the National Institutes on Aging.

· Art Mason, is Director of LIFESPAN’s Elder Abuse Prevention Program (EAPP) which covers a 10 county area and deals with nursing home abuse, fraud prevention and abuse and mistreatment prevention and intervention in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. He is also the President-Elect of NAPSA.

· Kathleen Quinn, NAPSA Executive Director, will moderate the webcast.

Information on this webcast as well as archived webcasts can be accessed from the "Events & Webcasts" navigation bar on the NCEA website:

TO REGISTER:

  1. Go to https://www.telspan.com/Registration/Jump.aspx
  2. Copy and paste the event number 3086 to that page
  3. Click Register Now button

For help, please call 800-898-2315.

Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act Coalition compiles elder abuse documents

As part of an ongoing effort to examine and revise the Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act,  Kevin Hansen of the Elder Care Rights Alliance has compiled an impressive listing of documents addressing a variety of policy issues pertaining to elder abuse.   The documents are listed below:

Capacity to Consent Provisions and Citations

- This is a document detailing how different states define the term "capacity" and when an individual lacking capacity can consent.  Created for the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging.

Effective Court Practices for Abused Elders

- This is a document that analyzes courts that have adopted a specialized response to elder abuse and determines the needs of elderly persons or vulnerable adults who may come before a court requesting assistance for their situation.

NCEA: Analysis of State Adult Protective Services Laws

- This is a link to the National Center on Elder Abuse's website where the NCEA has provided various PDF documents relating to types of abuse that are defined, eligibility requirements, charts pertaining to APS guidelines, and previous legislative reforms from other states.

NCPEA Report on Self-Neglect

- This is a recent report, provided by Barb Doherty, from the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) symposium on Self-Neglect and speaks directly to the complicated issue of protecting a vulnerable adult while still attempting to preserve their autonomy and self-determination.

Silver Alert Initiatives

- A warning system for "wandering" elders and those who may be physically or cognitively impaired has already been attempted in some other states.  Similar to an Amber Alert, the initiatives directly relating to protecting vulnerable adults are called Silver Alerts.

The Janus Report

- This is an analysis of the former Vulnerable Adults Protection Act (VAPA) that existed in Minnesota prior to 1995.  The author of the document is Dr. Eric S. Janus, Professor of Law and current President and Dean of William Mitchell College of Law.  He was commissioned to study the VAPA, as it existed at the time, and report on his findings.  This report was created in August 1990 and revised in November 1991.

2007 Minnesota Government in Brief

- This is the 2007 Minnesota Government in Brief and provides details about such items as the state's population, the number of people the state employs, and how state revenues are allocated.  The publication is divided into four major sections:  demographic and economic data; government organization and employment; government finance; and major government functions and services.

Regulation of Health and Human Services Facilities

- This guidebook provides an overview of state regulation of residential facilities that provide support services for their residents.  The information within was compiled and prepared by the Legislative Analysts in the House Research Department in November 2005.

ABA Elder Abuse Recommendation

- This document is a recommendation by the American Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section, Senior Lawyers Division, Commission on Domestic Violence, and the Commission on Law an Aging) to the House of Delegates to urge federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and their prosecutors to vigorously prosecute cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Banks as Mandated Reporters

-  This paper examines how other states passed legislation to require banks to be mandated reporters, and illustrates methods used to convince the industry to agree.  The paper also describes the current situation of the banking industry in Minnesota.

Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly

- This is an Information Brief prepared by the Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department in November 2006.  The document summarizes Medical Assistance eligibility for those who are elderly (defined here as age 65+) and also discusses services and programs available for the elderly.

State Adult Guardianship Legislation

- This is a document containing State Adult Guardianship Legislation Directions of Reform in 2007, created by the Commission on Law and Aging of the American Bar Association.  The document highlights legislative reforms that took place in 2007 across the United States.

Nursing Home Inspections

- This is an Evaluation Report Summary prepared by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in February 2005.  The document is about nursing home inspections and details the major findings and proposed recommendations from the authors.

Minnesota Board on Aging:  Survey of Older Minnesotans

- Data tables from the Minnesota Board on Aging Survey of Older Minnesotans in 2005.

Minnesota Statistical Atlas

- A collection of maps of Minnesota that display statistics applied to counties, including vital statistics and medical data.

Medicare Enrollment by State

- Statistics on Medicare enrollment by state from 2000 to 2005.  The document was created by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Nursing Home Statistics in the United States

- Statistics on nursing home characteristics throughout the United States in 2004.  The document was created by the United States Center for Health Statistics.

NCEA Survey of Adult Protective Services

- This is a 2004 survey of state Adult Protective Services on the abuse of adults age 60 and older commissioned by the National Center on Elder Abuse.  This document was created by The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and The National Adult Protective Services Association.

Nursing Home Abuse Risk Prevention Profile and Checklist

- Report created by the National Center on Elder Abuse and the National Association of State Units on Aging that offers suggestions on prevention planning, prevention strategies, and insight into why nursing home residents are at risk of abuse.

Minnesota Crisis Curriculum: A Mental Health Manual

- A 30-hour crisis training curriculum for mental health practitioners and rehabilitation workers created by the Department of Human Services Adult Mental Health Division.

DHS Training Manual for APS Investigations

- The Minnesota Department of Human Services Guidelines to the Investigation of  Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment was created to aid county workers in the investigation of vulnerable adult reports. The manual provides guidance on the Vulnerable Adult Act including information on interviewing vulnerable adults and alleged perpetrators, organizing an investigation, assessment tools and more.

      

Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act Coalition compiles elder abuse documents

As part of an ongoing effort to examine and revise the Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act,  Kevin Hansen of the Elder Care Rights Alliance has compiled an impressive listing of documents addressing a variety of policy issues pertaining to elder abuse.   The documents are listed below:

Capacity to Consent Provisions and Citations

- This is a document detailing how different states define the term "capacity" and when an individual lacking capacity can consent.  Created for the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging.

Effective Court Practices for Abused Elders

- This is a document that analyzes courts that have adopted a specialized response to elder abuse and determines the needs of elderly persons or vulnerable adults who may come before a court requesting assistance for their situation.

NCEA: Analysis of State Adult Protective Services Laws

- This is a link to the National Center on Elder Abuse's website where the NCEA has provided various PDF documents relating to types of abuse that are defined, eligibility requirements, charts pertaining to APS guidelines, and previous legislative reforms from other states.

NCPEA Report on Self-Neglect

- This is a recent report, provided by Barb Doherty, from the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) symposium on Self-Neglect and speaks directly to the complicated issue of protecting a vulnerable adult while still attempting to preserve their autonomy and self-determination.

Silver Alert Initiatives

- A warning system for "wandering" elders and those who may be physically or cognitively impaired has already been attempted in some other states.  Similar to an Amber Alert, the initiatives directly relating to protecting vulnerable adults are called Silver Alerts.

The Janus Report

- This is an analysis of the former Vulnerable Adults Protection Act (VAPA) that existed in Minnesota prior to 1995.  The author of the document is Dr. Eric S. Janus, Professor of Law and current President and Dean of William Mitchell College of Law.  He was commissioned to study the VAPA, as it existed at the time, and report on his findings.  This report was created in August 1990 and revised in November 1991.

2007 Minnesota Government in Brief

- This is the 2007 Minnesota Government in Brief and provides details about such items as the state's population, the number of people the state employs, and how state revenues are allocated.  The publication is divided into four major sections:  demographic and economic data; government organization and employment; government finance; and major government functions and services.

Regulation of Health and Human Services Facilities

- This guidebook provides an overview of state regulation of residential facilities that provide support services for their residents.  The information within was compiled and prepared by the Legislative Analysts in the House Research Department in November 2005.

ABA Elder Abuse Recommendation

- This document is a recommendation by the American Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section, Senior Lawyers Division, Commission on Domestic Violence, and the Commission on Law an Aging) to the House of Delegates to urge federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and their prosecutors to vigorously prosecute cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Banks as Mandated Reporters

-  This paper examines how other states passed legislation to require banks to be mandated reporters, and illustrates methods used to convince the industry to agree.  The paper also describes the current situation of the banking industry in Minnesota.

Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly

- This is an Information Brief prepared by the Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department in November 2006.  The document summarizes Medical Assistance eligibility for those who are elderly (defined here as age 65+) and also discusses services and programs available for the elderly.

State Adult Guardianship Legislation

- This is a document containing State Adult Guardianship Legislation Directions of Reform in 2007, created by the Commission on Law and Aging of the American Bar Association.  The document highlights legislative reforms that took place in 2007 across the United States.

Nursing Home Inspections

- This is an Evaluation Report Summary prepared by the Office of the Legislative Auditor in February 2005.  The document is about nursing home inspections and details the major findings and proposed recommendations from the authors.

Minnesota Board on Aging:  Survey of Older Minnesotans

- Data tables from the Minnesota Board on Aging Survey of Older Minnesotans in 2005.

Minnesota Statistical Atlas

- A collection of maps of Minnesota that display statistics applied to counties, including vital statistics and medical data.

Medicare Enrollment by State

- Statistics on Medicare enrollment by state from 2000 to 2005.  The document was created by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Nursing Home Statistics in the United States

- Statistics on nursing home characteristics throughout the United States in 2004.  The document was created by the United States Center for Health Statistics.

NCEA Survey of Adult Protective Services

- This is a 2004 survey of state Adult Protective Services on the abuse of adults age 60 and older commissioned by the National Center on Elder Abuse.  This document was created by The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and The National Adult Protective Services Association.

Nursing Home Abuse Risk Prevention Profile and Checklist

- Report created by the National Center on Elder Abuse and the National Association of State Units on Aging that offers suggestions on prevention planning, prevention strategies, and insight into why nursing home residents are at risk of abuse.

Minnesota Crisis Curriculum: A Mental Health Manual

- A 30-hour crisis training curriculum for mental health practitioners and rehabilitation workers created by the Department of Human Services Adult Mental Health Division.

DHS Training Manual for APS Investigations

- The Minnesota Department of Human Services Guidelines to the Investigation of  Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment was created to aid county workers in the investigation of vulnerable adult reports. The manual provides guidance on the Vulnerable Adult Act including information on interviewing vulnerable adults and alleged perpetrators, organizing an investigation, assessment tools and more.

      

Geo. J. on Poverty Law and Policy seeks submissions for special isue on elderly

Next fall, the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy (GJPLP) will be publishing two important issues. The first is devoted to the issue of housing and poverty, and the second is devoted to the unique issues involving poverty and the elderly. As a leader in the field of poverty law, we are inviting you to submit an article to be considered for publication, or in the alternative, asking your help in making sure that law school faculty and practicing attorneys who are interested in these important issues know about these upcoming publishing opportunities.

The deadlines for article submissions are August 1, 2008 for the issue devoted to housing and poverty and September 1, 2008 for the issued devoted to poverty and the elderly. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, visit http://www.law.georgetown.edu/journals/poverty/submit.html

PETA wants nursing home residents' stimulus payment..!

This morning, PETA dispatched a letter to the country's five leading nursing-home chains asking them to urge their residents who haven't yet filed a tax return for their economic stimulus check to do so and to donate the money to a charitable organization that helps humans or animals in need. As examples, PETA lists Easter Seals, Disabled American Veterans, and, of course, PETA. According to news reports, about 5 million retired and elderly Americans who are eligible to receive an economic stimulus check for up to $600 have not filed the necessary paperwork. The nursing-home companies include HCR Manor Care (Toledo, Ohio), Kindred Healthcare (Louisville, Ky.), Genesis HealthCare Corp. (Kennett Square, Pa.), Golden Living (Fort Smith, Ark.), and SavaSeniorCare (Atlanta, Ga.). The companies vary in size: The smallest has nearly 23,000 beds and 185 in-patient care facilities, while the largest has more than 48,000 beds and 278 in-patient care facilities.

Source:  http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=11579

Here's a thought:  why not urge nursing home residents to donate their stimulus payment to an organization that works for nursing home residents' rights???

"Green Houses" are possible alternative to nursing homes

Attempts to create popular alternatives to nursing homes have realized mixed results, but the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is betting on an eight-year-old movement called “Green Houses,” a WSJ Page One story reports.  The foundation is investing $15 million over five years on Green Houses, which aim to replace large nursing homes with small, homelike facilities for 10 to 12 residents. The foundation hopes Green Houses will soon be in all 50 states, up from the 41 Green Houses now in 10 states.

The Green Houses face several obstacles, including regulatory issues. But some say they also face resistance from existing nursing homes, which are based on an economies-of-scale model — the larger the home, the cheaper it is to care for each individual resident.  While some nursing-home operators welcome the idea of Green Houses, others are reluctant to help pay for them, says Susan Reinhard, who heads the AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “You have owners who have their personal wealth invested in a model that was requested by society way back,” she says.

Source and more:  WSJ Health Blog, http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/06/24/green-houses-a-nursing-home-alternative-get-green-backing/

Ontario Health Minister will not require minimum care standards for nursing home patients

Ontario's health minister will not impose a minimum level of care for nearly 75,000 seniors living in long-term care homes, disappointing critics who called on him to mandate at least 3.5 hours of care per day.  "The number alone is not the answer to the quality and outcome that we seek," George Smitherman said yesterday as he released a long-awaited report into improving care in the sector. "This approach is more sophisticated than the number alone."  The report makes 11 recommendations, including increased staffing, developing tools to measure the quality of care and adding more consultation among caregivers.n  "I'm not in a position to commit today to moving to a four-hour mark," he said. "I don't have it in my budget. So it's a moot point."

Source/more:  Ottawa Citizen, http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1fb68e22-cd37-4c87-949f-66f9d97e5709

Full report:  http://health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ministry_reports/staff_care_standards/staff_care_standards.html

Not elder law: Coffee rocks!

Middle-aged adults who enjoy a few cups of coffee every day apparently have a lower risk of dying from heart disease than people who don't drink coffee, researchers reported Monday.  The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, come from two studies that followed nearly 128,000 U.S. health professionals for more than two decades.  The researchers found that men and women who regularly drank a few cups of coffee each day were slightly less likely to die during the study period -- mainly due to a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.  Among women, those who drank at least two to three cups per day were one-quarter to one-third less likely to die of heart problems or stroke than women who did not drink coffee.  For men, a protective effect emerged only with higher levels of coffee consumption -- at least four to five cups of coffee per day.

The findings do not prove that coffee makes for a healthier heart, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Esther Lopez-Garcia of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain.  Nontheless, they write, the results are "consistent" with the beneficial health effects other research has attributed to coffee.

Reuters Health,  

Free economic stimulus webinar--sign up now!

There is still time to help our seniors who can really use the money file for their Economic Stimulus Payment. Join us for a Webinar that will give you the latest information from the IRS, National Women’s’ Law Center, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and AARP Tax-Aide. We will also guide you through filling out a 1040A form online, printing it out and sending it directly to the IRS for an
Economic Stimulus Payment.

Hurry, sign up now. Space is limited. Call, 1-800-350-5423 to register.

More detailed information to follow.

*Tina Purser-Langley | Tax-Aide Assistant Nat'l Dir*
601 E St NW, Washington, DC, 20049
Office: (202) 434-2043 1-800-424-2277|
Web: http://www.aarp.org
<http://www.aarp.org/>

Soem antipsychotics increase risk of death in dementia patients, FDA warns

The Food and Drug Administration warned doctors Monday that prescribing a certain group of psychiatric drugs to seniors suffering from dementia can increase their risk of death.  Antipsychotic drugs are approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disease, but doctors frequently prescribe them to treat elderly patients with dementia.  FDA's announcement was an update to a 2005 action, when regulators added warnings about increased heart attacks and pneumonia to drugs called atypical antipsychotics. The medicines include blockbusters like Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zyprexa and Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal.  FDA said Monday those same risks apply to 11 older drugs known as typical antipsychotics, including Pfizer's Navane and Endo Pharmaceutical's Moban. The drugs were developed in the 1950s and have largely been replaced by the newer medications, which are believed to have fewer side effects, such as tremors.

Source:  Newsday, http://www.newsday.com/news/health/sns-ap-dementia-drug-risks,0,4976543.story
See FDA warning:  http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/antipsychotics_conventional.htm

Bankruptcies among seniors climb

From 1991 to 2007, the rate of personal bankruptcy filings among those ages 65 or older jumped by 150%, according to AARP, which will release the new research from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project. The most startling rise occurred among those ages 75 to 84, whose rate soared 433%.   The study did not address the specific reasons behind the trend. But experts say medical bills have played a major role in the debt that has forced many elderly Americans into bankruptcy proceedings.  Health care is a big issue for the elderly," says George Gaberlavage, director of consumer and state affairs at the AARP Public Policy Institute. "And out-of-pocket expenses have been going up."

Read more in USA Today.

Here's the full article: http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/consume/2008_11_debt.pdf

Note:  the website of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project is password protected.  What's up with that? 

Follow up:  I learned from Prof. Robert Lawless (Univ. of Ill.) that the CBP doesn't really have a website per se--the password protected area login isn't supposed to show up online at all.  The site is only for researchers who are authorized to enter and presumably access date.  Thank you Prof. Lawless for the information.

GAO report: long term fiscal health of USA tied to "shrinking window of opportunity"

Summary:  GAO was asked to provide its views on the long-term fiscal outlook. This statement addresses four key points: (1) the federal government’s long-term fiscal outlook is a matter of utmost concern; (2) this challenge is driven primarily by health care cost growth; (3) reform of health care is essential but other areas also need attention which requires a multipronged solution; and (4) the federal government faces increasing pressures yet a shrinking window of opportunity for phasing in needed adjustments. GAO’s simulations of the federal government’s long-term fiscal outlook were updated with the Trustees 2008 intermediate projections and continue to indicate that the long-term outlook is unsustainable. This update combined with GAO’s analysis of the fiscal outlook of state and local governments demonstrates that the fiscal challenges facing all levels of government are linked and should be considered in a strategic and integrated manner.

Since 1992, GAO has published long-term fiscal simulations of what might happen to federal deficits and debt levels under varying policy assumptions. GAO developed its long-term model in response to a bipartisan request from Members of Congress who were concerned about the longterm effects of fiscal policy. Information about GAO’s model and assumptions can be found at
http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/longterm/.

Read the report:  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08912t.pdf?source=ra

AARP Int'l posts forum interviews on elder abuse issues

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older persons has been largely under-recognized or under-treated as an unspoken problem. Today, it is increasingly being seen as an important problem but may also be likely to grow as many countries experience rapidly aging populations. Similar to other types of violence, abuse of the elderly includes physical, financial, sexual and psychological abuse, as well as neglect. In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 16), AARP International hosted  a two-week online forum of experts from around the world. The aim of this online dialogue is to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by facilitating a global discussion among key national experts to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

• Israel: Q & A with Ariela Lowenstein
  Posted: June 5, 2008
• Italy: Q & A with Giovanni Lamura & Maria Gabriella Melchiorre
  Posted: June 5, 2008
• Japan: Q & A with Dr. Toshio Tatara
  Posted: June 1, 2008
• Sweden: Q & A with Barbro Westerholm
  Posted: June 10, 2008
• UK: Q & A with Bridget Penhale
  Posted: June 1, 2008

Interviews and other info on the forum are available at http://www.aarpinternational.org/conference/conference_show.htm?doc_id=671481

Not elder law: Methuselah tree grows from 2000 year old Masada seed

The 4-foot-tall sapling looks just like any other young date palm. But the tree, growing in a laboratory in Jerusalem, is anything but ordinary. Named "Methuselah" by one of its cultivators, the sapling grew from a 2,000-year-old seed - the oldest scientifically dated seed to ever be germinated.  In a study reported last week in the journal Science, a team of Israeli researchers confirmed the seed's age using radiocarbon dating, which determines age by measuring levels of a type of carbon found in all living organisms that decays at a specific rate.

The Methuselah seed, named after the oldest person in the Bible, was recovered 40 years ago, along with other seeds, from an archeological dig at Masada, an ancient stronghold where nearly 1,000 Jewish zealots are said to have committed suicide rather than be captured by Roman soldiers around AD 70.  The seeds sat in a drawer until 2005, when Israeli scientist Dr. Sarah Sallon procured them for study. She and botanist Elaine Solowey planted three seeds and held their breath. Eight weeks later, the first shoots poked through the soil.

More:  http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/06/16/methuselah_tree_grows_from_ages_old_seed/

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/320/5882/1464

Maryland study investigates relationship between nursing home ownership status and quality of care

Alarmed that the purchase of nursing homes by larger companies could cause a decline in care, Maryland is studying whether restrictions should be placed on ownership as regulators face criticism that private equity groups make it more difficult for the public to hold nursing homes accountable for poor care.  The goal of the two bills that Gov. Martin O'Malley recently signed into law is to determine if the type of ownership - ranging from small nonprofits to corporations with worldwide holdings - has a connection with violations of state and federal regulations at nursing homes, said Wendy Kronmiller, director of the state Office of Health Care Quality.

The driving force behind the effort is the acquisition of one of the nation's largest nursing home chains, HCR ManorCare, by the Carlyle Group for $6 billion in December. HCR ManorCare has 14 nursing homes in Maryland and 277 nationwide.  The Service Employees International Union, which represents 1,100 workers at HCR ManorCare nursing homes nationwide, including 200 in Maryland, released a study last year asserting that buyouts of two other nursing home chains have led to more violations of state and federal regulations, and new business structures to limit liability, reduce tax bills and make it more difficult to track how Medicare and Medicaid dollars are spent. Union officials have complained of violations of federal and state regulations at HCR ManorCare nursing homes in Maryland and of what they say is "inadequate staffing."

Source/more:  Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.owners16jun16,0,3332128.story

Australia: Reports of elder abuse soar

The number of elderly Queenslanders reporting they are victims of abuse has surged in Queensland – and the perpetrators are usually their adult children.  Queensland's Elder Abuse Helpline received 651 new cases of abuse in the nine months to March, a 47 per cent increase on the same time the previous year.  Nearly half the cases related to psychological abuse, 29 per cent involved financial abuse – where their money is stolen or misused – and 14 per cent of the cases involved physical abuse.  Seniors Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr, said the growing numbers were due more to increased awareness of the helpline rather than a dramatic jump in the number of elderly people being abused.

Source/more: Courier Mail,  http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23854456-3102,00.html

Not elder law: Lending new meaning to the term "snail mail"

Muriel, Austin and Cecil are snails for the electronic age.  The gastropods have been fitted with equipment to allow them to send e-mails on behalf of visitors to a website.  Instead of instantaneous communication, sent messages will travel at 0.03mph (0.05km/h) and could take days, weeks or even months to arrive.  It is part of a "slow art" project called Real Snail Mail at Bournemouth University in the UK which will be showcased in Los Angeles in August.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7458531.stm