In this issue:
- FHA Releases a New Version of Eldercare at Home
- Spotlight on The Leeza Gibbons Foundation
- The FHA honors Dorothy Height at it 5th Annual Lifetime of Caring Gala in NYC
- FHA Address Flu Shot Shortage
- FHA Geriatrician Referral Service
In May 2004, the FHA released a newly updated version of its caregiving guide, Eldercare At Home. Previously only available in a text-only version on the FHA website, Eldercare At Home is now also available as a fully illustrated workbook for individual use and a presentation package for those who would like to use the materials in a group setting. A new chapter on Death and Dying has also been added. Click here to view the free fully updated online version of Eldercare at Home, or to learn more about the workbook and presentation package. http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/eldercare/.
In 2002, news journalist, radio personality, and producer Leeza Gibbons and her family created the nonprofit Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, and it's signature program Leeza's Place, as a tribute to Leeza's mother and grandmother. The Foundation works to create a national network of people and organizations committed to the care of those with Alzheimer's Disease and other memory disorders, and their caregivers.
The Foundation opened the first Leeza's Place in Midtown Manhattan in December of 2003 and the second in Melbourne, Florida in 2004 under the medical direction of Dr. Rosemary Laird. These centers cater specifically to the needs of those newly diagnosed with memory disorders and offers care to patients and caregivers on three levels: emotional, educational and social. Programs vary from site to site, but all include memory screening, caregiver courses, a resource library, scrapbooking and journaling sessions, nutritional programs, stress relief and their innovative LMTV (Leeza's Memory Television) which provides patients with the opportunity to record their family histories. The most impressive part is that all services at Leeza's place are provided free of charge.
To learn more about Leeza's Place, please visit their website at
http://www.leezasplace.org or contact them at 1-888-OK-Leeza or by email at
info@leezasplace.org
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging honored civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals President Karen Katen at its fifth annual Lifetime of Caring Gala which was held on Tuesday, October 26 at 6:30 PM at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
Dr. Height, whose 2003 autobiography Open Wide the Freedom Gates chronicled her decades at the forefront of civil rights activism, received the FHA 2004 Lifetime of Caring Award. President of the National Council for Negro Women for over 40 years and winner of several distinctions from presidents over the years, Dr. Height embodies the spirit of the award which pays tribute to individuals whose exemplary public service has made a significant contribution to care of older adults.
The FHA Discovery Award recognizes trailblazers who demonstrate a commitment to converting research into improvements in the lives of older adults. The FHA is proud to honor Karen Katen, President of Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, one of the most recognized business leaders in the U.S., and a long-time partner with the FHA.
The shortage of flu vaccines available this year is having a heavy impact on the elderly. High-risk patients are defined as people belonging to one of the following groups:
- individuals over age 65
- residents of nursing homes and long term care facilities
- health care workers involved in direct patient care
- individuals with a chronic condition such as heart or lung disease
- pregnant women
- caregivers for infants younger than 6 months
- children aged 6 months to 23 months
- children on aspirin therapy
Medicare beneficiaries are being encouraged to receive the flu vaccine from their regular primary care provider. The vaccine should be of no cost to a Medicare beneficiary if received from a provider enrolled in the Medicare program. If received from a provider not enrolled in Medicare, the beneficiary may have to pay for the vaccine from the provider and then request reimbursement from Medicare. If your provider does not have the flu vaccine, please contact Medicare to obtain the number for your state health department. (The CDC notes that most Medicare beneficiaries should not take FluMist which is approved only for people ages 5-49.)
Also, whether or not you are able to receive the flu vaccination, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that anyone falling into one of the high priority groups for the flu vaccine should also receive the pneumonia vaccine. Pneumonia is one of the major complications of the flu any season, and the vaccine protects against the major types of bacteria that cause more than 90% of pneumonia cases.
The following links provide information on what federal agencies and state and local health departments are doing to redistribute available vaccine to the areas determined to have the highest concentration of high-risk members.
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
CDC media release on recent distribution of remaining vaccines (10-15-04)
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r041015.htm
CDC Priority Groups for Influenza Vaccination (10-05-04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5339a6.htm
Additional flu-shortage related links on AGS website
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/additional_links.shtml
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
http://www.astho.org/index.php?template=influenza_resources.html
National Association of County and City Health Officials.
http://www.naccho.org/general1225.cfm
Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE)
www.medicare.gov
US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov
As one of it's initiatives, the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging, strives to encourage older adults to be effective advocates for their own health care. One of the ways in which the FHA offers this encouragement is by providing a physician-finder service for the public.
Upon request the FHA will provide a listing of physicians in a particular state. All physicians participating in our referral service are members of the
American Geriatrics Society and are board-certified in either Family Practice (FP) or Internal Medicine (IM). Many have also acquired additional training necessary to obtain the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine (CAQGM).
This service is free and can be accessed on the FHA website at
www.healthinaging.org or by phone at our toll free number 1 (800) 247-4779.
At this time, physician referrals cannot be faxed or emailed.
To learn more about this program, please visit the following link:
http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/physician_referral.php.
