Hear me better. Hear me happier.

A recent study published in The Gerontologist shows conclusively that hearing impairment has a direct relationship with mood. Path analyses showed that hearing impairment impairs linguistic communication and that impaired linguistic communication is related to lower levels of mood and social engagement. It is further suggested that remedying hearing impairment may lower levels of poor mood which, in turn, may reduce the negative effects of hearing impairment on social engagement and increase the quality of life.

Read the entire article at:

http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/5/633

Now IN Style: Assisted aids…not what your grandmother used!

Canes, orthopedic footwear and hearing aids are just a number of assistive living devices that have gone en vogue!

With the aging of baby boomers has grown an increased need for savvy, stylish hearing aids. As the generation who grew up rocking to The Who now starts to feel the effect of hearing impairments, technology has evolved to match consumer demands. Smaller, sleeker, less noticeable and with more bells and whistles (some hearing aids even synch to your Bluetooth or Ipod for convenience) hearing aids today break through old fashioned stigmas. No longer do hearing aids need to be old fashioned. “Behind-the-ear aids in hot pink or royal blue or even with zebra stripes are in, “ reports Indianapolis Star reporter Barb Berggoetz. “So are lipstick-red comfort shoes, and snappy walking sticks.”

With the advent of Internet-based shopping, more varieties of assistive devices are now available to all.  Canes used to hold a stigma associated with old age and frailty. Now, for some examples of just how far design has come to the cane market, just visit http://www.fashionablecanes.com/ to see the variety of canes now available. There is a cane designed for any and all occasions from formal to weather and even hobby-specific. Some examples are designer folding canes, for portability and usage when the need is sporadic; umbrella canes; and even canes that have spy functions included. Plus you can find help with cane sizing so the cane is specifically sent for a perfect fit.

Footwear that is designed and founded by a young orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Taryn Rose, http://www.tarynrose.com/ is hand-sewn in Italy, and made with the finest materials, making them known for their style, ease and remarkable fit. One innovative feature is the use of the NASA-created Poron cushioning that retains 95% of its cushioning after years of use.

Another option is Aetrex Co. www.aetrex.com, a company that offers shoes for people with nagging injuries, diabetes or just a desire for more comfort and support. Most stores that carry Aetrex products also use its iStep digital scanner to “map” feet – defining the arch and pressure points and matching footwear and custom inserts.

Hearing aides also come in fashion colors and sizes. For some resources on the latest in hearing aide fashion visit  ReSound, http://www.resound.com/index.htm, Oticon, http://www.oticon.com/com/home.htm, and Phonak http://www.phonak.com/, companies that are leading sellers of hearing aids, and developing smaller and more designer-friendly hearing pieces.

In-Home Care Costs Rise Only 4% Against 17% in Nursing Homes and 24% in Assisted Living
The latest study released by Genworth Financial shows that in-home care costs had the least increase of all aging options. Each year Genworth surveys the cost of care in more than 10,000 nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home care providers in all 50 states and 90 geographic regions including the District of Columbia. This year the survey adds adult day health care findings. The most comprehensive cost analysis in the industry, it surveys three times the number of providers and offers more regional detail than similar studies, and is the only survey that provides comparative data for the past five years.
Following are key findings, broken out by major category:

• Nursing Homes: The national average annual cost of a private room in a nursing home is $76,460 or $209 per day, a 17 percent increase over 2004 rates. This remains the most costly option. The most expensive average per day room rate was found in Alaska ($515) and the least expensive average per day room rate was found in Louisiana ($125).
• Assisted Living Facilities (ALF): A private one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility has an average annual cost of $36,090 in the U.S., a jump of 25 percent since 2004. The most expensive average unit was found in New Jersey ($4,921 per month) and the least expensive average unit was found in Arkansas ($1,981 per month).
• Home Care: Nationally, the average hourly rate for a non-Medicare certified, state licensed home health aide is $19.18, a cost that translates to $43,884 per year for 44 hours per week of care. That’s only a 4 percent increase over the hourly rate for a non-Medicare certified home health aide in 2004 of $18.43.
• Adult Day Health Care: First year research findings indicate the average annual cost across the country for five days a week in an adult day health care facility is $15,236.

To access the complete report, and to see individual geographic results, visit www.genworth.com/CostofCare.

Patients who have early-onset Alzheimer's disease may remain self-reliant longer following six tips compiled by the Alzheimer's Association:

1. Hire a service or ask a friend to help with activities, such as paying bills, cooking meals, cleaning the house or going to the grocery.
2. Write instructions on how to work appliances, place labels on items, and compose notes to help remember to perform certain tasks.
3. Help keep the home safe by reducing the risk of slips and falls. For example, install grab bars in the bathroom. Also, make sure appliances have automatic shutoffs.
4. Enroll in a safety alert program, so help is available immediately if needed.
5. Get a bus schedule, have a cab company's phone number handy, or ask friends and family to drive when driving becomes a problem.
6. Try to stay as physically and socially active as possible, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080313/health-tip-early-stage-alzheimers.htm