St. Louis Times

Distinguishing ‘Senior Moments’ from Alzheimer’s Leads to Key Brain Passage

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:44:00 -0900

By SeniorJournal.com - With the help of adult volunteers up to age 89, UC Irvine researchers have identified for the first time in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the "perforant path." Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far more quickly as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.

“The nice thing about this is we may be able to predict Alzheimer’s very early,” said Craig Stark, UCI associate professor of neurobiology & behavior.

That’s what prompted Diana Burns of Anaheim to participate in the study. In late 2008, when she forgot yet again where she’d put her purse, and then couldn’t remember why she was in the laundry room, Burns decided she had to know: Was she, like her aging mother, going to be a victim of the debilitating loss of brain function known as Alzheimer’s disease?

“When you’re a caregiver for somebody with Alzheimer’s, you always wonder if it’s going to happen to you,” said Burns, who had quit her job to stay home the day her mother was found unconscious and bleeding half a mile from their house, with no idea how she got there.

“I was becoming concerned because I myself was forgetting things, so I thought, ‘Now is the time to find out.’”

Burns, 64, searched online for human clinical trials and found UCI’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory. Soon Stark, the center’s interim director, and his staff had her ensconced in their big MRI machine.

The UCI researchers developed and used a new ultrahigh-resolution technique – outlined in a paper published June 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – to electronically peer through dense matter near the brain’s hippocampus in search of the perforant path.

The passageway is basically a bundle of nerve fibers, lined up like straws, connecting a region called the entorhinal cortex to the seahorse-shaped hippocampus.

By monitoring the brains of Burns and others via their ultrahigh-resolution technique – known as diffusion tensor imaging – the UCI team was able to detect water molecules moving in the exact area where they knew the passage had to be. The scientists then painstakingly tracked the progress of the molecules along the length of the fiber bundle, thereby identifying the perforant path.

“There was definitely an ‘aha’ moment when we knew we had finally found it,” said Mike Yassa, postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the paper.

They were also able to measure the strength of the passageway, confirming that in normal brains it weakens gradually with age, reducing the capacity to quickly recall details but not wiping out memory.

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Aging. With additional funding, the UCI team is now examining people with mild cognitive impairment – often the first stage of Alzheimer’s. They expect to see far faster deterioration of the perforant path. Such a finding could aid the testing of new medicines.

“Let’s say you’re a drug company, and you think you’ve got a potentially effective treatment for slowing Alzheimer’s,” said Stark. “You want to try it on people in the most preliminary stages of that disease, not those just experiencing normal aging.”

So what about Burns? Fortunately, the scientists detected no signs of dementia. Her data helped create a baseline image of a normal, aging brain. “I’m healthier than a horse,” she joked, speaking via cell phone from a quilt show, where she was enjoying a rare day off from caring for her mother.

Burns is happy she volunteered for the trials – both because she got answers about her own memory and because the research may help others. “I couldn’t donate money,” she said, “but I could donate time.”

Third Round of $250 Checks for Medicare Prescription Drug Cost Relief in the Mail

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:38:00 -0900

By SeniorJournal.com - The third round of one-time, tax-free $250 rebate checks have been mailed to eligible Medicare beneficiaries whose drug costs are so high they have reached the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” Experts estimate that more than a quarter of Part D enrollees hit the donut hole and often stop following their drug regimen as a result of the added cost burden.

The $250 rebates will go a long way in preventing seniors from having to make such difficult and almost certainly harmful health decisions.

Across the country, more than 750,000 Medicare beneficiaries have already received checks this year, and more beneficiaries will be receiving checks in the coming months as they enter the coverage gap, according to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“High prescription drugs costs are a problem for many seniors and other Medicare enrollees with limited incomes,” said Secretary Sebelius.

“These checks are an important first step in helping them afford the medications they need – and are evidence of how Americans are already seeing the very real benefits of the Affordable Care Act. From strengthening the long-term future of Medicare as evidenced by the recent Medicare Trustees report, to saving seniors and the disabled money on everything from prescription drug costs to preventive services, the Affordable Care Act is helping to preserve and protect Medicare.”

The rebate checks will partly close the donut hole this year, with the $250 one-time checks for beneficiaries who enter the gap. In 2011, the Affordable Care Act takes an additional step for Medicare beneficiaries in the donut hole by providing them with a 50 percent discount on their brand name medications. Every year from 2011 to 2020, the Affordable Care Act will take progressive steps to close the donut hole.

In addition to savings on prescription drugs, the new law takes a series of steps to strengthen Medicare. Under the Affordable Care Act:

● Medicare beneficiaries will receive free preventive care services like mammograms and certain colon cancer tests and a free annual physical starting in 2011;

● By 2018, seniors can expect to save on average almost $200 per year in premiums compared to what they would have paid without the new law, and most beneficiaries will also see a significant reduction in their Medicare coinsurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act; and

● The life of the Medicare Trust Fund is extended by 12 years.

“These checks represent just one way that Medicare is going to work better for seniors and persons with disabilities under the Affordable Care Act,” said Don Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Seniors will see lower prescription drug costs when they are in the donut hole, access to preventive services and annual wellness visits without cost-sharing, and higher quality care. And our efforts to crack down on fraud and waste are making beneficiaries safer and Medicare stronger financially, adding years to the Medicare trust funds.”

“Often, seniors reach the donut hole because they are on costly medications to help them manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes,” said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. “These checks will help America’s seniors afford the medications they need to manage those illnesses, keeping them healthy and improving their quality of life.”

Medicare beneficiaries who do not already receive Medicare’s Extra Help receive these checks automatically in the mail when they reach the donut hole; there is no requirement to sign up. Seniors should never give out personal information to anyone who is not a trusted source.

Seniors are encouraged to contact 1-800-MEDICARE begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-MEDICARE end_of_the_skype_highlighting to report any solicitations of personal information, or go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov to learn about how the Affordable Care Act helps to protect seniors from scams and safeguard taxpayer dollars.

Baby Boomers on the Move: Snuggling in or Launching Out ?

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:32:00 -0900

By theMatureMarket.com - Whether it's in the Sunbelt or the Rustbelt, a move across the street or across the nation, Baby Boomers are still willing to move to a new place when they retire.

Del Webb is America's largest builder of active adult communities. Targeted to those ages 55 and older, its 50+ communities are currently open for new home sales in 21 states. Del Webb has conducted 10 Baby Boomer surveys since 1996 seeking to better understand the attitudes and opinions of this generation - the current and future customers of Del Webb communities.

"Retirement marks a new phase in a Baby Boomer's life, and it only seems natural to relocate or move to a new home when they transition away from their primary career, or from the day-to-day rearing of school-aged children," said Deborah Blake, Del Webb creative director. "After all, when Boomers went off to college, they lived in a new place - a dorm or an apartment. When they married, they lived in a new home, most likely moving several times to different states for a job. Today, Baby Boomers are even purchasing their home before they actually retire.

Whether staying close to home or moving across the country, there are many options for them as they plan their future home in retirement," added Blake.

According to the Del Webb survey, nearly a third of older Baby Boomers plan to move in retirement, with more than 50 percent planning to move to a different state, about 25 percent of them planning to move to a different city within the same state, and less than 20 percent of older Boomers planning to move within the same city.

Additionally, the desire to move during retirement is on the rise among today's younger Boomers surveyed, with 42 percent of those turning 50 in 2010 planning to do so, as compared to 36 percent among 50 year- olds in 1996.

Staying Close or Moving Far.Where are Baby Boomers Planning to Move to?

For today's 80 million Boomers, the choices vary on where to spend their retirement years. During its 50-year history, Del Webb has found that some consumers choose to retire in place, in the city where they currently live and, potentially, near family and grandchildren. Alternatively, some consumers seek warmer climates such as those found in Arizona and Florida.

According to the 2010 Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey, the Carolinas have emerged as the preferred destination for retirement, while perennial favorites, Florida and Arizona, remain top contenders. Both younger and older Baby Boomers ranked either South or North Carolina first as their preferred location in retirement--with the other Carolina ranking as their second choice. Del Webb currently has six communities in the Carolinas, with five of them opening since 2006 to address this interest in the region as a growing retirement destination.

"There is a huge opportunity to serve this demographic not only in destination locations, but in their own backyard," said Steve Petruska, chief operating officer of PulteGroup, Inc. (Del Webb is a brand of PulteGroup). "While many of them look for a highly amenitized community, some consumers want to be close to urban amenities. These consumers want their community to be located near shopping/retail, restaurants and cultural amenities in the area, or near their family, church and friends. With Del Webb's diverse product offerings and community locations, we are poised to capture this growing demographic."

Factors in Moving

Among Baby Boomers looking to move, the most important factors in deciding where to relocate weighed heavily towards an area's cost of living and access to preferred healthcare programs, 81 percent and 66 percent for the younger Boomers. Surprisingly, cultural and recreational amenities, as well as a more favorable climate, ranked higher than being close to family members, including parents, children and/or grandchildren.

For current Del Webb residents, those who plan to move again consider both access to healthcare and cultural/recreational amenities as the most important factors at 71 percent, with the cost of living a concern among 70 percent of these respondents. Being close to their grandchildren ranked second to last in consideration at 44 percent.

According to Blake, this survey confirms that Baby Boomers want, need and do lead an active social life. "Their day planners are more scheduled today than ever before and they would have it no other way," she said. "They want to take their hard-earned money and stretch those dollars in a community that gives them confidence, not only in the stability of the market, but also a vibrant life. It's great if that community is near their children or grandchildren. But, if it's not, that's okay, too."

New Report Pegs Cost of Skilled Nursing Care at $90,000 Per Year

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:25:00 -0900

By McKnight's Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living - A new report from independent living consultant Univita Health finds that the national average annual cost for care in a private room at a Medicare-certified nursing home is slightly more than $90,000.

The report analyzes information collected from roughly 2,000 nursing homes, 2,000 assisted living facilities and 2,000 home health agencies, according to the Univita report. The report also finds that a single-occupancy room in an assisted living facility averages $3,300 per month. The national average hourly rate for home health aides provided by a certified home health care agency is $22.14 per hour, the report said.

To read the rest click FULL STORY.

The New Old Age

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:14:00 -0900

By Dale Russakoff / The New York Times - The population of older Americans is growing faster than ever and living longer than ever, but not as long as in much of Europe and elsewhere in the developed world, according to “Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being,” a report compiled by 15 federal agencies.

The full report, with tables detailing senior demographics, economics, health status, health risks and health care, is available at agingstats.gov. It contains a number of surprises, and raises a number of questions, for those interested in how Americans are aging.

Americans who live to age 65 can now expect to survive on average 18.5 more years, four years more than in 1960, according to the report. Of those who survive to age 85, women have an average 6.8 years to live, and men, 5.7 years. But life expectancy is even longer in most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cuba and Costa Rica.

In 2008, an estimated 39 million people in the United States were 65 or older — just over 13 percent of the population. By 2030, when all surviving baby boomers will be over 65, the report projects there will be 72 million seniors, about 20 percent of the population. (Seniors already make up 20 percent of the population in Germany and 21.5 percent in Japan.)

The 85-and-over United States population, the fastest-growing cohort in the country, is projected to rise from 5.8 million today to 19 million in 2050.

Living longer does not come cheaply. After adjustment for inflation, annual health care costs for the average senior increased from $9,224 in 1992 to $15,081 in 2006, the report says.

Heart disease remains the leading killer of people over 65, but now patients die of the disease at only half the rate (1,297 deaths per 100,000 people) they did in 1981. Cancer, strokes, lower respiratory diseases and Alzheimer’s disease were the other top killers. The reported rate of death from Alzheimer’s rose almost thirtyfold, from 6 per 100,000 in 1981 to 176.9 per 100,000 in 2006. Officials said the increase mostly reflected improvements in diagnosis and reporting in the 1980s.

Men have much higher suicide rates than women — 43 deaths per 100,000 men ages 85 and older, compared to 3 per 100,000 women. Non-Hispanic white men have the highest suicide rate (48 per 100,000).

Among people 85 and older, 34 percent have no natural teeth, compared to 20 percent of those 65 and older. The problem is more prevalent among those living in poverty (42 percent) than in other groups (23 percent).

Although vaccinations are covered by Medicare, only 50 percent of non-Hispanic blacks and 55 percent of Hispanics reported receiving a flu shot in the past 12 months, compared with 70 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

As in the rest of the population, the obesity rate has increased among people 65 and over, from 22 percent in 1994 to 32 percent in 2008, increasing the risks of coronary artery disease, Type 2 diabetes, various cancers, asthma and other respiratory problems, osteoarthritis and eventual disability.

Health care costs for seniors rose unevenly across races and income groups. In 2006, the average medical cost for non-Hispanic blacks was $18,098 annually; for Hispanics, $14,144. Those making less than $10,000 a year averaged $21,033 in health care costs, compared to $12,440 for those making more than $30,000. Officials said the lowest income seniors tend to have the worst health problems and are often in nursing homes, which are relatively expensive and are mostly paid through Medicaid.

Healthy seniors with no chronic conditions from all backgrounds averaged $5,186 annually in health care costs, compared to $25,132 for those with five or more chronic conditions. The average cost for residents of long-term care facilities was $57,022, and for those living in the community, only $12,383.

Health care claimed 28 percent of out-of-pocket expenditures among the poor and nearly poor in 2006, compared to 12 percent in 1977.

Average prescription drug costs for people 65 and over were $2,107 in 2004, compared to $600 in 1992. The average out-of-pocket cost of drugs increased more slowly because private and public insurance covered more over time.

The report found seniors are better educated and better off financially than they were 40 years ago. High school graduates made up 24 percent of people 65 and older in 1965, compared to 77 percent in 2008. Only 5 percent of seniors had a bachelor’s or higher degree then; 21 percent had one in 2008.

There has been a small increase in the proportion of seniors with high incomes and a small decrease in the proportion living in poverty. In 2007, the median net worth of households headed by whites 65 and older was $280,000, six times that of older black households ($46,000). In 2003, white households had on average eight times the net worth of black households.

The report pointed out that recent increases in net worth might evaporate with the collapse of housing values.

Losing Independence - (A reader's comments from the New York Times)

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:21:00 -0900

By New York Times (A reader's comments to a previously run article) - Two of my closest relatives have recently been moved into senior housing, one "indpendent living" the other "assisted living." This was against their wishes, but they simply lost their ability to fight it anymore. Both viewed it as a loss of independence. Both have now conceded that far from taking away their independence they are suddenly far more independent than they were before.

Last winter the independent living resident who had spent her time at home worrying about how to deal with the mounds of snow in her driveway and leaking water from her roof, spent this winter heading a commitee planning an indoor solarium and competing in the water volleyball tournament she organized. The relative who moved to assisted living had an aid comming in to her home...often touted here and other places as a way to achieve the best case scenario of staying at home. But she now admits that having someone stay with her in her home for hours a day made her feel like she was completely dependent.

Now an aide stops by for only an hour in the morning to help her dress and take her medicine. But then for the remainder of the day she, in her words, "does her own thing." She and three friends go to their meals together and together decide what activities to sign up for that day, or choose none and spend time in their own apartments knitting or reading. Last week she spent a day at the Art museum and a night at the Opera and relaxed on her own the rest of the day. A quick trip to the Lobby to get her mail often results in an offer from someone to take a walk or attend an in house lecture or concert.

Before when she was "still at home" she spent her days in her words "having that woman looking at me". Too many people resist a change that would open their worlds. I do not plan to be one of them. Unlike these people who vowed to stay in their homes "until they were carried out feet first" I have no desire to stay in an environment that I know would no longer be appropriate. My children will not have to force me out. I am already planning on the next stage.

Cognitive Impairment from Common Drugs?

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:13:00 -0900

By SeniorJournal.com - In a study of elderly African-Americans it was found that drugs consumed often for a variety of common medical conditions including insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the brain causing long term cognitive impairment. The researchers are confident future studies will find that the results will also apply to senior citizens of other races.

These drugs, called anticholinergics, block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, and are widely-used medical therapies. Older adults most commonly use drugs with anticholinergic effects as sleep aids and to relieve bladder leakage problems.

They are sold over the counter under various brand names such as Benadryl, Dramamine, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM, and Unisom.

Other anticholinergic drugs, such as Paxil, Detrol, Demerol and Elavil are available only by prescription.

The study appeared in the July 13, 2010 print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute and Wishard Health Services conducted a six-year observational study, evaluating 1,652 Indianapolis area African-Americans over the age of 70 who had normal cognitive function when the study began.

In addition to monitoring cognition, the investigators tracked all over-the-counter and prescription medications taken by study participants.

"We found that taking one anticholinergic significantly increased an individual's risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and taking two of these drugs doubled this risk. This is very significant in a population – African-Americans – already known to be at high risk for developing cognitive impairment," said Noll Campbell, PharmD, first author of the study. Dr. Campbell is a clinical pharmacist with Wishard Health Services.

"Simply put, we have confirmed that anticholinergics, something as seemingly benign as a medication for inability to get a good night's sleep or for motion sickness, can cause or worsen cognitive impairment, specifically long-term mild cognitive impairment which involves gradual memory loss.

“As a geriatrician I tell my Wishard Healthy Aging Brain Center patients not to take these drugs and I encourage all older adults to talk with their physicians about each and every one of the medications they take," said Malaz Boustani, M.D., IU School of Medicine associate professor of medicine, Regenstrief Institute investigator and IU Center for Aging Research center scientist.

"The fact that we found that taking anticholinergics is linked with mild cognitive impairment, involving memory loss without functional disability, but not with Alzheimer Disease, gives me hope. Our research efforts will now focus on whether anticholinergic-induced cognitive impairment may be reversible," said Dr. Boustani, who added that "this study offers a new window to change the burden of dementia" for the individual, the caregiver and the healthcare system."

"This finding of a link between anticholinergics and long term mild cognitive impairment complements our previous work which confirmed a link between anticholinergics and delirium, which is a sudden onset cognitive impairment," said Dr. Campbell.

Although this study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, looked at only African-Americans, both Dr. Campbell and Dr. Boustani believe future studies will find that the results are generalizable to other races.

In addition to Campbell and Boustani, co-authors of "Use of Anticholinergics and the Risk of Cognitive Impairment in an African-American Population" are Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc, of the IU School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute; Valerie Smith-Gamble, M.D. of the IU School of Medicine and the Roudebush VA Medical Center; and Kathleen A. Lane, M.S., Sujuan Gao, Ph.D., Babar A. Khan, M.D., Jill R. Murrell, Ph.D., Frederick W. Unverzagt, Ph.D., Ann Hake, M.D., and Kathleen Hall, PhD. of the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Hall is also a Regenstrief Institute affiliated scientist.

A downloadable list of medications with anticholinergic effects can be found on the website of the Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia, of which Dr. Boustani is the founder and scientific director. For a direct link to the drug list and other information in pdf format – click here.

The IU School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute are located on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Federal Government Releases 'meaningful use' Rules for Healthcare IT

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:04:00 -0900

By McKnight's Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living - The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday disclosed two final rules regarding the "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR). One of the two regulations issued Tuesday defines the "meaningful use" objectives that providers must meet to qualify for bonus payments created under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009. The other regulation identifies the technical capabilities required for certified EHR technology.

To read the rest of this article click COMPLETE ARTICLE.

Senior-Student Mentoring Can Be Great Win-Win

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:56:00 -0900

By Philip Moeller / U.S. News & World Report - Effectively pairing senior volunteers with students is one of the big win-win opportunities in virtually every community in the country. There is great need in the schools, and it's gotten more acute during the recession. Looking ahead, school budgets have been sapped by falling tax revenues and government spending cutbacks. Meanwhile, the future vitality of our country -- successful young people who can out-compete their peers from other nations -- is being put at more and more risk. Our public education system is in serious trouble.

Enter a growing stream of retired folks who've enjoyed stable and successful careers, are loaded with skills and experience, and eager to give back to their local communities. What better match to make than between such retirees and students in need? That's certainly true in theory. But in talking with one of the country's most successful senior tutoring and mentoring programs -- Experience Corps -- it's clear that a lot of work needs to go into successful partnerships. Just showing up at your neighborhood school can be successful, but more by accident than design.

Experience Corps doesn't claim its approach is the only or even best way to engage seniors with kids. But it does claim that it works, and has the research to prove it. The Washington-based nonprofit has Experience Corps programs in 22 cities, with a total of about 2,000 senior volunteers and 20,000 students. The program works with younger students -- kindergarten through third grade -- and focuses its efforts on at-risk children in lower-income areas.

"There are now 78 million baby boomers, and 10,000 of them a day are turning 60," says Experience Corps CEO Lester Strong. "What a tremendous vacuum it would be if they exited the workplace and withdrew all that talent and skill from American society." At the same time, there is a large and growing generation of children who are headed for academic, economic, and social failure if they don't receive enhanced support during their early years.

In the cities with Experience Corps programs, that support doesn't come cheap, averaging between $1,000 and $2,000 a year per student. More than half of the money flows right back out to participating volunteers, in the form of stipends and help in defraying travel and related tutoring expenses. Finding the right volunteers, training them, and successfully matching them with students also requires staff and money.

The benefit of this approach is reflected in volunteers who stay committed to the program and their students, and go well beyond the minimums in providing support. Strong says research has shown that a student needs to have at least 35 one-on-one sessions a year with a volunteer to make sustained progress in reading and verbal skills.

Mary Gunn is executive director of Generations Inc., the nonprofit that operates the Experience Corps program in Boston. She notes that most of the area's volunteers come from the same neighborhoods as the schools where they serve, and that many are from the same backgrounds as the kids they help. "They are very rooted in their local communities and feel like they are doing something meaningful to help their neighborhoods as well as the students."

This kind of volunteering experience is very different than working with student and young professional volunteers, Gunn has observed. Younger persons might "be in it for a year or two," she says. "Older adults are in it for the long haul, which allows them to build strong relationships with the kids, and also strong relationships with local communities."

Gunn also credits on-site support of program volunteers with helping the program to succeed. "Part of the success for us is that we put somebody right at the school every day" to work with the program, including administrative support, evaluation, and feedback to volunteers and students. Volunteers need to be made part of a team, she says, and succeeding at this effort helps create a community of peers that acts as a social network for retired participants.

In fact, the social benefits of volunteering in Experience Corps extend to tangible health benefits. According to research, volunteers see their health improve after working in the program. "We do have really great data on how our members benefit," Strong says. "They tend to be more fit, to be more mentally acute, to suffer less from depression, and enjoy a stronger social network."

"Probably, 90 percent of them would say, 'This is why I get up in the morning,'" if asked to evaluate their volunteer experience, he adds. "Because of their life experiences, they have the ability to see the whole child. They're not just teaching to a task. That's why we call it both a tutoring and a mentoring program. And it's because of that that the children, many of whom have not had the chance of interacting with an older adult, really thrive."

Art and Alzheimer's: An Effective Model?

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:07:00 -0900

By Jason Echols / MSW Ccandidate at the GWB-Washington University - Art is frequently used to engage persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in creative and social activity. As Gene Cohen (2006) documents in “Research on Creativity and Aging” in Generations, engagement in art activities can have a positive impact on the health of older adults by providing opportunities for social engagement, offering a greater sense of control, and potentially increasing mental functioning. But what about the effect of art on persons experiencing a cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s? As Cohen suggests, art works in a similar manner with dementia by emphasizing the individual’s skills, strengths, and quality of life. In her book When Words Have Lost Their Meaning, Ruth Abraham (2005) notes how art therapy with persons with dementia can act as an intervention in the moment that bypasses verbal communication. It provides an opportunity for the participant to interact with the world, reinforcing the individual’s concept of personhood.

There are several model programs for integrating art into work with persons with dementia. The Memories in the Making® Art Program, from the Orange County, CA chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, gives persons with Alzheimer’s the tools and guided instruction to paint memories, creating art which is placed on display in community exhibits. The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) Alzheimer’s Project offers special in-depth, interactive tours for persons with dementia on days when the museum is closed to the public, making the act of viewing and appreciating art therapeutic. Locally, the St Louis chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has offered art programs for persons with early stage Alzheimer’s through its Think Tank program, including life review through collages, basic painting classes, and music therapy with drumming and singing. Beginning in spring 2010, the Think Tank classes will be offered through local adult day programs.

Empirical studies examining the effectiveness of art programs for persons with dementia are needed. Existing studies indicate positive outcome, but most are anecdotal or do not use control or comparison groups. Several of the above programs are being evaluated, including the MoMA project. In “Observed Well-Being Among Individuals with Dementia” published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, Kinney and Rentz (2005) studied a Memories in the Making program in Cincinnati and found that the artist participants exhibited greater pleasure, higher self-esteem, more interest, and sustained attention than participants in traditional adult day activities. In general, more research is needed to support the anecdotal evidence that art therapy works for persons with dementia.

For more information: contact the St Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (314.432.3422) for local adult day programs offering Think Tank programs; request the Memories in the Making® Program Manual by contacting Marilyn Lorey (marilyn.lorey@alz.org); download the MoMA Alzheimer's Project Guide for Museums at www.moma.org/alzheimersproject; and visit www.creativeaging.org for more on the intersection of arts and aging services.

Older Men Ease Stress Over Sexual Issues by Discussing with Partner, Friend

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:53:00 -0900

By Angela Yeager, Oregon State / SeniorJournal.com - A new study suggests that it may not help senior citizens with sexual problems to talk to a doctor, but the senior men who talk to their partner report greater happiness – and those who talked with friends felt less depressed.

The research, to be published in the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, shows that the way men and women deal with sexual health and stress in their later years varies greatly and that there is not one solution that can help ease unhappiness caused by sexual problems.

The research was conducted by Ryo Hirayama, a Ph.D. student in Oregon State University’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, and professor Alexis Walker, who is the Jo Anne L. Petersen Chair in Gerontology and Family Studies at OSU. The study was conducted with data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.

The Oregon State researchers looked at 861 people ages 57 to 85 who were married or had an intimate partner, and who reported having at least one sexual problem.

The sexual problems reported by older adults included lack of interest in sex, inability to climax, physical pain during sex, maintaining an erection, or lubrication issues.

Respondents were asked to indicate on a scale from 1 to 3 how bothered they were by each problem they listed. They also were asked about their well-being, which the researchers measured by using typical scales for happiness and for depressive symptoms.

The study yielded several surprising findings. First, fewer than half of older adults with sexual problems discussed these problems with their doctors, although men were more likely to do so than women. In addition, whether older adults discussed these issues with their physicians did not make a difference in their well-being.

“This was our most unexpected outcome,” Hirayama said. “Older adults are advised to talk to their doctors about sexual health issues, but not all people do so and talking with a physician is not as helpful as you might expect.”

However, confiding in a partner or with friends was found to be effective for many men in reducing stress and unhappiness related to sexual problems. Unfortunately for women, this same benefit was not reported.

“In fact, women with higher levels of sexual stress who confided in their close friends reported lower happiness,” Hirayama said. “We aren’t quite sure what to make of this finding.”

Women did not see any reduction in stress or well-being (unhappiness and depression) when they talked to their spouses either.

“What this tells is that women’s sexual issues are complex, and that complexity needs to be recognized,” Walker said. “A woman with a great deal of sexual concerns could feel threatened by talking to her spouse about it, or perhaps simply confiding in a friend is not enough.”

Since the largest effect size was seen with men who confided in both spouses and friends, the researchers said the result brings into critical focus the importance for men in middle and later life of confiding in family members and friends.

“The finding is striking because most people presume men do not have confidants,” Hirayama said. Hirayama is doing his doctoral studies on male identity issues and men’s social ties in current society.

“Men are not believed to be functioning socially in our society, yet research increasingly shows that social networks can be a critical part of a man’s life, especially as he ages,” he said.

Walker, who has done research in the gerontology field for decades, said the medicalization of aging makes some people feel as if there is a “fix” for everything. She said that in some cases, certain sexual issues might just be part of the aging process and that the important part is that couples keep the lines of communication open.

“In the general context of sex and aging, the rule is ‘use it or lose it,’” Walker said.

“The best prediction of sexual activity is to continue to be sexually active throughout your adult life, to make it a part of your life. But it is also true that older people can have sexual problems, and sometimes there are ways to work around these issues by emphasizing other activities you enjoy as a couple.”

The Hand-Me-Down Home

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:40:00 -0900

By Hilary Stout / Wall Street Journal - In the annals of intergenerational friction, there are some familiar sources of disagreement: sex, money, music and what on earth you’re going to do with your life. Then there are the truly contentious subjects — like the fireplace tiles that used to be in Carla Weisberg’s apartment on West 12th Street in Greenwich Village.

Ms. Weisberg, a 47-year-old textile and wallcovering designer, grew up in the apartment, a duplex in a four-unit building that her parents bought in 1960, before she was born. Six years ago, after her mother died suddenly and her father’s health began to decline, she moved back to the place where she used to build forts and play hide-and-seek, while her father moved into the ground-floor unit. And so began the delicate undertaking of turning her parents’ home into a space she could live in as an adult, a home for herself and her husband.

To read the rest of this story click COMPLETE ARTICLE

Betty White, Solid Gold

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:23:00 -0900

By Liza Berger / McKnight's Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living - Did anyone else catch the actress Betty White on “Saturday Night Live” last weekend? Was anyone else smitten with her by the end of the show?

OK. I was. Her self-effacing humor, comic timing and ease in performing with the ensemble were priceless. It was easy to forget that this woman, the oldest person to host the comedy show, is 88.

No one really knew what to expect from White, best known for her role as Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls.” I think her appearance far exceeded perhaps most people's expectations.

For the rest of the story click COMPLETE ARTICLE.

OWL Symposium Needs Support

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:51:00 -0900

By Fran Sisson / OWL - The Gateway chapter of OWL, the Voice of Midlife and Older Women, is seeking sponsors for a timely symposium for men and women who are pre-retirees or already retired. Along with OWL, the planning group includes representatives from Washington University School of Social Work, St. Louis Community College, Meramec Campus and Our Second Act, Inc.

When we talk about what leads to a sense of well-being in the years traditionally considered retirement years, we think of physical health, economic security, friends and family. But quality of life in the second half is more than this. Finding happiness, fulfillment and meaning past the middle years is the challenge we want to address in the symposium “What Are You Doing With the Rest of Your Life?” is planned to take place November 6, 2010.

With increased longevity, traditional retirement is already changing. Many people will live 20 to 30 years after reaching 65 and there will be many more of them as this group is expected to double between now and 2030.

The goal of the symposium is to open attendees’ minds to the many possibilities for making the second half a rewarding and significant period of time in their lives. Specifically, they will a) learn about re-wiring themselves for “encore careers” b) identify which activities are meaningful to them and bring a sense of purpose, c) identify what drives them, d) leave the symposium with an action plan on how to get there.

To connect people with community resources that can help them reach these objectives, our goal is to create a website for people seeking new careers, meaningful volunteer work, learning opportunities or other ways of adding value and meaning to the second half of life.

The symposium will be highlighted by a nationally-known speaker, the co-author of the book “Don’t Retire –Rewire” (www.dontretirerewire.com). She is Jeri Sedlar, and she has agreed to keynote the symposium and lead some of the sessions at a rate greatly reduced from her ordinary speaker’s fee. We believe that it is crucial to have someone of her caliber to set the bar high. Other presenters will be drawn from the St. Louis community. For more information about being a symposium sponsor, contact Fran Sisson, MSW, at fransisson@sbcglobal.net or OWL at owlstlouis@sbcglobal.net.

Walmart Foundation Grant to Meals On Wheels

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:43:00 -0900

By David Sykora / St. Louis Area Ageny on Aging - The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (SLAAA) has been awarded $15,000 through a Walmart Foundation grant to the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). The money will provide the SLAAA Home Delivered Meal Program with much-needed meal delivery equipment, technology equipment and software for our senior centers, which is critical to continue serving seniors in our neighborhoods.

This financial support is desperately needed as many Meals On Wheels programs across the country are struggling to survive during this economic downturn. The “Walmart Foundation Impact Grant” is intended to help the SLAAA Home Delivered Meal Program continue to meet the long term equipment needs of providing meals to our seniors in the City of St. Louis.

Last year, many Meals On Wheels programs were forced to change or reduce their services, but the Walmart Foundation stepped in to help restore those meals. This year, the Walmart Foundation is spending more than $2 million nationwide to make sure Meals On Wheels programs have the equipment they need to maintain their operations into the future.

“Seniors have been hit especially hard in this economy and we feel a responsibility to help,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to support Meals on Wheels programs across the U.S. who work on the front lines of ending senior hunger.”

“Thanks to the Walmart Foundation Impact Grant, we now have better tools to keep feeding seniors for years to come,” said David Sykora, Executive Director of the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. ”This grant will help us provide quality meals to many of our clients in need and will truly make a difference for the seniors of St. Louis.”

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit.

Doctors Face 21% Medicare, TRICARE Pay Cut

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:36:00 -0900

By SeniorJournal.com - April 15 is a costly deadline for many Americans filing their taxes on deadline day. But it could even be more costly to many doctors facing a 21 percent pay cut from Medicare if Congress does not act immediately. Efforts by Democrats to fix this glitch in regulations that make the pay cut mandatory have been blocked by Republicans. Seniors and patients in TRICARE, too, could be big losers, as it is considered certain many physicians will no longer accept Medicare or TRICARE patients if this pay cut is finalized.

Current law requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adjust the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment rates annually, based on an update formula which requires application of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) that was adopted in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

This formula has yielded negative updates every year beginning in CY 2002, although CMS was able to take administrative steps to avert a reduction in CY 2003, and Congress has taken a series of legislative actions to prevent reductions in CYs 2004-2009.

The recommended cuts in the past have been far smaller than the 21.2 percent reduction mandated this year, which was announced in late 2009.

On March 1, the doctors were to be hit with the 21 percent reduction in the amount they are paid for treating Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries. Efforts by Democrats to correct this mandated reduction has been blocked by Republicans. Physicians, meanwhile, are talking of reducing services to senior citizens on Medicare unless the pay cut is reversed.

Democrats and the American Medical Association were able to delay the implementation date to April 1 but were still unable to budge Republicans.

The Obama administration directed Medicare billing contractors to hold off processing claims for 10 business days in the hopes that senators could break the deadlock before lower payments are issued.

Medicare normally pays doctors about 14 days after bills are submitted, which would mean the pay cut can be avoided until April 15.

Still, however, Congress has not acted.

"Congress has already missed the deadline for new legislation to block cuts of 21% in Medicare payments to doctors,” according to The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog.

“The pay reduction officially took effect April 1, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — the federal agency that oversees the giant health systems — put a hold on processing physician payments for 10 business days, effectively pushing off the bite on payments for physicians' services until April 15. So that's the new deadline facing Congress if it wants to pass a new law delaying the cuts from really going into effect" (White, 4/13),”

The Denver Post says, "Doctors say another temporary fix is inadequate. Instead, they are pushing for a permanent change in law, a solution estimated to cost about $220 billion over the next decade. ... Medicare patients typically are more complicated to treat — more diseases, more prescriptions to manage. ... Under the previous rates, doctors were paid $95.43 by Medicare for a new-patient visit. The cuts that went into effect April 1 knocked the reimbursement down to $75.20, according to the Colorado Medical Society." The Post interviewed a patient whose doctor "fired" her, saying the Medicare reimbursement is inadequate (Brown, 4/14).

Meanwhile, The Green Bay Press Gazette reports: "Wisconsin doctors and hospitals treating Medicare patients can expect a modest bump in pay as a result of provisions in the new health-care law. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, and a group of lawmakers from the Midwest and Pacific Northwest fought hard to get them," withholding support of the health reform bill until they negotiated a deal. "What they got was $800 million for immediate payments for doctors and hospitals and a commitment from the administration to a value-based system for paying physicians and other providers." The changes affect doctors in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest who have "traditionally have received less for treating Medicare patients than their counterparts in other parts of the country" (4/14).

Optimism Returning Even Amidst Problems

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:38:00 -0900

By Philip Moeller / US News & World Report - Do you feel optimistic, America? Perhaps surprisingly, you do, according to some admittedly unscientific results from an online survey sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, the Milwaukee-based life insurance and financial security firm. The nation is only slowly emerging from a recession. We're fighting two wars and struggling with terrorists. Government finances are in a shambles and the passage of healthcare reform has been so divisive that legislators may be safer these days in a bunker than out visiting constituents. So, have the folks in Milwaukee been drinking something stronger than beer?

Last year, Northwestern Mutual commissioned research on how Americans were dealing with all the turmoil in their lives. The work was done by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, which does lots of attitudinal work for financial services firms, including the annual retirement confidence surveys for the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The American Reality Study found that people had changed their expectations and goals, moving away from a material-centered view of success to one that emphasized family, friends, community, and other aspirations that aligned with older-style American values.

The company also pulled six questions from the study and built an online tool called the Optimism Barometer. People are scored on their answers and receive an optimism grade that the company feels is an accurate reflection of their true attitudes. The original research was conducted in early 2009, when the economy and stock market were still declining. Even then, consumers reflected an underlying if sobering confidence in their own abilities to fashion better long-term futures, said Greg Oberland, a Northwestern Mutual executive.

Since then, people who used the online Optimism Barometer have been posting increasingly positive scores. "We're seeing that optimism is on an upward trend," Oberland says. But the optimism on display reflects a view of the altered future that was identified in the earlier research and which he calls "the new normal." People have come to terms with the economic realities they are seeing, he says. They take responsibility for their actions, and recognize the need to make and follow longer-term plans to achieve their goals.

A year ago, only 25 percent of Barometer scores were in the 8 to 10 range (10 is the highest score), the company says. A year later, that figure had risen to 40 percent. Other scores rose as well, and those in the least optimistic group (scoring 0 to 4) currently account for less than 2.5 percent of the total versus 19 percent a year ago. Only about 2,500 persons have used the Barometer, the company says, and notes they do not represent a scientifically selected group.

Barometer scores of persons aged 60 and older were noticeably higher than for younger age groups. “On one hand, older respondents who have seen more economic cycles have higher levels of optimism than younger people who have less experience," Oberland says. "That said, younger people believe more in the power of sheer ambition while older respondents are more cynical of the idea that anything is possible.”

As it turns out, the new normal also has been very good for Northwestern Mutual. Aided by the low interest-rate environment, traditional whole life insurance is relatively more attractive than in the past. And the company has maintained the highest possible financial soundness ratings from Moody's, A.M. Best, and other ratings firms. So, with consumers seeking less risk and more reliable returns, Oberland says, there has been a flight to quality. As a result, Northwestern Mutual's sales of whole life insurance are up 20 percent so far this year, and that's from a stable base that did not fall off during the recession.

Social Isolation and Integration Among Older Adult Immigrants

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:46:00 -0900

By Sarah Li Zhao, MA is a 2010 MSW Candidate at the Brown School of Social Work - Since the 1990s, the number of older immigrants age 65 and above has been increasing from 2.7 to 4.3 million, about 11% of all immigrants to the United States. A New York Times’ article on August 30, 2009, Invisible Immigrants, Old and Left With ‘Nobody to Talk To,’ featured that “ethnic elderly are among the most isolated people in America.” Mui & Kang’s (2006) study of more than 400 Asian immigrant elders found that 40% of them were depressed, demonstrating the association between acculturation stress and depressive symptoms among Asian immigrant populations.

Dr. Harold Law, the president of the St. Louis Christian Chinese Community Service Center (STL-CCCSC) said, “Older immigrants are sometimes isolated by heavy domestic responsibility for their working adult children, such as childcare and housekeeping. As more than half of recent older immigrants have limited English language skills, families become their only social and economic support. However, when families can not guarantee a satisfactory late life, immigrant older adults often feel lonely, isolated, and/or depressed”. Studies show that depression is mainly associated with life cycle changes, linguistic barriers, lack of family and social support, and financial difficulty.

There are three major factors affecting older immigrants’ acculturation and social integration. First, according to a study conducted by Diwan (2008), older immigrants are less likely to interact with others, but rely more on family and organizations within their ethnic communities. Second, family dependency can turn to a risk factor if families hinder seniors from building social ties beyond their families. Third, older immigrants have limited mobility due to lack of transportation service and disabilities.

In St. Louis, several strategies have been developed to address older adults’ social isolation, such as civic engagement, community service intervention, and creating aging-friendly communities. The St. Louis Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), a non-denominational neighborhood program for older adults, supports healthy aging by providing health and wellness education, socialization, outreach and increased access to support services to its 600⁺ members. Dr. Peggy Neufeld, the St. Louis NORC Research & Community Liaison, said, “NORC helps prevent social isolation and depression through connecting neighbors and linking seniors to resources.” Some organizations have developed programs tailored to the needs of immigrant older adults. The “Elder Links” of the International Institute is a one-stop-shop service providing assessment, case management, education, and naturalization assistance to 400 elderly immigrants. The STL-CCCSC opened free classes for elder Chinese to learn folk dance, calligraphy, and Tai Chi. These interventions adopt a person-environment perspective to balance the demands of the environment and immigrant older adults’ strengths.

By 2050, there will be about 16 million immigrant older adults in the U.S. With the demographic changes, there are growing demands for social workers and researchers who are culturally sensitive and respond to the issue of acculturation and social isolation. In the future, more cultural and community based senior centers will be needed to engage immigrant older adults in civic activities with the mainstream population. To contact these social integration programs, please call the St. Louis NORC at 314-442-3834, the International Institute at 314-773-9090, and the STL-CCCSC at 314-989-1220.

Maintaining a Sense of Being Younger Gives An Edge

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:37:00 -0900

By The Medical News - The saying "You're only as old as you feel" really seems to resonate with older adults, according to research from Purdue University.

"How old you are matters, but beyond that it's your interpretation that has far-reaching implications for the process of aging," said Markus H. Schafer, a doctoral student in sociology and gerontology who led the study. "So, if you feel old beyond your own chronological years you are probably going to experience a lot of the downsides that we associate with aging.

"But if you are older and maintain a sense of being younger, then that gives you an edge in maintaining a lot of the abilities you prize."

Schafer and co-author Tetyana P. Shippee, a Purdue graduate who is a research associate at Purdue's Center on Aging and the Life Course, compared people's chronological age and their subjective age to determine which one has a greater influence on cognitive abilities during older adulthood. Nearly 500 people ages 55-74 were surveyed about aging in 1995 and 2005 as part of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States.

In 1995, when people were asked what age do you feel most of the time, the majority identified with being 12 years younger than they actually were.

"We found that these people who felt young for their age were more likely to have greater confidence about their cognitive abilities a decade later," Schafer said. "Yes, chronological age was important, but the subjective age had a stronger effect.

"What we are not sure about is what comes first. Does a person's wellness and happiness affect their cognitive abilities or does a person's cognitive ability contribute to their sense of wellness. We are planning to address this in a future study."

Schafer also said that the current study's findings have both positive and negative implications.

"There is a tremendous emphasis on being youthful in our society and that can have a negative effect for people," Schafer said. "People want to feel younger, and so when they do inevitably age they can lose a lot of confidence in their cognitive abilities.

"But on the other hand, because there is such a desire in America to stay young, there may be benefits of trying to maintain a sense of youthfulness by keeping up with new trends and activities that feel invigorating. Learning new technologies is one way people can continue to improve their cognitive abilities. It will be interesting to see how, or if, these cultural norms shift as the Baby Boomer generation ages."

Other studies have shown that women are prone to aging stereotypes, so Schafer expected to see that women who felt older about themselves would have less confidence in their cognitive abilities.

"There is a slight difference between men and women, but it's not as pronounced as we expected," Schafer said. "This was surprising because of the emphasis on physical attractiveness and youth that is often disproportionately placed on women."

Middle Boomers Should Be Treated Separately

info.nospam@nospam.stlouistimes.com (Admin) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:25:00 -0900

By Metlife Mature Market Institute - For decades, American Baby Boomers have been characterized as a bloc of people who think and act as one monolithic generation. However, recent data from the MetLife Mature Market Institute®, show that Young, Middle and Older Boomers grew up during disparate “eras” and are now at different stages in their lives. They should, perhaps, be treated as separate demographic groups.

“The Middle Boomers, now 52 to 58 years old and 29 million strong, are very much a generation of the 60s”

In both a series of Demographic Profiles and a new study, The MetLife Study of Boomers in the Middle, facts are emerging about how distinct the segments are.

“The Middle Boomers, now 52 to 58 years old and 29 million strong, are very much a generation of the 60s,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. “They identify with the Vietnam War, the Kennedy assassination and the women’s movement, identifying the war as the event that most influenced them in their youth. They are distinguished most by a change in culture through political and social activism. But, like the proverbial often neglected ‘middle child,’ they have rarely been noted as having an identity of their own, although they are different in many ways from the Oldest and Youngest Boomers.”

From a business and financial standpoint, the Middle Boomers are looking forward to retirement (setting their sights on age 65), have a high net worth ($100,000 or more, excluding their home value) and are currently in their peak earning years. On the other hand, more than half (54%) say they are behind on their retirement savings goals and that many who have delayed retirement have been affected by the economy. Most will rely on Social Security for their retirement income (42% of it, on average). A majority own their own homes, which are worth an average of $273,000, and have an average of six financial products. One-third of the Middle Boomers expect to receive an inheritance from their parents in the amount of $181,000, slightly less than the Oldest Boomers and behind the Youngest Boomers who expect $208,000.

Other specifics for the Middle Boomers:

50 is Okay

Turning age 50 was no big deal for the majority of Middle Boomers and they will not consider themselves “old” until age 75. That’s older than the age selected by the Youngest Boomers (age 71), but younger than age 78, selected by the Oldest Boomers.

Maturity Means a Shift in Priorities

Middle Boomers have experienced a shift in their life priorities in the past five to ten years. They say they are concentrating more on family, financial security, personal well-being and wellness.

Marriage

Seventy-one percent of this group are married or in domestic partnerships. Husbands are generally two years older than wives. Twelve percent are divorced or separated, 4% are widowed and 13% have never been married. Those who are divorced have the most concerns about retirement and income.

Still Healthy, but Concerned About Health Care Costs

Like the Oldest and Youngest Boomers, the middle group report they are healthy with more than half (56%) saying their health is very good to excellent. Looking ahead, though, 26% of those who are healthy say their biggest retirement concern will be affordable health care.

Truly the Sandwich Generation

Two-thirds of the Middle Boomers report having at least one parent still living, and half still have children living at home. About half also have grandchildren. Seventy-two percent have been providing financial assistance and support to their children and grandchildren, averaging about $38,000 over the past five years. They are not yet empty nesters like the Older Boomers. Fourteen percent are providing care to older parents.