History of Long Term Care
June 28, 2002 - Another fine feature on the Eldercare web site. The history of long-term care section is still being developed, but the completed sections are fascinating.

Vitamin E in Diet May Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Risk
June 26, 2002 - A new population-based study of antioxidants, appearing in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" ("JAMA"), suggests that a diet rich in foods containing vitamin E may help protect some people against Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Baby Boomer Redux
June 2002 - A cornucopia of data on the baby boomers, from the Administration on Aging.

Findings Show Exceptional Longevity Runs in Families
June 25, 2002 - Brothers and sisters of centenarians are much more apt to survive to age 100 than other people and have lower mortality rates throughout life, according to a study published in the June 11, 2002 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Heat Advisory for Older Citizens
June 25, 2002 - It's really hot today in Maryland, a good time for our annual heat advice for older citizens.

National Human Genome Research Institute Launches Genome.Gov
June 25, 2002 – Completely revised Web site provides improved usability and easy access to new content for a wide range of users.

Living Trust Offers
June 2002 - How to make sure they're trust-worthy and minimize or avoid potential hassles and headaches for your loved ones.  From the Federal Trade Commission.

Benefits of Physical Activity for Older Americans 
June 21, 2002 - HHS today released a new report finding that frail health often associated with aging is in large part due to physical inactivity, but that it's never too late to benefit from becoming physically active.

Long-Term Care Financing: Blueprints for Reform
June 20, 2002 - The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to examine solutions to the nation's long-term care crisis and to release findings from the committee's series of hearings on long-term care.

HHS Report Highlights Benefits of Physical Activity
June 20, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today released a new report that underscores the importance of physical activity in preventing disease.

Exercises for the Older Citizen
Graduated exercises for seniors. It includes exercises for the wheelchair-bound. (Adapted from a booklet by Fitness.Gov)  - Recommended
One of our readers thinks we're setting the exercise bar for seniors too low - in his Letter to the Editor

Online Gulf War-Related Medical Research Library
June 19, 2002 - The Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, today announced the launch of an Internet site called Medsearch, a central repository of Gulf War-related medical research.

Vasectomy Does Not Increase Prostate Cancer Risk 
June 19, 2002 - Contrary to some earlier studies, a new study funded in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) found that men who undergo vasectomies are no more likely to develop prostate cancer than are men who do not. 

Earth911
Recycle Center for America  - Recommended   

Science.Gov
It's still in test mode, but we think it's ready for prime time. One place to go for everything science in government, Agriculture to Zoology, undersea to outer space, and everything in between.

President Bush Promotes Healthy Living  
June 17, 2002 - This week, HHS Secretary Thompson will join President Bush in announcing a comprehensive fitness agenda that will raise awareness among Americans on the importance of eating healthy foods and staying physically active year round.

Lower Direct Medical Costs with Physical Activity
June 2002 - The benefits of moderate physical activity are well known: lowered risk for heart attack and stroke, reducing weight, improving mood, and now, improving the health of the Nation’s health care expenditures.

Exercise and Fitness
See our new section on exercise and fitness for seniors, presented in conjunction with the President's drive for Healthy Living.

FDA Clears Two Glucose Test Meters
June 17, 2002 - People with diabetes can use these new meters in conjunction with personal digital assistants (PDAs) to track and manage their blood sugar levels.

GAO Report on Use of Medicare Preventive Services
June 2002 - Although Medicare provides coverage for preventive services, some beneficiaries do not receive them according to this April 2002 General Accounting Office report. Click here for the original PDF file.

USDA Seniors Farmer's Market
June 2002 - Available in 26 States, the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides grants to States, U.S. Territories, and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments to provide low-income seniors with coupons for eligible foods.

Course on Preventing Elder Misuse of Alcohol and Medicines
June 2002 - The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention now offers web-based courses for people interested in preventing and reducing problems related to older adults' misuse of alcohol and medications.

Eye Drops Delay Onset of Glaucoma in People at Higher Risk
June 13, 2002 - Researchers have discovered that eye drops used to treat elevated pressure inside the eye can be effective in delaying the onset of glaucoma.

HHS Issues New Medicaid Managed Care Regulation
June 13, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today issued a final regulation to give Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans the same types of protection that participants in private plans would receive under patient rights' legislation now under consideration in Congress. 

Progress and Future Directions for Management of Hepatitis C 
June 13, 2002 - Hepatitis C infections are now leading to significant increases in cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, liver cancer, and are the most common causes of liver transplants. The good news is that new combination therapies are having a beneficial impact on this disease.

June 14 is Alois Alzheimer's birthday
During the month of June the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) highlights the disease named after the German neurologist who in 1907 described the symptoms and neuropathology of a degenerative brain disorder.

Electroacupuncture Trial Is NCCAM's First Intramural Study 
June 12, 2002 - The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has launched a clinical trial of electroacupuncture to determine if it reduces the delayed nausea experienced by cancer patients following chemotherapy.

Nursing Home Guide
June 2002 - A web friendly version of the Nursing Home Guide is available on this site. The Acrobat version is on the Medicare web site.

Forecast of National Health Expenditures
June 2002 - National health expenditures are projected to reach $2.8 trillion in 2011 according to this March 2002 study on the Medicare web site. It will constitute approximately 17.0 percent of GDP compared to its 2000 level of 13.2 percent.

HHS Moves to Free Home Health Nurses to Focus on Patient Care
June 11, 2002 - Changes are among a series of new steps to ensure "common sense" in regulations.  

Labeling Changed For Arthritis Treatment Celebrex
June 7, 2002 - Based on results of a recent study, FDA has approved new labeling for arthritis  drug Celebrex to show that there is no safety advantage in upper gastrointestinal  events for the drug when compared with two other treatments, ibuprofen and diclofenac.

New Section on Nutrition
June 7, 2002 - The Health section now includes a separate page on nutrition for seniors. We were amazed at the number of sites devoted to this topic.

Transportation and Mobility
June 6, 2002 - Resources and information on transit systems and tips for traveling for seniors citizens - from AoA.

New Section on Long Term Care
June 6, 2002 - At the suggestion of a reader the Retirement Planner now includes a selection of sites on long term care. With new legislation before Congress and new insurance plans, this issue is frequently in the news.

More Americans Facing Blindness Than Ever Before
June 5, 2002 - Here's a report we missed in March. More Americans than ever are facing the threat of blindness from age-related eye disease. These numbers are expected to double over the next 30 years as the Baby Boomer generation ages. 

ClinicalTrials.gov
The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through its National Library of Medicine, has developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members and members of the public current information about clinical research studies.

HHS Awards $30 Million to Address Emerging Nurse Shortage 
June 4, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced a series of grants totaling more than $30 million to increase the number of qualified nurses and the quality of nursing services across the country. 

GAO Report on Health Products for Seniors
The General Accounting Office wrote this report, subtitled "Anti-Aging Products Pose Potential for Physical and Economic Harm," for the Senate Special Committee on Aging in September 2001. We republish it here in browser friendly format.

For a superb overview of this topic, check out the Scientific American web site on The Truth about Human Aging.

Some Drugs Can Be Approved Without Human Testing
June 3, 2002 - Certain drugs and biologics intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions can now be approved for marketing based on animal studies when human studies are not ethical or feasible.  FDA issued the rule to boost the nation's ability to respond to medical emergencies, including terrorist events.