All Things Long Term Care

A new study conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY has found that skin cancer may protect individuals from other diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The study showed that individuals with non-melanoma skin cancer are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The study consisted of 1,103 individuals around the age of 79 and lasted almost four years. 109 of the participants reported they had been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in the past. Over the course of the study, 32 more participants developed skin cancer while 100 participants developed Alzheimer’s. Only 2 of the individuals who developed Alzheimer’s also developed skin cancer. Read more »

Health experts are now suggesting that an ultra-low intake of salt could harm your health. Many individuals at high risk of heart disease have been instructed by their health care providers to lower their intake of sodium to federal guidelines, approximately 1,500 milligrams a day. Studies now show that extreme reduction may actually increase chances of developing heart problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that more research needs to be conducted to come to an absolute conclusion. The Center for Science in the Public Interest’s said, “the bottom line for consumers is still: cut back on sodium.” More here Read more »

Many financial experts are suggesting that it be a requirement for all U.S. employers to put aside money to go towards retirement for their employees. Australia has a similar plan called the superannuation system where all employers contribute 9% or more of their part-time and full-time employees income saved into a separate account for the employee. The head of the world’s largest asset manager, Laurence D. Fink said, “the current system is not working and we need a comprehensive approach that includes some form of mandatory savings in addition to social security.” More here Read more »

The amount of money Americans are spending on medicines has dropped 1% from 2011 to 2012, averaging approximately $325.8 million according to a new report released by the IMS Institute of Healthcare Informatics. Many experts suggest that the drop is due to increased availability of cheaper generic versions of certain drugs. Generic drugs added an extra $28.9 billion to 2012′s pharmaceutical spending. Also, more people are putting off medical care in hopes of saving money. The director of research development at IMS, Michael Kleinrock said, “some choices that people are making may not be in everyone’s best interest.” More here Read more »