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Europe: How to Tackle the Lack of Support and Accessibility for the Influenza Vaccine
Every year, millions of people become infected with the influenza virus. In the U.S., it is recommended that anyone over the age of six months be vaccinated against influenza (flu). The World Health Organization (WHO) has come up with “six priority groups” that are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. These…
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Australia: Integrating Mental Health Services at the Primary Care Level
In many developed countries, the aging populations are on the rise and Australia is no exception. Currently, 13% of Australia’s population is over 65 years and this is projected to grow 19-21% by 2031 and 26% by 2051. The experience of aging can range from a positive, fulfilling one to…
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Aging with Autism in South America
As the world celebrated World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, the conversation around elderly with autism remained sidelined. Blog posts and comment boards were focused on children with autism, a standard practice that is common in other areas. For instance, a quick scan of entries in PUBMED, the National…
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The Green Revolution – Care Delivery Redesigned
A growing trend in long-term care delivery has sparked the redesign and re-engineering of senior living centers. This trend includes the integration of plants, gardens, and greenhouses within communities. For instance, assisted living homes and skilled nursing facilities nationwide have adopted horticultural programs in order to improve psychological health and…
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The Problem with Being Old and Incarcerated
In the January issue of The New Statesman, Britain’s leading weekly magazine of politics, culture, and international affairs, Andrew Katzen examined elderly inmates in British prisons. His article, “Should we be sending the elderly to prison”, argues that British prisons are slowly turning into dysfunctional nursing homes. According to Katzen,…
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Health Benefits of Pet Ownership for Seniors
As most pet owners already know, our pets are best friends and considered part of our families. Especially in nursing homes where the elderly suffer from depression, loneliness, and lack of social contacts, pets can be very therapeutic, improve the quality of life, and alleviate emotional and physical problems. Research…
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How Robot Technology is Caring for the Elderly
Japan faces a rapidly aging population. As more and more of the population greys, fewer and fewer young people are available to care for the elderly. There is a particular shortage of health care workers who work with the elderly therefore the demand for elderly health care is not being…
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Aquatics for Life
Inactivity in the elderly has become an ever increasing epidemic in the United States. Politicians as well as insurance and health care providers need to band together to reverse this trend to insure the longevity and quality of life. The elderly are not only at risk for lifetime diseases such…