How geriatric assessments could improve cancer care for older patients
The American Society of Clinical Oncology is recommending that all patients age 65 and older receive a geriatric assessment when considering or undergoing chemotherapy.
Study shows steep decline in dementia rates for seniors
The decline in dementia rates translates to about one million fewer Americans suffering from the condition, said John Haaga, director of behavioral and social research at the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.
UCSF study: Intensive training for in-home caregivers can cut repeated ER visits dramatically
The rate of repeated emergency room visits declined by 24 percent, on average, in the first year after caregivers were trained and 41 percent in the second year, according to the report.
Honor CEO sees expansion to Dallas-Fort Worth market as critical test for caregiver business
The move will also test the company's ability to adapt to healthcare regulations in the Lone Star state.
Honor launches caregiver on demand service for seniors
Honor Co-founder and CEO Seth Sternberg said it added the new service in response to a big demand from customers.
Hospitals use comedy, social activities to attract Medicare patients
“Hospitals are trying to promote...health and wellness of aging and change their image from places of sickness and death to ones of health and wellness,” said Fredda Vladeck, director of Aging in Place Initiative at the United Hospital Fund
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
3 billionaire tech industry leaders will build robots, Allergan will pay $2.1B for double chin eliminator Kythera (Morning Read)
SoftBank Robotics, Alibaba Group and Foxconn Technology Group will collaborate to bring humanoid robots to the global market, Botox owner Allergan, has agreed to pay $2.1 billion for Kythera and its double chin eliminator treatment.
Florida’s UF Health wants every patient to have an advance directive
A recent audit of the electronic health records of deceased patients at the University of Florida's Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., found that 47 percent had filed advance directives with UF Health. That represents huge progress from 2013, when the number was more like 6-8 percent, according to Anthony Clarizio, executive director of UF Health Shands HomeCare, but still not good enough.
15-year-old creates telehealth communicator that dispenses meds for seniors
Of the hundreds of products on display at the American Telemedicine Association annual meeting, which starts Sunday, perhaps only one was invented by a 15-year-old. Well, actually, Brooke Martin of Spokane, Wash., was only 12 when she came up with the precursor product for her new offering, iC LovedOnes, a device that not only facilitates […]
Surescripts expands e-prescribing reach to long-term care
E-prescribing connectivity network Surescripts has entered the market for long-term care by announcing a deal with Friday announced a deal with eldercare health IT vendor PointClickCare.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
AARP: Consumer has to be at the center of product development and testing for digital health
The work to initiate the AARP’s digital health initiative Project Catalyst to set up a way for seniors to roadtest wearables and apps in a series of studies was a year in the making. It evolved from the AARP’s Health Innovation@50+ LivePitch challenges in which entrepreneurs pitch products aimed at the needs of AARP members […]
41 percent of caregivers use some digital health device to provide care
Digital health may be a compelling market, especially the use of digital devices by caregivers looking after some of the seniors that will make up 42 percent of the population next year. But it remains a fragmented market. A report this week by Parks Associates surveyed 10,00 heads of households to gauge their use and […]
Report: 18 million seniors need daily assistance
About 18 million seniors need help with activities daily — that’s more than twice as many as previously thought. The report by Milbank Quarterly, “Disability and Care Needs Among Older Americans,” gives a new perspective on the caretakers they depend on. It also points to the size of the opportunity for healthcare entrepreneurs, outlined in […]
UnitedHealthcare offers some insights on how to market to seniors [Hint: Don’t remind them they’re seniors]
If you walked around UnitedHealthcare’s exhibit space at the recent AARP Life@50 conference in Boston, it would be tough to find anything that was explicitly designed to appeal to seniors. The emphasis on activities like art and dancing classes balanced with healthcare screenings underscored the point that it wasn’t just seniors that were the focus […]
Improving quality of life for people with tremors, rewarding caregivers, ear care win AARP live pitch
Lift Labs Design, a healthcare engineering company that uses stabilization technology as part of the foundation for a cutlery for people with essential tremor is one of three companies that walked away with awards from the American Association of Retired Persons’ Innovation@50 Live Pitch event this week. It walked away with the judges’ award. Lift […]