Aging in place: Seniors' top threat and how health plans can help

According to a survey by The John A. Hartford Foundation, Age Wave, and The Harris Poll, 91% of older adults agree that their healthspan (the years they can live in good health) is more important than their overall lifespan. Why does it matter? This finding reminds us that aging well isn’t just about adding years; it’s about adding life to those years. Older adults want to stay active, independent, and engaged for as long as possible. That means healthcare should focus on treating illness and preserving function, mobility, and quality of life. Age-Friendly Care at Home helps make that possible by aligning care with what matters most to each person; so they can live better, not just longer. Learn more from the full study: https://hubs.ly/Q03Nys_-0

Working with the ND Oral Health Program and partners in long term care and aging services to address oral health inequities for older adults in North Dakota. More than 30% of North Dakota adults age 65 and older have lost six or more teeth which is nearly three times higher than the U.S. average (11.7%). Likewise, 17% of older adults in North Dakota report complete tooth loss compared to just 6% nationally. This factsheet shares the connection between oral health and overall health, and ways to take care of teeth later in life. Read and share: https://lnkd.in/ggmq_AuG #OralHealth #PublicHealth #NorthDakota #Aging #Longtermcare

 “Mama Nafula died in silence.” Not because the clinic was too far. Not because the medicine was out of stock. But because no one was watching. No one was answering. No one was held accountable. This is the hidden truth of maternal, newborn, and child deaths: they’re not just gaps in care, they are gaps in accountability. Behind every lost life is a system that didn’t track, didn’t act, or didn’t listen. But what if we changed that? What if every death triggered a rapid quality review? What if every district posted their newborn survival rates publicly? What if every mother in a rural village had a direct line to report health system failures and leaders were expected to respond? When accountability becomes part of the health system, something powerful happens: 🔹 Mortality drops. 🔹 Data drives decisions. 🔹 Communities reclaim trust. 🔹 Policymakers deliver, not just promise. Accountability is not a buzzword. It’s a lifeline. And it might just be the missing link to achieving SDG 3.1 and 3.2 by 2030. Let’s explore the 5 pillars of accountability in MNCH that work because without them, there’s no equity. And without equity, there’s no ending preventable deaths. #MNCH365 #MaternalHealth #NewbornCare #ChildHealth #HealthSystemsStrengthening #AccountabilityInHealth

#medicine #medicalsciences #healthcare #medicaleducation  Which of the following is the standard measure for determining the impact of a health condition on a population? A. Disability-adjusted life-years B. Infant mortality C. Life expectancy D. Standardized mortality ratio E. Years of life lost The disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) is the standard measure for determining global burden of disease by the World Health Organization. This measure takes into account both absolute years of life lost due to disease (premature death) as well as productive years lost due to disability.  DALY is felt to more accurately reflect the true effects of disease within a population because individuals who become disabled cannot contribute fully to society. Life expectancy, years of life lost due to disease, standardized mortality ratios, and infant mortality do provide important information about the general health of a population but do not capture the true burden of disease.

#publichealth #medicine #medicalsciences #healthcare #medicaleducation  Which of the following is the standard measure for determining the impact of a health condition on a population? A. Disability-adjusted life-years B. Infant mortality C. Life expectancy D. Standardized mortality ratio E. Years of life lost The disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) is the standard measure for determining global burden of disease by the World Health Organization. This measure takes into account both absolute years of life lost due to disease (premature death) as well as productive years lost due to disability.  DALY is felt to more accurately reflect the true effects of disease within a population because individuals who become disabled cannot contribute fully to society. Life expectancy, years of life lost due to disease, standardized mortality ratios, and infant mortality do provide important information about the general health of a population but do not capture the true burden of disease.

New research shows that more than 63 million Americans now care for a loved one with a serious illness or disability, a 45% increase since 2015. Most provide this care without pay or formal training, often facing emotional, physical, and financial strain as responsibilities grow. At #GOCCNJ, we recognize that serious illness care affects patients and family caregivers. Our advance care planning tools provide the language and framework to engage in meaningful conversations about values, goals, and care preferences. These resources can help patients and family caregivers feel more supported and confident as they navigate serious illnesses together. Read more: https://shorturl.at/X3or5

Platinum Sponsor Solventum joins the stage at Texas Covered 2025 for the panel From Missed Moments to Meaningful Impact: Rethinking Maternal Health. Dr. Travis Bias will share how data-informed interventions can help reduce preventable complications and improve outcomes for moms and babies. #TAHP2025 #TexasCovered #MaternalHealth #HealthPlans

Integrated care for older people (‎ICOPE)‎ from WHO Good reading for everyone wanting to be healthy and helping others to be healthier. “BEING A HEALTHY OLDER PERSON STARTS WITH BEING A HEALTHY YOUNGER PERSON. BUT EVEN OLDER PEOPLE CAN IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH” Daniel Gastelu, a healthy older person & former healthy younger person. Integrated care for older people (‎ICOPE)‎: guidance for person-centred assessment and pathways in primary care, 2nd ed WHO Key points The key to supporting healthy ageing for all is optimizing  people’s intrinsic capacity and functional ability throughout the  life course. Care-dependency can be reduced, delayed or prevented  if the declines in intrinsic capacity are promptly identified,  assessed, diagnosed and managed including through creating  an enabling physical and social environment. The declines across the domains of intrinsic capacity are  interrelated and so require an integrated and person-centred  approach to assessment and management. Older people are key actors in their own health and should  be empowered to understand their health, make their  own decisions and set their own goals. Their meaningful  engagement, and that of their carers, is crucial. Health workers in primary care, including in the community,  can identify older people with loss(es) in intrinsic capacity and  provide evidence-based interventions by using this guidance  and adapting it to their context. Community stakeholders have an important role to play in  supporting the delivery of integrated care for older people,  and empowering them to engage with self-care and self management. #who #health #aging #lifestyle ...

Mitigating Risk: The Intersection of Cognitive Impairment and Public Health. New research highlights that older adults with dementia face a significantly elevated risk of contracting and suffering severe outcomes from COVID-19, with hospitalization rates being notably higher. This underscores the need for streamlined, patient-centric interventions. Community pharmacies are uniquely positioned to intervene by: 1. Facilitating Vaccination for patients and caregivers. 2. Simplifying Medication Regimens (e.g., medication synchronization, compliance packaging). 3. Providing Accessible Education to caregivers (National Family Caregivers Month). Collaborative efforts are essential. Let's connect on how to better integrate pharmacy services to protect this vulnerable population. #PublicHealth #CognitiveHealth #HealthcareDisparities #CommunityIntervention #PharmacistRole

A 24-week multicomponent frailty intervention in rural Korea for vulnerable older adults led to 6.5 months longer survival free from death or long-term care eligibility and reduced health care costs by $7,688 per person over 66 months. https://ja.ma/43uOmnn