Medicare Reform: Widespread Confusion, Uncertain Benefits

This report presents the data from CIR's 2004 survey of 600 Medicare recipients about their health care options, ability to access services, and choices about health care spending in the wake of Medicare reform. The findings of this report will assist policy makers and community-based organizations to advocate for programs that will best serve the needs of Medicare recipients

Disabled Māori and disability support options

The goal of this research project was to provide information to enhance the development and implementation of an effective model of disability support service provision to Maori with disabilities. This was done by identifying and documenting the needs expressed by disabled Maori and their carers living in the Midland area, and by considering the experiences and observations of a key informant group. From our reading of the literature and the feedback we received from participants, a proposed model of disability support service provision has been proposed. In five sections, this report begins by defining disability, and also by defining the act of caring for the disabled. Focussing on the Maori experience, obstacles, access to existing support services, cultural barriers, and health policies are discussed. In the second chapter, the research methodology is described, along with how the information was gathered. Following this is the third section which presents the opinions and reflections of Maori with disabilities. It concludes strategically with a view of the ideal community, suggesting possible resolutions, by exposing current flaws and inadequacies. Chapter four records the views and perspectives of key informant/whanau carers who participated in the project. They offer an insightful account of the often unrecognised side of the disability experience. Considering the preceding discussions, the final section develops a model of service provision for Maori with disabilities, and proposes this for effective service delivery

Arianna: towards a new paradigm for assistive technology at home

Providing elderly and people with special needs to retain their independence as long as possible is one of the biggest challenges of the society of tomorrow. Teseo, a startup company spinoff from the University of Genoa, aims at accelerating the transition towards a sustainable healthcare system. Teseo's first concept and product, Arianna, allows for the automated recognition of activities of daily living at home and acts as a wellbeing and healthcare personalized assistant. This abstract outlines the main concepts underlying its features and capabilities.Comment: Paper accepted at the Eight Italian Forum on Ambient Assisted Living (ForItAAL 2017

An Introduction to Korean Culture for Rehabilitation Service Providers

[Excerpt] The purpose of this monograph is to provide recommendations to busy rehabilitation service providers in the U.S. for effectively working with persons who hold traditional Korean values. The topics of Korean history, immigration, culture, language, religion, food, views on disabilities and rehabilitation services typically available in Korea are covered briefly to provide the reader with a quick overview and background. For those who seek more detailed information, the references cited in each section can be used as a starting point. For those with prior background knowledge of Korea, I suggest reading Part II first, in which I introduce Korean culture with case stories in the context of rehabilitation process

Ergonomic standards for pedestrian areas for disabled people: literature review and consultations

As part of the project for the Transport and Road Research Laboratory concerned with the development of design guidance for pedestrian areas and footways to satisfy the needs of disabled and elderly people, a thorough examination of the literature was required. In addition the literature search was to be complemented by a wide-ranging series of discussions with local authorities, organisations representing the interests of elderly and disabled people, and other interested agencies. This Working Paper sets out the findings of this exercise. The objective of the literature review and the consultations was to identify the key impediments for elderly and disabled people when using pedestrian areas and footways. The current guidelines and standards relating to footways, pedestrianised areas and access to buildings were to be identified and their adequacy commented upon, as were the conflicts such recommendations raise between various groups of disabled people and with able-bodied people. The consultations were intended to provide greater insights into what the literature highlighted, and to suggest possible solutions. The literature review produced over 400 key references and a list of 35 impediments. A more detailed examination of the literature and the consultations reduced this list to six key impediments namely: parking; public transport waiting areas; movement distances; surface conditions; ramps, and information provision. The type and scale of problem created by the above impediments for various groups of disabled and elderly people are discussed, together with their measurement and assessment. The type and adequacy of existing design standards and guidance relating to these impediments are also outlined

Discovering and Identifying the Opportunities and Challenges of our Aging Population: Statewide Focus Groups and Utah Agencies Identify Concerns and Issues on the Impact of the Aging Baby Boom Generation

The following document is the result of the information discovery process and seeks to answer the question: what are the issues and potential impacts of the aging Baby Boomers? The Utah Aging Initiative hosted seven focus groups statewide in 2004 and interviewed officials from state government agencies to learn about and identify the issues facing Utah as the population ages. This report presents what was discovered and contains two sections: the Focus Group Summary, and the Interviews with State Agencies Summary

Housing the frail elderly : history, contemporary practice and future options

Starting in 2012, thousands of the baby boom generation will begin to turn 65 every day. Yet, little has been done to prepare for this increased need and demand for elderly care. This thesis traces the history of elderly care and progresses through time to show the evolution of change in the elderly care industry. I begin with a discussion of the provision of elderly care at home by family members and progress to the institutional of elderly care by the public sector for those who were too destitute to pay for their own care at home. Additionally, the commercialization of elderly care and the federal government's subsidy of such care through medicare is discussed. I examine the rationale for changes in elderly care through the ages and the advantages and limitations of each form of care. From there I look to the future of elderly care and discuss the housing and institutional facilities that will be needed to take care of the growing elderly population. My findings from the examination of the history and contemporary practices in elderly care lead me to make a number of suggestions for improving the care of this population. These suggestions relate to changing planning regulations to allow for the use of ancillary dwelling units (ADUs) in existing residential neighborhoods, the incorporation of universal design principles in housing design for the elderly, and changing the design and operation of nursing care facilities by using the Eden Alternative as a model. The adoption of these proposals by both the public and private sectors will hopefully help move us towards more compassion in elderly care and enable us to meet the growing demand for appropriate elderly housing and institutional facilities.Department of Urban PlanningGrowth of the elderly population and their needs -- History of elderly care facilities -- Planning regulations and housing for the elderly -- Universal design and the Eden alternative.Thesis (M.U.R.P.