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Assisted Living Ignored in Draft Alzheimer’s Plan Says ALFA

February 1st, 2012


The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) recently released Draft Framework for the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease notably omitted assisted living from all but one of its strategies and recommendations. ALFA’s newly submitted comments to HHS highlights its concerns and recommends changes to the plan.

Created as result of the passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, the draft plan for combating Alzheimer’s disease describes a long term plan for treating and preventing Alzheimer’s over the coming years. Although a good start, those familiar with assisted living found the omission of assisted living in the framework troubling. Given that assisted living communities accommodate a rapidly growing number of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, assisted living communities have and will play a role in the future of Alzheimer’s care and treatment. In fact, more than one third of current residents living in assisted living have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

ALFA has been working with the National Alzheimer’s Association and other allies in revising the draft framework. ALFA has submitted comments voicing its concerns and highlighting areas for improvement in the draft framework. Each ALFA member is encouraged to read the Draft Framework for the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and voice their thoughts to HHS by sending an email to NAPA@hhs.gov

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Windstorm Insurance Conference ’12

January 30th, 2012


Join us today and tomorrow at the Windstorm Insurance Conference 2012 at the Buena Vista Palace hotel in Orlando, FL!

BOOTH 35

 

 

Click here for all the details of the event!

 

 

 

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Coastal Reconstruction Group builds one of the “coolest offices spaces 2011″

January 6th, 2012

The December 16-22 issue of the Jacksonville business journal featured the “Coolest office spaces 2011″ including the office of Sisler Johnston Interior design which was recently built by Coastal Reconstruction Group.

The offices of Sisler Johnston Interior Design Inc. are a showcase of the type of work the company does. From the moment you walk in the front door, the office — in an industrial area off Philips Highway — surprises with its luxury and efficiency.

The first floor houses the company’s swatch room, kitchen, lobby and a storage unit. Photos of the company’s work line the walls, but the luxury vinyl tile also impresses. The tiles, which are made of recycled materials, are made to look like a matte hardwood, but can be wet-mopped like a linoleum floor: It’s an ideal option for the company’s customers, which include hotels, senior living centers and housing communities around Northeast Florida.

The architect for the project was John Allman and Coastal Reconstruction Group was the builder.

(Read the entire article at http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2011/12/16/2011-coolest-office-spaces-sisler.html)


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Are you prepared for 2012?

January 3rd, 2012

Have you made a decision to be ready for any potential disasters in 2012?

Watch the video below from FEMA Director Craig Fugate and then head over to CR University (http://www.coastalreconstruction.com/cru/) and begin your disaster planning today!

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5 Tips for Holiday Light Safety

December 14th, 2011

Decorating you home with holiday-themed lights is a wonderful way to create a festive mood for the Christmas season. However, in order to be able to celebrate the holidays safely, it’s important that you are familiar with some of the safety procedures involved in decorating with holiday lights. If you’re not careful, your holiday lights could become a serious safety hazard.

Tip # 1 – Read the Package!
Before purchasing the least expensive type of decorative lights, it’s best if you first read the packaging! Some lights are not rated for outdoor use, or are manufactured by companies that are notorious for producing faulty products. In general, it’s always best to look for a package that states “Tested by UL” or “Tested by ETL”, both of which are reputable testing laboratories.

Tip #2 – Mini Lights are Best.
The “classic” style of Christmas lights is the large-bulb type that is still available at most home good stores. However, this type of light burns hot, and has a greater risk of being a fire hazard. Unless you are prepared to take extreme safety precautions, it’s highly recommended that you stick to the mini Christmas lights, which have a much cooler operating temperature.

Tip #3 – Inspect your Lights Before Use.
Whether you are purchasing new holiday lights, or using a previously owned set, it’s always highly recommend that you give them a thorough inspection before using them to decorate. When checking your lights, pay attention for:

  • Loose Connections
  • Broken or Missing Bulbs
  • Frayed Wire
  • Cracked Sockets
  • Exposed Wire
  • Defective Operation

By checking your lights, you can reduce the risk that your holiday lights will present a safety hazard. If you find a defect in your lights, either return them to the manufacturer for a refund, or simply throw them away. It’s usually best not to attempt to fix a damaged set of Christmas lights on your own, unless you are a skilled electrician.

Tip #4 – Christmas Tree Safety.
If you plan to hang your holiday lights on a live Christmas tree, there are some safety precautions you need to follow. Never hang lights on a dry Christmas tree! This is one of the most common mistakes that results in an accidental fire over the holiday season. To check if your tree is dry, try bending or breaking one of the small twigs on the tree. If it snaps easily, your tree is too dry, and could be a fire hazard.
Always keep a live tree sufficiently watered, as an average size tree may need water refills at least once per day. Don’t ever hang holiday lights on a metal Christmas tree. Metal Christmas trees can become electrically charged, and may electrocute someone who touches a tree. In addition to this, metal trees may also cause electrical holiday lights to short out, which can start a fire.

Tip #5 – Hang Lights Safely Outdoors.
Before hanging holiday lights outside, it’s best if you first check to make sure that your lights are rated for outdoor use. Some holiday lights aren’t properly insulated for outdoor use, and may be damaged by exposure to moisture. To prevent your lights from becoming an electrical hazard, always use insulated staples or metal hooks to hang your holiday lights. Be careful not to staple through the insulated wire casing on your lights, since this can present a safety hazard.

(Original Source: http://www.familyhomesecurity.com/5-tips-for-holiday-light-safety/)

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Brain Food: Eating Fish May Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s

December 7th, 2011

By ALICE PARK

Eating fish is good for the heart, and now new evidence suggests it may do the brain some good as well.

In a study of 260 healthy elderly participants, researchers led by Dr. Cyrus Raji, a resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s department of medicine, found that those regularly eating baked or broiled fish — but not fried — lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Raji and his colleagues took brain scans of all of the volunteers at the start of the study, then again many years later, tracking these changes over an average 10 years. They compared the changes they found in the brain scans with food questionnaires that the participants answered. Compared with non-fish-eaters, those eating fish at least once a week showed less brain-cell loss in the hippocampus and frontal cortex regions of the brain, which are responsible for regulating memory. These people also showed stronger working, or short-term, memory, which allowed them to perform tasks more efficiently.

People who ate fish at least once a week — most of whom consumed fish one to four times a week — were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment over the five years following their brain scans, compared with those who didn’t eat fish.

But the association may have to do with lifestyle habits other than eating baked or broiled fish that could make people healthier overall. As Dr. Richard Lipton, a neurologist at the Albert Einstein Medical College of Medicine, told USA Today, “One has to wonder if there are other factors associated with fish consumption that they didn’t measure that might be protective. Like maybe people who eat fish exercise more, or eat less total calories.”

The fact that fish-eaters may experience brain benefits from seafood does make sense, however — other studies have suggested that the omega-3 fatty acids found in some fish such as salmon can lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The new findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.

(original Source: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/01/brain-food-eating-fish-may-lower-your-risk-of-alzheimers/)

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End of Hurricane Season 2011

November 30th, 2011

Today marks the end of the 2011 Hurricane Season. This year will go down as yet another active season in the books, but also one that didn’t see many storms affect the United States.

While several storms were close calls with the mainland, the only hurricane that made landfall was Hurricane Irene. Official landfall was just north of southeastern North Carolina at Cape Lookout on August 27th. Here in the Cape Fear area, the storm dumped up to 8″ of rain, brought winds near hurricane strength, caused widespread power outages, and saw one man die after jumping into the Cape Fear river near Castle Hayne.

The end of season tally includes 19 named storms, 7 of which became hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes (category 3 or higher). The 19 named systems is tied for the third-highest total on record with 1887, 1995, and 2010.

While hurricanes no longer threaten us, the winter chill has already impacted much of the United States – even bringing snow to some Southeastern states! There are two things you shodul do to prepare for the cold months ahead.


First, log on to CR University and read the Winter Preparedness checklist (http://www.coastalreconstruction.com/cru/). We want you to have all the facts to protect your home and business property this winter.

Second, make sure you are a Rapid Response member. This cost-free membership provides peace of mind should you have a property emergency, like damage from frozen pipes or even a rogue fire. Click HERE to find out more information and even register online – it’s really that simple!

If you made it through this hurricane season unscathed then consider yourself very lucky! We want you to be prepared at all times and can answer any preparedness questions you have – just comment to this post or send us an email at http://www.coastalreconstruction.com/connect/.

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Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable

November 30th, 2011

Disasters can happen anywhere, often with little or no warning.

Is your business prepared?

What can you do to protect your business, employees and customers?

Where should you begin?

Why bother?
Disasters don’t happen here.
Even if you think you are not in a disaster-prone area, something like a chemical tanker truck overturning can prevent you and your employees from getting to your facility. Even if a flood doesn’t put your business under water, customers and supplies may not be able to get to you. Power outages, brown-outs or surges can affect your daily business operations. Many disasters, like wind storms, tornadoes and earthquakes, can strike quickly and with little or no warning.

What can I do?
Find out which natural and technological hazards can happen in your area. Get information about how to prepare your employees and clients to respond to possible hazards and provide help. Disaster
safety information and CPR/first aid training are available from your local Red Cross chapter.

Network with others who have or need to develop risk or contingency management plans.

Attend seminars and get information from local risk management associations or chapters.

No business should risk operating without a disaster plan.
While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These shuttered businesses were unprepared for a disaster; they had no plan or backup systems.

When you start to develop your disaster plan, consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources and business continuity. Think about how a disaster could affect your employees, customers and workplace. Think about how you could continue doing business if the area around your facility is closed or streets are impassable. Think about what you would need to serve your customers even if your facility is closed.

Continue reading at

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2.9 Percent of 90s Population in Residential Care U.S. Census Says

November 22nd, 2011

The U.S Census Bureau released a report analyzing demographics of those who are at least ninety years old. Most of these elders relied heavily on Social Security with much higher rates of poverty than younger generations. Living arrangements also demonstrated that those ninety and older are more likely to live at home or with family caregivers.

The report 90+ in the United States: 2006-2008 analyzed data for the 90-and-older population and compared aspects of the data set to that of younger senior citizens. “Traditionally, the cutoff age for what is considered the ‘oldest old’ has been age 85,” said Census Bureau demographer Wan He, “but increasingly people are living longer and the older population itself is getting older. Given its rapid growth, the 90-and-older population merits a closer look.” Since 1980, the ninety plus population has nearly tripled, to 1.9 million in 2010.

Social Security payments are nearly universal for this population, with 92.3 percent of those ninety and older receiving some sort of income from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Providing nearly half of their annual income on average, Social Security was also the primary source of income for many of those over ninety. Even with assistance from Social Security, those aged ninety or older often struggle financially. The annual median income is 14,760 dollars per year with men earning much more than women, 20,133 dollars annually versus 13,580 dollars annually. 14.5 percent of those ninety or older meet the official definition of poverty. These older individuals are poorer than other seniors. Seniors aged 65 and older had a poverty rate of 9.8 percent.

Most of those aged ninety or older:

  • Lived alone or with a family member, who likely took on caregiving tasks given that 80.8 percent of those ninety or older have some form of disability.
  • About 37 percent of those aged ninety or older lived alone and 37.1 percent lived with family members.
  • 2.9 percent lived in assisted living or other residential care options, while 22.7 percent lived in some form of institutionalized setting.
  • Men were more likely to live with family, while women were more likely to live in skilled nursing, senior living communities, or alone.

(Read the entire report at )

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Cooks should exercise caution to avoid Thanksgiving injuries

November 21st, 2011

As more cooks head into the kitchen or get out the deep fryers for Thanksgiving, the staff of emergency rooms expect to see more patients.

“Every Thanksgiving, we see the same thing: People get a little careless or they get distracted for a second and disaster strikes,” said Dr. Fred Mullins, Medical Director of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in a news release.

“Some of the burns are minor, but many are very severe and require a lot of healing and recovery,” Mullins said.

Those burns also can be fatal.

“In past years we have had numerous fatal fires which were cooking-related,” said Ralph Hudgens, Georgia’s Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner.

“Many fires are caused by a stove that has been accidentally left on,” Hudgens said.

Hudgens’ office advised using precautions such as setting timers as reminders to turn off burners and ovens, and making sure smoke detectors are installed and in good working condition.

“One of the most important things I can tell people is that they should never, ever allow a child to be alone or unsupervised in the kitchen,” Mullins added. “We see cases of children getting burned by touching a hot pot or pulling scalding liquid down on themselves on an almost daily basis.”

For outdoor cooking, deep-frying turkeys is growing in popularity but is considered so dangerous that it is discouraged by the American Burn Association and the National Fire Protection Association, according to Doctors Hospital.

Despite the dangers, the hospital advises those frying a turkey to follow some basic safety tips:

  • Turkeys should weigh less than 12 pounds; 8-10 pound turkeys are often the most appropriate size.
  • Check the turkey to make sure it is not partially frozen and does not have any excess water on it. If excess water is present, it can cause hot oil to splatter. It also helps to pat down the bird with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  • The fryer should be used on a well-ventilated, level, outdoor surface.
  • Make sure the pot is never left unattended, and children and pets are kept at a safe distance.
  • Use only peanut, canola or safflower oils in the fryer.
  • Make sure the deep fryer has a thermostat to regulate the temperature of the oil.
  • Slowly lower the turkey into the pot to avoid spillage.
  • Have a fire extinguisher nearby, and never use water to extinguish a grease or oil fire.
  • Remember that it may take several hours for the oil in a deep fryer to cool.
  • Avoid excessive drinking when using a deep-fryer.
  • Consider purchasing pre-fried turkey or hire a professional caterer to handle the turkey frying.

(Original Source: http://newstimes.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-11-21/cooks-should-exercise-caution-to-avoid-thanksgiving-injuries)

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