This article from the Avvo Blog is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but does have some actual research behind it. Who would have guessed that the most dangerous drivers in the country would be Young Republicans?

We all have ideas about who are the worst drivers, and it’s rarely people of our own sex, state, or race. Stereotypes abound about women drivers, Asian drivers, New Jersey drivers, and the elderly, but what do the studies say? Who are really the worst drivers?

The problem is that there are numerous studies, each conducted a little differently. Headlines in the UK screamed “It’s Official! Women Drivers ARE More Dangerous Behind the Wheel, Scientists Discover.” Well, not really. The data can be read a couple of different ways and the study they refer to is flawed.

Other studies show mixed findings for drivers by state, depending on how the term “bad driver” is defined. But when corrections are made for amount of time on the road, and irresponsible, injury-causing driving is compared, it becomes clear: very young and very old males in red states are the worst drivers of all.

Out of $835 million in questionable Medicare payments identified by private contractors in 2007, the government was only able to recover some $55 million, or about 7 percent, the report found.

Medicare overpayments — they can be anything from a billing error to a flagrant scam — totaled more than $36 billion in 2009, according to the Obama administration.

President Barack Obama has set a high priority on battling health care fraud and waste, hoping for savings to help pay for the new law covering millions now uninsured.

Medicare’s private eyes don’t seem to be helping much.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, questions whether taxpayers are getting good value from for-hire fraud busters. His office, which is investigating the contracting program, obtained Medicare data for the last four years on how long it took to refer cases to federal agents.

“Medicare is already a pay-and-chase system when it comes to fraud, waste and abuse,” said Grassley. “Providers are paid first, then questioned if there’s a problem. Add to that mix contractors who sit on cases of ongoing fraud when they should be referring them to law enforcement, and you have a recipe for disaster.”

As ranking Republican on the Senate panel that oversees Medicare, Grassley is trying to find out why it takes the contractors so long, and how much the government is currently paying the companies. In 2005, taxpayers paid them $102 million.

At least seven private companies Medicare calls “Program Safeguard Contractors” are working to detect fraud, part of a program that dates to the late 1990s. They oversee specific areas of jurisdiction, and some have more than one contract with Medicare.

The contractors investigate allegations of wrongdoing, acting as scouts for the government’s criminal investigators. And they’re also supposed to conduct “proactive” analysis to spot emerging fraud trends. For instance, they can use sophisticated computer models to scan millions of Medicare records for suspicious patterns to identify dishonest providers.

In practice, their performance has been uneven. The contractors have widely different track records. One identified $266 million in overpayments in 2007, while another found just $2.5 million, the Health and Human Services inspector general said in May.

Earlier, the inspector general found gaping differences in the number of new cases the contractors generate for law enforcement. Some had hundreds of cases, while others were in the single digits. Most were doing a poor job at spotting new fraud trends, with “minimal results from proactive data analysis,” the inspector general concluded.

The Obama administration says it’s aware of the problem and is close to completing a reorganization of the contractors, to consolidate their work, define their jurisdictions more clearly, and help them coordinate better with claims processors and law enforcement.

∙           dull muscular pain,
∙           multiple tender points (e.g., between shoulder blades, upper chest, etc.), and
∙           fatigue or disturbed sleep.

The course of prescribed treatment can include medications which may include analgesics for pain and stiffness, antidepressants to promote sleep, physical therapy, and counseling. While not all individuals who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia will be found disabled under Social Security rules, one source of information for people with fibromyalgia that we recommend is Fibromyalgia Professional Resource Center. This is a non-profit wefull of information and resources to those suffering from fibromyalgia.

Recently we assisted numerous individuals with severe fibromyalgia in getting Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income. Their cases were among the more severe of those suffering with the disease, and each had other co-existing conditions such as lupus and depression. The frequency and severity of an individual’s symptoms are unique in each case and will determine, to a large degree, whether an individual claim will be granted benefits.

Some diseases are included in Social Security’s Listing of impairments, but fibromyalgia is not included on the list. In some instances, a disease, while not Listed, is addressed in a Social Security Ruling. The Rulings offer guidance but do not set out specific criteria for an award of benefits. Other diseases are not in the Listings or recognized in a Social Security Ruling.

Regardless of the disease, you or your lawyer should have the following:

∙           a good working list of your symptoms,
∙           a knowledge of the degree of certainty of your diagnosis,
∙           a general understanding of the consistency between your symptoms and your diagnosis,
∙           a good understanding of what evidence might best support your contention that your symptoms are disabling, and
∙           which legal theory will most likely be accepted by the Social  Security Administration given the particular facts of the entire case.

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from severe fibromyalgia with dull muscular pain and multiple tender points, consider visiting the Fibromyalgia Professional Resource Center for additional information on the disorder. If you are considering a Social Security Disability claim, we advise you to speak with an attorney. We handle cases throughout the state of Texas, but we are always happy to give you a referral if we are unable to assist you.

• Since October, the number of people waiting to have a claim processed has jumped a stunning 30 percent, from about 556,000 eight months ago to more than 736,000 in July.
• “We’re going to be moving backwards this year, the question is how much,” Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said in an interview. “The trend line isn’t good.”
• The Social Security Administration denies nearly two-thirds of initial claims, but claimants disputing a decision can appeal to an administrative law judge. That process is so cumbersome, nearly 750,000 people are waiting for a hearing. Some wait years to resolve their claim, but about 61 percent of those who appeal are ultimately approved for benefits.
• The economic stimulus package gave the agency $500 million to help cut the appeals backlog. The agency is hiring hundreds more judges and staff to reduce the case load. The number of cases awaiting a hearing has gone down six months in a row.
• Astrue had predicted earlier this year that the agency would cut the appeals backlog to normal levels by 2013 and says he remains confident of meeting that deadline. But the sharp rise in new claims may knock that schedule off track, especially if congressional funding doesn’t keep pace with the increase.
• “The tsunami hasn’t hit … yet, but it will unfortunately,” said Alan Cohen, senior budget adviser for the Senate Finance Committee, in remarks at a recent meeting of Social Security judges.

Generally, elderly parents want to remain living in their own home. However, remaining in the home becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down, perhaps even having trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. Yet, with parents’ mental and physical health currently not creating problems, there seems to be no imminent need to search out support services or other accommodations for aging parents.

This is now the time to evaluate the home to make it safe and secure for your loved ones — now and in the near future — in anticipation of aging disabilities that may occur. Help and support are available. The nation as a whole is more aware of elderly needs and services and products are becoming available at an outstanding pace.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states,

“Employment of personal and home care aides is projected to grow by 51 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The expected growth is due, in large part, to the projected rise in the number of elderly people, an age group that often has mounting health problems and that needs some assistance with daily activities.” Bureau of labor Statistics-Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

This growing need for aides and services also encompasses

• home remodeling services — making a home more serviceable to the elderly;
• safety alert systems and technology;
• motion sensors to monitor movement;
• telehealth services — using home-based computer systems for the doctors office or a nurse to monitor vital signs and
• even a pill dispenser that notifies when it is time to take medication.

Where do you begin to make sure your elderly family member is safe and managing well in his or her home?

Visit often and at different times of the day and night. Make note of daily activities that appear challenging and where changes might be made to add safety and convenience. Remove rugs that slide — causing a fall — and move furniture with sharp edges. Set the water heater at a lower temperature. This will protect their older sensitive skin from scalds and burns. Be sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in place.

Bathrooms are a hazard area for the elderly. Grab bars by the toilet and shower are a must to help prevent falls. There are easy to install bars at your local hardware store if you want to do the work yourself. Another item that is good to have is a shower stool or chair.

If you are not sure of what needs to be done, consider hiring a professional. There are companies that specialize in home remodeling and accommodation for seniors. Michelle Graham of Accessible Design by Studio G4 says about senior home remodel projects,

“The main thing we incorporate in all of our projects is a careful study of needs and potential needs that may develop throughout a client’s lifespan.”

Keep in mind what future home adjustments might be needed for your parents to “age in place” in their home.

Home safety or medical alert companies provide GPS-based bracelets or pendants to track the elderly at home who tend to wander. Or the companies may provide alarm devices such as pendants or bracelets which allow the elderly to alert someone if there has been a fall or a sudden health-related attack. In the event an alarm has been triggered, a 24 hour monitoring service will alert the family or medical emergency services or call a neighbor depending on previous instructions. In addition there are companies that will install motion sensors in the home to monitor the elderly on a 24 hour basis.

Don’t forget your parents’ community as a valuable resource for helping them stay in their home. Take Margaret Muller as an example. At 82 years of age, Margaret lives alone in her small home. She manages very well with the help of her local Senior Center. The Center’s “Senior Companion” program sees that Margaret is taken to the store for groceries and other needs and checks in with her often to see how she is doing. Once a day, the Senior Center delivers a hot healthy meal to her door. Having these services and visits gives Margaret the help she needs and peace of mind that she is not alone.

Neighbors, local church groups, senior centers and city centers are some places to look for assistance. Most of the time there is little or no cost for these services.

Your state aging services unit is a valuable community resource. The National Area on Aging website www.aoa.gov states:

“AoA, through the Older Americans Act and other legislation, supports programs that help older adults maintain their independence and dignity in their homes and communities. In addition AoA provides funding for a range of supports to family caregivers.”

Some of the programs the site lists are:

“Supportive Services and Senior Centers

Nutrition Services

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Grants for Native Americans

Nursing Home Diversion Grants

Aging & Disability Resource Centers

Evidence-Based Disease Prevention

Long-Term Care Planning

Alzheimer’s Disease Grants

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities”

A few thoughts on hiring home care aides or live-in care givers.

The classifieds are filled with people looking for work as aides to the elderly. Many of these aides are well-qualified, honest people who will do a good job; but, of course, there will be some not so reputable. If you are looking to hire someone, be sure you interview and check references and qualifications. You will be responsible for scheduling that person and doing payroll and taxes as well. Be very sure you hire someone trustworthy, as the elderly seem to trust these helpers more than they should and therefore can easily be taken advantage of.

A professional home care service will eliminate your employment concerns. Professionally-provided aides are usually bonded and service is guaranteed. Home care companies take care of the scheduling and payment of their employees. Home care companies cater to the elderly in their homes by offering a variety of services. The National Care Planning Council lists many of these companies throughout the country on its website www.longtermcarelink.net .

These providers represent a rapidly growing trend to allow people needing help with long term care to remain in their home or in the community instead of going to a care facility. The services offered may include:

• companionship
• grooming and dressing
• recreational activities
• incontinent care
• handyman services
• teeth brushing
• medication reminders
• bathing or showering
• light housekeeping
• meal preparation
• respite for family caregivers
• errands and shopping
• reading email or letters
• overseeing home deliveries
• dealing with vendors
• transportation services
• changing linens
• laundry and ironing
• organizing closets
• care of house plants
• 24-hour emergency response
• family counseling
• phone call checks
• and much more.

Thomas Day, Director of the National Care Planning Council states,

“Care in the home provided by a spouse or a child is the most common form of long-term care in this country. About 73% of all long term care is provided in the home environment typically by family caregivers.”

As their caregiver, you can make the difference in the quality of life for your aging parents and if staying in their home is a possibility, you have the resources to make it happen.

My thanks to Thomas Day for this guest article.