SeniorHomes.com is launching the 2012 Best of The Web Awards today! The Best of the Web contest highlights the best senior living and caregiving websites, blogs, and resources for consumers and senior living professionals. Often, the amount of senior living and caregiving websites can be overwhelming and stressful. SeniorHomes.com wants to help take the stress out of the equation by compiling the best resources across the web. This easy to use guide not only helps caregivers and people in the industry, but recognizes websites that consistently provide great resources and information.

Last years, Best of the Web contest was a huge success with hundreds of nominees and voters.  We hope to see even more websites nominated this year and everyone voting for their personal favorites!

Nominate Someone Today!

We want to hear about your favorite websites, blogs, or newsletters.  Nominate via facebook or twitter by using the #SeniorhomesBOW and mention the websites name and link.

Or you can shoot us an email at bestoftheweb@seniorhomes.com with the websites name, link, and why you love it!

Award nominations are available in the following categories:

Consumer Resources

• Best Websites and Newsletters for Caregiver
• Best Senior Living Blogs by Individuals
• Best Senior Living Blogs by Organizations
• Best Senior Living Provider Websites
• Best Government & Education Resources
• Best Senior Living Online Retailers

Industry Resources

• Best Designed Senior Living Provider Websites
• Social Media Rockstars - Individuals
• Social Media Rockstars - Organizations
• Best Senior Living Industry Resources

Vote for your Favorites!

Has your favorite website already been nominated?  Go to it’s page and vote for it by liking or +1 the page!  We choose the finalists based on the who has the top votes.

This Week in Senior Living News

Aging News:

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Ladies, we knew it! Mild memory impairment is more common in men, according to a post on WebMD. All joking aside, the condition is officially termed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is more than just the occasional “senior moment.” Often, MCI is a precursor to the development of full-blown Alzheimer’s disease, and a recent study showed the development of MCI was more common in men over the course of three years. The study also found MCI to be more common among participants who were less educated and those who were single.

Speaking of memory, want to try to keep your brain sharp? A number of publications have weighed in recently with tips for maintaining cognitive ability and giving your noggin a good workout. Read these tips, learn about current brain research and get inspired by tech-savvy and forward-thinking seniors by visiting The New York Times, The Columbian, Moorabbin Leader and 9News.com.

Senior Living News:

Joan London is at it again! This time in Joan’s Journey: The Search for Senior Housing, Joan is writing a blog post directly to you, her loyal readers. She’s been loving the many words of encouragement, friendly advice and suggestions. Read Joan’s latest post.

LGBT Crosswalk currently has an ad in the running for the TED Ads Worth Spreading Award. Aging LGBT adults face a unique set of challenges, and the issue is garnering more and more attention in the media and even by the U.S. Government. President Obama made mention of the struggles this group faces during his State of the Union Address. Check out the press release on PRWeb for more facts and details about emerging organizations focused on increasing awareness and improving transitions.

Caregiver Stories and Advice:

Do you accompany an aging loved one to medical office visits? If you do, you could be improving the care your loved one receives, according to an article in Outcome Magazine.

Caregiving is often a 24-hours a day, seven days a week challenge. It’s easy to become burnt out, and the problem is only compounded by the feelings of grief that follow. We feel guilty because we wish we had a few moments to ourselves, or we feel like we’re not doing enough. Here are a few tips for avoiding caregiver burnout from EmpowHer.

Tech Roundup:

Is Social Security taking a step backwards in technology? U.S. News says the Social Security Administration will resume mailing paper statements to beneficiaries in February. But it’s not what it seems: The Administration didn’t move to an electronic system, they simply put a hold on mailing statements to save money temporarily. There are actually plans to develop an online system, according to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue, but the system is being tested to ensure demand can be met and there are no firm implementation dates at this time.

Computer-aided exercise is a valuable tool for seniors, according to a post in The Atlantic. A study tested whether combining stationary bike exercise with video-led visual routines would help seniors maintain cognitive ability. Turns out that video games might not be as bad for our brains as we think. We also covered the study in a recent blog post.

Operations and On the Political Beat:

The National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) reports that senior housing occupancy rates continued to show a slow recovery in the fourth quarter of 2011. Construction, however, remains stagnant. Occupancy rates are expected to continue at a slow growth rate, with projections indicating occupancy rates of 89% by Q4 2012. NuWire Investor summarizes these findings.

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Health reform discussions are heating up as we ramp up to the upcoming presidential election. The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, an independent body tasked with determining the comparative effectiveness of health policies, programs and treatments, has published it inaugural agenda, outlining plans for research in the coming year. Dr. Joe Selby, the Institute’s first chief executive officer, talks with The Washington Post about health reform and the group’s role in ensuring positive outcomes. Additionally, the PCORI is soliciting feedback on its National Priorities Research and Research Agenda. The public comment period ends mid-March. Get the details on how to add your comments from SacBee.

The Alzheimer’s Challenge 2012, a collective effort by a number of groups and companies, was introduced at the Care Innovations Summit in Washington, D.C. The Challenge aims to improve diagnostics through the development of cost-effective, consistent tools and techniques that can assess memory, mood, thinking and activity level over time. Get more details on the program and how it may improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatments at Enhanced Online News.

Things that make you say, “Huh?” and our favorite unexpected news of the week:

I know, we preach about social media a lot. We love social media. And apparently, so does President Obama. When he first took office, he wouldn’t give up his Blackberry, as most presidents are asked to do to maintain safety and security. Now, even President Obama is hanging out on Google+. That’s right, hang out with the President and maybe even have your question answered (you must submit it by Jan. 28th – today!). And get this: Questions are to be submitted via The White House’s very own YouTube channel.

Welcome Joan’s Journey Readers! Responses to Parts 1 and 2 about my search for senior housing have been heartwarming.

Danie Scott commented, “Try before you buy. Even if you rent, try not to enter into long-term agreements before living there for a while … one person’s heaven can be another’s hell. There’s no way of knowing until you experience it yourself.”

Lisa Baehr of Retirement.org posted Joan’s Journey on the Facebook pages of retirement.org affiliate communities. A resident of Mirabella Seattle suggested, “Look for compatible people, large space and good food.”

Sound suggestions for my senior housing search. What’s your advice?

My upcoming installment will describe the emotional process of selling my beloved condo and leaving Baltimore to relocate to the West Coast. On Jan. 31, I’ll travel to Palm Springs and areas surrounding Los Angeles. Check out Seniorhomes.com for future installments of Joan’s Journey.

This entry was written by Joan London. You can read more about her and her search for senior housing by checking out her blog here.

Numerous studies have proven that exercise delays and possibly helps prevent the onset of dementia in older adults. But in reality, just 14 percent of adults age 65 to 74 actually participate in regular physical exercise. Among adults 75 years and older, the figure drops to just seven percent.

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The Union College’s Healthy Aging and Neuropsychology Lab researcher, Cay Anderson-Handley, devised a study to determine whether computer-aided exercise (such as the use of a stationary bike accompanied by a computer-generated video) provided the same benefits.

Study specifics

More than 100 volunteers (between the ages of 58 and 99) residing in an independent living facility, with access to an indoor exercise bike, participated in the study. Participants were monitored three times per week for a total of three months, and cognitive function was assessed periodically.

Researchers evaluated executive functions at the start of the study, one month after and three months after the conclusion of the study, including:

• Planning
• Working memory
• Attention

In addition, participants’ blood plasma was evaluated periodically to check for levels of a neurotrophic growth factor (brain-derived), which can be used as a measure of brain plasticity. Brain plasticity is a medical term used to describe the ability of the brain to compensate for injury or atrophy, essentially re-wiring itself to create alternate pathways to perform functions usually controlled by other areas.

Results

Both the control group and the experimental group participated in the same amount and frequency of exercising. However, participants in the experimental group, which used computer-aided visuals and techniques to enhance solitary stationary bike exercise, showed a 23 percent greater reduction in progression to dementia in comparison to the control group.

The bottom line

Video games may get a bad rap for overuse by the younger generation, but in the older adult population, there are clear benefits to incorporating “exergames” in a general fitness program. This study demonstrates a clear benefit to enhancing solitary stationary bike use with computer-generated programs and features, at least in terms of cognitive benefit. So while video games are often criticized for being “mindless” activities for youth, older adults can reap significant cognitive benefits from specially-designed programs.

Read the full study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

We asked, you entered, and the verdict is in: The SeniorHomes.com weekly newsletter will launch February 1st, aptly named Senior Living Today. Congratulations to Sarah B. who has earned a $50 Amazon.com gift card for choosing the winning name.

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We’re excited to be launching this fantastic new resource for the senior living industry. Each week, we’ll deliver the most recent, intriguing and important news direct to your inbox.

Here’s what to expect from Senior Living Today:

• The latest health tech news
• Industry events and marketing opportunities
• A weekly feature exclusive for Senior Living Today subscribers
• A weekly marketing tip
• Aging and health news
• What’s happening in operations

Want to contribute to Senior Living Today? We’re always open to guest contributors, so if you have some expert insight to share with our readers, email Angela (angela@seniorhomes.com) with your ideas and we’ll work you into the editorial schedule!

Want to be among the first to start receiving our weekly newsletter? Sign up below!

Subscribe to Senior Living Today!

For Email Marketing you can trust

This Week in Senior Living News

Aging News:

Age discrimination is perceived by 63% of older people, according to a recent study published in Research on Aging and reported by The New York Times. Further, those who report discrimination are more likely to provide poorer self-ratings over a two-year period in terms of depression and health.

Noticing some short-term memory loss or slowed decision making? Don’t worry, you’re not losing brain cells — provided, of course, you haven’t been diagnosed with a disease indicating otherwise. BendBulletin.com reports on research demonstrating that we don’t lose brain cells as a part of normal aging, but connections between them break, causing these “senior moments.”

Betty White is white-hot! If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than America’s favorite leading senior lady. Betty White, known for her brazen honesty and raunchy sense of humor, is taking charge of her senior years. At 90, she’s just landed a brand-new show, sure to be a hit with both the younger and older crowds alike. The Chicago Tribune discusses White’s impact on the senior generation.

Image via Wikipedia

Senior Living News:

Our friends at Emeritus Senior Living want to hear your “Worst Date Ever!” stories. Enter by Valentine’s Day for your chance to win a number of prizes. They’re particularly interested in hearing about your Grandma’s worst date ever, but feel free to ask your aunt, uncle, parent or cousin for their funny stories, too. And, members of the younger crowd with a particularly eyebrow-raising story should share theirs, as well!

Our own Joan London is at it again, this time reporting on the second leg of her journey, touring facilities in Seattle and San Francisco. Read Joan’s latest installment of “Joan’s Journey: The Search for Senior Housing” or check out our blog post to leave a comment for Joan!

Caregiver Stories and Advice:

Older Americans and caregivers are expected to have a major impact on increased use of mobile health tech by 2015, according to an interesting analysis by InformationWeek. With an eye on better patient health monitoring, cost reductions and less hospital admissions, mobile health apps will skyrocket to $392 million per year by 2015. If you’re a caregiver and you haven’t yet investigated the usefulness of mobile health in caring for your loved ones, now’s the time!

Caring for a loved one with dementia poses a host of unique challenges. Times of India offers some advice through a first-person account and USA Today provides some expert tips on coping with the “unparalleled stress” these caregivers face.

Tech Roundup:

CES 2012 was chock full of ingenious gadgets and inventions that help consumers lead healthier lifestyles. Scientific American weighs in on the future of health tech as it increasingly allows us to shift to a prevention-based model — and puts more control than ever in the hands of consumers.

Similarly, The Wall Street Journal examines the growing field of health tech and its implications for the way we look at personal health in “A Doctor in Your Pocket.”

On the downside of million-dollar gadgets: Should health systems and providers be spending their money on certain technological advances if they really don’t improve patient outcomes? Health Leaders Media discusses the difference between good technology and bad.

Operations and On the Political Beat:

Surgeons save lives, but they still age like the rest of us. The Wall Street Journal discusses an analysis of 3,600 thyroid surgeries, tracked for the incidence of permanent complications as a result of surgical error. Rates are higher for surgeons within the first five years of practice — and those over age 50.

QUEST, a national initiative spanning 31 states, aims to reduce costs and improve performance against a higher standard of care. The program is open to any hospital in the nation that wants to participate. In its first three years, QUEST held participants to strict quality standards, including an 18 percent reduction in mortality and significant reductions in the cost of care. The result? A $4.5 billion reduction in costs and 24,820 prevented deaths across 157 hospitals. Not convinced? Get the details at MarketWatch.

Things that make you say, “Huh?” and our favorite unexpected news of the week:

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The news is far from favorite, but this week we’re taking this coveted spot in our weekly roundup to honor the legendary Joe Paterno, who passed away this morning at the age of 85. The Penn State sex scandal is tragic and horrifying, there’s no question about that. Whatever your personal feelings regarding JoePa’s guilt or involvement, you can’t deny Paterno’s incredible legacy as coach and, as many would say, the man who “is” Penn State University. Paterno coached for 46 seasons, spent 62 seasons on PSU football staff and maintains his record as the best Divison I coach in history with 409 wins.

Paterno, as most of you know, was relieved of his duties as head coach on November 9, 2011, soon after the Jerry Sandusky scandal hit the media. It was days later he was diagnosed with lung cancer and immediately began undergoing treatments. But Paterno, who gave his heart and soul to Penn State Football, seemed to succumb to a broken heart as complications from cancer treatments took his life this morning. Joe requested to be removed from a ventilator yesterday.

Even in death, JoePa continues to teach us valuable life lessons. This man dedicated his life to coaching Penn State. He brought Penn State Football to a new level, encouraging his players to succeed both on the field and in life. He demanded excellence — but through inspiration. And just 11 weeks after his life’s passion was brought to an abrupt end in the midst of scandal, JoePa succumbed to his illness.

Coincidence? Or is there something to be said for an active lifestyle, living with passion, for as long as you’re able and willing?

If you spend any time on the internet (which you must, since you’re reading this post) and haven’t heard about CES 2012, you must be living under a rock. The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, which wrapped up last week in Las Vegas, has been the talk of the World Wide Web for the past two weeks. Among the many wacky, incredible and downright astounding technological advances that made their debut this year are a number of gadgets designed for the health, fitness and senior crowd.

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And for good reason: InformationWeek estimates that mobile health revenues will skyrocket from $230 million (2010) to $392 million in 2015 (citing Frost & Sullivan research). This growth will be fueled by a rapid increase in tablet users, projected to increase from 10 million (2010) to 82 million in 2015. Mobile health apps can ease the burden of an aging population by improving efficiency and reducing costly hospital admissions.

CES 2012: gadgets galore

If you’re a gadget geek, CES is literally a mecca of over-the-top electronic devices. PCWorld notes a few standout health-monitoring tools that made their debut at this year’s show, including bands that monitor stress levels based on skin response (really?) and track your brainwaves while you sleep. Great. Sure, I’d love to know whether I’m getting the right amount of sleep, but I have to admit a brain-wave tracking device seems a little intrusive.

WFTV.com says these types of wearable monitoring devices are the wave of the future, set to “revolutionize medical diagnostics and treatments.” MEDRC is an emerging company focused on bringing to market this specific type of minimally-invasive monitoring devices to the market.

Real-time personal health monitoring shifts the healthcare focus

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The Wall Street Journal weighs in on the future of mobile health, pointing to a future shift in the way we look at our personal health and treat conditions. The current model focuses on “fixing” problems after they’ve occurred. But with the rapid rise in the use of monitoring devices, people would be able to monitor their own health in real-time, making adjustments to maintain the specific lifestyle required to ward off potential chronic illnesses, like diabetes and atherosclerosis.

But does health tech really improve patient care?

But not everyone is so optimistic about the practicality and usability of the latest health tech trends. Health Leaders Media says hospitals often invest millions of dollars in the latest high-tech devices, but the author criticizes the practice, noting that these investments don’t actually improve patient care. The article goes on to list seven reasons why hospitals make poor investment decisions, including pressure from providers and a desire to boost public image. Who doesn’t want to say they have the most expensive, technologically-advanced imaging and diagnostic technology? It certainly brings patients to the door.

Not all tech investments are futile, however. Health Leaders points to findings from the ECRI Institute and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, which identify the most (and least) worthy investments based on actual patient outcomes. The idea isn’t to disregard any new technology that comes to market, but to invest in the right million-dollar gadgets; namely, those with evidence of improved patient care, delivery or outcomes.

This week Joan London blogs about her latest visit to the west coast in her search for senior housing.  She made stops in Seattle and San Francisco, where she spent 11 days visiting assisted living facilities in the surrounding suburbs.   The trip also served as a great time for her to visit with her children and grandchildren who live in these locations.

Working with Seniorhomes.com Care Advisors

When she began her search, the number and variety of assisted living facilities overwhelmed her.   So, Joan relied on Seniorhomes.com care advisors to help her with her trip. With their help, she was able to pick out communities in each location that fit her desired budget, level of care, meal plan, amenities, and social activities.  In addition,  the care advisors helped her make appointments to tour the communities during her trip.  With over 38,000 assisted living facilities in the U.S., Joan was glad to have the Seniorhomes.com care advisors to help her narrow down her search.

What did she did learn about her search and herself?

In her latest blog post, Joan covers what she learned about her search and herself through this latest trip. Here are her top three thoughts.

1. Geography, Climate and Ambiance of Location
The climates of greater Seattle and the city of San Francisco apparently do not agree with my chronic arthritis. The cities south of San Francisco have warmer, dryer climates and are quite attractive. However, with my limited mobility for walking up and down hilly terrain, and the traffic congestion, unfortunately these locations are not a perfect fit.

2. Demographics of Residents
Relocating to a facility filled with strangers is a major life change. Communities vary in the age, health, physical and social demographics of residents. At 67, I drive and function independently. I am seeking senior living compatible with my interests for daily living. It is too soon in my journey to make a decision on this point.

3. Staff and Facility Ambience
I toured each facility and spoke with staff and residents. Everyone was extremely friendly and each community was attractive and clean. Because the layout and amenities of the Bellettini apartment models in Bellevue resemble my condominium, I felt most at home at this style of community.

To read more about Joan and her latest journey check out her blog post here.

As part of our plan for 2012, we’re launching an industry-focused weekly newsletter beginning February 1st, 2012. We want a unique, catchy name for our new project, and we’re hoping you can help!

Starting NOW, we’re taking suggestions for Name the Newsletter! Give us your best attempt at a compelling name for our newsletter. The winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift card.

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Some facts about the newsletter:

• Focused on professionals in the senior care/healthcare industries
• Sent weekly
• Will include unique content each week
• A weekly marketing tip
• Links to other important industry news from around the web

And now, the rules:

• You may enter as many times as you like.
• Submissions must be turned in by 12:00pm, Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, January 19th.
• Enter by posting your suggestions on the SeniorHomes.com Facebook page, send us a tweet, post it to our Google+ page or our LinkedIn company page.
• The winner will be notified on Friday, January 20th via a private message or direct message.
• To claim your prize, you must respond to us (if we notify you as the winner) with your full name and email address so we can send your digital Amazon.com gift card.

We look forward to your ideas!

Mobile tech has been embraced by the medical community and widely touted for the potential to streamline healthcare, provide immediate access to important medical history and coordinate care among providers and caregivers. But there are two sides to every story. In this instance, ZDNet.com points out that lines are currently blurred as to what constitutes appropriate medical use and what’s merely a distraction for physicians. Who wants a distracted physician? Or worse, a surgeon focused more on his Twitter feed than the patient’s procedure? Not me.

Mobile tech streamlines healthcare

The many advantages to mobile tech are obvious, and it appears the healthcare community has taken notice. ZDNet.com reports that 81 percent of physicians use smart phones, and 38 percent say they use medical apps daily. About one-third are accessing electronic health records (EHRs) using smart phones or tablets, and 20 percent say they’ll be implementing EHRs this year.

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For physicians at least, it seems to be a no-brainer. Providers are already overwhelmed, especially those working under a corporation. Frequently, they’re asked to squeeze more patients in in a single day, reducing the total time spent with each patient. And billing is a nightmare. While physicians don’t handle billing themselves, they have to rely on staff to document appropriate diagnosis codes and choose treatment options covered by an individual’s insurance plan. Otherwise, they might not get paid. They have to sort through dozens of medical plans, which can vary dramatically in coverage and treatment options. Mobile tech can save providers a significant amount of time.

• Instant access to patient history
• Past treatments
• Current medications prescribed by any or all providers
• Instantaneous medical reference applications
• Drug interaction databases
• Coordination of care across providers

Grey’s Anatomy docs embrace Twitter

If you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you may recall the episode from last season in which Chief Weber was none-too-pleased when he discovered his staff were tweeting status updates during surgeries. Fortunately, the surgeon performing the procedure wasn’t taking periodic breaks to do so; instead, it was Lexi Grey (assisting the procedure) who stood on the sidelines and manned the Twitter feed.

Eventually, the Chief was won over when an old colleague reached out to him during a complex procedure and Twitter became an acceptable OR practice.

Status updates from the operating room?

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In the Grey’s Anatomy episode, the doctors were using Twitter to describe the procedure they were performing to an interested and targeted audience. But is it also acceptable to send a tweet to a Friday-night beer buddy during surgery? Or for the surgeon to PM his wife on Facebook? This is where the lines get fuzzy.

Surprisingly, less than half of healthcare organizations currently have guidelines defining the acceptable use of mobile devices on the job. Some lock devices with passwords or encrypt data to enhance the security of patients’ personal information, but about half of all organizations surveyed do nothing at all to monitor, guide or secure the use of mobile devices and applications. (Data from a survey by the Ponemon Institute.)

ZDNet.com also points to other research indicating that more than half of technicians monitoring heart bypass machines during surgeries admit to talking on their cell phones or texting during surgeries.

Mobile device management

Clearly, the healthcare industry as a whole or individual organizations should implement a set of best practices or solid rules that define acceptable use under certain circumstances. The potential for saving time and money is too great to ignore, so banning mobile devices from healthcare settings altogether isn’t a viable option.