Losing Our Country

Since 1980 in particular, U.S. government policies have consistently favored the wealthy at the expense of working families – and under the current administration, that favoritism has become extreme and relentless. From tax cuts that favor the rich to bankruptcy “reform” that punishes the unlucky, almost every domestic policy seems intended to accelerate our march back to the robber baron era.

It’s not a pretty picture – which is why right-wing partisans try so hard to discredit anyone who tries to explain to the public what’s going on.

By PAUL KRUGMAN
New York Times
Published: June 10, 2005

The suicide rate among elderly Koreans has been ranked the highest among 30 developed OECD countries

“The primary reason for elderly suicides is economic problems. As the structure of Korea families changes, children are reluctant to take care of the elderly. But the older folks are not prepared for their twilight years. Faced with economic difficulties, they feel there’s no escape apart from suicide,” said Prof. Chung Soon Dool from the Department of Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University.

2,760 Koreans aged above 65 killed themselves in 2003. That’s double the figure in year 2000.

By Channel NewsAsia’s Korea Correspondent Kathy Paik
June 6, 2005

American Society on Aging

Founded in 1954, the American Society on Aging is an association of diverse individuals bound by a common goal: to support the commitment and enhance the knowledge and skills of those who seek to improve the quality of life of older adults and their families. The membership of ASA is a multidisciplinary array of professionals who are concerned with the physical, emotional, social, economic and spiritual aspects of aging. They range from practitioners, educators, administrators, policymakers, business people, researchers, students, and more.

ASA offers a diverse array of renowned educational programming, outstanding publications and state-of-the-art information and training resources, and the largest and most dynamic network of professionals in the field of aging. No matter what your needs or interests, when it comes to the field of aging, ASA is the most valuable resource you can find. Click on the links below to learn more about the services ASA has to offer.

American Society on Aging
833 Market Street
Suite 511
San Francisco, CA 94103 USA

Office Hours:
8:30 am – 5:00 pm (Pacific Time)
fax: (415) 974-0300
(415) 974-9600
(800) 537-9728

The ASA Autumn Series on Aging offers participants a unique, cost-effective format for obtaining continuing education in gerontology. Customize your program — take one or more half-day and full-day intensives. These regional training events are designed for professionals in many different sectors of society who work with older adults, their caregivers, and their families.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) East Coast Autumn Series on Aging, which takes place September 12-15, 2005, at the Sheraton University City Hotel in Philadelphia.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) West Coast Autumn Series on Aging, which takes place September 26-29, 2005, in San Francisco.

BIFOCAL NEWS ™

Reading Glasses

Retire in peace through debt consolidation

Boomer Shock: Preparing Communities for the Retirement Generation

Boomer Shock: Preparing Communities for the Retirement Generation
By Ellen Hirsch de Haan

The demographic face of America — and of its community associations — is about to change dramatically as Baby Boomers swell the ranks of the over-65 group. They will live longer than any other demographic group in the nation’s history, and they will have fewer resources.

Find out how your community association can meet the disproportionate demands of aging residents, plan for their long-term needs, find capable board members when the pool of candidates dwindles, deal with senior residents when their capacities diminish, change governing documents to accommodate the needs of aging residents, and much more.

A detailed case study illustrates how one pioneering community association successfully implemented all the recommendations in this book. Contains numerous how-to sections, helpful forms, useful appendices, and practical advice.

Technology ‘baffles old and poor’

Older and lower income people are still excluded from digital life and industry must look more closely at their needs, says UK communications watchdog Ofcom.

Older people are also especially irritated with devices and technologies that are fiddly to use, a problem shared with disabled people.

Twice as many people with disabilities, who are also under 65, said they found it difficult to use mobiles, than those with no disabilities.

BBC News
May 16, 2005

What American Consumers Do on the Weekend

Want to know how your consumers are feeling after the weekend? Well, if you’re tracking young adults, bear in mind that they’re exhausted on Monday mornings and depressed to be back at work. But if you’re targeting 50-somethings, they’re likely to be more receptive: On Mondays, they’re re-energized and ready to get back to business.

May 16, 2005
QwikFIND ID: AAQ57B
By Bradley Johnson
Adage.com

YOU: The Owner’s Manual : An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger

YOU: The Owner’s Manual : An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger
by Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz

Between your full-length mirror and high-school biology class, you probably think you know a lot about the human body. While it’s true that we live in an age when we’re as obsessed with our bodies as we are with celebrity hairstyles, the reality is that most of us know very little about what chugs, churns, and thumps throughout this miraculous, scientific, and artistic system of anatomy. Yes, you’ve owned your skin-covered shell for decades, but you probably know more about your cell-phone plan than you do about your own body. When it comes to your longevity and quality of life, understanding your internal systems gives you the power, authority, and ability to live a healthier, younger, and better life.

YOU: The Owner’s Manual challenges your preconceived notions about how the human body works and ages, then takes you on a tour through all of the highways, back roads, and landmarks inside of you. After taking a quiz that tests your body of knowledge, you’ll learn about all of your blood-pumping, food-digesting, and keys-remembering systems and organs.

Just as important, you’ll get the facts and advice you need to keep your body running long and strong. You’ll find out how diseases start and how they affect your body — as well as advice on how to prevent and beat conditions that threaten your quality of life. Complete with exercise tips, nutritional guidelines, simple lifestyle changes, and alternative approaches, You: The Owner’s Manual gives you an easy, comprehensive, and life-changing how-to plan for fending off the gremlins of aging. To top it off, you’ll also get the great-tasting and calorie-saving Owner’s Manual Diet — a thirty-recipe eating plan that’s designed with only one goal in mind: to help you live a younger life.

Welcome to your body. Why don’t you come on in and take a look around?

Read an excerpt

The Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing, Spirituality and Social Policy

The Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing, Spirituality and Social Policy, part of The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson at Temple Balsall near Solihull, was launched in January 2001 to be a local and national focus for practical education, training, research and reflection on the role of older people in the 21st century.

We have run a series of successful seminars on a variety of topics including quality of life for people with dementia, worship with older people, long-term care, the spiritual needs of older people, spiritual pain, caring for carers, and culture, faith and old age.

Visit The Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing, Spirituality and Social Policy

Temple Balsall
Knowle, Solihull
West Midlands
B93 0AN

Tel 01564 778022
Fax 01564 778432

Patterns of fall injury in an ageing population in South Australia

This document, plus statistical information (to the right of screen) has been generated for planning purposes. It shows how the cost of falls injury among people over 65 years is likely to change if the present patterns of incidence rates and service delivery responses are maintained. It describes the possible impact of population ageing on falls injury costs and service utilisation.

Click here to download the report (PDF format)

Click here for the general page