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The result, say researchers and care providers, is a system that wastes money while restricting the choices of older adults and people with disabilities.
At issue during a joint hearing of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee and the Health Committee was the “discharge plans” that hospitals provide to patients before releasing them.
“Hospitalization is a turning point for seniors,” said Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, who chairs the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee. “Better discharge planning can mean the difference between a patient getting better, getting to stay home, or getting hospitalized again.”
Research has shown that as hospital stays have shortened and health care costs have risen, patients are increasingly likely to leave the hospital with inadequate care plans, or with little understanding of what those plans entail. Patients and caregivers – especially non-English speakers – have difficulty finding information about health conditions and home care, where or how to get help, eligibility for services, and other social support.
Oftentimes, hospital discharge planners have large caseloads and not enough information to help patients decide on an alternative to a nursing home. Moreover, Medi-Cal and Medicare rules make it less complicated to opt for an institutional setting, while erecting a confusing maze for those seeking to return to their homes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that California hospitals now discharge someone over the age of 65 more than one million times each year. According to the American Journal of Nursing, about 40 percent of patients in hospitals are over the age of 65.
Discharge planning will become an even larger issue as the baby boomers enter retirement. According to Health Research for Action at University of California Berkeley, one in five Californians will be 65 or older in California by mid-century. The American Journal of Nursing states that hospital admissions of older adults are expected to increase by 78 percent in the next 20 years.
As co-author of the three-part Master Plan on Aging, Berg has focused on policies that give seniors more flexibility in choosing to stay in their homes, rather than nursing homes. She has been an advocate of more home-based services.
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The Bush veto blocks reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP is a joint state-federal program which subsidizes health coverage for 6.6 million people (mostly children) from families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford their own private coverage.
California receives more SCHIP funding than any other state. As a result of Bush’s veto, California stands to lose upwards of $739 million over the next five years, leaving nearly 775,000 of the state’s children without coverage.
North Coast Senator Patricia Wiggins (D–Santa Rosa) issued the following statement in response to the President’s action:
“This says a lot about the president’s badly misplaced sense of priorities that he would veto a bill to ensure health care coverage for millions of American children who are currently without coverage,” Wiggins said. “His subsequent proposal for an additional $5 billion in funding (the legislation Bush vetoed called for spending $35 billion over five years) falls far short of what is needed to bring millions of uninsured children into the nation’s health care system, and it is my sincere hope that the Senate and Congress vote to override his veto as quickly as possible.”
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The center has added a number of new integrative health programs to the already well-established wellness center offerings.
Do you want to start an exercise program but are not sure what you need? A personal trainer is a great way to jump-start your exercise program. Joining Vera Crabtree and Cerra Hinchcliff are Adam Hotchkiss and Aaron Jameson, NETA/ACE certified trainers who can help you create a fitness program that strengthens and conditions.
Jameson specializes in bodybuilding and cardiovascular conditioning with 15 years of personal and professional fitness and nutritional counseling experience. Hotchkiss is the newest member of the team and has trained under the direction of Jameson. Personal training is now available on weekends for those who can’t make it during the week. Nutritional counseling is also available by a certified nutritional consultant.
Offering more than 30 different classes weekly including twelve Yoga classes, five Pilates classes, 3 Tai Chi/Chi Gong classes, Sutter Lakeside’s Wellness Center for Health is a safe, supportive, clean environment where you can get started on the path to better health. With an eye toward better serving the community, the center will add new classes often and have several new classes coming soon such as cardio kickboxing with Aaron Jameson and Step and Tone with Terrie Sullivan.
On Saturday mornings, Steven Lewis, holistic health practitioner, will offer a children’s and teen’s Yoga class and Lauralee Roarke now offers Yoga Lite from 10 to 11 a.m. The center is proud to say it offers classes for just about EVERY body.
Once you have started your exercise program, you may want to check out our massage therapy team to take care of those aching muscles and reduce some stress.
Joining Carol Hoffman are two new massage therapists who want to help you in your journey towards a healthier you. Aaron Jameson, personal trainer and massage therapist, specializes in sports and deep tissue massage.
Steven Lewis, a holistic health practitioner, offers a wide variety of massage therapy modalities from basic Swedish massage to more advanced techniques such as neuromuscular release and a form of internal organ massage called Chi Nei Tsang along with Shiatsu and Tui Na, a form of Chinese Acupressure. Lewis also offers “Healing and Restorative Yoga” on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings in the Wellness Center Yoga Studio.
If you are looking for release of pain and regaining a sense of balance in body, mind and spirit, consider a Jin Shin Do Acupressure session. Jin Shin Do Acupressure is a traditional Japanese finger technique that involves gentle, firm and consistent pressure on acupressure points along the body surface. Gail Dyne, MFT is currently offering this healing art at the Healing House behind the Wellness Center. Gail is also a licensed psychotherapist and certified practitioner of hypnotherapy, reflexology and psychophysical integration.
Another option is scheduling a Reiki session with Leslie Lovejoy, RN, Ph.D. and Reiki Master. Reiki is an ancient healing art involving the exchange of healing energy from the practitioner to the client through the placement of hands along the body. Reiki promotes deep relaxation and brings balance mentally, emotionally and physically.
The center also is pleased to announce that Dr. Steven West of Supreme Health and wellness will be offering Naturopathy, Nutritional Counseling, and Ayurveda while Dr. Craig Dvorkin of Integrative Health Solutions will offer chiropractic interventions in the Healing House by appointment.
A final addition to the Wellness Center is Tammi Silva, director of public relations and marketing, who is now serving as the director of the Lakeside Wellness Foundation and Wellness Center and is bringing renewed vision and inspiration to both areas.
Try these new services as part of your healthy lifestyle program and watch for information on more upcoming programs and providers.
“Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Center for Health is dedicated to creating healthy communities,” said Silva. “We believe that people have the ability to create their own health and our team of compassionate caregivers, practitioners, and instructors look forward to partnering with you on your personal journey towards optimal health.”
For more information or to make an appointment call the Wellness Center at 707-262-5171.
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This bill has strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, and it will allow 10 million American children to access health care.
“This bill is a prime example of Congress’ commitment to taking our country in a new direction,” said Thompson. “It maintains coverage for the 6.6 million children currently enrolled in SCHIP, and it provides states with the resources to cover an additional 4 million kids who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in SCHIP. Democrats and Republicans have cast aye votes for this bipartisan legislation. By standing together in support of this bill, we have also stood firm for America’s children.”
The $35 billion reauthorization complies with House Pay-As-You-Go rules, meaning that it is fully offset and will not result in an increase to the deficit.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, it will result in the delivery of health care to more than 10 million children.
Healthy Families currently covers approximately 800,000 Californian children. These children reside in families that do not earn more than 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which translates to less than $43,000 per year for a family of three.
“Investing in children’s health care is one of the wisest choices our federal government can make,” said Thompson. “Children have to be healthy to get an education and grow into productive adults. When kids see the doctor more regularly, they receive the preventive services that keep them healthier for longer – and they are less likely to end up in the emergency room, which saves everyone money. It’s a win all-around.”
The bill also provides incentives for states to improve their outreach and enrollment programs targeting children eligible for SCHIP and Medicaid. States will receive state-based allotments that are responsive to state demographic and national spending trends. States are also given the flexibility to improve both the dental services and the mental health benefits offered to SCHIP children.
“Earlier this month, we sent a bill to the president to lower the cost of college. This week, we will send him a bill that provides millions of kids with health coverage,” added Thompson. “His threats to veto this legislation are as foolish as they are shameful. A bipartisan Congress has put our children’s well-being at the front of its agenda. This bill is supported by 43 governors and hundreds of organizations, and I sincerely hope the president will put politics aside and sign it.”
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