The SCAN Foundation

“An elderly person’s fear of falling can actually exacerbate underlying physical conditions, creating a ‘vicious circle,’ which could lead to a greater risk of falling,” according to May 17, 2010 story in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Falling often will disable a person, making them unable to function independently. They may be forced into requiring extensive long-term services and supports, according to the article “Gait Disturbances in Old Age,” from the Neurological Hospital and Health Center of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Germany.

“As the ‘silver tsunami’ prepares to hit the U.S. health care system, some officials worry that there aren’t enough professionals who have been properly trained to work with the unique needs of these senior patients,” according to a May 12, 2010 story by Kaiser Health News. As a result, “the Partnership for Health in Aging [PHA], a coalition of more than 20 organizations dealing with care of seniors, released a set of 23 skills that all health care professionals - doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers and others - should have by the time they graduate.”

“Those currently in good health would be unwise to infer that they will continue to enjoy lower than average health-care costs,” according to a May 13, 2010 Marketwatch.com story about a research study on financial prospects of people as they age. “The reality is that even the currently healthy can expect to eventually suffer from one or more chronic diseases, which often results in high out-of-pocket and long-term-care costs,” the story said.

Financial abuse of the elderly -- theft, deception and swindling-- is increasing along with the expansion of the population needing long-term services and supports. As more people suffer from frailties and dementia, more of them will become potential victims. The annual loss by victims of elder financial abuse is at least $2.6 billion, according to the study, “Broken Trust, Elders, Family and Finances,” by Met Life’s Mature Market Institute.