"Ageism refers to discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping based on age. Age-based discrimination in employment, housing, and health care can
negatively affect older adults’ health and well-being. Older adults may also experience ageism in their day-to-day lives through interpersonal interactions and exposure to ageist beliefs, assumptions, and stereotypes. These forms of everyday ageism may also be harmful to health. In December 2019, the
University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of adults age 50–80 about their experiences with different forms of everyday ageism, positive views on aging, and health."

"Trump reduced fines for nursing homes that put residents at risk. Then Covid-19 happened-The Obama administration cracked down on nursing homes with infection control problems. Trump reversed course." By Dylan Matthews, Vox, July 14, 2020

"Estimates vary, but analysts Gregg Girvan and Avik Roy found that as of June 29, 50,779 of the 113,135 US deaths from Covid-19 (or 45 percent) were deaths of residents of nursing or long-term care facilities. Their numbers suggest that about 2.5 percent of all nursing home residents have been killed by the disease; in New Jersey, which is particularly hard hit, the share is over 11 percent.

An important context for these events, however, is federal policy. Since well before the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration has been targeting regulations in the nursing home industry, pushing a deregulatory agenda that advocates say has worsened conditions for residents and will make them worse still in the pandemic era.

Covid-19 is a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis that is catching almost all institutions — and politicians, regardless of party — ill-prepared. But there is no question that the administration, at the prodding of industry, has enacted and proposed moves aimed at easing regulations on nursing homes — moves that patient advocates have said were increasing health risks for residents well before Covid-19 came to the US."

Go here -> https://www.vox.com/2020/7/14/21323279/nursing-home-coronavirus-covid-deaths

Do not forget that our legislature also LOWERED the training requirements for direct care workers.  They should be forced to defend their thoughtless and irresponsible actions. The ONLY constituency for fewer regulations for nursing homes are folks who make money off of those homes.

Shortly after the first coronavirus outbreak ravaged a nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., the Trump administration moved to fulfill a longstanding industry goal — waiving the requirement that nurse’s aides receive 75 hours of training and allowing people who study only eight hours online to become caregivers during the pandemic.

The industry had been fighting for years to reduce training requirements, saying they make it harder to recruit staff. The day after the administration announced the change, the industry rolled out a free online training program for certifying the new role — called a "temporary nurse aide" — that has since been adopted by at least 19 states."

Go here -> https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/15/coronavirus-nursing-homes-361510

"COVID-19 Pandemic and Ageism: A Call for Humanitarian Care," Christopher C Colenda, MD, MPH, Charles F Reynolds, MD, William B Applegate, MD, MPH, Philip D Sloane, MD, MPH, Sheryl Zimmerman, Ph.D., Anne B Newman, MD, MPH, FGSA, Suzanne Meeks, Ph.D., FGSA, Joseph G Ouslander, MD, The Gerontologist, gnaa062, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa062, Published: 14 July 2020

"The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a deadly threat, and although all individuals are susceptible, advanced age is one of the risk factors for its direst consequences in those who are infected. There are precious few times when individuals can come together to make clear a common cause for advocacy and health. We, the consortium of the editors of the nation’s major geriatric and gerontology journals, offer this perspective as a way to raise awareness about ageism in association with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic..."

Go here -> https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/doi/10.1093/geront/gnaa062/5870200

"Fauci’s strategy for effective public health advocacy: ‘You cannot be ideological’, Haider J. Warraich, STAT, July 14, 2020
"It is a shame that matters of fundamental human rights and public health have become political matters in this country. Racial equity is not a political issue. LGBTQ rights is not a political issue. Wearing a mask is not a political issue. These matters have been falsely painted as political matters, perhaps to artificially narrow the spectrum of voices that can participate, yet they remain well within the purview of the oath that physicians take.

I and other health care workers should advocate for these issues. But we should also emphasize that such activism is not a political act but an extension of our duties as upholders of the common good. We need to be especially careful that when we raise our voices we do not undermine our positions with partisanship. We need to push back against those who say that advocacy for equality and public health are political matters and reclaim social justice and equity into the practice of medicine.

Perhaps we might all learn from Fauci: keep your politics ambiguous and your values crystal clear. It is for this reason that he has been able to advance his agenda for decades and why his reputation and legacy are cemented even as some try desperately to tarnish them."

Go here -> https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/14/fauci-advice-public-health-advocacy-you-cannot-be-ideological/

"Months into the coronavirus pandemic, older adults are having a hard time envisioning their “new normal.”

Many remain fearful of catching the virus and plan to follow strict precautions — social distancing, wearing masks and gloves, limiting excursions to public places — for the indefinite future.

Mortality is no longer an abstraction for those who have seen friends and relatives die of covid-19. Death has an immediate presence as never before.

Many people are grieving the loss of their old lives and would love nothing better than to pick up where they left off. Others are convinced their lives will never be the same.

“We’re at the cusp of a new world,” said Harry Hutson, 72, an organizational consultant and executive coach who lives in Baltimore."
Go here -> https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/with-covid-19-older-people-endure-seclusion-foresee-more-challenges-in-future/2020/07/10/9d89b6a0-c151-11ea-b178-bb7b05b94af1_story.html

"The earliest epidemiological findings from the COVID-19 pandemic have made clear that the disease had a disproportionately high impact on mortality and morbidity in older adults. Over the subsequent 6 months leading up to the time of writing, a significantly more complex picture is emerging that points to a much broader impact on the mental health of older adults. While the initial focus has been on understanding the impact of the virus itself on infected older adults, clinicians and researchers around the world have recognized that there are also major challenges arising from the resulting lockdown and quarantine measures. These include the disruption of regular clinical services, challenges around transitioning services to telecare, and most notably, the disproportionate impact on older adults in nursing homes."

Go here -> https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(20)30368-7/fulltext

"By the end of 2020, 10.1 million people in the U.S. will probably lose health insurance because they or their family members have lost work due to COVID-19, a new report released Monday forecasts — and more than 1 in 3 of them will be unable to find a replacement policy.

About 34% of people who lose employer coverage will become uninsured in the expansion states, but about 55% will become uninsured in non-expansion states, the authors calculate.

The non-expansion states include Wisconsin, where the Republican majorities in the state Assembly and the state Senate have rejected efforts by Gov. Tony Evers to implement the ACA Medicaid support. (With its January 2020 cutoff date for identifying Medicaid expansion states, the Johnson/Urban Institute report places Nebraska in the non-expansion group because that state won’t implement its expansion program until later in 2020.)"

Go here -> https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2020/07/14/covid-19-job-losses-cut-millions-loose-from-health-insurance-millions-more-will-follow/

And here -> https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2020/07/changes-in-health-insurance-coverage-due-to-the-covid-19-recession--preliminary-estimates-using-microsimulation.html

"Because of job losses between February and May of this year, 5.4 million laid-off workers became uninsured. These recent increases in the number of uninsured adults are 39% higher than any annual increase ever recorded. The highest previous increase took place over the one-year period from 2008 to 2009, when 3.9 million nonelderly adults became uninsured.

These record-breaking increases in the number of uninsured have taken place during the country’s worst public-health crisis in more than a century and the sharpest and deepest economic downturn since World War II."

Go here -> https://www.familiesusa.org/resources/the-covid-19-pandemic-and-resulting-economic-crash-have-caused-the-greatest-health-insurance-losses-in-american-history/

And here -> https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/07/new-study-health-insurance-record-losses-coronavirus-pandemic.html

"This report is the third in a year-long series, culminating in a comprehensive final report in January 2021, that examines the importance and impact of
the direct care workforce. Each report in the series provides original data, in-depth analyses, and policy and practice recommendations, along with stories from direct care workers around the country. It’s critical that we include workers’ voices, experiences, and insights in efforts to shape and improve this sector. 

The final report will compile all four individual reports, synthesize the key issues, articulate future challenges, and opportunities, and provide a full set of
policy and practice recommendations. This report, Direct Care Work Is Real Work: Elevating the Role of the Direct Care Worker, examines how existing training standards for direct care occupations fail to capture the full range of skills required for these roles—and raises opportunities to better leverage direct care workers in care coordination."

Go here -> https://phinational.org/caringforthefuture/directcareworkisrealwork/

And here -> https://phinational.org/resource/inconsistent-and-outdated-training-standards-limit-direct-care-workers/

"Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2012–2018, Briana Moreland, MPH, Ramakrishna Kakara, MPH, Ankita Henry, MPH, Weekly, July 10, 2020
"What is already known about this topic? - Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged ≥65 years, who in 2014 experienced an estimated 29 million falls, resulting in 7 million fall-related injuries.

What is added by this report? - In 2018, 27.5% of adults aged ≥65 years reported at least one fall in the past year (35.6 million falls) and 10.2% reported a fall-related injury (8.4 million fall-related injuries). From 2012 to 2016, the percentages of these adults reporting a fall increased, and from 2016 to 2018, the percentages decreased.

What are the implications for public health practice? - Falls and fall-related injuries are highly prevalent but are preventable. Health care providers play a crucial role and can help older adults reduce their risk of falls."

Go here -> https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6927a5.htm

And here -> https://www.mcknights.com/news/clinical-news/cdc-more-than-a-quarter-of-seniors-fall-each-year/

"One out of five falls among older adults causes a serious injury, including 95% of hip fractures and 51% of head injuries. Other potential consequences of falls include extensive rehabilitation in a long-term care facility, decreased mobility, loss of independence, social isolation and depression, and premature death. The fatality rate from falls has been increasing, and as the aging population lives longer the number of falls is expected to increase as well.

Older adult falls result in substantial medical costs. In 2015, the estimated medical costs attributable to fatal and nonfatal falls were approximately $50 billion. The average direct cost of non-fatal fall injuries is $9,780 per fall, and the average direct cost of fatal fall injuries is $26,340."

Go here -> https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/senior/measure/falls_sr/state/U.S.

"On this page:

• Endurance
• Strength
• Balance
• Flexibility

Most people tend to focus on one type of exercise or activity and think they’re doing enough. Research has shown that it’s important to get all four types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Each one has different benefits. Doing one kind also can improve your ability to do the others, and variety helps reduce boredom and risk of injury."

Go here -> https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/four-types-exercise-can-improve-your-health-and-physical-ability

"Regular exercise is an important aspect of healthy living. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults ages 65 and older, who are generally fit with no limiting health conditions, get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity every week. Adults who have limiting health conditions are advised to engage in as much physical activity as their abilities permit. However, only 17.6% of adults ages 65 and older met the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the lowest of any age group. Routine exercise has been shown to reduce premature death and risks for many chronic diseases including:"

Go here -> https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/senior/measure/exercise_sr/state/U.S.

"On June 11, the Public Service Commission (PSC) made a terrible decision: It allowed utilities in Wisconsin to start disconnecting power, as of July 25, from people who’ve fallen behind on their payments.

Gov. Tony Evers, to his credit, in March urged the PSC to issue a moratorium on such shut-offs, which it did, until July 25, on the assumption that the coronavirus pandemic would be under control by now and that our economy would be humming. But neither is true. The pandemic is back with a vengeance, and the unemployment rate stands at 12 percent.

Many people simply can’t pay their utilities right now. To allow the utility companies to shut them off will be a disaster.

Please contact the PSC commissioners and urge them to change their minds on this issue and to extend this much-needed moratorium.

Here’s how you contact them: PSCConsumerAffairsMail@wisconsin.gov."

Go here -> https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2020/07/15/op-ed-dont-let-utilities-shut-off-peoples-power/

"The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession are wreaking havoc on Wisconsin. The state is likely facing a massive revenue shortfall, which will significantly affect its budget and ability to provide crucial services. If the President and Congress do not provide substantial additional aid, Wisconsin state and local governments will be forced to lay off teachers and other workers, cut important services like health care and education, and take other actions that would make the recession longer and more painful. These budget cuts would fall most heavily on families with low incomes and people of color, who have already been hit the hardest by the pandemic and the recession.

States need to keep money flowing through communities to help the economy recover. But the pandemic forced the closure of a lot of economic activity, which resulted in huge job losses and correspondingly less revenue to pay for critical services that help communities thrive economically. In May, Wisconsin had an unemployment rate of 12.0%, one of the highest rates ever recorded, with roughly 375,000 more state residents without jobs compared to February. Approximately 720,000 Wisconsinites, representing 23% percent of the state’s February labor force, have filed unemployment insurance claims since the beginning of March."

Go here -> http://www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org/federal-funding-is-essential-to-saving-wisconsins-economy-and-public-services
And here -> https://www.epi.org/blog/without-federal-aid-to-state-and-local-governments-5-3-million-workers-will-likely-lose-their-jobs-by-the-end-of-2021-see-estimated-job-losses-by-state/