Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Retirement Communities Try To Serve Growing Demand To 'Age In Place'
Is it possible to have it all in retirement? That鈥檚 what so-called continuing care retirement communities promise.These hybrids offer independent living apartments (and sometimes free-standing cottages) along with assisted-living support, home care, a nursing home and often specialized memory care, all within one complex. The idea is for a resident to 鈥渁ge in place鈥 and obtain additional services as that person becomes more frail and dependent, without having to move. (Wasik, 2/26)
"People often don鈥檛 know how they are supposed to respond to me, how they are supposed to act with me,鈥 says [Ron Grant, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚]. That鈥檚 a common problem as an aging population swells the ranks of those with Alzheimer鈥檚 and other forms of dementia 鈥 disorders that impair memory and reasoning. While people with dementia may eventually end up home-bound or in care facilities, most first spend years living in their communities, going to places of worship, stores, banks and restaurants and encountering law enforcement and medical workers. Better preparing everyone from waiters to police officers to support them and their caregivers is the goal of a growing movement for 鈥渄ementia-friendly communities.鈥 Grant is a spokesman for the largest effort, a coalition called Dementia Friendly America (DFA). (Painter, 2/28)