Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore how medical care is delivered to older people in assisted living (AL) settings and to suggest ways for improving it. Design and Methods: We present a review of the limited research available on health care for older AL residents and on building testable models of better ways to organize primary…

Background: As patterns of morbidity and mortality are changing, more people with intellectual disabilities develop cancer or other life-limiting illness. This paper reviews the literature around the need of people with intellectual disabilities for palliative care. Methods: A range of databases and the World Wide Web were searched for relevant…

Nonprofit family-run organizations, such as Tennessee Voices for Children (TVC), are providing leadership in advocating for and delivering services to children and families in need. Utilizing a family-driven approach and a staff partially comprised of parent-professionals, TVC's Nashville Connection and Family Connection programs have strengthened…

This document contains witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine issues involved in maintaining and strengthening Medicare Health Maintenance Orgranizations (HMO). Opening statements are included from Representatives Edward Roybal, Matthew Rinaldo, Mario Biaggi, Don Bonker, Robert Borski, Louise…

This report presents data analyzed by county and multicounty planning region which indicate that North Carolina's infant mortality rate has declined by 59 percent since 1940. (In 1940, approximately 58 infants for every 1,000 live births died in North Carolina before their first birthday.) This reduction in infant deaths is comparable to that…

Uses statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics to show that rural elders have greater health needs than urban elders but receive less care. Barriers to adequate health care include ignorance and denial, a tendency to use lay rather than professional treatment, and financial and transportation difficulties. (JAC)

Presents suggestions for severity of disability criteria and closure criteria for severely disabled clients being served by an independent living rehabilitation center. Suggestions are founded on experience from a three-year-old project. Measurements of physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors for inclusion in the two sets of criteria are…

This paper is concerned with the problem that elderly persons do not seek or receive mental health services as frequently as their numbers or the incidence of mental health problems would indicate is appropriate. The report focuses on the identification of innovative mental health service delivery programs which have been designed to reach and to…

Notes that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide large volume of health care services to older Americans. Contends that HMOs must reexamine general practice of equating utilization of services with health care need and collect better population-based information, including measures of health status. Discusses data elements widely…

This document presents witnesses' testimonies and related materials from the Congressional hearing called to consider how the federal government can better meet the health needs of the homeless. Opening statements are included from Congressmen Henry Waxman, Ron Wyden, and Gerry Sikorski. Witnesses providing testimony include Robert Gallagher and…

Reviewing the history of Indian health care in the U.S., this article argues that passage of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, now before Congress, would provide better health services for American Indians via a delivery system that encourages Indian participation and self-actualization. (JC)

Primary Mental Health Workers (PMHWs) have been deployed to address the mental health needs of young offenders in two UK areas. The mental health characteristics of 60 young people consecutively referred to these PMHWs, the assessment outcome and interventions offered, are described. Findings indicate the usefulness of such a model in providing an…

Planning and research related to long-term care for American Indian elderly population lag behind state-of-the-art. Indian Health Service, major health care provider for this population, has resisted developing services specific to older tribal members. Innovative efforts have, however, emerged at local level. (Author/NB)