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Study: Suicide Rates On The Rise Across The US In the wake of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s suicide, a newly released study says suicide rates have increased nearly 30 percent in the U.S. in the last 20 years. Research shows suicides are up in almost every state across the country. In 2016, nearly 45,000 people took their lives. More than half did not have a known mental health diagnosis. “We found that many common life stressors were present in the period preceding the suicide, in relationship problems, financial and job issues, physical health concerns,” said Dr. Anne Shuchat, deputy director with the Centers for Disease Control.
Locally, suicide rates in Pennsylvania are up 34.3 percent, in New Jersey up 19.2 percent and in Delaware, there’s been almost a 6 percent increase. Signs and symptoms to look for include isolation, agitation, anger, alcohol or drug use and changes in sleep patterns. Experts say it’s important to have a conversation if you’re concerned about someone.
“Be quite direct and say, ‘I’m concerned about you, here’s what I’ve noticed,’ and if they’re expressing feelings of hopelessness, I would encourage anyone to ask the question: ‘When it gets that way for you, do you ever think of ending your life?’ And just like that, that will open up a space where they can talk about what’s really going on,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer with the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The biggest increase in suicides was in North Dakota, where the rate jumped more than 57 percent. The CDC says there were a higher number of suicides in areas hard hit by the economic downturn, especially in rural areas in western states. Help is just a phone call way. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK or text “TALK” to 741741.
Is Surgery Right for Your Older Loved One? AS PEOPLE AGE, SURGERY and anesthesia can take a greater toll on their bodies and minds. Recovery may take longer. In many cases, however, patients in their late 60s, 70s and beyond can do just as well postoperatively as much younger patients. To determine surgical risk, it's important to look at the whole person beyond his or her birthdate. Special considerations for older adults include possible
frailty, chronic conditions, current medications and mental health status. Where people live, how they function and their individual health goals all matter. For some older patients, watchful waiting may be preferable to invasive surgery. If you or a loved one is contemplating or preparing for surgery, here's what clinicians should look for. Old age alone is not to blame
for increased surgical complications. That was a major finding from a large review of 44 studies comprising more than 12,000 patients 80 and older who underwent elective surgery. However, frailty, smoking, mental impairment and depression increased the risk for experiencing complications in this age group, according to the study released January in the
journal BMC Medicine. A simple hand-squeeze test at the doctor's office is one way to tell whether a patient might be too frail for surgery. Using a device called a hand-grip dynamometer – typically used to test hand and forearm strength in athletes – in conjunction with a patient's body mass index, clinicians can quickly and precisely measure frailty, according to a study in the May 2018 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery….Read More
Organizing Paperwork: Tips for Caregivers Organizing paperwork is one way that a long-distance caregiver can be a big help. An important part of effective caregiving depends on keeping a great deal of information in order and up to date. Often, long -distance caregivers will need access to a parent’s or relative's personal, health, financial, and legal records. Getting all this material together is a lot of work at first, and from far away it can seem
even more challenging. But once you have gathered everything together, many other caregiving tasks will be easier. Maintaining current information about your parent’s health and medical care, as well as finances, home ownership, and other legal issues, lets you get a handle on what is going on and allows you to respond more
quickly if there is a crisis. If you do not see the care recipient often, one visit may not be enough time for you to get all the paperwork organized. Instead, try to focus on gathering the essentials first, and fill in the blanks as you go along. Talk with the older person and the primary caregiver about any missing information or
documentation and how you might help to organize the records. It is also a good idea to make sure that all financial matters, including wills and life insurance policies, are in order. It will also help if someone has a durable power of attorney (the legal document naming one person to handle financial and property issues for another)….Read More
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