Last winter was one of the harshest, hitting millions of Americans with spikes in their winter utility bills. Unfortunately, here we are, one year later, facing yet another polar vortex. Meteorologists predict some of the coldest blasts of frigid temperatures over the next several days, which has energy experts worried about the impact on consumers’ utility bills, as well as on the reliability of the electric grid we all depend on.
As Polar Vortex 2015 moves across the country, consumers could face spikes in electricity bills, with seniors on fixed incomes and lower income Americans hit the hardest. According to a recent survey, high energy prices already have forced more than 40 percent of low-income seniors to go without needed medical or dental care, and even to skip meals or shut off the heat on cold days.
It may seem odd to be predicting another energy price spike since oil, natural gas and coal prices have all fallen recently. But it’s not the market that will be driving prices higher. It’s politics.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
In an effort to support the 42.1 million caregivers in the U.S. who are caring for parents and older loved ones, AARP and the Ad Council are unveiling a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) as an extension of their ongoing Caregiver Assistance Campaign. The campaign, created pro bono by agency DDB New York, is supported by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) who are urging their members to run the spots in the weeks leading up to both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7514151-ad-council-caregiver-assistance/
Nearly six of ten Americans will develop kidney disease in their lifetime, according to a new analysis published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. In comparison, lifetime risk of diabetes, heart attack and invasive cancer is approximately four in ten.
As a result of this and previous studies, the National Kidney Foundation is calling on healthcare professionals to screen patients in specific high-risk groups for kidney disease – those age 60 or older and those with high blood pressure or diabetes – by adding a simple urine albumin test for kidney damage to annual physical examinations.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62772-national-kidney-foundation-study-screening-for-disease
Occasional forgetfulness is a normal part of the aging process; the memory loss and disorientation caused by Alzheimer's are not. Fresh video, photos, documents and links posted in the Brookdale Alzheimer's Resource Center explain Alzheimer's warning signs and how they differ from typical age-related memory slips. The new material also details Brookdale's innovative Clare Bridge Crossings program for people in the early stages of dementia and how a family credits it with slowing the advance of their loved one's Alzheimer's.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7087731-brookdale-senior-living/
For a group of budding business people, living with senior citizens for five days gives impetus to their dreams. It also encourages innovation that could improve the lives of the aging. They are all participants in Brookdale’s Entrepreneur in Residence program, part of the company’s “Rewiring Aging” initiative to enrich seniors’ lives through technology. Recently launched by America’s largest senior living provider, the program offers those entrepreneurs developing products and services for seniors the opportunity to move in for that period of time so they can better understand the true wants and needs of the aging.
“The majority of start-ups focus on younger markets, but we have seen a growing number of entrepreneurs interested in building solutions for seniors and their families” said Andrew Smith, Brookdale’s director of strategy and innovation. “The 80 and above age group is America’s fastest-growing population. We believe there’s an enormous opportunity to enhance seniors’ lives with new technologies, services, products and business models. This program gives entrepreneurs a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we hope will inspire even more innovation for the aging.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7722155-brookdale-senior-living-innovate/
Decorated U.S. war veteran Romulo (Romy) Camargo starts his day like most of us. He wakes up, gets a drink of water, has some breakfast, brushes his teeth, and gets dressed. But for Camargo, whose injuries in Afghanistan left him paralyzed from the neck down, these morning routines require some assistance. And Toyota is learning how to help.
Thanks to Camargo, Toyota recently completed the first North American in-home trial of the Human Support Robot (HSR). The HSR is one of the “partner robots” Toyota is developing to assist people with everyday activities. Toyota is actively researching ways to apply advanced technologies to help people with limited mobility, including seniors or those who are disabled.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8053352-toyota-human-support-robot-mobility-disability/
The month of June held major milestones for local non-profit Harlem RBI. The community-based youth development organization broke fundraising records with a 20th anniversary gala, announced an $85 million project with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Yankees’ First Baseman Mark Teixeira and ultimately, celebrated the graduation of 33 high school seniors along with more than 200 family and friends in East Harlem.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/harlemrbi/50769/
More than half (53 percent) of family members serving as primary caregivers for loved ones have lost income due to the demands of providing care. The study, Beyond Dollars: A Way Forward, also found that caregivers whose loved ones did not have long term care insurance face additional stresses including covering the cost of daily living, medical and other support-type needs.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54349-genworth-study-planning-reduces-stress-faced-by-caregivers-long-term-care
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that its first doses of Fluzone® (Influenza Vaccine) for the 2016-2017 influenza (“flu”) season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for shipment. This represents the first of more than 65 million total doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur that will be delivered to U.S. health care providers and pharmacies beginning in July and continuing throughout the remainder of the year. Sanofi Pasteur plans to increase its supply to respond to the shifting pediatric public health needs.
Seasonal influenza activity typically occurs between October and May and peaks between December and February. However, influenza activity peaked noticeably late last season occurring in early March 2016.1 Influenza seasons are always unpredictable as new influenza strains emerge and strain activity fluctuates throughout the year, making timely vaccination even more important to help protect against the virus, especially for seniors, young children and infants six months of age and older.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7842051-sanofi-pasteur-influenza-vaccine/
According to a new AARP poll1, almost three out of ten people who are caring for a loved one say their life has changed since becoming a caregiver. More than one in five says their weight, exercise, or social life has suffered.
To illustrate the complexity and help the 42 million sons and daughters, friends and spouses caring for parents and loved ones see themselves as caregivers, AARP and the Ad Council are unveiling a new suite of Public Service Advertisements (PSAs) as part of their Caregiver Assistance campaign. The PSAs will be distributed today as part of National Family Caregivers Month (November) and direct caregivers to tools and resources to help cope with their daily responsibilities at aarp.org/caregiving.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/63968-ad-council-aarp-caregiver-assistance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed sweeping regulations that would require states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by an average of 30 percent nationally. This costly plan is another step in the administration's policies designed to eliminate low cost and reliable electricity and replace it with more expensive and less reliable sources.
"The rule is a stunning attempt to remake the nation's entire electric grid at great cost to households and businesses across the US. Our manufacturing base will become less competitive because of higher electricity prices. The impact of this regulation will be felt by families as they will spend more to heat and cool their homes. Those on fixed incomes and seniors will be forced to pay a disproportionately higher share of their monthly budget on utilities," said Hal Quinn, president and CEO, National Mining Association."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
