Healt Articles healthy trim recipes insurance snacks healthy fast food

1. Percentage of elderly persons in 1989 who lived alone and were below or near poverty level. (Source: US Senate Special Committee on Aging, the American As¬sociation of Retired Persons, the Federal Council on the Aging, and the US Administration on Aging, Aging America: Trends and Projections 1991 Edition, based on Bureau of the Census, 1990.)

Bereavement
The process of living alone usually begins when a spouse dies. Among both men and women, the mortality rate for a spouse left alone rises immediately. In the first week after the death of a spouse, the ex¬pected mortality rate doubles, and death usually results from ischemic heart disease. In the first 3 mo after the death of a spouse, the mortality rate increases 48% in men > 65 yr old and 22% in women > 65 yr old. Up to 10 yr after the death of a spouse, men have a higher rate of death than would be expected from infectious diseases, accidents, and sui¬cide. Physicians who provide health care to bereaved elderly persons need to be watchful and supportive. Referral to self-help groups, such as Widow-to-Widow, may be helpful. For frail elderly persons, social support and sources of interaction should be identified and access to vital services secured.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.