The State of Nursing Home Care in the U.S.

Dr. Dana Mukamel, economist and UCI professor of medicine, will talk about her findings in the Health Services Research journal published Dec 2023, in collaboration with Heather Ladd, Debra Saliba, and Tamara Konextzka; all of who whom have found that not just adding staff, but specialized training and a more stable labor will improve outcomes in American nursing home care, including dementia care. One of the resources that she particularly found useful for listeners to reference is the Quality Care Compare resource: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/certification-compliance/five-star-quality-rating-system.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; #17 Wilhelm Peterson-Berger composer, “Gratulation,” Nordic Piano Favorites – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MukamelPod1-23-24.mp3

“The Problem of Alzheimer’s”

Returning to the show is Dr. Jason Karlawish, professor of medicine, medical ethics, health policy, and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and co- director of the Penn Memory Center. He brings his newly released book, “The Problem of Alzheimer’s; How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned A Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It.” It is a history, a manual, a call to action, and potential for a play; all in one book.
Music credits: Greg Foat, “Symphonie Pacifique;” Chet Baker, “I Remember You.” http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/KarlawishPod5-4-21.mp3

Your Guide to Medicare Enrollment AND “Dr. Keeling’s Curve”

Jack Cheevers, Public Information Officer for Region 9 of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, talks about the basics and intricacies of Medicare enrollment.

In my second (minute 28:50), George Shea, playwright and children’s book author, George Shea, merges science with art as he talks about his play “Dr. Keeling’s Curve,” a subversive and lovely play for these times, for all audiences.