Alone and Invisible No More : How Grassroots Community Action and 21st Century Technologies Can Empower Elders to Stay in Their Homes and Lead Healthier, Happier Lives

"Within the next two decades, tens of millions of Americans will reach the age where they will need either significant support to stay in their own homes or a cost-effective residential alternative. The current state of elder care in America is appalling, expensive, and unsustainable. It underserves the majority of elderly Americans and bankrupts all but the richest few while virtually ignoring this population's complex physical and mental needs. At a time when we should be celebrating the achievements and wisdom of the oldest citizens, we instead find ways to overmedicate and isolate them in dehumanizing nursing-home facilities. And space for more residents within this system is running out. There must be a better way! In Alone and Invisible No More, physician Dr. Allan S. Teel, MD, describes a philosophy and a course of action that have turned aging in place into a viable alternative for dozens of elderly residents in Damariscotta, Maine. Teel lays out a course of action to expand his approach to the millions of Americans approaching retirement age and how these techniques can be used to avert the financial and personal disaster approaching nationwide. He discusses the resources--both technological and professional--needed to guide this transition and the community support that will be critical to its success. Taking this "Maine Approach" to the rest of the country could create a climate where Americans welcome rather than fear the approach of their golden years"--Provided by publisher.;Gram Teel -- The gray tsunami -- A brief history of residential care in America -- The Lincoln home -- Cove's Edge -- Forgive me, Elsie -- A better way, we thought -- Government regulation beyond reason -- The state of Maine vs. common sense -- Breakthrough: the roots of the Main approach -- How the Maine approach was born: the pilot project -- The Maine approach menu -- Connecting elders to each other and to caregivers through technology -- The Maine approach in action -- Early successes and tough lessons -- The dignity of risk -- Are we there yet? Not by a mile -- Alone and invisible too: the next generation -- Rolling it out nationally, reaping additional rewards -- Closing thoughts. When The U.s. Public Health Service Endorsed Water Fluoridation In 1950, There Was Little Evidence Of Its Safety. Now, Six Decades Later And After Most Countries Have Rejected The Practice, Many Cities And Towns Across The United States Continue To Fluoridate Their Water Supply And The Center For Disease Control And The American Dental Association Continue To Endorse It, Despite Increasing Evidence That It Is Not Only Unnecessary, But Potentially Hazardous To Human Health. In This Timely And Important Book, Dr. Paul Connett, Dr. James Beck, And Dr. H. Spedding Micklem Take A New Look At The Science Behind Water Fluoridation And Argue That Just Because The Medical Establishment Endorses A Public Health Measure, That Doesn't Mean It's Safe.^ In The Case Of Water Fluoridation, The Chemicals Used To Fluoridate The Water That More Than 180 Million People Drink Each Day Are Not Pharmaceutical Grade, But Rather Hazardous Waste Products Of The Phosphate Fertilizer Industry; It Is Illegal To Dump Them Into Rivers And Lakes Or Release Them Into The Atmosphere. And Water Fluoridation Is A Prime Example Of One Of The Worst Medical Practices Possible-forced Medication With No Control Over The Dose Or Who Gets It. Perhaps Most Shocking Of All, It Is Not Subject To Any Federal Regulation. At Once Painstakingly-documented And Also Highly-readable, The Case Against Fluoride Brings New Research To Light, Including Links Between Fluoride And Harm To The Brain, Bones, And Kidneys, And Argues That While There Is Possible Value In Topical Applications Like Brushing Your Teeth With Fluoride Toothpaste, The Evidence That Swallowing Fluoride Reduces Tooth Decay Is Surprisingly Weak.^ The Case Against Fluoride Doesn't Question The Good Intentions Of Dentists Who Support Fluoridation, But Rather Explores The Poor Science, Bizarre Tactics, Biased Reviews, And Puzzling Motivations Of A Relatively Small Number Of Influential People Who Continue To Push This Practice On A Largely Ill-informed Public. Pt. 1. Ethical And General Arguments Against Fluoridation : Poor Medical Practice ; An Inappropriate And Inefficient Practice ; The Chemicals Used ; Who Is In Charge? ; An Experimental Program -- Pt. 2. The Evidence That Fluoridation Is Ineffective : Fluoridation And Tooth Decay ; The Early Evidence Reexamined ; Key Modern Studies -- Pt. 3. The Great Fluoridation Gamble : The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1930-1950 ; The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1950- -- Pt. 4. The Evidence Of Harm : Dental Fluorosis ; Fluoride's Chemistry, Biochemistry, And Physiology ; Fluoride Poisoning Of Humans: Early Reversible Effects ; The 2006 National Research Council Report ; Fluoride And The Brain ; Fluoride And The Endocrine System ; Fluoride And Bone ; Fluoride And Osteosarcoma ; Fluoride And The Kidneys, And Other Health Issues -- Pt. 5. Margin Of Safety And The Precautionary Principle : Margin Of Safety ; The Precautionary Principle -- Pt. 6. The Promoters And The Techniques Of Promotion : Weak And Inadequate Science ; Promoters' Strategies And Tactics ; Self-serving Governmental Reviews ; A Response To Pro-fluoridation Claims ; The Promoters' Motivations -- Review And Conclusion -- Appendix 1: Fluoride And The Brain ; Appendix 2: Fluoride And Bone. Paul Connett, James Beck, H.s. Micklem ; Foreword By Albert W. Burgstahler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [291]-355) And Index. "What would real healthcare reform look like? And how can everyday Americans trump big money and put healthcare back on track? Howard Dean speaks out."The success of healthcare reform legislation rises and falls on whether the American public is allowed to opt into a universally available public healthcare program, like Medicare, or not. If Congress issues a bill that gives Americans a public option, then there will be real healthcare reform. If not, we could be back fighting about it for another 20 years before anybody tries again." --Howard Dean Americans have pondered how to reform healthcare since the days of Harry Truman. But, for most Americans, little has changed--except that healthcare costs have soared, health insurance companies have grown richer, and, today, even those Americans who pay dearly for health insurance frequently find that their policies don't adequately cover them when they need their coverage most. Something has got to give. In his bold, new book, Howard Dean-the physician and former governor widely credited for reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections-tells Americans what needs to be done to successfully reform healthcare. One key, he writes, is to offer Americans the option to participate in a public healthcare program, much like Medicare. "America has had 'socialized' medicine since 1964," says Dean. "It's called Medicare; it covers every American over 65, and the majority of them are happy with the program. The rest of America deserves a similar option." In this straight-talking guide to rising above today's healthcare crisis, Dean spells Millions of Americans lack health insurance; millions more pay for coverage that doesn't protect them from serious illness; and the status quo leaves Americans at the mercy of corporate interests. In this persuasive argument from a passionate political strategist, Americans learn how to take back the healthcare reins. When the U.S. Public Health Service endorsed water fluoridation in 1950, there was little evidence of its safety. Now, six decades later and after most countries have rejected the practice, more than 70 percent of Americans, as well as 200 million people worldwide, are drinking fluoridated water. The Center for Disease Control and the American Dental Association continue to promote it--and even mandatory statewide water fluoridation--despite increasing evidence that it is not only unnecessary, but potentially hazardous to human health. In this timely and important book, Dr. Paul Connett, Dr. James Beck, and Dr. H. Spedding Micklem take a new look at the science behind water fluoridation and argue that just because the dental and medical establishments endorse a public health measure doesn't mean it's safe. In the case of water fluoridation, the chemicals that go into the drinking water that more than 180 million people drink each day are not even pharmaceutical grade, but rather a hazardous waste product of the phosphate fertilizer industry. It is illegal to dump this waste into the sea or local surface water, and yet it is allowed in our drinking water. To make matters worse, this program receives no oversight from the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency takes no responsibility for the practice. And from an ethical standpoint, say the authors, water fluoridation is a bad medical practice: individuals are being forced to take medication without their informed consent, there is no control over the dose, and no monitoring of possible side effects. At once painstakingly documented and also highly readable, The Case Against Fluoride brings new research to light, including links between fluoride and harm to the brain, bones, and endocrine system, and argues that the evidence that fluoridation reduces tooth decay is surprisingly weak.
If the medical profession you'd devoted your life to was completely taken over by liability concerns and insurance regulations, would you stay a physician?

The Color of Atmosphere tells one doctor's story and the route of her medical career with warmth, humor, and above all, honesty. As we follow Maggie Kozel from her idealistic days as a devoted young pediatrician, through her Navy experience with universal health coverage, and on into the world of private practice, we see not only her reverence for medical science, and her compassion for her patients, but also the widening gap between what she was trained to do and what is eventually expected of her.

Her personal story plays out against the backdrop of our changing health-care system, and demonstrates the way our method of paying for health care has reached its way into the exam room, putting a stranglehold on how doctors practice, and profoundly influencing the doctor-patient relationship. The stories she shares illustrate the medical, economic, and moral complexities of US health care. To understand Dr. Kozel's ultimate decision to leave medicine is to better comprehend the disconnect between our considerable medical resources and how our health-care system falls short of delivering them.

(Publisher-supplied data) If the medical profession you'd devoted your life to was completely taken over by liability concerns and insurance regulations, would you stay a physician? The Color of Atmosphere tells one doctor's story and the route of her medical career with warmth, humor, and above all, honesty. As we follow Maggie Kozel from her idealistic days as a devoted young pediatrician, through her Navy experience with universal health coverage, and on into the world of private practice, we see not only her reverence for medical science, and her compassion for her patients, but also the widening gap between what she was trained to do and what is eventually expected of her. Her personal story plays out against the backdrop of our changing health-care system, and demonstrates the way our method of paying for health care has reached its way into the exam room, putting a stranglehold on how doctors practice, and profoundly influencing the doctor-patient relationship. The stories she shares illustrate the medical, economic, and moral complexities of US health care. To understand Dr. Kozel's ultimate decision to leave medicine is to better comprehend the disconnect between our considerable medical resources and how our health-care system falls short of delivering them. Examines The Current Healthcare Crisis In The United States And Sets Forth Changes That Will Reduce Spending, Eliminate Waste, And Provide Affordable Coverage To All Americans. The Trouble With Private Health Insurance -- Healthcare Reform Is Business Reform -- Our Responsibility -- The Starter Pack : Fundamental Elements Of Healthcare Reform -- President Obama's Healthcare Plan -- Reform Without A Public Health Insurance Option Is Not Real Reform -- How To Control Costs -- How To Pay For All This -- Why Is This So Hard To Pass? -- The Black Hats : Special Interests And Other Opposition -- Healthcare Reform Is Not A New Idea -- How Do Other Countries Do It? -- Eleven Myths -- Know The Bottom Line -- Meet Your Neighbors : You May Be One Of Them -- What You Can Do For Your Neighbors, Your Country, And Yourself. Howard Dean ; With Igor Volsky And Faiz Shakir. Includes Index. Big dreams in a small place Safe landing The color of atmosphere The heart of the matter The facts of life Casper and friends Nature and other mothers The front line Universal appeal Cradle wisdom Reality, civilian-style To have and to have not Brian and Billy Family ties Mae Nuts and bolts Between the lines The best defense Leaning into pain Follow the money Tilting at obesity Uncommon sense Fast talk Johnny, James, and John Codes to live by Fracture Nothing personal The worried well Calling Dr. Pez Spoonfuls of sugar Night vision A ride through the desert An open door Just what the doctor ordered Ripples of grief The long good-bye. The trouble with private health insurance Healthcare reform is business reform Our responsibility The starter pack : fundamental elements of healthcare reform Obama's healthcare plan Reform without a public health insurance option is not real reform How to control costs Financing reform : a carbon tax Why is this so hard to pass? The black hats : special interests and other opposition Healthcare reform is not a new idea How do other countries do it? Eleven myths Know the bottom line Meet your neighbors : you may be one of them What you can do for your neighbors, your country, and yourself. In Alone and Invisible No More , physician Allan S. Teel, MD, describes how to overhaul our eldercare system. Based on his own efforts to create humane, affordable alternatives in Maine, Teel's program harnesses both staff and volunteers to help people remain in their homes and communities. It offers assistance with everyday challenges, uses technology to keep older people connected to each other and their families, and stay safe. This approach works. Howard Dean-the physician and former governor widely credited with reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections-brings his unique, no-nonsense perspective to the healthcare debate. At a time when healthcare reform finally is within reach, Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform is a riveting call to action that explains both the obstacles to reform and what it will take to achieve real healthcare reform Looks at the prevalence of toxic chemicals in the food supply, household cleaners, water systems, and other aspects of modern life, exposing the direct link between the chemical industry and the growth in childhood disease and disabilities-- The author shares her dream of becoming a doctor, her Navy experience working with patients who all had medical coverage through the government, the shock of entering private practice, and her final decision to leave medicine. Inquest Indictment Victims Evidence Scene of the crime Forensics Perpetrators Co-conspirators Witnesses for the defense Posse Comitatus Values Justice.