February 2011

February 22, 2011

Social Activity Can Reduce Disability in Old Age

Bingo. Image Credit: 888 Ladies

A study that will be published in the April issue of Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences suggests that the elderly can avoid developing age-related disabilities by engaging in physical and social activities, such as meeting up with friends, engaging in light housework or gardening, walking, swimming, running and playing board games.

The study examined 954 adults with an average age of 82, none of whom were suffering from any form of disability. Participants were surveyed on the frequency of their physical and social activities. Participants were also asked if they were able to perform six basic daily tasks (bathing, feeding, walking, moving across a room, toileting and dressing) independently.

The study concluded that adults who partake in “high levels” of physical and social activity are twice as likely to live free from disability. It is thought that high physical activity helps improve strength and flexibility, while social interaction will help the elderly avoid loneliness.

Study author Bryan James, Ph.D., from the Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Rush University, believes that social activity is an “essential component of healthy aging” and that his study has provided “strong evidence that it is also related to better every day functioning and less disability in age.”

While more research is needed to determine whether prolonged social and physical activity can stave off disability indefinitely, the study results are promising. In a press statement, Dr. James states the study’s findings are significant because “social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability.”

The study does not conclude if its findings are “universally applicable,” but does acknowledge that diet and culture may also play a role.

It is widely known that regular physical and social activity can decrease stress levels, improve mental health and promote an overall sense of well-being. It makes perfect sense that they would also help cope with or combat disability. Click here to read more studies published in the Journal of Gerontology.

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Tags: Journal of Gerontology, managing disability, social activity

February 18, 2011

Canadian Revenue Agency to Target Firms Filing False Disability Claims

National Benefit Authority Claims Ad. Image Source: National Benefit Authority.

According to recent reports by the Toronto Star, The Canada Revenue Agency has vowed to “shut down” companies that encourage filing exaggerated or fraudulent disability tax credit claims.

At the centre of this initiative is a Toronto firm called the National Benefit Authority. An investigative report by CBC and Star determined the organization, which pays doctors to certify clients’ disabilities, has used at least one doctor who is not licensed to practice medicine in Canada, as well as another doctor that was found to be “incompetent” by the province’s physician regulation body. Both doctors certified patients as “disabled”, despite being unqualified to do so.

According to the Toronto Star, the president of the National Benefit Authority takes a 30% commission on all successful claims and has been “aggressively” marketing and growing its business.

Many former National Benefit Authority employees have come forward claiming that the company has filed various claims of a “dubious” nature to the Canada Revenue Agency. Other former employees have claimed that clients were “encouraged to exaggerate” their claims – one of them estimating that approximately “70%” of the claims handled by the National Benefit Authority were fraudulent or exaggerated (NBA president Akiva Medjuck has disputed this allegation on the basis that his employees are not qualified to judge the merit of a disability claim).

National Benefit representatives have defended their business practices and filed a complaint against the Toronto Star’s allegations. Medjuck argues that the company has not made any “dubious or illegitimate claims, saying that: “NBA helps people who believe they have disabilities to navigate the complicated process of applying for (the credit).”

False disability claims are a huge problem that penalizes all Canadian taxpayers and citizens who are living with legitimate disabilities. Each year, the Government of Canada grants approximately $700 million a year in disability benefits. All of this money should go towards people who actually require assistance and products for special needs.

If you suspect a firm is submitting false or exaggerated disability claims to the Canadian Revenue Agency, contact them and file a report at once.

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February 9, 2011

US and Canada Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

It is a new year and students are well into their semesters. Of course it is never too early to begin planning for next term, especially when planning involves scholarship money.

Canadian Scholarships for Youths with Disabilities

The CCRW (Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work) is warding six scholarships, $2,500 each, for qualifying students with disabilities. What exactly are the qualifying disabilities and other requirements, you ask? Well, according to the CCRW website, applicants must do/have the following to qualify:

Be permanently afflicted with a long-term and reoccurring disability, which poses limitations on the performance of activities required to be involved in educational activities.
Be leaving high school and embarking upon first year (undergraduate) Canadian post secondary school, recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
full-time/
Not be related to or in any way involved with scholarship selection committee members.
Be a potential first time recipient of the CCRW scholarships. If you have been awarded one in the past, you unfortunately do not qualify.

Learn more about Youth Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities.

US Scholarships for Youth with Disabilities

According to Scholarships.com there are plenty of scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities.

There are also scholarships specific to students with parents who have disabilities, awarded through Through The Looking Glass. To eligible for this particular scholarship from Through The Looking Glass, applicants must have one or more parents with disability, and be either a) Graduating or recently graduated from high school with the intent to attend a college or junior college in an effort to obtain an Associates of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science, or b) Be enrolled in a college or junior college as of Fall 2011 with the intent to earn an Associates of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science.

Get more information about Scholarships for Students of Parents with Disabilities.

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Tags: Canada, CCRW, Disability, disabled, Students With Disabilities, Through the Looking Glass, US, Youth Scolarhips

February 3, 2011

Winter a Difficult Time for the Disabled

While most people don’t like winter storms, black ice and slush, the winter months can be particularly challenging for the disabled.

A recent article published on WWLP News tells the plights of Rene Roy of West Springfield, Massachusetts. Confined to a power chair, the recent ice and snow storms have been making his frequent medication runs challenging.

Ice-covered, unsalted walkways have rendered many sidewalks unusable for Roy, forcing him onto the road and placing him alongside fast-moving cars and trucks, many of whom don’t see Roy until the last minute, if at all.

This winter, Roy has been nearly run off the road by carless drivers and has collided with snow banks. It’s enough to make anyone want to ride out the winter months indoors.

Uncleared sidewalks and ramps may be nuisance for the general public but for the disabled, they can be debilitating. Countless people find themselves trapped inside their homes for days, sometimes weeks, after a snowstorm due to a lack of snow clearing services. This year has been particularly bad, with record-breaking storms occurring all over the United States. Generally, snow cleanup after a storm is the responsibility of the municipality. Reporting uncleared pathways to City Hall is often the most effective means of resolving the problem.

There are a few precautions to take when preparing for an upcoming snowstorm. Stocking up on canned food, bottled water and toiletries will minimize the need to leave the house when the weather is treacherous. If possible, arrange to pick up all medication a few days before a storm is expected to hit.

Having the wheels on a power chair or wheel chair changed at the beginning of a snowy season also recommended. Like a car, a wheelchair performs better in winter weather when its tires have good treads. When leaving the house, always bring a fully-charged cell-phone along, as well as some sort of identification. Taking a buddy along doesn’t hurt either and greatly lessens the chance of an accident occurring.

When braving the winter weather, it’s always best to err on the side of caution, disabled or not!

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Tags: disabled, elderly, health, mobility, sidewalks, snow, winter