Press Releases

Three New ILC-USA Issue Briefs Tackle Geriatric Health Concerns: Immunizations, Drug Safety & Avoidable Hospitalizations

NEW YORK (December 20, 2007)— Solutions for urgent health concerns of older adults are outlined in three new issue briefs from the International Longevity Center-USA (ILC-USA). Immunizations—Not Just for Kids addresses the often overlooked immunizations older persons require. The Need for Drug Safety—The Older Person and Ageism argues for stricter post-marketing surveillance of drugs in the 65+ population. Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations suggests how to curb the increasing hospital admissions for chronic diseases in Europe.

Immunizations—Not Just for Kids by Dr. Harrison Bloom
Vaccinations are beneficial for most people of all ages. Yet the mistaken belief persists that, with the exception of the flu vaccine, children should be the primary recipients of this important area of primary disease prevention. In fact, older persons require immunization as well. Dr. Harrison Bloom, practicing geriatrician and Senior Associate at the ILC-USA, discusses the importance of a variety of immunizations for adults, with important up-to-date information concerning preventive vaccinations for older persons. The e-brief was sponsored by Astellas USA Foundation, and is available online for free download.

The Need for Drug Safety—The Older Person and Ageism by Dr. Robert N. Butler
With errors in the administration of drugs and adverse reactions accounting for more than 100,000 deaths annually, Dr. Robert N. Butler, president and CEO of the ILC-USA, addresses the urgent need for clinical trials that include older adults and careful monitoring of drugs in the years following approval by the FDA. This issue brief is the latest publication from the ILC-USA Ageism In America project, sponsored by the Open Society Institute.

Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations: A Policy to Increase Value from Health Care Expenditures by Dr. Michael Gusmano, Dr. Victor Rodwin, et al.
An interdisciplinary examination of rates of avoidable hospitalizations in France and England to evaluate access to primary care and identify the extent to which these countries may be able to reduce hospital costs by investing in disease management and primary care. The policy brief was published under the Alliance for Health & the Future, a partnership between ILC-USA, ILC-UK and ILC-France.

To download the full reports or order a hard copy visit www.ilcusa.org/publications.