Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead's supplemental request for the second half of the state's biennium budget includes $13.5 million to care for the senior population, reports the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle . About $2.5 million is being asked for increased enrollment in nursing communities, which is being matched by an equal sum in federal funds. Another $5.72 million is being requested for boosts in Medicare costs related to both inpatient and outpatient medical treatments. "The demographics of the state are changing quickly, and these changes will continue to impact the budget over the next few decades," noted Department of Health Director Tom Forslund. "It's simply a matter of demographics. The state is getting older." Forslund said as baby boomers age, Wyoming will need more money for their care, with a projected $17 million in additional funding for his department with each biennium budget cycle. Wyoming's long-term annual Medicaid costs are forecast to climb from about $130 million now to $312 million by 2030, with half of that amount to be covered by the state.

As the population of California motorists 65 and older grows, many depend on the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to help them maintain their ability to drive safely, reports the Hanford Sentinel . CHP's "Age Well, Drive Smart" program offers seniors tools to keep safe and confident while navigating the state's roadways. The program curriculum includes current state driving laws, safe driving practices, and the impact of aging on a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Also included is a self-assessment element to help identify aging-related changes and offer possible remedies. "Giving seniors the tools to be safe drivers and recognize changes in their physical and mental condition is key to their safety and independence," says CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found persons with late-life depression (LLD) have impaired dual-task gait performance compared to comparably aged individuals lacking cognitive impairment or depression (nondepressed, cognitively intact NDCI), reports Psychiatry Advisor . However, they also have significantly better dual-task gait performance when compared with older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The researchers analyzed three matched groups of individuals, ranging from 60 to 85 years old, with LLD, MCI, and NDCI. The investigators concluded that older adults with LLD underperformed more on dual-task gait than NDCI adults, but were less impaired than older adults with MCI. The implication is that the higher dual-task cost in the LLD cohort is the result of underlying executive dysfunction that is less significant than in people with MCI.

New studies from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) identified exercises that older adults choose and who is most likely to discontinue a training program, reports ScienceNordic . "Information about what older adults prefer enables us to tailor exercise programs to appeal to seniors," says NTNU's Line Skarsem Reitlo. One study published in BMC Geriatrics had some 1,500 participants between 70 and 77 randomly assigned to two exercise groups and a control group; those in the exercise groups performed moderate- or high-intensity training twice weekly, mostly by themselves. "The participants to a great degree managed to practice at the prescribed intensity," Reitlo says. "This is important to know, because it indicates that older people do not need to be monitored to be able to train at high intensity." Walking was the most popular exercise in both groups, representing more than half the activities of moderate-intensity training participants. Another study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise focused on what distinguished the 15 percent of participants who dropped out of the program. Older adults with memory loss and less education had a higher probability of leaving.

Trinity Insurance & Financial Services President Brad Pistole says one in every three retirees returns to work, and a key reason for this is feelings of lost self-worth, reports USA Today . To use retirement wisely, experts suggest retirees consider what their purpose is, whether they have a written retirement plan, and what worthy causes they could dedicate themselves to. Opting to help their adult children with the grandkids is another option. "You might participate more in their educational and sporting activities," Pistole notes. "Volunteer to be a coach for one of their teams. Many people find this to be some of the most rewarding things they ever do." Other recommended choices include discovering and exploring something new, determining one's lifelong passion, and adopting a mindset not to be hindered by obstacles like age. "The obstacle to get over is the 'I am too old,' or 'it's too late for me' attitude," says Gentian Financial President Christopher Doughty.

Democrat lawmakers are looking to state governments to broaden Medicare coverage in 2019 amid a polarized Congress, reports the Washington Times . California Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom supports a single-payer system, while Colorado Gov.-elect Jared Polis aims to consolidate insurance rating zones into one statewide zone so rural regions have reduced premiums. Colorado also is looking into the potential benefits of a Medicaid buy-in scheme. Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham will look to revive a Medicaid buy-in plan. "I think 2019 will hatch some of the ideas in states that could end up becoming great models for federal policy," said Obama-era public insurance program supervisor Andy Slavitt. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-N.M.) intends to propose a bill in the coming session to extend Medicaid coverage to up to 50,000 residents. "We need to be aware that some versions of expanding coverage actions may require federal approval," acknowledged Adam Fox with the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. "And based on recent changes to federal guidance, that may be more challenging than it would have been a year ago or under a different administration."

More and more Americans are lonely, and there is mounting evidence that this can pose significant health risks, according to University of Georgia Professor Kerstin Emerson in HealthDay News . "Recent studies have even suggested that loneliness is a risk factor for early death comparable to smoking or being an alcoholic," she notes. Emerson says identifying lonely people is not always easy. "The only way we can measure loneliness is to ask," she emphasizes. "Usually we ask a series of questions that are part of scales to get at loneliness." Emerson also says because loneliness is a personal problem, it typically requires personalized solutions. "There are therapies that can help people who need to build social skills," she points out. "There are services that will help you get from your home to church or your local senior center. Maybe a virtual chat room would meet your needs." Among actions people can take to reduce loneliness in their community is signing older adults up for classes on how to use social media, offering older relatives or neighbors regular rides to community destinations, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels or other organizations.

Business owners are using their company culture to make their firms more attractive to desired candidates, according to the Associated Press . Openness is a hallmark of the digital marketing company HubShout, with owner Adam Stetzer saying company staffers meet with candidates and disclose the firm's pluses and minuses. A recent Bank of America survey of about 1,000 small business owners found 25 percent of respondents reported moving to a more flexible corporate culture, recognizing that quality of life is as important, if not more valuable, than pay. More than 80 percent said they offer candidates perks or benefits like flexible hours, training and professional development, bonuses, and opportunities to work at a location of their choosing. Franchise companies also are getting into the act, with Monster Tree Service now offering all staffers at franchise locations a $5,000 annual credit toward the cost of starting their own tree removal companies.

A study published in Genome Biology from researchers at the Salk Institute used machine learning to identify key molecular signatures across all age groups that predict aging, reports Earth.com . "We want to develop algorithms that can predict healthy aging and non-healthy aging, and try to find the differences," said Salk's Saket Navlakha. The team analyzed dermal fibroblast skin cells from 133 individuals aged one year to 94 years with about 13 people per decade of age to compile a large enough representation of the different age groups. RNA sequencing was used to identify any biomarkers of aging and the genes that were turned on or off within the cells, and then custom machine learning algorithms analyzed the sequencing data. The algorithms could predict a person's age from their cells within a range of eight years. Tests on subjects with progeria showed the cells were at least 10 years older than the actual age of the subjects they came from. "The fact that our system can predict this kind of aging shows that this model is starting to get at the true underpinnings of biological age," said Salk's Jason Fleischer.

A study from the University of California, Irvine found people who drank moderate amounts of alcohol or coffee lived longer than those who did not, reports KUTV . In addition, people who were overweight in their 70s lived longer than underweight persons. The goal of the study was to determine what makes people live past the age of 90. Additional findings included that 40 percent of people aged 90 and older suffer from dementia while nearly 80 percent are disabled, with both conditions more common in women than in men. About 50 percent of people with dementia over age 90 lack sufficient neuropathology in their brain to explain their cognitive loss. "Because little is known about people who achieve this milestone, the remarkable increase in the number of oldest-old presents a public health priority to promote the quality as well as the quantity of life," said the study authors.