The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed sweeping regulations that would require states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by an average of 30 percent nationally. This costly plan is another step in the administration's policies designed to eliminate low cost and reliable electricity and replace it with more expensive and less reliable sources.
"The rule is a stunning attempt to remake the nation's entire electric grid at great cost to households and businesses across the US. Our manufacturing base will become less competitive because of higher electricity prices. The impact of this regulation will be felt by families as they will spend more to heat and cool their homes. Those on fixed incomes and seniors will be forced to pay a disproportionately higher share of their monthly budget on utilities," said Hal Quinn, president and CEO, National Mining Association."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
Last winter was one of the harshest, hitting millions of Americans with spikes in their winter utility bills. Unfortunately, here we are, one year later, facing yet another polar vortex. Meteorologists predict some of the coldest blasts of frigid temperatures over the next several days, which has energy experts worried about the impact on consumers’ utility bills, as well as on the reliability of the electric grid we all depend on.
As Polar Vortex 2015 moves across the country, consumers could face spikes in electricity bills, with seniors on fixed incomes and lower income Americans hit the hardest. According to a recent survey, high energy prices already have forced more than 40 percent of low-income seniors to go without needed medical or dental care, and even to skip meals or shut off the heat on cold days.
It may seem odd to be predicting another energy price spike since oil, natural gas and coal prices have all fallen recently. But it’s not the market that will be driving prices higher. It’s politics.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
Union Pacific Railroad today launched a new social media campaign urging photographers and high school seniors to refrain from taking photographs on or near train tracks. Through startling videos, the campaign compares the dangers of snapping photos on the tracks to posing for senior pictures on a busy highway. Neither are safe locations. The campaign launched exclusively on social media channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7555651-union-pacific-photo-safety-campaign/
As the largest senior living provider in the country, Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) is advancing its industry leadership role through a new national branding and communications initiative beginning today. Brookdale’s campaign is designed to provoke audiences to rethink their views of senior living and to capture the essence of the close relationships formed every day between the company's 80,000 associates and nearly 100,000 residents. As part of the campaign, the company is undertaking a broad range of initiatives to evolve the perception of senior living and demonstrate how innovative approaches and services at Brookdale can transform lives.
“We continue to move forward on our objective to develop the preeminent senior living brand, and we believe this campaign will create a cultural redefinition of the value that an innovative senior living provider can bring to people's lives,” said Will Clark, Brookdale’s senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “Brookdale is bringing new life to the traditional view of senior living. We focus our energy on enabling seniors to live their lives to the fullest – and in doing so changing the myths and perceptions of senior living. As the largest senior living provider in the country, we have the opportunity and I believe the responsibility to lead this conversation.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7646051-brookdale-launches-national-campaign/
For a group of budding business people, living with senior citizens for five days gives impetus to their dreams. It also encourages innovation that could improve the lives of the aging. They are all participants in Brookdale’s Entrepreneur in Residence program, part of the company’s “Rewiring Aging” initiative to enrich seniors’ lives through technology. Recently launched by America’s largest senior living provider, the program offers those entrepreneurs developing products and services for seniors the opportunity to move in for that period of time so they can better understand the true wants and needs of the aging.
“The majority of start-ups focus on younger markets, but we have seen a growing number of entrepreneurs interested in building solutions for seniors and their families” said Andrew Smith, Brookdale’s director of strategy and innovation. “The 80 and above age group is America’s fastest-growing population. We believe there’s an enormous opportunity to enhance seniors’ lives with new technologies, services, products and business models. This program gives entrepreneurs a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we hope will inspire even more innovation for the aging.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7722155-brookdale-senior-living-innovate/
With America’s nursing shortage and the soaring aging population, the nation’s largest senior living provider has launched a student loan reimbursement program with the goal of attracting more nurses to work in assisted living. Brookdale’s initiative comes as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the country’s nurse shortfall will exceed one million by 2022. People 65 and above are expected to comprise 16 percent of America’s population in 2020 and nearly 20 percent in 2030, compared to 13 percent in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Brookdale operates more than 1,120 senior living communities in 47 states.
At Brookdale assisted living communities, nurses are hired as health and wellness directors, overseeing clinical services at a community including setting standards, leading health and wellness programming, and managing care associates. “This is a different kind of path than hospital nursing and it is a very important one,” said Kim Estes, senior vice president of clinical services for Brookdale. “Rather than providing hands-on care, these nurses shape the overall quality and content of care their community’s seniors receive on a daily basis.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7722156-brookdale-student-loan-program-nurses/
Abbott announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Tecnis Symfony® Intraocular Lenses for the treatment of cataracts. The first in a new category of intraocular lenses (IOLs), the Tecnis Symfony lenses are the only lenses in the United States that provide a full range of continuous high-quality vision following cataract surgery, while also mitigating the effects of presbyopia by helping people focus on near objects. The FDA approval includes a version of the lens for people with astigmatism, the Tecnis Symfony Toric IOL.
Cataracts are a common condition, with almost 4 million cataract surgeries performed each year, and that number is expected to increase.1 By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.2 However, cataracts do not just impact seniors. In 2016 it is estimated that nearly one in four cataract surgeries will be performed on people younger than 65.1 Many people who have cataracts experience other problems with their vision, such as presbyopia and astigmatism, which the Symfony lenses also address. Presbyopia, which affects most people over age 40, means people have lost the ability to focus on objects up close and often require glasses to perform near visual tasks. Astigmatism is when the cornea is misshapen, which causes blurry or distorted vision.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7870151-abbott-intraocular-lenses/
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that its first doses of Fluzone® (Influenza Vaccine) for the 2016-2017 influenza (“flu”) season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for shipment. This represents the first of more than 65 million total doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur that will be delivered to U.S. health care providers and pharmacies beginning in July and continuing throughout the remainder of the year. Sanofi Pasteur plans to increase its supply to respond to the shifting pediatric public health needs.
Seasonal influenza activity typically occurs between October and May and peaks between December and February. However, influenza activity peaked noticeably late last season occurring in early March 2016.1 Influenza seasons are always unpredictable as new influenza strains emerge and strain activity fluctuates throughout the year, making timely vaccination even more important to help protect against the virus, especially for seniors, young children and infants six months of age and older.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7842051-sanofi-pasteur-influenza-vaccine/
Decorated U.S. war veteran Romulo (Romy) Camargo starts his day like most of us. He wakes up, gets a drink of water, has some breakfast, brushes his teeth, and gets dressed. But for Camargo, whose injuries in Afghanistan left him paralyzed from the neck down, these morning routines require some assistance. And Toyota is learning how to help.
Thanks to Camargo, Toyota recently completed the first North American in-home trial of the Human Support Robot (HSR). The HSR is one of the “partner robots” Toyota is developing to assist people with everyday activities. Toyota is actively researching ways to apply advanced technologies to help people with limited mobility, including seniors or those who are disabled.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8053352-toyota-human-support-robot-mobility-disability/
