Who is at Risk for Needing Long-Term Care?
Some people are at higher risk of needing long-term care and help with daily activities during their lifetime. People who have:
Developmental Disabilities
Mental Illness
Traumatic Brain Injury
Spinal Chord Injury
Certain other conditions are long-term and chronic in nature. These conditions are not "cured" but are "managed" over a lifetime causing the person to need health care and supportive services at different levels because their condition causes symtoms or reduces their ability to do daily activities. People can read and learn about what causes their chronic condition and how best it can be managed and symptoms controlled if possible. You need to be agressive in seeking info about chronic conditions!! This page is for all of you to contribute your best info on the condition you've learned about and want to share with others. In this way you can help others avoid hospitalization or nursing faciltiy care as long as possible. You can also help those with chronic conditions from becoming shut out or shuffled through a medical system that is not designed for chronic care.
Chronic Conditions
Shingles
Shingles (herpes zoster) is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox — the varicella-zoster virus.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed Zostavax, on May 25, 2006, a new vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles (herpes zoster) for use in people 60 years of age and older.
The list below was compiled by a friend and provides a large variety of websites which discuss Shingles information which may be critical to you, a loved one or a friend.
While the Zostavax (Shingles vaccine) is now available in the public marketplace, each individual needs to be knowledgeable in determining, with their doctor, whether the vaccine is appropriate for them.
Reimbursement for this costly vaccine is a really also a separate issue of concern in that local pharmacy prices may advance to $200 (out-of-pocket).
Talk with both your doctor and insurance company before seeking the vaccine. You will want to be certain to make yourself eligible for the least costly vaccine services and paperwork hassle. Since the FDA approved this vaccine in 2006, most insurance companies and HMO providers have been required to provide this vaccine, particularly for individuals over 60 years old and for people who may experience unique health challenges.
Just this week, the Archives of Dermatology (, SOURCES: News release, American Medical Association. Archives of Dermatology, May 2008: vol 144: pp 603-608.
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved, ) made public a May, 2008 study linking Family History to increased odds of contracting this terrible condition.