Category: Aging
Supreme Court Case Could Curtail Rights of Medicaid Patients
Twenty-two Republican-leaning states have urged the Supreme Court to block beneficiaries of federal safety net programs from suing. If the court agrees participants in many federal entitlement programs could lose the right to go to court when they believe a state, city or county has violated their rights in the administration of those programs.
Endgame: How the Visionary Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hustle
It might be counterintuitive to run an enterprise that is wholly dependent on clients who aren’t long for this world, but companies in the hospice business can expect some of the biggest returns for the least amount of effort of any sector in American health care. Medicare pays providers a set rate per patient per day, regardless of how much help they deliver. Since most hospice care takes place at home and nurses aren’t required to visit more than twice a month, it’s not difficult to keep overhead low and to outsource the bulk of the labor to unpaid family members — assuming that willing family members are at hand.
What’s this ‘longevity’ diet, and will it really make you live longer?
Foods in this diet are vegetables, including leafy greens, fruit, nuts, beans, olive oil, and seafood that’s low in mercury.
Many types of leisure time activity may lower risk of death for older adults, NIH study finds
Older adults who participate weekly in many different types of leisure time activity, such as walking for exercise, jogging, swimming laps, or playing tennis, may have a lower risk of death from any cause.
Poll: Many older adults look beyond conventional medicine for help, but few talk to their doctors about it
Nearly 40% of older adults currently use at least one integrative medicine strategy to try to ease symptoms of a physical or mental health issue, or to help them relax, a new poll finds. But only 18% of older adults who currently use, formerly used or are interested in using integrative health strategies have actually talked about it with a health care provider.
Sunscreen: here’s why it’s an anti-ageing skincare essential
Photoageing is a cumulative process that occurs over time. Doing anything you can to limit exposure will slow this process – But choosing the right kind of sunscreen may also help somewhat.
Want to “age in place” someday? Take action now
Planning ahead, and making changes gradually, can help older adults stay independent and in their homes longer.
Scientists track how the brain changes over a lifetime
The volume of grey matter (brain cells) increases rapidly from mid-gestation onwards, peaking just before we are six years old. It then begins to decrease slowly. The volume of white matter (brain connections) also increased rapidly from mid-gestation through early childhood and peaks just before we are 29 years old. The decline in white matter volume begins to accelerate after 50 years.
What is palliative care? How is it different from hospice?
Palliative care was not associated with shortened survival, pushing back against a popular assumption that pursuing palliative care means “giving up” on fighting disease. In fact, one influential study found that patients with advanced lung cancer who receive specialty palliative care in addition to standard oncology care lived almost three months longer than patients who received standard oncology care only.
Compare nursing homes with this online tool from Medicare
Whether you’re planning ahead or need to make an unexpected decision, there’s a lot to think about when choosing the right nursing home for you or your loved one. Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare nursing homes in your area.
Why is it harder to build muscle as you age?
50-year-old muscles just can’t grow big like they used to – the biology of how muscles change with age
Risk factors that determine whether you’re more or less likely to develop cognitive decline
Why some people with mild cognitive impairment develop dementia while others don’t has long been a mystery. But a recent study has identified several factors that determine whether a person is more or less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. These findings might give us a clue about who might be more likely to develop dementia.
‘Wisdom and Fear’ Lead 90% of U.S. Seniors to Covid Vaccines
When vaccines became available many states targeted seniors first. That effort has proved successful, although rates vary among states: Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Vermont vaccinated more than 99% of their seniors, while West Virginia ranks last with 78%.
Restoring a Sense of Belonging: The Unsung Importance of Casual Relationships for Older Adults
Casual relationships can cultivate a sense of belonging, motivate us to engage in activities, and expose us to new information and opportunities — all without the emotional challenges that often attend close relationships with family and friends.
Most COVID deaths in England now are in the vaccinated – here’s why that shouldn’t alarm you
One way to imagine the risk is as a rain of differently sized ball bearings falling from the sky . . .