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Staff raced against rising floodwater to evacuate 36 residents from a nursing home in New Richland, Minnesota. It’s one of 100 facilities 51ÊÓƵ Health News identified as facing some of the nation’s worst flood risk.
Potent sedating medications are often used on agitated people with dementia in long-term care facilities despite federal efforts to discourage their use. A clash over whether to drug a Michigan woman illuminates the wrenching decisions families and guardians face.
As the oldest baby boomers turn 80, researchers worry there won’t be enough room in nursing facilities for a rapidly graying nation.
Not all older people need benzodiazepines, antibiotics, or daily aspirin — and taking them can carry increased risks.
51ÊÓƵ Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
People outside the family frequently step into helping roles when older adults need assistance.
People age 65 and up are more likely than other age groups to die after being hit by a vehicle.
The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program promises eligible beneficiaries access to popular weight loss drugs for as little as $50 a month. But for some, having the very medical conditions these drugs are approved to treat means they don't qualify for the discount.
These specialized units can help keep older patients out of the hospital, lower their healthcare costs, and more.
Some seriously ill patients improve on hospice. About 1 in 16 patients enrolled in hospice care lose eligibility as a result. Here’s how to get appropriate care after receiving a terminal diagnosis.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and older adults are at higher risk. But only about a quarter of patients eligible for screening are up to date.
While acknowledging that changes must be made to the hospice industry, health policy researchers and providers worry that negative attention and the potential for overly punitive regulations could put patients at risk.
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A growing network of home-sharing programs is helping people find compatible housemates. And demand is rising, driven by housing shortages, rising rents, and sales prices that affect both the old and the young.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be fertile ground for violence between residents with dementia, including fatal assaults. A 51ÊÓƵ Health News examination of health reports and court records shows how warning signs are missed and safeguards fall short.
A Finnish study followed patients for 10 years after they had a popular knee surgery. For many, the pain continued or even worsened.
Washington state has launched the first program to help cover home care and other supports. Several other states are paying attention.
Thousands of people who had a Medicare drug plan with zero-dollar premiums last year got small premium increases this year — and didn’t know it. They were dropped from their coverage for failing to pay amounts as little as $8, and most can’t get it again until 2027.
Join the conversation as the HealthQ team explores the messiness, humor, and satisfaction that comes with caregiving when you’re sandwiched between aging parents and growing kids.
Being a caregiver can start long before you go to a doctor appointment with a loved one or move your parents into your house. The HealthQ team explores how embracing the role matters — and how the recognition and support that come next can ease a difficult season of life.
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