Latest KFF Health News Stories
Volunteers Help Ombudsmen Give Nursing Home Residents ‘A Voice’ In Their Care
Ombudsman’s offices represent long-term care residents on issues such as admissions and discharges, food, physical environment and abuse.
Medicaid Caps Pitched By GOP Could Shrink Seniors’ Benefits
Advocates for the elderly worry that GOP plans to end Medicaid’s open-ended spending and replace it with per-capita limits could pose a risk for low-income older people who rely on the federal-state program for nursing and other long-term care.
In A Liberal Pocket, Assisted Living Residents Fear Obamacare’s Death
Seattle seniors at an upscale assisted living center lament Washington’s rush to repeal and replace Obamacare with no alternative on the table.
New Rules to Limit ‘Death Fees’ For California Medicaid Enrollees
Medi-Cal’s controversial program to go after your assets when you die will be significantly curtailed, but some enrollees could be hit by new claims.
New Nursing Home Rules Offer Residents More Control Of Their Care
People in these facilities are now guaranteed more flexibility on food and roommate choices, as well as improved procedures for grievances and discharges.
When Looking For A Nursing Home, You May Get Little Help From Your Hospital
Hospitals rarely help patients find the best nursing home. When they do advise, hospitals sometimes push their own facilities.
Solos y envejeciendo: quién cuida a los adultos mayores sin familia
Cada vez más adultos mayores se encuentran solos en una etapa de la vida en la que necesitan la ayuda de un ser querido. Esfuerzos nacionales buscan crear nuevas redes sociales para apoyar a esta población.
Alone And Aging: Creating A Safety Net for Isolated Seniors
As numbers of vulnerable seniors without relatives rise, groups call for new efforts to navigate declines in physical and mental health.
Staying Out Of The Closet In Old Age
Many aging gays and lesbians who have lived openly for decades are finding that the world of assisted living and nursing homes can be decidedly less accommodating.
When Pretend Play Is Real For Alzheimer’s Patients
Playing with dolls is good therapy for some elderly people with dementia. They may think the dolls are real babies, but does it matter?
Assisted Living Residents With Dementia Prone To Abusing Others, Study Finds
Residents with dementia need to be monitored and increased training is needed for staff who care for them, said researchers who examined reported instances of abuse in assisted living facilities.
Hospital Discharge: It’s One Of The Most Dangerous Periods For Patients
Bad coordination and communication can put patients at risk as they’re discharged from a hospital.
Big Financial Costs Are Part Of Alzheimer’s Toll On Families
A survey of more than 3,500 people caring for family members with dementia finds that many are spending down personal savings and cutting into their own basic needs to meet their loved one’s expenses.
The Agonizing Limbo Of Abandoned Nursing Home Residents
Even when the state orders nursing homes to readmit residents who have been in the hospital, its orders have no teeth.
A 401(k) Withdrawal Can Lead To Trouble For Health Plan Subsidies
The retirement savings are considered income, so an unexpected withdrawal may change the level of premium subsidies for which an individual qualifies.
Rising Obesity Puts Strain On Nursing Homes
Residences for older adults are increasingly overwhelmed, and unprepared, for huge patients, and facilities rarely accept more than a few.
Suing A Nursing Home Could Get Easier Under Proposed Federal Rules
Many families must sign a binding arbitration agreement when a loved one is admitted to a nursing home, pledging not to sue if something goes wrong. Proposed rules would ban that requirement.
