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Aging & Improving Care Of Older Adults

KFF Health News’ coverage related to aging and improving care of older adults is supported in part by The John A. Hartford Foundation.

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Volunteers Help Ombudsmen Give Nursing Home Residents ‘A Voice’ In Their Care

By Susan Jaffe May 2, 2017

Ombudsman’s offices represent long-term care residents on issues such as admissions and discharges, food, physical environment and abuse.

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Widespread Hype Gives False Hope To Many Cancer Patients

By Liz Szabo April 27, 2017

Doctors and drug developers have a stake in making cancer treatments seem better than they really are.

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Severe Shortage Of Home Health Workers Robs Thousands Of Proper Care

By Judith Graham April 26, 2017

A critical shortage of home health care workers across the U.S. is denying care for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

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How To Help Alzheimer’s Patients Enjoy Life, Not Just ‘Fade Away’

By Judith Graham April 20, 2017

Research shows that people with dementia can benefit significantly from efforts to ease communication, improve overall health and other key measures.

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Sen. Grassley Demands Scrutiny Of Medicare Advantage Plans

By Fred Schulte April 18, 2017

The powerful chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee wants the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to explain $125 million in overcharges by insurers.

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Coming Full Circle, Doulas Cradle The Dying

By Bruce Horovitz April 10, 2017

Traditionally there for mothers giving birth, a doula’s role has evolved to comforting seniors facing death.

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Dos dietas científicas mantienen sano al cerebro y ayudan a prevenir el Alzheimer

By Judith Graham April 6, 2017

La Canadian Brain Health Food Guide y la dieta MIND, creadas en ámbitos académicos, han demostrado ser eficaces para prevenir el deterioro cerebral vinculado al desarrollo del Alzheimer.

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To Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s, Think Before You Eat

By Judith Graham April 6, 2017

Good nutrition has been linked to a boost in senior citizens’ cognitive skills.

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Justice Department Joins Lawsuit Alleging Massive Medicare Fraud By UnitedHealth

By Fred Schulte March 28, 2017

The Department of Justice is joining a whistleblower lawsuit in a fraud case against UnitedHealth in which damages could top $1 billion.

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Want To Live Past 100? Centenarians Share Secrets Of Knee Bends And Nips Of Scotch

By Sharon Jayson March 27, 2017

The ranks of 100-year-olds doubles every eight years, but researchers still puzzle over the ingredients of longevity.

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Video Help Is On Way For Family Caregivers Who Must Draw Blood Or Give Injections

By Judith Graham March 23, 2017

Medical experts around the country are rolling out instructional videos for family caregivers who need help with challenging medical tasks.

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Sticker Shock Forces Thousands Of Cancer Patients To Skip Drugs, Skimp On Treatment

By Liz Szabo March 15, 2017

A growing number of patients fail to fill prescriptions because the cost of cancer drugs is too high.

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By Law, Hospitals Now Must Tell Medicare Patients When Care Is ‘Observation’ Only

By Susan Jaffe March 13, 2017

Not being officially admitted — a status known as observation care — can have financial consequences for beneficiaries, and patients had often complained they were not informed.

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A Playbook For Managing Problems In The Last Chapter Of Your Life

By Judith Graham March 9, 2017

Many people age 75 or older can take steps to avoid a crisis in the remaining years of their lives.

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Dentistry Advocates Aim To Fill Medicare Gaps

By Phil Galewitz March 6, 2017

Brushing aside a political climate that favors federal cuts in health care spending, advocates for oral health are pushing to expand Medicare to provide America’s elderly with dental benefits.

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For Some Hospice Patients, A 911 Call Saves A Trip To The ER

By Charlotte Huff February 28, 2017

Hospice groups are teaming up with specially trained paramedics to deal with common problems that worried patients or families incorrectly think need hospital care.

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Geriatricians Can Help Aging Patients Navigate Multiple Ailments

By Judith Graham February 23, 2017

Aging adults with complex needs can get special assistance from doctors trained as geriatricians.

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GOP Fix To Insurance Markets Could Spike Premiums For Older Customers

By Jordan Rau and Julie Appleby February 22, 2017

As Republicans consider how to bring down costs for younger people, lawmakers may relax or eliminate the restrictions on how much more insurers can charge older consumers.

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ER Visits Linked To Falls Spike Among California Seniors

By Anna Gorman February 21, 2017

State data show a rise of nearly 40 percent in fall-related visits from 2010 to 2015, a period in which the elderly population grew about 21 percent.

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Dozens Of New Cancer Drugs Do Little To Improve Survival, Frustrating Patients

By Liz Szabo February 9, 2017

The FDA has approved dozens of new cancer medications in recent years, but few offer the benefits that patients seek.

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Take Our Quiz To Test Your Wits On Aging

KHN Quiz

Even the most exalted among us realize health care policy is complicated. Here’s a pop quiz to see what you have learned as a regular reader of KFF Health News.

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Video

observation care video still 770Watch KFF Health News’s video explainer to help Medicare patients receiving hospital observation care.

FAQ: Observation Care Can Be Costly For Patients

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Get KFF Health News’ latest stories on Medicare and aging issues, delivered periodically to your inbox.

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Diagnosis: Unprepared

elderly-disability-1

Hospitals can be hazardous places for elderly patients as many facilities are ill-equipped to address their needs. In this series, KFF Health News reports on the extent of the problem and highlights possible solutions.

 

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  • Gaps In Care Persist During Transition From Hospital To Home
  • ‘America’s Other Drug Problem’: Copious Prescriptions For Hospitalized Elderly
  • Geriatric ERs Reduce Stress, Medical Risks For Elderly Patients
  • Elderly Patients In The Hospital Need To Keep Moving
  • Elderly Hospital Patients Arrive Sick, Often Leave Disabled

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