Latest Morning Briefing Stories

In Shutting Out Threat, Seniors In Continuing Care Communities Feel Shut In

KFF Health News Original

For older adults in retirement communities ― a population especially vulnerable to COVID-19 — striking a balance between reducing the risk of contracting the coronavirus and maintaining the quality of life is a new frontier.

COVID-19 Crisis Threatens Beleaguered Assisted Living Industry

KFF Health News Original

The Capital Senior Living chain of assisted living communities and others like it were struggling financially before coronavirus suddenly appeared. Now their situation is really getting tough.

Retiree-Rich Palm Beach County Leads Florida In COVID-19 Deaths

KFF Health News Original

The coronavirus death toll in Palm Beach County — home to President Donald Trump’s palatial home and club, Mar-a-Lago ― is the highest in Florida, where the large senior population is at risk.

‘Staying Away From Grandma’ Isn’t An Option In Multigenerational Homes

KFF Health News Original

About 1 in 5 U.S. residents live in multigenerational households. Many of those have three or more generations all under one roof. While the living arrangement has financial and emotional benefits, those families face a unique set of challenges as COVID-19 continues to spread.

Sheltered At Home, Families Broach End-Of-Life Planning

KFF Health News Original

Barbara Dreyfuss died March 1 after contracting COVID-19 at a Seattle-area nursing home. Her earlier decision to document her final wishes may offer an example for families as the deadly virus spurs interest in end-of-life care.

Federal Judge Rules Medicare Patients Can Challenge ‘Observation Care’ Status

KFF Health News Original

Hundreds of thousands of people will be able to appeal hospitals’ decisions to classify them as “observation care” patients instead of inpatients, under a ruling last week in a class action suit.

‘Red Dawn Breaking Bad’: Officials Warned About Safety Gear Shortfall Early On, Emails Show

KFF Health News Original

As President Donald Trump called the nation “in good shape” to handle COVID-19, a cache of emails released by officials in Washington state show that top public health authorities feared gear shortages and doctor safety in the early epicenter of sickness and deaths.