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Many Older Americans Get Care Outside of Doctor's Office, Poll Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 10, 2024
- Full Page
Most seniors have embraced “doc-in-a-box” strip mall clinics and urgent care centers as a means of getting prompt medical care, a new poll has found.
About 60% of people ages 50 to 80 have visited an urgent care center or a retail health clinic during the past two ye...
Can Older Patients With Low-Risk Leukemia Quit Seeing Specialists?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 9, 2024
- Full Page
Some slow-growing cases of leukemia don't need constant surveillance by cancer specialists, a new study claims.
Low-risk patients with slow-growing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and no symptoms fared well even after they stopped seeing doctors for specialized blood ...
Staffing Shortages at Nursing Homes Continue: Report
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2024
- Full Page
Although the pandemic has ended, staffing shortages and employee burnout still plague U.S. nursing homes, a new government report finds.
As Pickleball's Popularity Has Soared, So Have Injuries
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- February 12, 2024
- Full Page
Pickleball has become the darling of older folks trying to stay in shape, but new research shows that with that popularity has come a surge in serious injuries.
Bone fractures related to pickleball have increased 90-fold over the last 20 years, with most injuries occurri...
As Suicide Rates Climb, Older Men Are Most Vulnerable
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- November 15, 2023
- Full Page
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2023 (Healthday News) -- As U.S. suicide rates continue to rise, new government data shows older men have become the most susceptible.
In a report published Wednesday, researchers fr...
Take These Steps to 'Fall-Proof' Your Home
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 30, 2023
- Full Page
The risk of falls increases in older age, and along with it, the risk for serious physical or psychological damage, but there are steps people can take to help prevent these accidents.
Each year, about 27% of adults 65 and older fall and about 10% of those are injured.
Most Older Americans Object to Cancer Screening Cutoffs Based on Life Expectancy: Poll
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 29, 2023
- Full Page
While guidelines for cancer screening have begun factoring in life expectancy, a new poll shows a majority of older adults disagree with age cutoff...
Experiment Shows Many Seniors Falling Prey to 'Impostor Scams'
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- September 25, 2023
- Full Page
Many older adults are savvy about telephone scams, but a sizable minority remain vulnerable, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that when they simulated a "government impersonation" scam -- contacting seniors and pretending to be federal employees -- over two-thirds...
Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia.
The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits.
All were at least 60 year...
Your Hobby Could Help Keep Depression at Bay
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
Seniors, pick up those knitting needles, some paintbrushes or that favorite novel, because new research suggests that having a hobby is linked to having lower depression in older people.
Hobbies might include anything from gardening to playing games, arts and crafts, vol...
Old Age & Heat Can Be Deadly Combo: Tips to Stay Safe
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 11, 2023
- Full Page
Hot weather can pose serious health risks for older adults.
Existing medical conditions, problems moving around and medications raise the risk of heatstroke, according to an expert at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Being prepared can help prevent heat e...
Opening All Arteries Best When Heart Attack Strikes in Old Age: Study
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- August 28, 2023
- Full Page
After a heart attack, elderly adults have better odds for improved health and survival if all major heart vessels are cleared, not just the one that caused the heart attack.
Because these patients often have other medical conditions and may be frail, doctors frequen...
Extreme Heat Taxes the Brain, and Some Face Higher Risks
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 24, 2023
- Full Page
With 2023 predicted to be the hottest year on record, a new study is pointing to another potential consequence of heat waves: faster declines in older adults' memory and thinking skills.
Moderna or Pfizer? One COVID Shot May Be Safer for Older Adults
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 3, 2023
- Full Page
While both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective, new research finds the Moderna shot has been the safest and most effective for seniors.
“The results of this study can help public health experts weigh which mRNA vaccine mig...
Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- July 28, 2023
- Full Page
The diabetes drug metformin might also benefit older patients after an injury or illness, a small study suggests.
Researchers found that metformin -- a drug that has been around for more than a half-century to regulate blood sugar -- may have a different ability: It can ...
Many Seniors With Thinking Declines Still Drive
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 25, 2023
- Full Page
Getting older adults who are failing mentally to relinquish their car keys can be challenging. But those conversations are necessary, said researchers who found a majority of adults with cognitive impairment still get behind the wheel.
Michigan Medicine researchers studi...
Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer's Away
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2023
- Full Page
Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers' brain health.
Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researche...
While 8 in 10 Seniors See Wisdom of Dementia Screening, Few Have Been Tested: Poll
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2023
- Full Page
Most older adults think that screening for dementia is a good idea, according to a new poll on aging. But few actually take that step.
Only about 20% of those aged 65 to 80 had a screening test in the past year to see if their memory and thinking abilities have started t...
As the Popularity of Pickleball Soars, So Do Related Injuries, Poll Finds
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 12, 2023
- Full Page
Pickleball is a hot trend and it's getting folks exercising who haven't been so active in a long time.
It's also racking up injuries — both overuse type and acute traumas — often in those aged 50 and up.
A new poll suggests these players are forgoing care when ...
Want a Healthier, Happier Old Age? Get Moving
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2023
- Full Page
The couch potato life may not be a happy one.
When older adults become more sedentary, their overall quality of life takes a hit, new research cautions.
Sitting still is your enemy, the study suggests. Even slow walking can help improve your mental and physica...
Psychiatrists Tough to Find for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Plans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2023
- Full Page
U.S. seniors with mental health needs may not have much access to psychiatrists who could help them, new research shows.
Despite an overall heightened demand for mental health services, nearly two-thirds of Medicare Advantage psychiatrist networks included less than 25%...
CDC Gives Full Approval to RSV Shots for People Over 60; Vaccines Available This Fall
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 29, 2023
- Full Page
Americans ages 60 and up can get their vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
On Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the outgoing CDC director, gave her signature to a recommendation m...
Reversing a Trend, Sicker Americans Are Staying With Medicare Managed Care Plans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 28, 2023
- Full Page
A new study shows that older Americans with health issues are now staying with their Medicare Advantage managed plans, rather than swapping them for traditional plans through a health insurer.
Although Medicare Advantage has been criticized in the past for “cherry-pick...
CDC Panel Backs RSV Shots for Seniors
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 22, 2023
- Full Page
An advisory panel of the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Wednesday to recommend the first RSV vaccines for seniors.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved the vaccines, one made by GSK called
Seniors: Stay Social, Active for 'Optimal Aging,' Study Shows
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 9, 2023
- Full Page
The benefits of friendships and activity aren't just for the young.
Staying socially active can also help older adults age their best, according to new research that pinpoints volunteering and recreational activities as important for seniors.
“Although the stud...
U.S. Nursing Homes Fail to Report Many Serious Falls, Bedsores: Study
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
A federal website intended to help people choose a nursing home not only contains inaccurate information, but those inaccuracies appear to be at least partially driven by race, a new study reports.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the...
Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
Drinking heavily while younger puts you at risk for muscle loss and frailty later in life, new research suggests.
These findings are another reason to cut back on the booze, according to the research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.
More Older Americans Use Online 'Patient Portals' to Access Care
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2023
- Full Page
Older Americans are increasingly likely to log into “patient portals” to access their health care information — but confidence levels vary.
About 78% of people aged 50 to 80 now use at least one patient portal, according to the new University of Michigan (U-M) Nat...
1 in 5 U.S. Seniors Now Skip Meds Because of Cost
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- May 22, 2023
- Full Page
Many seniors skip or stretch prescription medications due to costs despite being insured by Medicare, a new U.S. study finds.
Roughly 20% of older adults reported taking less medication than prescribed or not taking medication because of cost, the researchers found.
Rate of Fatal Falls Among U.S. Seniors Doubled in 20 Years
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 12, 2023
- Full Page
Older Americans are dying of falls at more than double the rate of 20 years ago -- with women, men and all racial groups showing increases, according to a new study.
In 2020, the study found, just over 36,500 Americans age 65 and up died of a fall-related injury. That wa...
Drinking & Driving in the Senior Years: A Recipe for Disaster
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- April 28, 2023
- Full Page
Older drivers using alcohol or drugs are much more likely to be at fault in a car crash.
Researchers studying the issue say that calls for sober-driving campaigns aimed at seniors.
"Our research shows just how much aging increases the risk of being at fault for in...
In an Aging America, a Looming Shortage of Home Health Care Workers
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- April 26, 2023
- Full Page
Over the last decade, an aging American population has increasingly turned away from nursing homes in favor of trained caregivers who can provide critical help in the home with basic daily tasks.
But a new investigation warns the need for at-home care has vastly outpaced...
Fatal Drug ODs Among U.S. Seniors Have Quadrupled in 20 Years
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 30, 2023
- Full Page
Drug overdose deaths -- both accidental and intentional -- have quadrupled over the past 20 years among older adults in the United States, a new study finds.
This increase in people ages 65 and older suggests the need for greater mental health and substance use policies,...
How to Prevent Falls: Tips for Older Adults
- Miriam Jones Bradley, RN HealthDay Reporter
- March 30, 2023
- Full Page
For older Americans, a fall is no laughing matter.
According to the National Council on Aging, more than 1 in 4 people over age 65 fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of ...
Injury-Proof Homes: Creating Safe Spaces for Older Adults
- Mandi Harenberg HealthDay Reporter
- March 24, 2023
- Full Page
There's nothing like the comfort and security of home. For many, a home is a place filled with fond memories of happy times.
It's no wonder older adults choose to extend their independence by trying to stay in their homes as they get older, an experience called aging in ...
Yoga Can Help Seniors Regain Their Strength
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2023
- Full Page
Practicing yoga might help older adults become a little surer on their feet, a new research review suggests.
The review, of 33 small clinical trials, found that older adults who participated in yoga programs typically gained some lower-body strength and boosted their wal...
After 3 Years of the Pandemic, Loneliness May Be Ebbing for America's Older Adults
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2023
- Full Page
On the third anniversary of the pandemic, a new poll shows fewer older adults are experiencing loneliness and isolation though the numbers are still high.
About one-third of adults aged 50 to 80 still sometimes or often experience isolation and loneliness, according to ...
Reducing Home Hazards Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 13, 2023
- Full Page
Nearly one-third of older people fall each year, most of them in their own homes. But it's possible to reduce those numbers by a quarter, according to a new study.
Five steps can cut the risk of falls by 26%, the researchers reported in the March 10 issue of the
For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- March 10, 2023
- Full Page
Many older adults with depression don't respond to their first antidepressant, so doctors will switch them to another one to see if that does the trick.
Now, new research suggests that the best strategy for these folks may instead be to add the antipsychotic drug A...
70 or Older? An Extra 500 Steps a Day Could Do Wonders for Your Heart
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 2, 2023
- Full Page
While the idea of getting 10,000 steps a day is bandied about as a good walking goal, that can be intimidating to some people, depending on how fit they are.
Now, new research in adults between the ages of 70 and 90 finds that a much smaller number of steps can ma...
FDA Panel Backs Second RSV Vaccine for Older Americans
- Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
- March 2, 2023
- Full Page
Following hours of discussion over safety concerns, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday recommended approval of a second RSV vaccine, this one made by GlaxoSmithKline, for use in Americans ages 60 and older.
The panel's recommendation was base...
Bed Rails Can Help and Harm: FDA Gives Guidance
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2023
- Full Page
While adult bed rails are marketed with safety in mind, they need to be used with caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises.
"Many death and injury reports related to entrapment and falls for adult portable bed rail products and hospital bed rails have been ...
FDA Panel Backs Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Older Americans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2023
- Full Page
In a tight vote, U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisors on Tuesday recommended the approval of an RSV vaccine that could be used in Americans ages 60 and up.
The vaccine, known as RENOIR, was developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. The same panel of advisors w...
Two Vaccines May Soon Shield Seniors Against RSV
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 16, 2023
- Full Page
Older people have vaccines available to prevent severe influenza and COVID-19, but there's been nothing to protect against the third respiratory virus that contributed to this season's wretched “triple-demic.”
Until now.
Two major pharmaceutical companies publi...
There's Been a Big Decline in the Rate of Americans Hit by Disability
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- February 8, 2023
- Full Page
A new study delivers some great news to older Americans, something many likely already realize in their daily lives.
The prevalence of disabilities among seniors is down sharply from what it was just a decade before, researchers say.
Fewer older adults have limit...
Golf Is Healthy Exercise for Seniors, Study Confirms
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- February 7, 2023
- Full Page
Want to stay healthy well into your golden years? Grab a bag of clubs and hit the green, new research suggests.
Golfing beat walking or even Nordic walking (a full-body workout that consists of walking using specialized poles) when it came to improving several key measur...
Sports-Linked Cardiac Arrest Rare in Seniors, Study Finds
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- February 1, 2023
- Full Page
The saga of Damar Hamlin's recent collapse during a football game has thrown the dangers of sports-related cardiac arrest into the spotlight.
What about this happening to someone much older?
A new study brings reassuring news: It's rare for an older adult to ha...
Many Seniors Shunned In-Home Care During Pandemic, Worsening Health
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 31, 2023
- Full Page
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on older Americans.
A new study finds that many older adults declined medically necessary in-home care during the height of the pan...
'Spare Tire' in Middle Age Could Mean a Frail Old Age
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 24, 2023
- Full Page
Any 'middle-age spread' of excess weight around your tummy could raise your risk of becoming frail decades later, a new study suggests.
Obese folks who've packed on pounds around their waist are more likely to develop symptoms of frailty, including exhaustion, weak grip ...
Feds to Investigate Overuse of Antipsychotic Drugs by Nursing Homes
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 18, 2023
- Full Page
U.S. health officials say they plan to investigate whether some nursing homes are falsely labeling patients as schizophrenic so they can administer sedating antipsychotic drugs to them.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) noted that evidence of this abus...