Clarity on Covid Count: Pandemic鈥檚 Toll on Seniors Extended Well Beyond Nursing Homes
The latest research shows that although deaths in nursing homes received enormous attention, far more older adults who perished from covid lived outside of institutions. People with dementia and other severe neurological conditions, chronic kidney disease and immune deficiencies were hit especially hard.
Restoring a Sense of Belonging: The Unsung Importance of Casual Relationships for Older Adults
Relationships with people you know only superficially can help develop a sense of belonging and provide motivation to engage in activities. Research has found that older adults who have a broad array of 鈥渨eak鈥 as well as 鈥渃lose鈥 ties enjoy better physical and psychological well-being and live longer than people with less diverse social networks.
Doctors Weigh Pros and Cons of Prescribing Hot-Button Alzheimer鈥檚 Drug
The potential benefits of Aduhelm are small, its effectiveness is not certain, and even the FDA Thursday shifted its guidance on who should get the drug. But physicians are dealing with an onslaught of interest from patients and their families, and figuring out which patients are best positioned to be helped by the drug will be difficult.
Paying Billions for Controversial Alzheimer鈥檚 Drug? How About Funding This Instead?
Aduhelm, approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month despite questions about its efficacy, could be prescribed to at least 1 million patients a year, for a price tag of about $56 billion. Experts suggest there might be better ways to spend that money.
Calming Computer Jitters: Help for Seniors Who Aren鈥檛 Tech-Savvy
Millions of older adults want to be comfortable going online and using digital tools to enhance their lives. But many need help. A number of groups around the country offer assistance.
Tips for Older Adults to Regain Their Game After Being Cooped Up for More Than a Year
Experts offer advice on how seniors struggling with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges following a year of being cooped up can address issues such as muscle weakness, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, anxiety and social isolation.
As Pandemic Eases, Many Seniors Have Lost Strength, May Need Rehabilitative Services
A little-discussed, long-term toll of the pandemic is that large numbers of older adults have become physically and cognitively debilitated and less able to care for themselves after sheltering in place.
Aiding Her Dying Husband, a Geriatrician Learns the Emotional and Physical Toll of Caregiving
When the covid pandemic hit, Dr. Rebecca Elon was thrust into a new role, primary caregiver for her severely ill husband and her elderly mother. 鈥淩eading about caregiving of this kind was one thing. Experiencing it was entirely different,鈥 she says.
Covid Forces Cohousing Communities to Examine Shared Values and Relationships
How do dozens of people living communally decide what to do during a public health crisis when members have varying tolerance for risk and different opinions about safe practices?
鈥業 Can Breathe Again鈥: Older Adults Begin to Test Freedom After Covid Vaccinations
Whether it鈥檚 making plans to hug their grandchildren, scheduling long-overdue medical appointments or just petting the neighbor鈥檚 dog, seniors are inching back to a lifestyle they鈥檝e missed during the pandemic.
Reopening of Long-Term Care Facilities Is 鈥榓n Absolute Necessity for Our Well-Being鈥
Relatives and advocates are calling for federal authorities to relax restrictions in long-term care institutions and grant special status to 鈥渆ssential caregivers鈥 鈥 family members or friends who provide critically important hands-on care 鈥 so they have the opportunity to tend to relatives in need.
Countless Homebound Patients Still Wait for Covid Vaccine Despite Seniors鈥 Priority
Health organizations have begun sending doctors and nurses to apartment buildings and private homes to vaccinate homebound seniors, but the efforts are slow and spotty.
Family Caregivers, Routinely Left Off Vaccine Lists, Worry What Would Happen 鈥業f I Get Sick鈥
Tens of thousands of middle-aged sons and daughters 鈥 too young to qualify for a vaccine 鈥 care for older relatives with serious ailments and want to get the shots to protect their loved ones and themselves.
Older Adults Without Family or Friends Lag in Race to Get Vaccines
Public health officials have singled out seniors as key candidates for the covid-19 vaccines but too many of these seniors are not able to get shots because they don鈥檛 use computers, don鈥檛 have internet services or transportation, or don鈥檛 have someone to help them with the process.
If I Have Cancer, Dementia or MS, Should I Get the Covid Vaccine?
Older patients with cancer, dementia or other serious illnesses should check with their doctors, but medical experts recommend the vaccine for most people.
Vaccination Disarray Leaves Seniors Confused About When They Can Get a Shot
As covid cases and deaths soar, it鈥檚 difficult to get up-to-date, reliable information about inoculations, and many older adults don鈥檛 know where to turn for help. Navigating Aging columnist Judith Graham answers questions from several readers.
With Vaccine Delivery Imminent, Nursing Homes Must Make a Strong Pitch to Residents
More than half of long-term care residents have cognitive impairment or dementia, raising questions about whether they will understand the details about the fastest and most extensive vaccination effort in U.S. history.
What Seniors Can Expect When COVID Vaccines Begin to Roll Out
At least two vaccines could get federal emergency use authorizations this month. Nursing home and assisted living residents will be among the first to receive inoculations. Here鈥檚 a guide on how that rollout may proceed.
Qu茅 deben esperar los adultos mayores de la vacuna contra COVID
Adultos mayores en residencias y centros de vida asistida estar谩n entre los primeros en ser vacunados, siguiendo las recomendaciones de un panel asesor federal.
Facebook Live: Helping COVID鈥檚 Secondary Victims: Grieving Families and Friends
More than 246,000 people in the U.S. have been killed by the coronavirus, leaving hundreds of thousands of others grieving. Judith Graham, author of KHN鈥檚 Navigating Aging column, hosted a discussion on these unprecedented losses and dealing with bereavement. She was joined by Holly Prigerson, co-director of the Center for Research on End-of-Life Care at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and Diane Snyder-Cowan, leader of the bereavement professionals steering committee of the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals.