The New Old Age

Arguments, verbal abuse and aggression are not unusual in elder care settings. Better staffing and training can ease the tensions, experts say.

Medicare Advantage plans say it reduces waste and inappropriate care. Critics say it often restricts coverage unnecessarily.

Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues.

Homeownership is not the boon to older Americans that it once was.

The pandemic played a role in increased consumption, but alcohol use among people 65 and older was climbing even before 2020.

Federal law requires states to seek reimbursement from the assets, usually homes, of people who died after receiving benefits for long-term care.

New criteria could lead to a diagnosis on the basis of a simple blood test, even in the absence of obvious symptoms.

A society in which members of different generations do not interact “is a dangerous experiment,” said one researcher.

The move to a long-term care facility is often difficult but necessary for frail patients. For their partners, it can mean a new set of challenges.

Coronary artery bypass grafting, the most common cardiac procedure in the United States, was studied mostly in men. Women are paying the price.

Americans in the lower middle class are losing ground financially, researchers have found.

Winston, an older silverback, is getting enviable medical treatment. Now his keepers must confront an issue that vexes doctors and older humans, too: How much intervention is too much?

The virus sends up to 160,000 people over 65 to hospitals every year. But just 15 percent have gotten the newly available shots.

Some seniors prefer age-restricted communities, while others want intergenerational living. There is little research to show which option is healthier.

Mentoring programs bring together those just starting to care for family members with dementia and those who have been coping for some time.

Over-the-counter devices have been available for a year now. New research suggests they may have unexpected benefits.

Benefits extended earlier in the coronavirus pandemic have been rolled back. But many older Americans are not taking advantage of the aid still available.

The plaintiffs want the state to drop its residency requirement. Oregon and Vermont have already done so.

Older people are less likely to be diagnosed but more likely to experience certain kinds of illnesses, research suggests.

A series of hurdles prevented the facilities from shielding older people, despite the best efforts of staff. Experts are calling for reforms before the next virus arrives.

As climate change sends summer temperatures soaring, older people are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses in places like Phoenix.

Life expectancy increasingly figures into calculations about whether screenings and treatments are appropriate. Here’s how to find out yours.

Many aging baby boomers have long histories with drugs, cannabis and alcohol. “The field wasn’t ready for that,” said one expert.

Nearly three-quarters of hospice organizations are now for-profit. Complaints of fraud and profiteering are growing.

Senior move managers may spend weeks or months helping seniors and their families sort through belongings, pack and move into a new home.

Most have low-risk cancers and rarely benefit from treatment, a new study finds. Actively monitoring the condition is often the best choice.

The people at the dog park, the bank teller, the regular waiter — these casual relationships may be “weak ties,” but they’re also a key to well-being.

Despite solid financial track records, many older Americans have a hard time refinancing because of their mortality risks and lower retirement incomes.

Following even basic screenings and operations, patients often must arrange for someone to deliver them home. For older people, it can be a tall order.

Most older cancer patients received invasive care in the last month of their lives, a new study finds. That may not be what they wanted.