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Losing Sight July 7, 2021 by Mary Jacobs - In 2014, Sharon Kassakian, 75, was diagnosed with macular degeneration in one eye. But the condition was manageable, and she felt confident enough to move to Portland in late 2016 to be closer to family. Then, in 2018, her vision…
Telemedicine Is a Useful New Tool—with Limitations July 3, 2021 by Elisabeth Rosenthal - Earlier in the pandemic, it was vital to see doctors over platforms like Zoom or FaceTime when in-person appointments posed risks of coronavirus exposure. 
Row, Row, Row Your Boat May 5, 2021 by Mary Jacobs - Hanne Caraher loves rowing. She’s very good at it. So good, she’s won a national gold medal and has competed in championships in Canada, Poland, Germany and Hungary (she won there too). After years of early morning practices—which meant arising…
His Medical Crisis Took Us by Surprise April 21, 2021 by Judith Graham - Earlier this month, my husband picked up the phone and learned his 92-year-old father had been taken to the hospital that morning, feeling sick and short of breath.
Left Behind in the ‘Cruel’ Race for Vaccines March 24, 2021 by Will Stone - With millions of older Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and limited supplies, many continue to describe a frantic and frustrating search to secure a shot, beset by uncertainty and difficulty. 
Older COVID Patients Battle ‘Brain Fog’ February 26, 2021 by Judith Graham - “Lord, give me back my memory.”
For months, as Marilyn Walters has struggled to recover from COVID-19, she has repeated this prayer day and night.
The Doctor Is In (Virtually) December 9, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - As a retired registered nurse, Donna Bening, 81, has known for decades that telemedicine was coming. Her expectations have been realized this year. Bening had two virtual visits via videoconference: first with her primary care physician for a routine checkup,…
Older People Are Having Second Thoughts about Where to Live November 25, 2020 by Judith Graham - Where do we want to live in the years ahead? Older adults are asking this question anew in light of the ongoing toll of the coronavirus pandemic—disrupted lives, social isolation, mounting deaths.
Bob Blancato: Fighting Elder Abuse through Politics November 11, 2020 by Leigh Ann Hubbard - In 1981, a US Senate committee released the first congressional report on a problem that was gradually coming to light—one that was “shameful” and “alien to the American spirit.” It was being called elder abuse. 
Will Lifelong Learning Change the Way We Age? October 7, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - Six years ago, Laura Rich signed up for a continuing education class in Chinese art history and archaeology at Stanford University. Her children were grown and she was wrapping up a full-time stint on the local school board. “Most of…
Why Black Aging Matters Too September 9, 2020 by Judith Graham - Old. Chronically ill. Black. People who fit this description are more likely to die from COVID-19 than any other group in the country.
COVID-19 Sets Off a Pandemic of Despair for Older People August 6, 2020 by Judith Graham - As states relax coronavirus restrictions, older adults are advised, in most cases, to keep sheltering in place. But for some, the burden of isolation and uncertainty is becoming hard to bear.
Why the New Public Charge Rule Could Hit Older Immigrants Hard July 29, 2020 by Jaya Padmanabhan - Devyani Dave immigrated from India to California in 1995 in her early 60s to live near her son and his family. Her green card was sponsored by her son
Older and Wiser—but Dizzier July 8, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - Carol Kuhlman vividly remembers a weekend trip with friends about two years ago—because that’s when she started feeling dizzy. The lightheaded, unsteady sensation came on gradually and quickly got worse. “It was very uncomfortable,” said Kuhlman, 66. “I had to…
Where Should You Go to Recover after a Hospitalization? April 7, 2020 by Judith Graham - Every year, nearly two million people on Medicare—most of them older adults—go to a skilled nursing facility to recover after a hospitalization. But choosing the facility can be daunting, according to an emerging body of research.
Health Care Costs: Want an Estimate? Good Luck with That March 10, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - When Linda Stallard Johnson’s husband had pain in his shoulder, he suspected he might be having a heart attack. His sister had just had one, with similar symptoms. The couple went to a hospital emergency room, where he underwent an…
Has Your Doctor Asked You about Climate Change? January 8, 2020 by Martha Bebinger - When Michael Howard arrived for a checkup with his lung specialist, he was worried about how his body would cope with the heat and humidity of a Boston summer.
Wearable Technology Has Great Potential November 5, 2019 by Mary Jacobs - A small wristband device is helping Randy Miltenberger prepare for a knee replacement. His doctor wants him to strengthen his leg muscles to prepare for the upcoming surgery and rehab, so Miltenberger, 73, wears a FitBit fitness tracker. The device…
Lethal Plans: Suicides in Long Term Care Facilities October 8, 2019 by Melissa Bailey and JoNel Aleccia - When Larry Anders moved into the Bay at Burlington nursing home in late 2017, he wasn’t supposed to be there long. At 77, the stoic Wisconsin machinist had just endured the death of his wife of 51 years and a grim new diagnosis: throat cancer, stage 4.
Getting Older, Sleeping Less? October 8, 2019 by Mary Jacobs - Until age 45, Mary Jo Anderson says, she was a “champion sleeper.” “It’s like someone flipped a light switch,” she said. “When I entered menopause, I suddenly couldn’t fall asleep.” At age 64, she had less trouble falling asleep but…
Senior Centers Are Evolving - The first time Sue and Mike Miller visited their community’s senior center in Portage, MI, several years ago, they found a few people playing pool or bridge—and decided it wasn’t for them. But the couple tried again in 2022, when…
The Upside and Downside of Being Owned by a Cat - I love my cat, but until now, I hadn’t thought of her as a way to stay healthy. In fact, when I first brought Velvet—a small, feisty black kitty—home, I thought of her as a dog substitute. My beloved dog…