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Health News Results - 445

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 Nursing Home Care Compare website in the 1990s to publicly report patient safety indicators for every nursing facility ...

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.

“Losing muscle as we age leads to problems with weakness and frailty in later life,” said professor

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 25, 2023
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  • 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) National Poll on Healthy Aging.

    Five years ago, just 51% in this age range used patient portals, the researchers sai...

    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.

    "We also found that most respondents wanted to talk with their doctors about medication costs and would want their d...

    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 was up from roughly 10,100 deaths in 1999.

    Adjusted for age, those numbers translated into a more than twofold incre...

    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 injury or fatality in a drug- or alcohol-related traffic accident," said lead author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 28, 2023
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  • 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 a much smaller growth in the pool of home care workers.

    The result: between 2013 and 2019, the number of availabl...

    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, the authors said.

    “The dramatic rise in overdose fatalities among adults over 65 years of age in the past two ...

    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 fatal and non-fatal injuries among the elderly. However, falls are not a normal part of aging.

    So why do the elder...

    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 place.

    But as a person ages, what used to be ordinary in the home can be challenging or even a hazard. Almost one-...

    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 walking speed.

    Experts said the findings suggest that yoga might help older adults manage some of the strength and m...

    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 the University of Michigan researchers. They may go a week or longer without social contact from someone outside the hom...

    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 Cochrane Database of ...

    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 Abilify (aripiprazole) to the original antidepressant.

    “This is good news for older adults with difficult-to-trea...

    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 make a difference in heart health.

    It's possible, according to researchers, that just 3,000 steps a day has benefit...

    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 based largely on the results of a trial that tested the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine in the same age group. Those findings, publi...

    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 reported to the FDA and the CPSC [U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]," the FDA said in a new

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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  • 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 will weigh the potential approval of another respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, this one from GlaxoSmithKline, on...

    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 published clinical trial results this week that pave the way for an RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine to be available...

    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 limitations in the activities that are an important part of daily life, from climbing stairs or walking without difficulty to...

    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 measures of heart health in the small study.

    “The results of this study are meant to encourage older adults to spend m...

    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 have a sudden cardiac arrest during exercise, and those who do tend to have fewer health issues than those who experience ...

    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 pandemic in 2020 for fear of contracting the coronavirus, but doing so may have led to new or worsening health conditions.<...

    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 strength, slow walking speed and reduced physical activity levels, researchers say.

    Those symptoms can make a per...

    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 abuse has grown over decades. It plans to launch an investigation of select nursing homes this month, the Associated Pre...

    Winter may feel like a time for hibernation, but it's important for seniors to safely keep up their hobbies and physical activity in the cold weather.

    “It's important to get outside as much as possible, whether it's temperate or even if it's colder, as long as it's safe to do so,” said Dr. Angela Catic...

    Doctors already test seniors' hearing and vision. Sense of smell could be added to screenings one day, according to researchers who found links between its loss and risk of frailty in older adults.

    “We use our sense of smell to identify the threat of a fire or to enjoy the fragrance of flowers on a spring day. But just like vision and hearing, this sense weakens as we age,” said study...

    Could taking hot baths at night help seniors keep high blood pressure at bay? A new Japanese study suggests it just might work.

    The finding follows a fresh analysis of a decade-old survey that looked at high blood pressure risk among older residents of Beppu.

    Beppu is a city widely known for having the most natural hot springs in all of Japan. And the new analysis revealed that tho...

    Medicare Advantage ads that are confusing or misleading could be banned under a new rule that was proposed Wednesday by the Biden administration to protect seniors.

    Nearly half of all seniors or people with disabilities who are enrolled in the Medicare program through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have Medicare Advantage plans.

    “CMS released a proposed...

    Experts are asking seniors to get their flu shots ASAP as an exceptionally nasty flu season unfolds across the United States.

    Already, 8.7 million flu cases have been reported, with 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the last week alone, the nu...

    Growing numbers of older Americans are dying from drug overdoses and alcohol abuse.

    That's the tragic takeaway from two new reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    More than 5,000 people aged 65 and older in the United States died of a drug overdose in 2020, and this number has tripled since 2000, according to

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 30, 2022
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  • Researchers warn that high rates of cervical cancer screening in women over 65 suggest that some older Americans are being unnecessarily screened.

    More health data on these screenings in older women is needed to prevent potential harm and unnecessary costs, said the team from University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the U.S. Centers for Dise...

    Escaping from a cold, wintery place to a warm climate can be fun for so-called "snowbirds" who migrate south for the winter.

    Still, experts say it's a good idea for older adults to prepare by having a "medical checklist" to ensure both regular care and help in case of an emerging issue while away from home.

    "Snowbirds should have their medical checklists completed a month before th...

    More than 700,000 older Americans rely on public transportation to get to and from their medical appointments.

    That's roughly 1 in 10 seniors who live in cities.

    But when individuals were frail, or used a wheelchair, or sidewalks along their route were damaged, they were less likely to take the subway or bus, pointing to a need for improvement, according to a

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 27, 2022
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  • Controlling high blood pressure in older adults may be one of the "best bets" for reducing the risk of developing dementia, Australian researchers report.

    "Given population aging and the substantial costs of caring for people with dementia, even a small reduction could have considerable global impact,...

    These days, you can test yourself for COVID-19, HIV, potential problems in your DNA or even a urinary tract infection while never leaving your home.

    Researchers set out to find what older folks thought of the tests, whether they use them and how often they reported their results to a physician who could provide care if there was a problem.

    "As more companies bring these direct-to-co...

    Surgery can be a daunting prospect at any age. Now, researchers say they've spotted two key factors upping the odds of a poor surgical outcome in seniors.

    Older adults who are either frail or suffering from dementia have high rates of death in the year following a major procedure, a new U.S. study finds.

    Researchers found that among Americans aged 65 and older who underwent maj...

    One in 10 older Americans has dementia, and twice as many have mild mental impairment, a new study finds.

    As the nation's population grows older, the burden on families and society is likely to grow, and minorities will be affected most, experts say.

    "As the population in the U.S. ages, it is projected that there will be more cases of cognitive impairment, unless and until effective...

    Researchers have discovered another clue as to how some older people stay sharp as a tack into their 80s and beyond: Their brain cells are really big.

    The study focused on what scientists have dubbed "super-agers" — a select group of elderly adults who have the memory skills of people decades younger.

    The researchers found that in a memory-related area of the brain, super-agers ha...

    For older adults, getting vaccinated provides protection against COVID-19, but getting a booster is a key part of maintaining that immunity, a new study confirms.

    "The data support the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination and affirm that the vaccine is initially able to mount a good a...

    Millions of seniors who had to pay high increases in Medicare premiums this year will get a break in 2023 when they see a rare drop in monthly premiums for Medicare Part B.

    The

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 28, 2022
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  • It can be hard to talk to your loved ones about moving into assisted living, so don't push them too hard and make sure they feel safe and comfortable with the idea, one expert advises.

    "Start the conversation as early as possible, and focus on what matters,” said Dr. Angela Catic....

    Seniors, there's good news and bad from a new study of mental health. The brain-centered research confirms that mental skills do decline with age -- but it also finds many people over 60 having better psychological health than folks in their 20s.

    "We wanted to better understand the interplay between cognition and mental health across aging, and whether they rely on activation of similar o...

    A daily multivitamin might help keep your brain free from any decline in thinking skills, a new study suggests.

    In a trial of more than 21,000 men and women, the study authors reported that

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 14, 2022
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  • It's never too late to benefit from regular walks.

    A new study suggests that a 10-minute daily stroll can prolong life in folks well into their 80s and beyond.

    “Adults are less likely to meet activity recommendations as they get older,” said study author Dr. Moo-Nyun Jin of Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. “Our study suggests that walking at least o...

    If you're a senior who struggles to remember where you put your car keys, could noninvasive brain stimulation boost your memory?

    Yes, clai...

    Affordable over-the-counter hearing aids will bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss by mid-October, under a landmark proposal just announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    The final rul...

    By combining technology with interactive art activities, older people at home can have museums come to them -- and this can support their physical, mental and social well-being, a new study reports.

    "This participatory art-based activity could become a model that could be offered in museums and arts institutions worldwide to promote active and healthy aging," said lead author Dr. Olivier...

    Lots of older folks are turning to alternative medicine to help them with the pains of aging -- but they don't necessarily think that's any of their doctor's business.

    About 40% of older adults use at least one alternative medicine practice to help w...

    With much of the United States baking in extreme heat this summer, older adults and the people caring for them need to take extra precautions.

    Seniors can decline rapidly, sometimes within minutes, when exposed to soaring temperatures, said Dr. Angela Catic, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

    "As we get older, our bodies don't self-regulate temperature ...