Senate Panel to Investigate Deaths at Long-Term Care Facilities
The Senate Finance Committee has opened an investigation into patient deaths and allegations of substandard treatment at long-term care hospitals, small specialty medical centers that treat chronically ill patients.
Assisted Living Centers Cut Costs, Negotiate Fees
Assisted living facilities are slashing costs, negotiating fees and offering more services, as operators adjust strategies to attract more residents in a tough economy.
Vietnam Vets Should File Agent Orange Claims ASAP
Vietnam veterans with ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease or B cell leukemia should file claims now with the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability compensation, and not wait until VA publishes a regulation officially linking these diseases to wartime service.
Alzheimer's 'Epidemic' Hitting Minorities Hardest
According to the Alzheimer's Association's report release, African Americans are almost twice as likely as whites to have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, and Hispanics are about one and a half times more likely to be stricken with it.
Tax Breaks Available for Caregivers Taking Care of Children & Elderly parents
The sandwich generation may find relief in the form of tax breaks. The $3,650 qualifying relative exemption can help buffer expenses related with supporting parents.
Senior Citizens, Military Families May Find Doctors Refusing Service as Medicare Pay Shrinks 21%
A 21% reduction in Medicare fees to physicians treating patients relying on Medicare and military personnel enrolled in the TRICARE program for their health care took effect March 1.
Sea Squirt Helps Researchers Test New Alzheimer's Drug
Using tadpoles may speed up process for experimental studies.
Hospital Stays May Spur Brain Decline in Elderly
Study shows that elderly people who have been hospitalized have an increased risk of cognitive decline and are more likely to develop dementia.
Scans Offer New Hope for Alzheimer's Patients
Imaging technology scans suggest that a new drug reduces plaque deposits in the brains of certain Alzheimer's patients by 25% compared to a placebo.
Little Evidence Indicates Flu Vaccine Works For Elderly
A recent comprehensive review of clinical trials suggests that there has been little evidence to demonstrate the flu vaccines used in the past 40 years are safe to use to prevent flu effectively in people aged 65 years and over.
Anemia Common for Elderly in Long-Term Care Facilities
Studies have indicated that about half of nursing home residents have anemia caused by varying nutritional deficiencies and chronic conditions.
Untreated Poor Vision in Elderly Linked to Dementia
Findings of a new study revealed that elderly people with visual disorders that are left untreated are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
Loopy Hearing Aid Idea Brings in Speech Loud and Clear
Standard hearing aids work well in quiet, intimate settings, but in public spaces filled with background noise, most users find them of little use. A simple technology that sidesteps the problem, long available in Europe, has finally begun entering the U.S. market.
Early-onset Alzheimer's Patients Now Qualify for Social Security Benefits
People who have early onset Alzheimer’s disease can now qualify for Social Security benefits, thanks to a new ruling by the Social Security Administration.
Stress Risk in Diabetic Elderly
Stress raises the risk of mental decline in older people with diabetes, research suggests.
Medicare Advantage Members May Make Changes During Open Enrollment
Medicare recipients may still make changes to their Medicare Advantage coverage during open enrollment period, which runs from now until March 31.
New Gene Linked to Fronto-Temporal Dementia
Scientists have discovered a new gene linked to a form of dementia, hailing it as a breakthrough. The breakthrough could help lead to future treatments for the condition.
51 Percent of Seniors Getting Smaller Social Security Checks This Year
A majority of seniors are receiving a smaller Social Security check this year than in 2009.
Social Security Adds 38 New Conditions that Qualify for Disability Help
The Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008.
Common Diabetes Drug Increases Elderly Women's Risk of Fracture
One commonly prescribed diabetes medication is contributing to higher rates of bone fractures among elderly women, a new report finds.