Family Health Blog

Because older people are more at risk for complications from COVID-19, independent and assisted living communities around the U.S. have banned visitors and are encouraging residents to remain within the community and, in some cases, in their apartments as much as possible. Even older people who don’t live in a senior living community may be... Read More

Being a caregiver for an aging or ill parent, partner, or spouse can be an all-consuming job. And it’s a job more Americans are taking on as the population gets older and more people are diagnosed with chronic health problems and cognitive health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. While focused... Read More

The first signs are often subtle—missed appointments, unpaid bills, or a once immaculate home that now has an unmowed lawn and dirty dishes on the counter. It’s easy for adult children of aging parents to miss these first signs that their parents need help with tasks they once handled easily on their own. In fact,... Read More

Although some surgeries are generally considered minor procedures for people in good health, they may pose greater to risk to older people whose condition is more frail. A recent study published in JAMA Surgery found that older patients who were frail were at a higher risk of dying after any type of surgery, whether it... Read More

A report from researchers at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University projects that by 2035, one in three households in the U.S. will be headed by someone who is 65 or older and many of these people plan to age in place, staying in their homes as they get older. While there... Read More

For people who are the caregivers for a parent, spouse, partner, or other family member living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, the holidays can be complicated. First, there’s the stress of continuing to provide care during an especially busy time of year and striving to maintain consistency and calm for the person... Read More

Maybe you’re exploring long-term care options for you and your spouse or partner in the future. Or perhaps your parents’ health situation has changed and they can no longer safely live by themselves. Once you start researching your options, you may realize that making this decision is more complicated than you thought. There are many... Read More

As you get older, your risk of falling and getting injured increases. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four adults in the U.S. over the age of 65 reported falling and one in 10 reported getting injured in a fall in 2014, the most recent year for... Read More

Time in the hospital can be physically and emotionally taxing at any age, but for older people, time spent in the hospital can have an even bigger impact on their health and wellbeing after they’re discharged. You can help advocate for your loved ones and ask important questions. You’ll just need to be sure they’ve... Read More

There are many reasons you may be looking for a new primary care physician as you get older. Perhaps your doctor is retiring or no longer accepts your insurance. Maybe you’ve moved to a new town or state. Or you could be living with several medical issues and want to work with a doctor who... Read More