The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
Paula Span explores the unprecedented challenges posed by a rapidly aging population.
Beginning in April 2025, The New Old Age has been produced through a partnership between 吃瓜不打烊 and The New York Times.
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These service providers, formerly known as geriatric care managers, can arrange a move to a senior living facility, deal with Medicare and Medicaid, recommend doctors, drive a client to the dentist, and much more.
As the oldest baby boomers turn 80, researchers worry there won鈥檛 be enough room in nursing facilities for a rapidly graying nation.
Not all older people need benzodiazepines, antibiotics, or daily aspirin 鈥 and taking them can carry increased risks.
People outside the family frequently step into helping roles when older adults need assistance.
People age 65 and up are more likely than other age groups to die after being hit by a vehicle.
These specialized units can help keep older patients out of the hospital, lower their healthcare costs, and more.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and older adults are at higher risk. But only about a quarter of patients eligible for screening are up to date.
A growing network of home-sharing programs is helping people find compatible housemates. And demand is rising, driven by housing shortages, rising rents, and sales prices that affect both the old and the young.
Washington state has launched the first program to help cover home care and other supports. Several other states are paying attention.
Despite widespread support in polls for legalizing aid in dying, the number of people who go through with the practice remains very small.
Some screenings and treatments no longer make sense for patients as they age. Researchers have just added a few more to the list.
With shortages of medical professionals and an aging population, thousands of community healthcare workers prevent older adults from falling through the cracks.
A long stay in intensive care can bring physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges that can take months or longer to resolve.
The number doctors use to demarcate high blood pressure keeps going down, a trend applauded by many experts, who point to studies linking the condition and dementia.
Older Americans are losing billions of dollars annually to financial exploitation. Banks and investment firms are training employees to spot red flags and stop the transactions.
Aging means 鈥渂ecoming a target鈥 of the industry, one expert said. After decades of debate, politicians of all stripes are proposing bans.
The physician workforce is aging fast, and some hospitals now require that older clinicians undergo testing for cognitive decline. Many have resisted.
Two Trump administration regulatory rollbacks affect nursing home staffing and home care workers, and a new AI experiment in Medicare has alarmed eldercare advocates and congressional Democrats.
Many shots seem to have 鈥渙ff-target鈥 benefits, such as lowering the risk of dementia, studies have found.
Paid home care is buckling under the surging demands of an aging population. But there are alternatives that could upgrade jobs and improve patient care.
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