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What Will Later Life Be Like Beyond COVID-19? January 28, 2021 by Judith Graham - Months into the coronavirus pandemic, older adults are having a hard time envisioning their “new normal.”
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. 
COVID-19 Is Damaging Bereaved Families October 22, 2020 by Judith Graham - Every day, the nation is reminded of COVID-19’s ongoing impact as new death counts are published. What is not well documented is the toll on family members.
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…
Should You Change Your Living Will Because of the Pandemic? September 30, 2020 by Judith Graham - Last month, Minna Buck revised a document specifying her wishes should she become critically ill.
“No intubation,” she wrote in large letters on the form, making sure to include the date and her initials.
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…
Is Aging a Disease? June 24, 2020 by Joelle Renstrom - The first depiction of humanity’s obsession with curing death is The Epic of Gilgamesh—which, dating back to at least 1800 BC, is also one of the first recorded works of literature, period. 
Patient Advocates: Pathfinders in the Complex World of Medicine June 11, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - When a life-threatening staph infection sent Dominick Buttiglieri, 64, to the hospital, his situation quickly worsened—and his wife, Deborah, soon felt overwhelmed. “His organs were shutting down, and the doctors weren’t giving us much hope,” she said. Dominick was in…
Parenting Your Aging Parents May 27, 2020 by Judith Graham - David Solie’s 89-year-old mother, Carol, was unyielding. “No, I will not move,” she told her son every time he suggested that she leave her home and relocate to a senior-living residence.
Write Your Own Obituary May 6, 2020 by Mary Jacobs - When Susan deLarios’s mother passed away, she had to scramble to finish the obituary before the funeral. By contrast, when her father died a few years earlier, his obituary was already done—he had written it himself. Given how much easier…
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.
A Doctor Speaks Out about Ageism in Medicine March 24, 2020 by Judith Graham - Society gives short shrift to older age. This distinct phase of life doesn’t get the same attention that’s devoted to childhood.
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…
Is Suicide Ever Simply a Rational Choice? February 25, 2020 by Melissa Bailey - Ten residents slipped away from their retirement community one Sunday afternoon for a covert meeting in a grocery store cafe. They aimed to answer a taboo question: When they feel they have lived long enough, how can they carry out their own swift and peaceful death?
The True Cost of Growing Old in America February 5, 2020 by Jan Mutchler - The US population is aging at such a rate that within a few years, older Americans will outnumber the country’s children for the first time, according to census projections. But rising rents, health care and other living costs mean that for many entering their retirement years, balancing the household budget can be a struggle.
Living with Disabilities - Until a few years ago, doctors told Deanna Mann, 85, she was “healthy as a horse.” She lived independently in an apartment and enjoyed playing bridge with friends twice a week. Then one leg suddenly swelled up. The other followed…
Gallows Humor - I live in a retirement community, and when somebody turns 90 here, we like to celebrate. A few months ago, a friend had a 90th birthday party that made me envious. I’m just 88, but I announced that I too…