Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way March 4, 2026 - In her house in Ypsilanti, MI, Barbara Meade said, “there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place.”
Maybe It’s Not Just Aging. Maybe It’s Anemia. February 24, 2026 - Anemia is a common condition that can have serious medical consequences, but doctors often fail to recognize it. Journalist Paula Span investigates the situation here and has suggestions for patients. KFF Health News posted her column on July 17, 2025.…
Why Brittle Bones Aren’t Just a Woman’s Problem December 23, 2025 - Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men are, but that doesn’t mean men are in the clear. As journalist Pamela Span explains in this article, it does mean that they’re seldom screened for the disease or treated for…
Many Older People Are Eager for Vaccines November 25, 2025 - Researchers have found that, not only are the main vaccines recommended for older people effective, but a pair of them also reduce the risk of dementia. Journalist Paula Span sums up what you need to know in this piece that…
The Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors November 4, 2025 - Rajiv Roy is semi-retired from venture capital, but he’s not slowing down. At age 66, he spends about half his time traveling—just in the past six months, he’s been to Colombia, China, India, Japan and Iceland—to capture birds and other…
Ministrokes Can Have Major Consequences October 13, 2025 - The symptoms of a TIA can be so mild that it’s tempting to ignore them. Journalist Paula Span describes the symptoms and reports on the latest research on ministrokes and the consequences of ignoring them. KFF Health News posted her…
The Beers Criteria: What Patients Need to Know October 1, 2025 - Before she landed in the hospital, Wilma Jones (not her real name) was living independently and generally managing well, despite some mild cognitive impairment. But one day, when an insurance assessor came to her home, Jones answered in her underwear,…
Programs That Provide Rehab at Home Are Making a Difference September 26, 2025 - What can a hospital do when patients don’t need more hospital care but aren’t yet well enough to go home, and there’s no place else to send them? Too often, the patients are simply stuck in the hospital. Some programs…
Does Using Cannabis Become Riskier in Later Life? September 19, 2025 - It’s not clear what benefits cannabis offers, but there’s evidence that it can be harmful, journalist Paula Span reports in this wide-ranging column. Many older people assume it’s safer than smoking, but studies suggest that’s not true. KFF Health News …
Aging Voices September 3, 2025 - For the past 14 years, Darrell Rodenbaugh has played the lead in Scrooge – The Musical, an annual production by North Texas Performing Arts in Plano. The role is a marathon for 62-year-old Rodenbaugh: the company performs more than a…
A Centenarian Thrives, Living Alone in a Big City June 13, 2025 - “The future is here,” the email announced. Hilda Jaffe, then 88, was letting her children know she planned to sell the family home in Verona, NJ. 
Know Your Numbers June 3, 2025 - Every year, millions of older adults roll up their sleeves for an annual physical. Blood is drawn, a cuff tightens around the arm, and a stethoscope taps against the chest. A few days later, a patient portal pings with test…
Homebound Seniors Living Alone Often Slip Through Health System’s Cracks April 23, 2025 - Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.
How to Lower the Risk That You’ll Be Hospitalized or Die April 11, 2025 - In 2006, Carmen Emery endured a bad case of shingles—just before the vaccine became available. She spent months in agonizing pain. Afterward, she got the shot as soon as she could and encouraged family and friends to get theirs too. …
Sex after 65: Friskier but Riskier March 4, 2025 - At 81, Hélène Bertrand, MD, and her 90-year-old husband continue to enjoy a fulfilling sex life. Once every week or two, they share intimate moments that lead to orgasm and, as Bertrand puts it, “a very good night’s sleep.” “Over…
We Age in Bursts February 4, 2025 - In his early 40s, Vinny Minchillo noticed he needed to work harder in the gym just to maintain his usual level of strength. Then, when he turned 60 a few years ago, he noticed a big change in flexibility. “I…
When Less Is More: The Need for ‘Deprescribing’ January 7, 2025 - Every time Jodie Pepin’s mother saw another physician, it seemed like she was prescribed yet another medication. Each time Pepin wondered, “Why are they giving her that? She already has dementia.” Pepin, clinical pharmacy program director at Harbor Health in…
A Hidden Epidemic Threatens Older Adults: Malnutrition December 4, 2024 - For most of her life, Jenny Anne Horst-Martz’s mother worked hard to stay slender. But now, at age 90, her mother struggles to keep enough weight on. The problem started a few years ago when her mother was injured in…
The Burden of Getting Medical Care Can Exhaust Older Patients August 13, 2024 - Susanne Gilliam, 67, was walking down her driveway to get the mail in January when she slipped and fell on a patch of black ice.
Dementia: A Diagnosis Too Often Delayed August 9, 2024 - Last year, a bank officer phoned Kelli Brown’s brother with a concern: a lot of money was going out of their 87-year-old father’s bank account. Their father, a retired accountant, lived alone in Cincinnati. He seemed to be functioning well…
Gaming: A Way to Exercise Older Brains - Video games have always been part of Shawn Etheridge’s life. His interest was first sparked as a young teen, when he toted rolls of quarters to a nearby mall to play arcade games like Pong. As a young adult, as…
A Silent Killer in My Family - At my annual physical, I brought a list of concerns, feeling uneasy after learning that three of my siblings have high Lp(a), a form of cholesterol that increases the risk of heart and vascular disease. “I think I should get…