Introduction What is the outlook for nursing homes and home health care industries? There has been a trend toward home health care and away from nursing homes in recent years. The former is less expensive and permits seniors to remain in the community, promoting better social health. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated these trends … Continue reading
Category Archives: Aging
Aging / America / Debt / Economy / Labor Force / Social Security
Retirement Age and the Social Security Dilemma
Ever since the members of the U.S Business Roundtable presented their plan to gradually raise the retirement age to seventy last year, the political and economic realm has been on fire with both support and recrimination. This fervor has only intensified after a recently released report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) which stated that, holding … Continue reading
Aging / America / Culture / Healthcare / Politics / U.S. Domestic Policy
Death Wish: Dying with Dignity
Just seven years ago, “aid in dying” or “assisted suicide,” was illegal throughout the United States with the exception of Oregon. Today, five additional states have passed “death with dignity” bills that allow terminally ill patients to choose to die with the help of their physician. Many praise this legislation for allowing patients who are … Continue reading
Aging / Healthcare / Politics
How Will the IMPACT Act Impact Hospice Care?
President Obama signed the IMPACT Act into law on October 6. The law had overwhelming bipartisan support and will bring increased federal oversight to hospice programs across the country. The legislation mainly addresses how nursing homes, rehab-centers, and home health agencies assess and report data on quality and other measures. However, buried in the new law … Continue reading
Dealing with Death: The Time for the Uncomfortable Discussion is Now
Last week, medical author Atul Gawande released his fourth book titled Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, discussing the current medical procedures during the end of life. I was lucky enough to attend a discussion Mr. Gawande had on this book, and there was one thing that he said that really stuck … Continue reading
Is Telehealth The Future of Medicine?
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 20 percent of Americans live in an area with an insufficient number of primary care physicians and 30 percent live in an area with insufficient mental health providers. Additionally, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2020 the nation will be facing a shortfall of … Continue reading
Aging / America / Culture / Environment / Politics
Tackling Our Attitudes Toward Aging
Age is a sensitive topic in our society. Even Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain has gone on the record saying that she will never reveal her age because she’s an “actress.” (It is widely speculated she is 35 years old.) Another actress Isabelle Huppert rebuked an interviewer for asking a question about her “longevity” in the … Continue reading
Delayed Aging: A New Concept for Living a Longer, Healthier Life
Slowing the biological aging process (senescence) is now a realistic goal. According to a new research study published in Health Affairs, the elimination of diseases such as cancer and heart disease would have less effect on longevity and quality of life than delaying aging itself. Although most medical research remains focused on combating individual diseases, … Continue reading
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