Elder Care

Clad in a bright pink bowtie atop a white polo, dark track pants and white sneakers, Billie Bob Sykes uses a walker to stroll across the gym floors of a large health and fitness center.

The White House has launched an initiative on women’s health. Studying the health of older women, a largely neglected group in medical research, should be a priority.

Even seniors like virtual reality, whether it is flying in a plane, soaring over mountains or playing with puppies. That is the finding of a newly published Stanford University study that surveyed residents of 17 senior communities around the country after they experienced VR, usually for the first time.

Members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.

Last month, Florida joined 15 other states in banning sales taxes on diapers to make them more affordable for older adults and families with young children.

The pandemic disrupted the massage industry. Now those who specialize in hospice massage therapy are in demand and redefining their roles.

In Leon County, Elder Care’s executive director worries if Congress' discussions impact funding, it could have a negative effect on seniors' well-being and pockets.

Experts are worried the number of cases reported to help lines and law enforcement don't reflect the reality of elder violence.

Researchers are identifying new ways to assess older adults’ social circumstances and identify risks that can compromise their health. “It’s a more complete picture of older adults’ circumstances than any one factor alone,” one expert said.

Many small-town care facilities that remain open are limiting admissions, citing a lack of staff, while a wave of others shutter. That means more patients are marooned in hospitals or placed far away from their families.

The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services gives facilities an overall star rating along with details on health care, staffing and quality at its Care Compare website.

How do older adults know when the potential benefits from surgery are worth the risks? And what questions should they ask as they try to figure this out? We ask experts for guidance.