On Aging

Hundreds of nursing home residents have been transferred as a result of their facilities treating COVID-19 patients only.

Nursing Home Residents Moved Out To Make Way For COVID-19 Patients

9:00am August 04, 2020

by Ina Jaffe

Some nursing homes have switched to treating only COVID-19 patients, who bring in more government money. But to make room for them, the original residents are forced out of places they've called home.

Diversity In Coronavirus Vaccine Trials Demanded From Drug Companies

4:05pm July 29, 2020

by JoNel Aleccia

There are growing demands that drugmakers and investigators ensure diversity in coronavirus vaccine trials by including racial minorities, older people and those with underlying medical conditions.

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Blood plasma — the yellowish, cell-free portion that remains after red and white blood cells have been filtered out by a machine and returned to the plasma donor — is rich with antibodies. Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients might prove useful in

Harvested Antibodies Now Being Tested As A Prevention Tool Against COVID-19

8:03am July 29, 2020

by Richard Harris

Scientists are now checking to see if purified blood serum from people who have recovered from COVID-19 might be more than a useful treatment. Perhaps it's a way to prevent disease in someone else.

People wait in line outside a testing site in Florida. The state has seen unprecedented surges in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

Pandemic Is Overwhelming U.S. Public Health Capacity In Many States. What Now?

3:03pm July 28, 2020

by Rob Stein

With the coronavirus spreading out of control in many parts of the U.S., some experts say the strategy of testing and tracing can't contain the pandemic until lockdowns bring case numbers down.

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Several lines of evidence now suggest that two common vaccines against respiratory illnesses can help protect against Alzheimer's, too. How much brain protection they offer will require more intensive study to quantify, scientists say.

Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzheimer's Risk, Research Shows

11:34am July 27, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

Two new human studies back earlier hints that vaccines designed to prevent respiratory infections might also provide some protection against Alzheimer's disease.

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Public health officials advise social distancing strategies and masks, in part because the latest evidence suggests that catching the coronavirus, even if you're young, is risky business. A significant portion of COVID-19 survivors suffer fatigue, blood c

Without A Vaccine, Researchers Say, Herd Immunity May Never Be Achieved

7:33am July 24, 2020

by Geoff Brumfiel

A growing number of researchers think until there's an effective vaccine, the coronavirus will simply persist in the population, causing illness indefinitely. Better to squelch the spread instead.

An evacuee lies on a cot at an evacuation shelter for people with disabilities in Stuart, Fla., in preparation for Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 1, 2019. Now, with the pandemic raging, officials across the South are trying to adjust their evacuation and shelt

Disaster Relief For The Elderly And Disabled Is Already Hard. Now Add A Pandemic

6:46pm July 22, 2020

by Joseph Shapiro

Natural disasters are already deadly for the elderly and people with disabilities. During the pandemic, advocates say disaster preparation has fallen short in meeting the needs of the most at risk.

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Though the pandemic has left us all less able to socialize in person with our close friends and community, we're still finding ways to use screens and other methods to connect and maintain relationships, research suggests.

Loneliness Hasn't Increased Despite Pandemic, Research Finds. What Helped?

8:22pm July 15, 2020

by Joanne Silberner

Though anxiety has increased in the U.S. in recent months, a drastic spike in loneliness that psychologists expected hasn't emerged. People seem to be finding new ways to connect, researchers say.

Activity manager Robert Speker worked with residents at England's Sydmar Lodge care home to re-create iconic album covers. Due to COVID-19, residents have been locked down in the facility for months.

At U.K. Care Home, Residents Brilliantly Recreate Iconic Album Covers On Twitter

5:18pm July 13, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

Robert Speker wanted to keep spirits up while visitors and outside entertainment were banned due to COVID-19. His ingenious idea: cast the residents as rock stars.

Health & Safety

Life Kit: Planning For The End Of A Life

7:30am July 13, 2020

by Kavitha Cardoza

Talking about death makes many of us uncomfortable, so we don't plan for it. NPR's Life Kit offers tips for starting an advanced directive to prepare for a good death.

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