On Aging

If you need to buy health insurance, don't procrastinate.

Sign Up For Health Coverage If You Need It, Despite GOP Repeal Plans

5:15pm December 13, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Republicans' plans to overhaul the federal health law aren't expected to take effect immediately, so consumers can still sign up for 2017 coverage — and should, if they need insurance.

Bobo gives her mother a kiss. Her mother can't talk or move her arms or legs.

Caring For A Loved One At Home Can Have A Steep Learning Curve

7:41am December 12, 2016

by Taunya English

People caring for someone at home often have zero training. Many learn on the fly, and some states are passing laws to make sure caregivers get at least basic instruction in home care.

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Life Expectancy In U.S. Drops For First Time In Decades, Report Finds

9:50am December 08, 2016

by Rob Stein

Overall, U.S. life expectancy dipped in 2015 — the first drop since 1993. That's because the death rate went up between 2014 and 2015, driven by an increase in mortality among people younger than 65.

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Be the sunflower and you may live longer.

A Brighter Outlook Could Translate To A Longer Life

4:25pm December 07, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

This study doesn't prove that optimism actually causes better health or postpones death. But it joins a growing body of evidence suggesting that they're fellow travelers.

Daniels spent three years working on her project, Into Oblivion, which documents life inside a geriatric unit in France.

Life Inside The Alzheimer's Ward: A Hidden World Revealed

1:28pm December 01, 2016

by Meredith Rizzo

The dementia wing of a nursing home is foreign territory to most people. Photographer Maja Daniels spent three years documenting the lives of people with Alzheimer's in a hospital in France.

One more coffee, one more cigarette/One more morning, trying to forget — Van Morrison, You Just Can't Win.

It's Never Too Late To Quit Smoking, Even In Your 60s

2:10pm November 30, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

It's true that the earlier a smoker quits the better, but even people who quit in their 60s lowered their risk of death compared to those who kept puffing away.

More than a quarter of Japan's population is over the age of 65, and its birthrate is falling steadily.

Golden Years, Iron Bars: Japan Sees Rise In Crime By The Elderly

5:50pm November 22, 2016

by Elise Hu

Senior citizens are committing crimes like shoplifting in bigger numbers than teenagers, and the threat of jail time doesn't seem to be a deterrent.

Education may help brains cope with cognitive decline, and treatments for high blood pressure and other health problems may decrease dementia risk.

Dementia Risk Declines, And Education May Be One Reason Why

11:50am November 22, 2016

by Ina Jaffe

The prevalence of Alzheimer's and other dementias declined by almost 3 percent from 2000 to 2012, a study finds. That could be a result of people getting more education, and better health overall.

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Volunteer Julia Torrano helps Estelle Day, 79, style her hair while she's a patient at UCLA Medical Center.

Hospital Companions Can Ease Isolation For Older People

1:43pm November 21, 2016

by Ina Jaffe

Loneliness and social isolation can affect health for the worse. A California hospital is training volunteers to provide companionship and friendly assistance.

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When Morton Pollner was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 76, he thought it was a death sentence.

Older Patients Can Benefit From Lung Cancer Surgery

8:50am November 21, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

Lung cancer affects mostly older people, but they're often not offered surgery as a treatment. A study finds that most older people can tolerate surgery, and that it extends lives.

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