On Aging

Talking about end-of-life care may be difficult, but the stakes make the conversations worth the effort.

Doctors Unsure About How To Talk With Patients About End-Of-Life Care

3:18pm April 15, 2016

by Barbara Feder Ostrov

Medicare now pays doctors $86 to discuss end-of-life care in an office visit that covers topics such as hospice, living wills and do-not-resuscitate orders. But how should doctors get a chat rolling?

Life Expectancy Study: It's Not Just What You Make, It's Where You Live

6:24pm April 11, 2016

by Jim Zarroli

A study of Social Security and tax records says poor people live longer in some cities than in others, and it's not clear why.

Queue Listen Now

Stanford Challenges Young Designers To Help Older Adults

11:13am April 09, 2016

The Stanford Design Challenge is a competition to encourage students to design solutions for mobility and mental stimulation. The contest could change the way people live in the future.

Queue Listen Now

Steve Julian, a radio host with KPCC in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last November. He and his wife, Felicia Friesema, turned to social media for solace, support and the space to process their heartbreaking journey.

Online Comfort For Real-World Cancer Can Be Surprisingly Sweet

10:10am April 08, 2016

Steve Julian is a morning anchor for KPCC-FM in Los Angeles, a playwright and a former cop. His communities are legion, and all cared deeply when he got his terminal diagnosis. How best to reach out?

Just Turned 40? An Architect Says It's Time To Design For Aging

6:30pm April 04, 2016

by Meredith Rizzo

An architect looked at communities that serve older adults, and didn't like what he saw. By changing habits earlier in life, he says, we can create vibrant communities that will sustain us.

State attorneys allege that the Casa Real Health Center, a Santa Fe nursing home, is one of seven facilities that billed Medicaid and private insurers for services they couldn't have delivered, given their low staffing levels.

Industrial Science Hunts For Nursing Home Fraud In New Mexico Case

8:00pm March 31, 2016

by Ina Jaffe

New Mexico is using time-motion studies to sue a chain of nursing homes for fraud. State prosecutors say the facilities couldn't possibly have provided the care promised — and billed for.

Queue Listen Now

Fatty plaque (shown here in yellow) blocks about 60 percent of this coronary artery's width. The increasing thickness of artery walls is just one factor that can increase vulnerability to a heart attack or stroke.

Possible Heart Benefits Of Taking Estrogen Get Another Look

8:05pm March 30, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Evidence has ping-ponged over the decades on the effects of hormone therapy on a woman's arteries. The latest study suggests a brief stint on hormones might be helpful — if given at the right time.

Queue Listen Now

Paul Hornback was a senior engineer and analyst for the U.S. Army when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease six years ago at age 55. His wife, Sarah, had to retire 18 months ago to care for him full time.

Big Financial Costs Are Part Of Alzheimer's Toll On Families

4:36pm March 30, 2016

by Jon Hamilton

A survey of more than 3,500 people caring for family members with dementia finds that many are spending down personal savings and cutting into their own basic needs to meet their loved one's expenses.

Queue Listen Now

Valeant Pharmaceuticals has been the focus of a congressional investigation into high drug prices. .

Drug Company Jacks Up Cost Of Aid-In-Dying Medication

4:57pm March 23, 2016

by April Dembosky

Seconal used to cost less than $200 a bottle. After Valeant Pharmaceuticals bought the medication, the cost rose to $3,000. Advocates for aid in dying say that's a burden for the terminally ill.

Mindfulness meditation reduced pain and disability in people with chronic lower back pain.

For Chronic Low Back Pain, Mindfulness Can Beat Painkillers

3:24pm March 22, 2016

by Nancy Shute

Meditation can help relieve chronic back pain, and so can cognitive behavioral therapy, a study finds. But good luck getting insurance to pay for it.