Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Long-Term Care Costs a Top Concern for Older Americans
According to a recent survey conducted by University of Michigan researchers, U.S. residents ages 50 and older are more concerned with the costs of long-term care than about the cost of acute healthcare or health insurance. The researchers surveyed 3,626 older adults. When the survey team asked participants if they were worried about certain… Read More »
Is Eye Health a Risk Factor for Dementia?
A recently published study indicates that nearly 1 in 5 of all dementia cases could be associated with vision impairment. This suggests that better eye health could help lower the rate of dementia by nearly 20%. Dementia does not refer to a specific disease but is a general term for impairments in the ability… Read More »
Study Shows that Millions of Seniors Can’t Afford Their Prescriptions
A recent National Health Statistics report indicates that millions of Americans are having a difficult time affording their prescription medication. The study, which was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that approximately 4% of those aged 65 and older can’t afford their prescription at all. More than 3% of them… Read More »
Experiences Vary for Aging U.S. Population
It’s no secret that the population of older U.S. adults is growing rapidly. Amid that, however, there is a growing amount of disparity. U.S. residents are aging in very different ways. In its newest Profile of Older Americans, the Federal Administration for Community Living displays a very detailed picture of the lives of U.S…. Read More »
Buyer Beware When it Comes to “Free” For-Profit Senior Services Referrals
Numerous websites purport to help adults find answers to questions about their aging parents. These are known as online senior living referral services. The chairman of the U.S. Senate Aging Committee recently began an investigation into assisted living referrals by A Place for Mom, one of the largest commercial advice hubs. At the same… Read More »
New Study Shows That Eating Well at 40 Could Impact Your Health at 70
Numerous diets have made their way into the collective consciousness as means of slowing down the cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s. We’ve featured a number of these diets on our blogs. But eating right isn’t just for those who are battling cognitive decline. It’s for anyone who wants to be healthy and active at… Read More »
As COVID Surges, Only 40% Of Nursing Home Residents Have Received Their Latest COVID Vaccine
Are nursing homes dropping the ball again when it comes to COVID? It seems like no one is taking COVID seriously anymore, but the virus continues to claim lives even as we know more about it, how it functions, and have medications prepared for it. COVID tends to surge over the summer and nursing… Read More »
Protecting Assets and Wishes: Essential Legal Steps for Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families
As Alzheimer’s gradually diminishes an individual’s ability to communicate, it also poses a potential threat to their estate and assets. Families who have a loved one whose cognition is in gradual decline will want to safeguard their loved one’s wishes for their estate before they become incapacitated. There are crucial legal steps that need… Read More »
Some Retirees Aren’t Allowed to Choose Between Medicare or Medicare Advantage
After the age of 65, Americans are generally allowed to choose between traditional Medicare or a private health insurer’s Medicare Advantage plan (also called Medicare Part C). However, it is becoming increasingly common for retirees with health benefits from their former employers to not be given a choice. Instead, these retirees are told that… Read More »
Four Lifestyle Changes That Can Improve Cognitive Function, Delay Alzheimer’s
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a devastating reality for numerous Americans. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative condition that causes cognitive decline. While recent research has made great strides in determining how Alzheimer’s transforms the brain, the prognosis for those with the disorder hasn’t significantly improved in recent years. Yet researchers continue to make strides in… Read More »