geriatrics

What Did Your Doctor Ask You? Not Much, Says Poll

Posted on 05/7/2012 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthDoctors are falling short in the primary care they offer Americans age 65 and older, says a new poll. This is not about expensive medical procedures — just some basic questions and interventions that could protect against future health problems as we age. The new survey, from the John H. Hartford Foundation, looked at whether seniors had received seven services that would support “healthy aging.” The seven included: an annual medication review, a falls risk assessment and history, depression screening, …

Too Many Pills: Are We Over-Medicated As We Age?

Posted on 04/25/2012 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthHow many pills do you take a day? Five? Six? More? More than 40 percent of Americans age 65 and older take five medications a day, according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and each year more than a third will suffer an adverse side effect as a result. New York Times health writer Jane Brody recently wrote about the disastrous effects of over-medication on her 92-year-old aunt, who was taking seven prescription …

The Takeaway: Hospitals Open Seniors-Only Emergency Rooms

Posted on 04/10/2012 by | Brooklyn, NY | Comments

News RoundupsEmergency Rooms of Their Own: A growing number of American hospitals have been debuting emergency rooms designed specifically for older adults, generally those 65 and up. Special accommodations include things like nonskid floors, rails along the walls, extra heating units, thicker mattresses to reduce bedsores and artificial skylights intended to combat “sundowning.”

Notable News December 14

Posted on 12/14/2009 by | Archived Contributor | Comments

News RoundupsWe’ve talked about older Americans and technology in the past, and here’s another testament to the fact that those of retirement age are really making use of the latest technologies – from mobile phones to DVRs to the “simple” internet. Check out this short article from the New York Times article – it says that people over 65 “spent 47 percent more time than the previous year watching embedded video within social networks.” That’s a lot of growth! Here’s an …