AnswersForCare™ - Comprehensive Information & Resources for Family Caregivers

Breast Cancer Is On The Rise October is national breast cancer awareness month. Not only is it important for family caregivers to be screened for breast cancer, but of even more importance is for our older family members to . . . → Read More: CAREGIVERS UNITE FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

© By The Editor, HelpingYouCare.com™ View/ Print this article as a PDF Document Is your parent or elder acting in ways that do not seem like the person you have known – or perhaps in ways that exaggerate difficult . . . → Read More: FOUR STEPS TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT ELDERLY BEHAVIOR

© 2010 by Constance R. Barnhart Attorney At Law View/ Print as a PDF Document Following is a checklist of some of the legal issues that may arise for seniors and their family caregivers. For each of these issues . . . → Read More: A Checklist of Some Legal Issues for Seniors and Their Family Caregivers

The Caregiver Conquers Holiday Stress By Ruth Mansmith, a former CEO for a national chain of health-care facilities and author of the international award winning Fit For Life Wellness Program offers wellness strategies for people of all ages. She . . . → Read More: The Caregiver Conquers Holiday Stress

Baby boomers increasingly find themselves in the sandwich generation — caring for elderly parents and for children at the same time.  Some estimates conclude that about 20 million Boomers find themselves in this dual caregiving role.  A study by the Pew Research . . . → Read More: Silver Tsunami: Burdens Weigh Heavy on the Sandwich Generation

Caregivers are beginning to recognize that technology can provide significant benefits both to themselves and their care recipient, helping them to be more effective as caregivers, saving time and money, and reducing stress. Health records, web-based care coordination programs, . . . → Read More: Study Finds Family Caregivers Want Web-Based and Mobile Technologies to Help Care for Senior Loved Ones

The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving provides information on how to: Arrange a room to adapt to a loved one’s needs Give medications, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom Choose a home . . . → Read More: A Helpful Guide Book to Home Caregiving by the American Medical Association

A new British study, published in the Jan. 18 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, has found that sitting too long watching TV or in front of a computer screen may increase risk for heart . . . → Read More: Sitting 4 Hours a Day In Front of a TV or Computer May Double Your Risk of Heart Attack

A new study has strengthened existing evidence that the Mediterranean diet — heavy on vegetables, fish and olive oil — may be associated with slower rates of mental decline in the elderly. The study, conducted by researchers at Rush . . . → Read More: Large New Study Strengthens Evidence that Mediterranean Diet May Slow Cognitive Decline

Laughter can be contagious.  Here’s a couple, Marlow & Frances Cowan, married 62 years, spreading a good kind of happy contagion at the Mayo Clinic. They say that “laughter, love and The Lord” have kept them young. This Video . . . → Read More: Viral Happiness: How To Reach 7 Million People When You’re 90 Something!

German cancer research scientists have found that approximately 30 percent of postmenopausal breast cancer cases may be preventable if a woman avoids hormone replacement therapy and gets enough exercise. In Germany, 58,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each . . . → Read More: German Study Finds 30% of Breast Cancer Cases May be Prevented by Avoiding Hormone Therapy and Exercising More

On Thursday, January 20, 2011, an Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously recommended FDA approval of a new brain dye product that would for the first time enable a brain scan to show whether . . . → Read More: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of a New Brain Scan Test to Detect Alzheimers

Watch this Video by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and learn how to wash your hands properly. Scientists estimate that up to 80% of all infections are spread by hand contact, and could be avoided . . . → Read More: Proper Hand Washing May Prevent 80% of All Infections

According to the National Diabetes Fact Sheet for 2011 newly released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 26 million Americans (8.3% of all Americans or 11.3% of adults age 20 and older) now have . . . → Read More: CDC Reports Number of Americans with Diabetes Or Prediabetes Has Risen Dramatically; Losing Weight & Exercise Can Prevent or Delay the Disease

Make a Walking Plan. See this series of Videos from the Cleveland Clinic, and learn the great health benefits of walking, how to do it properly, and how to keep motivated. Weeks 1 through 5 of the 15 week . . . → Read More: A 15-Week Walking Plan (Weeks 1 through 5)

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on January 31, 2011. This is the 7th edition of the . . . → Read More: New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Issued by USDA and HHS

Watch Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, to learn four simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your chances of getting a heart attack by 40%. No treatment or other thing you could do will lower your . . . → Read More: Four Things You Can Do to Prevent a Heart Attack

A new study conducted by scientists at the National Cancer Institute, has found that consuming more fiber from whole grains like oatmeal, cornmeal, and brown rice may significantly reduce the risk of death, overall as well as from cardiovascular, . . . → Read More: New Study Suggests Eating More Fiber From Whole Grains May Prolong Your Life

On February 15, 2011, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued updated Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines specifically for women. The updated guidelines for women focus more on practical medical advice that works in the “real-world” rather than recommendations based only . . . → Read More: Updated Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines for Women Issued by American Heart Association

Several reports have recently highlighted the fact that hospitals throughout the U.S. are running out of key drugs, including anesthetics needed in surgeries, chemotherapy drugs needed to treat cancer, and common antibiotics required to treat a multitude of diseases. . . . → Read More: Worst Ever Prescription Drug Shortages Alarming Hospitals & Medical Professionals – Why is This Happening?

A new study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 63rd Annual Meeting April 9 to April 16, 2011, found that Alzheimer’s Disease was misdiagnosed in 50% of cases, according to a press release issued by the . . . → Read More: New Study Finds Alzheimer’s Disease Misdiagnosed in 50% of Cases

Here are fifty 2-minute simple and easy step-by-step instructional videos from Google for your tech-stymied senior loved one. Some subjects covered: copy & paste adjust the time on your clock change your desktop background (Mac) change your wallpaper (PC) . . . → Read More: Send Your Elderly Loved One A Tech Support Care Package

A new study analyzing data collected from 34,670 Swedish women, aged 49 to 83, found that those who reported drinking from 1 to 5 cups of coffee daily had a 22 to 25 percent lower risk of stroke than . . . → Read More: Swedish Study Suggests Drinking Coffee Associated with Lower Stroke Risk

A new study conducted by scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Divisions of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, found that regular consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish is associated . . . → Read More: New Study: Eating Fish & Omega-3 May Reduce Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women

Nearly 15 million Americans are now caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, an increase of 37 percent over the number at this time last year, according to a significant new report released . . . → Read More: Nearly 15 Million Americans Are Now Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s Disease – A Number Rapidly Growing

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has released the results of two new studies and added a feature page to its website, declaring, “Insufficient Sleep is a Public Health Epidemic.” An estimated 50-70 million US adults . . . → Read More: Insufficient Sleep Declared a Public Health Epidemic

Meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was high on the list among 12 health indicators identified in a report published this month by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, as part of the US Government’s . . . → Read More: Physical Activity: A Key Health Indicator

The Mayo Clinic Diet is a lifestyle that helps you maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime. It’s a sensible, habit–based approach to food that involves breaking unhealthy habits and adopting healthy new ones. Watch Dr. Donald Hensrud, The . . . → Read More: A Healthy Diet That Doesn’t Count Calories

Allen “Chip” Teel, MD, a family physician in Maine, is pioneering a new model for virtual assisted living at home. Use of technology plus a combination of paid staff and volunteers to check on seniors living in their own . . . → Read More: New Virtual Assisted Living Model: Technology + Paid Staff and Volunteers Enable Seniors to Remain in Their Own Homes

A new study by Swiss researchers has found that seniors over age 65 who participated in a six-month music-based multi-task exercise program improved their gait, improved their balance, and experienced less falls and less risk of falling than a . . . → Read More: New Study Finds Exercising to Music Improves Balance & Reduces Risk of Falls in Seniors

“Alzheimer’s patients are often vulnerable and fragile, but in rare cases, they can become the aggressor. About 5% to 10% of Alzheimer’s patients exhibit violent behavior. It’s unclear why the outbursts occur in certain patients,” according to a recent . . . → Read More: 5 Tips On Dealing With Violent Alzheimer’s Behavior

The FDA has recently posted a new consumer advisory, warning that federal regulators have found dozens of products being touted as dietary supplements that actually contain hidden prescription drugs or compounds which have not been adequately studied in humans . . . → Read More: New FDA Advisory: Beware Fraudulent Weight-Loss ‘Dietary Supplements’ — They Can Kill You!

Attention caregivers for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: A new study published in the Archives of Neurology found that memantine, a drug commonly prescribed (under the brand name Namenda) for Alzheimer’s patients, was not effective to treat . . . → Read More: Study Finds Common Alzheimer’s Drug Not Effective To Treat Early to Moderate Alzheimer’s

A new study has found that daily apple consumption promotes cardiovascular health, and was even associated with weight loss, in postmenopausal women. The study, entitled, “Daily apple consumption promotes cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women,” was conducted by researchers in . . . → Read More: Study Finds Eating Apples Every Day Promotes Heart Health & Weight Loss in Postmenopausal Women

For the first time in 27 years, the clinical criteria and guidelines for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease have been revised. The new Guidelines recognize that the development of Alzheimer’s begins 10 or more years before clear symptoms of the . . . → Read More: New Guidelines for Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

New studies, conducted by medical researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, found that post-menopausal women taking calcium supplements (with or without Vitamin D) may be at increased risk of heart attack. . . . → Read More: Studies Find Calcium Supplements May Increase Risk of Heart Attack

Recent studies have found that both weight loss and walking exercise may improve or preserve memory. Weight Loss A new study led by John Gunstad, associate professor in Kent State University’s Department of Psychology, and a team of researchers . . . → Read More: Weight Loss and Walking Exercise Improve Memory, Studies Find

Recent reports of new statistics on osteoporosis have not been substantiated, but new concerns about safety of osteoporosis drugs and calcium supplements have recently re-focused attention on proper posture and movement techniques to avoid bone fractures, as well as . . . → Read More: Osteoporosis Concerns: What’s New? Re-focus on Proper Movement and Posture

A recent study has found that seniors who were housebound or socially isolated (scientifically called “constricted life space”) were significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment, and experience more rapid cognitive decline, than seniors who . . . → Read More: Social Isolation/ “Constricted Life Space” Linked to Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s for Seniors

Several scientific studies have found that laughter and a sense of humor produce many health benefits, some similar to those derived from exercise. Studies by Loma Linda University Schools of Allied Health and Medicine According to studies conducted by . . . → Read More: Laughter Found to Create Health Benefits Similar to Those of Exercise

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released an investigation report on May 4, 2011, finding that among elderly Medicare patients in nursing homes, dangerous antipsychotic drugs are being given predominantly . . . → Read More: Govt Finds Dangerous Antipsychotic Drugs Given 95% “Off Label” in Nursing Homes

Kaiser Health News, which provides a summary of health policy coverage from more than 300 news organizations, is reporting from several sources that health insurance companies have realized record profits for the third year in a row, enhanced even . . . → Read More: Health Insurers Report Record Profits, Yet Raise Premiums, While People Postpone Care

The National Eye Institute, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), has declared May as “Healthy Vision Month.” The purpose of Healthy Vision Month is to “encourage people and organizations around the world to recognize the value . . . → Read More: May is Healthy Vision Month

A significant new study reported in the May 18, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, has found that a net 27% of Hospital Emergency Rooms in U.S. cities closed between 1990 and 2009, and those . . . → Read More: City Emergency Rooms Closing – Linked to Profit Motive – While ER Use Increases

Ten hospitals in South Florida have recently joined a growing national trend by adopting online reservations systems for their Emergency Rooms. These systems allow patients with non-life-threatening conditions to go online, enter their symptoms, and, for a fee, book . . . → Read More: More Emergency Rooms Adopt Online Reservations Systems: You Can Book An Appointment & Wait at Home

The National Physicians Alliance (NPA), an organization of 22,000 physicians in the U.S., has developed and issued today, three lists of “Top 5″ recommended changes in common clinical practices in primary medicine. They say, based on scientific literature and . . . → Read More: Top 5 Recommendations for Improving Primary Care Issued Today by National Physicians Alliance

It’s estimated by Federal health officials that nearly 48 million people are sickened by contaminated food each year. Here are seven Food and Drug Administration recommendations for avoiding food contamination: “Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water . . . → Read More: FDA Tips For Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables

Under the Affordable Care Act, since January 1, 2011, beneficiaries of Original Medicare no longer have to pay out-of-pocket costs for a “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, and an annual preventive/ wellness visit with a participating physician is also . . . → Read More: Under Affordable Care Act, Preventive Services Now Free to Medicare Beneficiaries

On June 16, 2011, the Surgeon General of the U.S. along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and members of the National Prevention Council, announced the release of the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy, . . . → Read More: National Prevention Strategy Released June 16 Under Affordable Care Act

June, 2011 issue of the Archives of Dermatology, a Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded: “Screening and surveillance efforts should focus on patients 50 years or older and those with a personal history of skin cancer or a . . . → Read More: Screening for Melanoma Found Most Effective in Patients 50 Years or Older

Several pilot programs are being conducted by the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology to test motion sensors, skype-like video monitors, robots and other high-tech equipment, as a means of constantly monitoring the well-being of seniors in their own . . . → Read More: High-Tech Increasingly Used to Allow Seniors to Age in Place

A new study has found a correlation between every two additional hours of television viewing per day and an increase in risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and death. The study, by researchers from Harvard School of Public . . . → Read More: TV Viewing Linked to Higher Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease & Death

This June has been declared the first ever National Prevention and Wellness Month. As explained in a release issued Monday, June 20 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), this is part of an initiative, sparked . . . → Read More: June is National Prevention and Wellness Month

A significant new study has found that the percent of adult children caring for their aging parents has tripled in the last 15 years, and that providing this care costs the caregivers $3 Trillion in lost wages, pension, and . . . → Read More: Caring for Parents Costs Americans $3 Trillion in Lost Wages, Pension & Social Security Benefits, as Percent of Family Caregivers Triples

Based on three long-term studies conducted on 120,877 adult men and women who were followed for periods of 12 to 20 years, scientists at Harvard have isolated a list of foods and other lifestyle factors most and least associated . . . → Read More: Which Foods Are Linked to Highest Weight Gain Every 4 Years?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the traditional Food Pyramid will be replaced with an icon in the shape of a plate, to help Americans understand and achieve a balanced diet. Information about the new icon, . . . → Read More: MyPlate Icon Replaces Food Pyramid

A new study led by scientists at Stanford has found that a daily supplement of 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D3 lowered the risk of getting melanoma by 57% in women with a history of . . . → Read More: Calcium + Vitamin D Reduced Melanoma Risk by 57% in Women with History of Other Skin Cancer

A new telemedicine program at the University of Rochester Movement Disorders Clinic in Rochester, New York, supported in part by funding from the National Parkinson Foundation, is allowing patients with Parkinson’s Disease to see their doctors remotely via video-conference. . . . → Read More: Telemedicine Allows Parkinson’s Patients to Visit Their Doctors by Video Conference

A new study has found that stroke patients who, in addition to receiving standard stroke care, met with therapists to discuss recovery, life expectations, and potential obstacles, within one month after stroke experienced a 50% lower death rate, and . . . → Read More: Motivational Talk Therapy After Stoke May Increase Chances of Survival & Reduce Depression

lower court ruling by U.S. District Judge George C. Steeh in Detroit. Judge Steeh upheld the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, finding that the act of choosing not to buy health insurance was a consequential commercial decision that . . . → Read More: U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Affordable Care Act

How long can hot or cold food be left out on the kitchen counter, or outside in hot weather? See the Food and Drug Administration guidelines and tips here» What is the minimum safe cooking temperature for beef? What . . . → Read More: Some Fouth of July Barbecue Tips For Avoiding Bacteria

A new study by Harvard researchers has found that adhering to a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, exercising regularly, having a low body weight and eating a healthy diet, lowered by 92 percent the risk of sudden cardiac . . . → Read More: Healthy Lifestyle Associated With 92 Percent Lower Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

In its July 4 issue, Johns Hopkins Health Alerts published a checklist of 9 common-sense tips to help overcome minor memory lapses that come with aging. Johns Hopkins cautions that “age-associated memory impairment can’t be eliminated completely,” but, they . . . → Read More: 9 Common-Sense Tips to Improve Your Memory from Johns Hopkins

Recently controversy has swirled around a website, QuantiaMD, which provides a physician-to-physician educational presentation entitled, “Managing the Difficult Patient.” This controversy has raised questions about how patients can make the most constructive and helpful use of the vast quantity . . . → Read More: Can a Patient Know Too Much? Are You Annoying Your Doctors?

A new report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011, from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), shows that 68% of Americans are either overweight or obese, and adult . . . → Read More: New Report Shows Americans Getting Fatter; Serious Health & Policy Concerns

New statistics show an alarming increase in type 2 diabetes of pandemic proportions worldwide, which is linked to the continuing, dramatic increase in obesity now being widely reported in the U.S. and worldwide. Addressing this worldwide “diabetes pandemic,” a . . . → Read More: Diabetes Pandemic Linked to Obesity Epidemic; Study Finds Early Diet Intervention Helps

A new study of data on 7,239 Canadian adults aged 65 and older has found that overall health, measured by a combination of health factors not traditionally associated with dementia, such as denture fit, vision, hearing, and 16 others, . . . → Read More: Overall Health May Predict Dementia Risk Better Than Previously Identified Risk Factors

A new study conducted by researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University School of Public Health, and Harvard School of Public Health, has found that a diet high in salt and low in . . . → Read More: Eat Less Salt & More Potassium to Live Longer, New Study Suggests

Several reports recently have noted that across the nation, U.S. states are slashing Medicaid dollars for home health care services and adult day care services that help keep the elderly and disabled out of nursing homes. State lawmakers cite . . . → Read More: States Slash Home Health Care & Adult Day Care Services for the Neediest; Likely to Increase Costs

Two studies published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, have found that engaging in regular physical activity is associated with less decline in cognitive function in older adults. In fact, one . . . → Read More: Regular Exercise Slows Mental Decline With Aging, Studies Find; May Make You Cognitively Younger by 5 to 7 Years

A new study that measured the accuracy of calorie counts stated on restaurant menus from about 40 fast-food and sit-down restaurants in 3 states has found overall accuracy but substantial inaccuracy for some foods. In particular, the researchers found . . . → Read More: Study Finds Inaccurate Calorie Counts on Restaurant Menus

The U.S. Government’s official web portal, USA.gov, indicates that as of July 20, 2011, updated information has been added to several government websites providing information and resources on prescription medications, drug interactions, and coverage of prescription drug costs. Many . . . → Read More: Updated Information on Prescription Drugs Provided by US Govt Websites

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication today, notifying healthcare professionals and patients that the FDA is conducting “an ongoing review of data from published studies” to evaluate whether taking oral osteoporosis drugs (generically . . . → Read More: FDA Warns: Osteoporosis Drugs Under Review For Potential Increased Risk of Cancer of Esophagus

A new study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, has concluded that up to half of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide and in the US may be attributable to seven risk factors that are potentially preventable through simple . . . → Read More: Half of Alzheimer’s Cases Attributable to 7 Risk Factors Preventable by Lifestyle Changes, Study Finds

A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan has found that higher optimism was associated with lower risk of stroke among a study sample of 6,044 adults age 50 and over, who were followed for 2 years. . . . → Read More: Optimism Lowers Risk of Stroke, Study Finds

Two new studies published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine give hope that readmission to hospitals within 30 days after discharge can be reduced significantly by programs that include coaching of the patient at the time of discharge, . . . → Read More: Follow-Up Programs Help Prevent Hospital Readmission, But Hospitals Have Financial Incentive Not to Implement Them

A new survey presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2011 (AAIC) in Paris and administered by the Harvard School of Public Health, showed the disproportionate impact that Alzheimer’s Disease has on women in five countries — France, Germany, . . . → Read More: Women Bear Heaviest Burden of Alzheimer’s Worldwide, New Survey Shows

A new report, from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Baltimore, and published in the journal HealthAffairs on July 28, 2011, projects that overall U.S. health care costs will grow . . . → Read More: Health Care Costs to Increase by 5.8% Per Year, CMS Projects; Baby Boomers Worry About Long-Term Care

Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare subsidiary, the maker of TYLENOL® and Extra Strength TYLENOL® (acetaminophen), announced on July 28, 2011, that it is lowering the maximum daily dose instructions for Extra Strength TYLENOL® from eight pills per 24 . . . → Read More: Maximum Dose of Extra Strength Tylenol Lowered from 8 to 6 Pills Per 24 Hours

Sixty-one percent of all U.S. adults have used the Internet to look for health or medical information, and adult women, non-hispanic whites, and employed adults with higher incomes are among the most frequent users, according to a Data . . . → Read More: Americans Increasingly Find Health Information via Internet, CDC Reports

Scientists in New Jersey now say they have developed a new, simple blood test that can identify the presence of Alzheimer’s with 96% accuracy, and rule out the presence of Alzheimer’s with 92.5% accuracy, in a sample of persons . . . → Read More: Can a New Blood Test Detect Alzheimer’s?

actual S&P Research Update of August 5, 2011, downgrading the U.S. credit rating, was published by S&P on their website. It is entitled, “United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To ‘AA+’ On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; . . . → Read More: S&P Downgrade of US Credit Rating Cites Political Brinksmanship, Looming Deficit from Rising Health Care Costs

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced on Friday that they have launched new online tools for patients and caregivers to “empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care,” as well as other initiatives . . . → Read More: Medicare Adds New Online Tools to Help Health Care Consumers

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched Go4Life — an exercise and physical activity campaign designed to help older adults fit exercise and physical activity into their daily lives, to . . . → Read More: How To Exercise Your Way to Good Health

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, found that patients’ medical history “emerged as the key element in formulating correct diagnosis” of medical conditions. This obviously has important implications . . . → Read More: Study Finds Medical History Key to Correct Diagnosis

here attached. The description of the above provisions of the Affordable Care Act is found on pages 11-53 and pages 292-304 (Appendix A) of the attached document. The Health Care Litigation — Background The 11th Circuit’s ruling comes on . . . → Read More: 11th Circuit Appeals Panel Strikes Insurance Mandate, Upholds Rest of Health Care Law

A recent study conducted by Dr. Edward List, a scientist at Ohio University, and colleagues found that yo-yo dieting (repeatedly gaining and losing weight) “was indeed healthier than remaining obese.” The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) . . . → Read More: Is Yo-Yo Dieting Bad for You?

The U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury issued proposed new rules under the Affordable Care Act on August 17, 2011 which would simplify the purchase of health insurance for consumers. Under the proposed new . . . → Read More: New Rules to Simplify Purchase of Health Insurance Proposed under Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), as part of its StreamingHealth video series, has recently produced a video examining the obesity epidemic in America, what has caused it, what it means for the U.S., and what . . . → Read More: The Obesity Epidemic: What it Means for America & What Can Be Done About It

In a new study released on Sunday, August 21, 2011, Scientists from the University of Texas, Case Western Reserve, and Tufts said they may have discovered a natural defense mechanism in cells that fights off the invasion of C. . . . → Read More: Potential for New Treatment of C-Diff Based on Body’s Own Defense Mechanism

A new study conducted by Canadian scientists has found that a special vegetarian diet including soy, nuts, viscous & plant sterol, lowered bad cholesterol significantly, without the assistance of drugs, over a six month period. In fact, study participants . . . → Read More: Special Vegan Diet Lowers Cholesterol Significantly, Study Finds

In a series of four scientific papers published today in The Lancet medical journal, noted scientists from several countries have examined in detail the worldwide obesity epidemic, its present and projected impact in the U.S. and the UK, and . . . → Read More: Obesity Alert: Scientists Warn of Alarming Health Costs, Discuss Cures

As a caregiver, are you feeling stressed, down, possibly depressed, experiencing head aches, feeling irritable, alternately hot and cold, or even having chest pains or back pains? Maybe you are experiencing common symptoms of Menopause, without taking time to . . . → Read More: Menopause Care for Caregivers – Female & Male

In this second in a two-part series, HelpingYouCare™ reports on two new scientific papers published in The Lancet medical journal, which focus on solving the global obesity epidemic. One of these new studies clarifies our understanding of how people . . . → Read More: How Do People Lose Weight & What Can Be Done About the Obesity Epidemic?

At a time of widely reported rising risks from widespread hospital errors and hospital-acquired infections, doctors in Italy have conducted a pilot study that showed that at least some hospital care (routine X-rays) can better be delivered to elderly . . . → Read More: New Trend: Hospital Care At Home? Study Finds Home X-Rays Beneficial for Elderly

In her book, The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind, recently published in paperback, author Barbara Strauch, deputy science editor of The New York Times in charge of health and medical science, . . . → Read More: Hope for the Middle-Aged Brain; Author Presents Science-Based Tips for a Sharper Brain

To help Americans build healthy lifestyles and incorporate walking exercise into their daily schedules, the American Heart Association has launched a StartWalkingNow campaign, via its website: interactive tool on the StartWalkingNow.org website or via an application that can be . . . → Read More: Find Walking Paths in Your Area Via StartWalkingNow, Campaign of American Heart Association

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) highlights the importance of watching the calories in the drinks you consume, in order to combat overweight and obesity, lose weight, and maintain a healthy diet. . . . → Read More: Sodas and Lattes: More Calories Than You Think, CDC Reports

To help you establish and maintain a healthy diet, the American Heart Association now provides a number of resources and Tools for Healthier Eating. From the American Heart Association Among the “Tools for Healthier Eating” provided by the American . . . → Read More: Smart Diet Tips & Tools

A new study has found that each of five healthy lifestyle factors incrementally lowered one’s risk of getting diabetes by an additional 31% to 39% in a large 11-year study of approximately 207,000 men and women aged 50 to . . . → Read More: 5 Healthy Lifestyle Factors Incrementally Reduce Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds

petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Ken Cuccinelli’s State of Virginia Lawsuit Procedural History. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, on behalf of the State of Virginia, filed a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act on the . . . → Read More: U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Dismisses Two Lawsuits Challenging Affordable Care Act

In a briefing released on September 8, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported statistics showing that the Affordable Care Act has so far saved Millions of Dollars in prescription drug costs and preventive care for . . . → Read More: Seniors on Medicare Have Saved $ Millions Due to Affordable Care Act, CMS Reports

On August 12, 2011, at an inaugural Summit for National Health IT Week, taking place August 11-16, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced proposed new rules that would allow patients for the first time . . . → Read More: At National Health IT Week Summit HHS Proposes New Rules to Give Patients Direct Access to Their Lab Reports

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) yesterday announced a new “Million Hearts” campaign being launched by a public-private partnership of several government and private sector organizations, with the aim of preventing 1 million heart attacks and . . . → Read More: HHS & Public-Private Partners Aim to Prevent 1 Million Heart Attacks & Strokes in 5 Years

On Wednesday, September 14, Harvard Health Publications revealed a new Healthy Eating Plate icon developed by nutrition experts at Harvard School of Public Health with Harvard Health Publications, which the Harvard scientists say is intended to provide a simple . . . → Read More: Harvard Proposes Its Own Healthy Eating Plate Instead of USDA’s MyPlate

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended “to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one.” . . . → Read More: American Red Cross Offers Free Family Caregiver Classes

A new study of over 1,000 adults age 60 and above, conducted by researchers in Japan found that those with diabetes had about twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia and 1.74 times the risk of developing dementia of . . . → Read More: Diabetes Doubles The Risk of Getting Dementia, Study Finds

On Monday, September 19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new recommendations of its Text4Health Task Force as well as other initiatives to support health text messaging and encourage development of mobile health (mHealth) programs. . . . → Read More: HHS Text4Health Task Force Recommends Health Text Messaging Initiatives

On Tuesday, September 20, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS), along with the Ad Council, a non-profit organization, launched a new Questions are the Answer initiative . . . → Read More: New AHRQ Initiative: Questions are the Answer For Better Doctor-Patient Communication

The Alzheimer’s Association has declared September “World Alzheimer’s Month,” a time to place focus on Alzheimer’s and the need for public education, awareness and action to combat the “Alzheimer’s Epidemic” that threatens the world as populations age. As part . . . → Read More: September is World Alzheimer’s Month; September 21 is Alzheimer’s Action Day

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on September 20, 2011 that under the Affordable Care Act, 28 states and the District of Columbia have been awarded grants totaling $109 million, to help fight unreasonable health insurance premium increases and protect . . . → Read More: Grants to States under Affordable Care Act Help Fight Health Insurance Premium Hikes

A new study by researchers at Northumbria University in the UK, has found that smokers have seriously impaired prospective memory skills (the ability to remember to do tasks in the future), but those who quit smoking have significantly better . . . → Read More: Quit Smoking: It May Improve Your Memory, Study Finds

September 29, 2011 marks the 11 year anniversary of celebrating World Heart Day, an international campaign created in 2000 by the World Heart Federation, a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, to increase public awareness about the threat of . . . → Read More: September 29 is World Heart Day — One World, One Home, One Heart

A recent analysis of 15 studies measuring the potential relationship between fish consumption and incidence of stroke in a combined total of 383,838 participants, found that eating fish at least three times per week was associated with a slightly . . . → Read More: Can Eating Fish Reduce Your Risk of Stroke?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on September 28, 2011 the launch of a new, voluntary Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (the “Initiative”) funded under the Affordable Care Act. The Initiative, HHS says, will incentivize primary . . . → Read More: HHS Announces Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative to Reward Better Coordination of Care

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011 the U.S. Department of Justice petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review and decide the litigation over the constitutionality of the individual insurance mandate in the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, the signature . . . → Read More: U.S. Government Appeals Health Care Law Litigation to Supreme Court

Visit Medicare.gov’s Physician Compare tool to find and compare doctors and other health care professionals: by geographic location (zip code or city and state); and by specialty You can also search for a health care professional by last name, . . . → Read More: Find and Compare Doctors

In a declared effort to combat obesity and heart disease, Denmark has imposed what may be the world’s first “fat food tax” on foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fat. The tax, which went into effect on Saturday, . . . → Read More: Denmark Imposes ‘Fat Tax’ on High Saturated Fat Foods to Combat Obesity

Recent news articles have reported a rather alarming number of illnesses and deaths in some states caused by listeriosis associated with cantaloupes and lettuce. See for example recent reports by Wall Street Journal on FDA discovery of listeria in . . . → Read More: Some Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Illness From Listeria Bacteria

Steve Jobs, 56, the founder of Apple®, died Wednesday, October 5, 2011, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite his personal struggle, Jobs is remembered for his remarkable contributions to technology, including healthcare and wellness technology, and his . . . → Read More: A Tribute to Steve Jobs; Remembering His Legacy to Healthcare & Wellness

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is providing a new series of Guides for Patients and Consumers. These new Guides for Patients and Consumers include Consumer . . . → Read More: New Patient Guides & Treatment Decision Aids Provided by AHRQ

Two new studies published this week in journals of the American Medical Association have found evidence that taking extra doses of vitamin supplements may significantly increase risks to health and longevity. “There really is not any compelling evidence that . . . → Read More: New Studies Find Harm to Health from Vitamin Use

Harvard Medical School has recently issued a new HealthBeat report, published by Harvard Health Publications, with practical tips on how to measure your blood pressure at home. “Checking blood pressure at home won’t cure hypertension, but it will help . . . → Read More: Harvard Medical School Issues Tips on How to Take Your Own Blood Pressure At Home

Professor Lawrence Lessig of Harvard Law School has written a seminal new book entitled, Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress–and a Plan to Stop It, recently published by Hachette Book Group. In it he argues that the root of . . . → Read More: Is Money in Politics Harmful to Health & the Real Enemy of Meaningful Health Care Reform?

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has declared October as “National Physical Therapy Month.” “Mobility is the key ingredient to aging successfully and remaining active and independent throughout our lives,” said R Scott Ward, PT, PhD, President of the . . . → Read More: October is National Physical Therapy Month

A new survey published on October 19 found that while almost eight in ten people who reported having a recent blood test claim they understood the results, in fact 48 percent did not know their cholesterol level, and 65 . . . → Read More: Improving Your Health Literacy May Help You Improve Your Health, Survey Suggests

A Committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), National Academies, issued a 232-page report on October 20, 2011, recommending that agencies of the federal government should develop a new, simple front-of-package nutrition rating system with symbols, patterned after . . . → Read More: Simple Front-Of-Package Nutrition Rating Symbols Proposed by Institute of Medicine Panel

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has today released a Fact Sheet, announcing the Medicare premium rates and deductibles for 2012 for Medicare, Parts A, B and D. Here is . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Premiums & Deductibles for 2012

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and honor family caregivers in America, as proclaimed in a Presidential Proclamation signed by President Barack Obama on November 1, 2011. November has been set aside as a time . . . → Read More: Recognizing Family Caregivers: November is National Family Caregivers Month

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has declared November as American Diabetes Month. This is an annual event, a time to become informed about diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. As illustrated in the ADA poster at . . . → Read More: November is American Diabetes Month

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, in Washington D.C., issued a decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“the Affordable Care Act”) and ruling that the individual insurance . . . → Read More: DC Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Health Care Law; Finds Individual Insurance Mandate Constitutional

A new research report by Danish researchers has claimed to find some adverse consequences of dietary salt reduction primarily in persons with normal blood pressure, fueling a continuing controversy over the benefits of requiring salt reduction in foods. This . . . → Read More: New Study Fuels Controversy Over Benefits of Salt Reduction in Diet & in Processed Foods

The Republican Presidential candidates participated in a nationally televised debate on November 12, 2011, hosted by CBS News and held at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. While the subject of this debate was foreign policy and national security, . . . → Read More: In Debate 3 GOP Presidential Candidates Say They Would End Medicare / Medicaid or Shift It to States or Vouchers

A new study of 36,686 Finnish men and women, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, has found that 5 healthy lifestyle factors are associated with significantly reduced risk of stroke. And, . . . → Read More: 5 Healthy Lifestyle Factors Significantly Reduce Risk of Stroke, New Study Finds

On Monday, November 14, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an Order agreeing to review and decide four specific issues in the litigation challenging the constitutionality of the health care law, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, that . . . → Read More: What Issues Will the Supreme Court Decide on the Health Care Law?

In trying to help caregivers, emphasis is often placed on the difficulty and stress of the role. But, the positive side of caregiving, the emotional rewards we feel as caregivers when we provide love and care to those in . . . → Read More: Will You Care For Me? Feel the Compassion & Love of a Caregiver in Response to This Touching Song

Assistance Dogs (sometimes called “Service Dogs”) provide remarkable help for those with limited mobility. In addition to the salutary love, bond, and companionship that the dogs provide, Assistance Dogs are trained to help with many tasks that make life . . . → Read More: Assistance Dogs Provide Wonderful Help for Those with Limited Mobility

Medicare recipients under the Affordable Care Act are entitled to an annual wellness visit with their physician at no cost to them. You can review medications with your doctor and talk about whether any changes are needed. You can . . . → Read More: Medicare’s Free Annual Wellness Visits

A new study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health has found that in subjects who ate canned soup for five days, levels of bisphenol A (BPA) found in the urine increased more than 1000%, compared . . . → Read More: BPA Levels Increase Over 1000% After Eating Canned Soup, New Harvard Study Finds

Lillian Field Berkowitz, Age 102 Lillian Field Berkowitz, Age 102, and Phil Palma, her current dance partner & instructor Lillian Berkowitz (maiden name: Lillian Field) was a glamorous stage actress and acrobatic dancer on Broadway & Vaudeville during the . . . → Read More: Lillian Field Berkowitz – Impromptu Tango Showcase at Age 102!

The 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings® report was released on December 5, 2011, grading and ranking the 50 U.S. states in terms of the level of their overall health and health care, determined by 23 objective measurements. The annual . . . → Read More: Which States Have the Best and Worst Health Rankings in 2011?

“Only about 30% of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity, and this falls to 25% of those between the ages of 65 and 74 and 11% of people age 85 and older,” . . . → Read More: You’re Never Too Old to Exercise

Edna Hibel: Capturing the Essence of Mother & Child Through Art Story and Photos by Krista Martinelli Founder & Editor, AroundWellington® Magazine www.HibelMuseumOfArt.org or call 561-622-5560 to reserve your seat. Hibel’s biography by Shawn McAllister, a coffee-table sized book . . . → Read More: Edna Hibel: Renowned Artist Still Painting 12 Hours a Day in Her 90s

Harvard Medical School has published a Special Health Report on Exercise – a Program You Can Live With, which provides a comprehensive guide to the enormous health benefits of exercise, how to get started and design an appropriate exercise . . . → Read More: Harvard Guide to Exercise – A Program You Can Live With

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has recently announced changes to its Nursing Home Compare tool which will take effect in 2012. The current nursing home . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Changes to Nursing Home Compare Tool

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on December 20, a new demonstration program under the Affordable Care Act under which doctors and nurses will provide expanded primary care at home for Seniors on Medicare. The new . . . → Read More: Medicare to Provide Expanded Primary Care At Home for Seniors under New Affordable Care Act Initiative

The Caregiver’s Wellness Resolutions By Ruth Mansmith MS, RN, CRRN, RAC-C Author, national speaker, wellness coach Fresh beginning is the theme of this article. It’s time for making changes and creating a hopeful future. However, with stress and fatigue, . . . → Read More: The Caregiver’s Wellness Resolutions

People with diets high in several vitamins found in fruits and vegetables or in omega 3 fatty acids found in fish are less likely to have the brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer’s disease than people whose diets are not . . . → Read More: Fruits, Vegetables & Fish May Keep Brain from Shrinking, New Study Finds

The University of Sidney, Australia has announced a new study to test whether twice weekly ballroom dancing can restore balance and strength and prevent falls in older adults. The one-year long study, entitled “The effectiveness of social dancing as . . . → Read More: New Study: Can Twice Weekly Ballroom Dancing Prevent Falls in Elderly?

A new study by a team of Harvard researchers published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has found that families and individuals enrolled in high-deductible health insurance plans report delaying or foregoing health care for chronic conditions at . . . → Read More: High Deductible Health Insurance Plans Linked to Delayed or Foregone Care

sources indicate that up to 15 percent of people with MCI develop Alzheimer’s within one year. However, studies have shown that preventive interventions such as exercise and changes in lifestyle factors can be effective in staving off mental decline. . . . → Read More: Four Questions on Simple Questionnaire Found Highly Predictive of Mild Cognitive Impairment & Risk of Alzheimer’s

A new study published on February 1 in the journal PosS One has found that Alzheimer’s Disease spreads throughout the brain through a distorted protein known as Tau jumping from one cell to another, like a virus. Previously, scientists . . . → Read More: Alzheimer’s Spreads in the Brain like a Virus, New Study Finds

A new study published February 6 in the Archives of Neurology, a journal of the American Medical Association, has questioned the wisdom of a new expanded definition of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a precursor stage to Alzheimer’s disease. The . . . → Read More: New Study Questions Definition of Mild Cognitive Impairment in New Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Guidelines

The Obama Administration announced yesterday a $130 million increase over two years in the funding for Alzheimer’s Disease research, as well as $26 million of additional funding for support of caregivers and other programs toward the prevention and treatment . . . → Read More: Obama Administration Increases Funding for Alzheimer’s Research & Caregiver Support

The American Heart Association and other organizations are holding a series of nationwide events in February as part of “American Heart Month.” The purpose of this annual initiative, sponsored by the American Heart Association, is to call attention to . . . → Read More: Nationwide Events to Promote Heart-Healthy Living Being Held in February

A new report issued February 7 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has found that 9 out of 10 Americans eat too much salt, and 10 food types are responsible for 44 percent of daily . . . → Read More: 10 Foods Largely Responsible for 9 of 10 Americans Eating Too Much Salt, New CDC Report Finds

The American Psychological Association (APA) has released the updated results of its latest Stress in America™ survey. “Data from the latest Stress in America survey suggest that the concern about stress and health is especially critical among adults 50 . . . → Read More: New Survey Links Caregiver Stress to Unhealthy Behaviors & Chronic Disease

A new study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic has found that older adults who ate a high-calorie diet (2,142.5 to 6,000 calories per day) had more than double the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) of those who . . . → Read More: Eating Too Much May Double Risk of Memory Impairment, Mayo Clinic Finds

A new study conducted on mice has found that a skin-cancer drug may give hope of providing a future effective treatment for Alzheimer’s dementia. The study found that the drug, bexarotene, successfully cleared away the amyloid plaques in the . . . → Read More: Skin-Cancer Drug Gives Preliminary Hope of Alzheimer’s Treatment, Mouse Study Finds

According to data in two new reports issued February 15 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), an estimated combined total of 86 million Americans have benefited in 2011 from the free preventive healthcare coverage provided . . . → Read More: 86 Million Americans Benefited from Free Preventive Healthcare Coverage in 2011 Due to Affordable Care Act, HHS Reports

Cynthia Whisker, a social service coordinator who counsels families and seniors about how to handle the stress of caregiving for their loved ones, has herself become a caregiver for her husband. Her husband underwent both a liver transplant and . . . → Read More: Electronic Health Records Can Relieve Caregiver Stress; A Caregiver Tells Her Story

Harvard Health Publications has issued a revised and updated version of its Special Health Report on “Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back,” written by experts at Harvard Medical School. According to Harvard Health Publications, “Back pain is one . . . → Read More: Harvard Issues Updated Report on Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and its Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) announced new data on Friday, February 17, showing that the use of electronic health records has more than doubled . . . → Read More: Health IT, Electronic Health Records & Health IT Jobs Expanding, New Data Show

In their new book entitled, Heart 411: The Only Guide to Heart Health You’ll Ever Need, two renowned heart experts, heart surgeon Marc Gillinov and cardiologist Steven Nissen, both of the Cleveland Clinic, tackle some prominent misconceptions about heart . . . → Read More: Cleveland Clinic Heart Surgeon & Cardiologist Tackle Misconceptions About Heart Health

In a new article entitled “What is it about coffee?” the editors of Harvard Health Publications, discuss some of the known benefits and drawbacks of drinking coffee. The new article on coffee is found in Sleep, Hygiene, Quit Smoking . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Discusses the Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee

MIT Economist Jonathan Gruber, who advised the Obama Administration on health care reform and was an architect of Governor Romney’s health care reform in Massachusetts, has written a new 152-page comic book that explains and combats some common misconceptions . . . → Read More: New Comic Book by MIT Economist Explains Health Reform Law

A new study published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association, has found that eating citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, may lower your risk of stroke, due to a compound called “flavanone” found in citrus . . . → Read More: Eating Citrus Fruit May Lower Stroke Risk, New Study Suggests

A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has found that older adults who drank daily diet soft drinks were 43 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke over a ten-year period than . . . → Read More: Daily Diet Soft Drinks Linked to Higher Heart Attack & Stroke Risk, New Study Finds

“People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging,” said Dr. Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH of the University of California, principal author of . . . → Read More: Omega-3 in Fish & Other Foods May Keep Your Brain Sharper, New Study Finds

A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, analyzing data from a survey of 155,877 participants, has found that contrary to popular belief, people in their 70s and 80s actually reported better sleep — less sleep disturbance . . . → Read More: Sleep May Improve With Age, New Study Finds

A large new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that postmenopausal women whose diets were high in trans fats (and who did not take aspirin) had a 66% higher risk of . . . → Read More: Dietary Trans Fats Markedly Increase Stroke Risk Among Older Women, New Study Finds

A new study by researchers at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, has found that mice fed Vitamin E supplement in a quantity similar to that consumed by many people taking Vitamin E supplements lost bone mass, while those bred . . . → Read More: Vitamin E Supplements May Weaken Bones, New Mouse Study Suggests

March is Women’s History Month, as declared by Congress since 1987 and by Presidential Proclamation since 1995. In honoring Women’s History Month, Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, has issued a Statement focusing on promoting women’s health . . . → Read More: For Women’s History Month, Govt Focuses on Women’s Health & Education

A new study has found that even 20 minutes of exercise by sedentary adults actually changed the DNA in their muscle cells within minutes. The DNA was changed in a way that helps the muscles work better for further . . . → Read More: Exercise Changes DNA for the Better, New Study Finds

A new study by scientists at Harvard and the Cleveland Clinic has found that the more red meat one eats, the higher the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes, while substituting fish, poultry and other . . . → Read More: Red Meat Increases Risk of Death; Fish or Poultry Lowers Risk, New Study Finds

March is National Nutrition Month®, a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a nonprofit organization. According to the Academy, “The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making . . . → Read More: National Nutrition Month – Resources on Eating for Prevention & Wellness

Evergreen Rehabilitation. More Information For more information on exercise and all aspects of wellness, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on Wellness/ Healthy Living for Seniors & Caregivers, including: Exercise: Physical Wellness; Diet & Nutrition: Physical . . . → Read More: Exercise Increasingly Important for Those Over Age 65

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new initiative on March 15, 2012 aimed at reducing avoidable hospitalizations among nursing home residents who are dual Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries. “The initiative aims to reduce costly and avoidable . . . → Read More: Medicare-Medicaid Announces Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Home Residents

A recently published study has found that when approximately 60,000 adults were tested and ranked — as high, middle or low — for their level of cardiorespiratory fitness, those with medium or high levels of fitness had less than . . . → Read More: Fitness Lowers Odds of Death from Dementia, Study Finds

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, provides more evidence that physically active seniors have a lower risk of dying than those who are least active. This is one . . . → Read More: Physically Active Seniors May Live Longer, Study Suggests

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), released an issue brief on Tuesday with new data, announcing that over 45 Million women can receive preventive health care . . . → Read More: Health Reform Law (Obamacare) Provides 45 Million Women with Preventive Health Care

On Monday, March 26 through Wednesday, March 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the cases challenging the validity of the Health Care Reform Law, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”), . . . → Read More: Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Health Care Law March 26-28, 2012

March 23, 2012 was the two-year anniversary of the date on which President Obama signed the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”) into law. The Affordable Care Act is the Obama Administration’s signature health care reform . . . → Read More: HHS Notes Successes of Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) on its 2-Year Anniversary

On March 23, 2012, the White House issued a new report summarizing in simple and clear terms what the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act), which some call “Obamacare,” actually does. In short, as its name . . . → Read More: White House Issues New Report on Benefits of Affordable Care Act & Debunks Myths About It

The National Parkinson Foundation (NFP) has announced that it will hold a Free online webinar on how to get the best care for those with Parkinson’s disease when they are hospitalized. The Webinar will take place on April 5, . . . → Read More: Free Webinar on Parkinson’s Hospital Care Offered by National Parkinson Foundation

According to a report posted March 26 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), “About 9 in 10 Americans aged 2 years and older eat too much sodium.” “There is strong evidence that eating too much . . . → Read More: Ninety Percent of Americans Eat Too Much Salt, CDC Reports

As part of Diabetes Alert Day, March 27, 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) posted updated information on Diabetes’ diagnosis and prevention on its website. This includes a Quiz (below), which the CDC invites you . . . → Read More: Are You At Risk for Diabetes? CDC Provides Quiz to Help You Find Out

The U.S. Supreme Court released audio recordings and written transcripts of the oral arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (which some call “Obamacare”) that took place before the Supreme Court on March 26 – March 28, . . . → Read More: Transcripts of Supreme Court Arguments on Health Care Law Suggest Possible Support for the Law

April 2-8, 2012 has been declared National Public Health Week, an annual campaign sponsored for the past 16 years by the National Public Health Association, “aimed at educating the public, policy-makers and the public health community about critical public . . . → Read More: National Public Health Week Being Observed April 2-8, 2012

April 7, 2012 is World Health Day, an annual event sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations. The theme of this year’s event is “Ageing and health: Good . . . → Read More: World Health Day April 7 Focuses on Healthy Aging

April has been declared “Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month” by Prevent Blindness America (PBA), a non-profit organization. April has also been declared “Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Both of these campaigns have . . . → Read More: Eye Health Month Focuses on Eye Health & Safety

In Supreme Court arguments last week and in the press, the debate over the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”), which some call “Obamacare,” has centered around legal arguments whether the individual insurance mandate in the . . . → Read More: New Reports Highlight Harm to Women if Supreme Court Strikes Down Health Care Law

Several new reports have indicated that, facing rising healthcare costs and high-deductible health insurance or no insurance, patients and consumers are increasingly negotiating lower medical bills directly with their doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers. And, new resources . . . → Read More: You Can Negotiate Lower Prices for Health Care, New Reports Suggest

The World Health Organization (WHO) on April 11 issued a substantial new report showing that, with populations aging, cases of dementia are expected to more than triple worldwide by 2050. The report calls upon nations to address this pandemic-size . . . → Read More: The WHO Issues Wake-up Call: Dementia Cases Will Triple by 2050, More Family Caregiver Support Needed

Johns Hopkins Medicine has issued a new research White Paper, The 2012 Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper, written by H. Franklin Herlong, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Clinical Hepatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. . . . → Read More: New Digestive Disorders White Paper Issued by Johns Hopkins

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that it has established a new Administration on Community Living under HHS, which will be dedicated to “enhancing and improving the broad range of supports that individuals with . . . → Read More: HHS Announces New Administration on Community Living to Help Seniors & Disabled Live At Home

In a new study reviewing more than 200 studies published in two major scientific databases, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that positive psychological well-being, including especially a sense of optimism, appears to reduce the . . . → Read More: Optimism & Positive Outlook May Help Prevent Heart Attack, New Study Finds

A new study published in the journal Neurology, has found that physical activity, including both exercise and activity from daily chores or activities of daily living, may significantly reduce a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, even if you . . . → Read More: Physical Activity of All Kinds Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s, Study Finds

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and Consumer Reports jointly announced yesterday that they will work together to produce a new series of “High Value Care” guides to help patients understand what are appropriate treatments for common health problems. . . . → Read More: New High Value Care Guides for Patients Are Jointly Announced by American College of Physicians & Consumer Reports

Money Smart Week® classes and events for consumers in 30 different States — those indicated in green on the map at left. To find classes and other events (primarily in libraries) in your area, click HERE or click on . . . → Read More: Money Smart Week April 21-28 – Classes & Events to be Held in 30 States

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 19 that the results of its ongoing survey of patients regarding their experiences with and ratings of Medicare-certified home health agencies, will now be available to consumers . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Inclusion of Patient Survey Data in Home Health Compare Tool

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Monday that it has posted a new report on Good Nutrition for Healthy Bones issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, on the NIH’s medical resource site. The report is posted and . . . → Read More: NIH Features New Report on Good Nutrition for Healthy Bones

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, found that among a group of senior women, aged 70-80, with mild cognitive impairment, those who engaged in 6 months of twice . . . → Read More: Lifting Weights May Improve Seniors’ Brain Function More than Walking Does, New Study Finds

A new study of over 16,000 women over age 70, conducted by researchers at Harvard, has found that eating an average of one-half cup of blueberries or one cup of strawberries per week, over decades, may slow the memory . . . → Read More: Eating Blueberries & Strawberries May Slow Mental Decline with Aging, Study Finds

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday three new programs made possible under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act,” which some call “Obamacare”) to help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries receive . . . → Read More: HHS Announces 3 New Home & Community-Based Care Options under Affordable Care Act

Multiple agencies and resources within the U.S. Government provide comprehensive information on Digestive Disorders. In addition to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, provided by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the . . . → Read More: U.S. Government Provides Multiple Resources on Digestive Disorders

Several new studies and reports have been published recently documenting the high costs of obesity to America and Americans. According to these new research findings, obesity adds $190 Billion per year to health care costs, which is over 20% . . . → Read More: New Reports Document High Costs of Obesity in America

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the awarding of grants totaling $728 million to Community Health Centers nationwide under President Obama’s Health Care Law, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”). . . . → Read More: HHS Announces $728 Million of Funding for Community Health Centers Under Obama’s Health Care Law

Following a tradition dating from 1963, President Barack Obama has declared the month of May as Older Americans Month. This is an observance declared by every President since President John F. Kennedy, dedicated to recognizing and honoring the achievements . . . → Read More: President Proclaims May as Older Americans Month

A new HBO documentary, The Weight of The Nation, produced by John Hoffman in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), explores the costs and causes of the well-publicized obesity epidemic that is plaguing America and its health . . . → Read More: New HBO Documentary, The Weight of The Nation, Explores Causes, Costs of Obesity

Alzheimer’s Community Care (ACC), a non-profit organization, has announced that its 2012 Alzheimer’s Educational Conference, with Keynote speaker Dan Rather, will be held May 31 and June 1, 2012, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Palm Beach, . . . → Read More: Alzheimer’s Community Care Announces 2012 Alzheimer’s Educational Conference May 31-June 1, 2012

In a statement issued May 2, Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced that May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month and Stroke Awareness Month. These events, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute . . . → Read More: National High Blood Pressure Education Month Highlights Risks from High Blood Pressure & Ways to Control It

In a news release issued May 1, the Arthritis Foundation, a non-profit organization, declared May as National Arthritis Action Month, and “challeng[ed] Americans to begin taking steps to reduce the burden of arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability.” . . . → Read More: National Arthritis Action Month Focuses on What You Can Do to Prevent or Manage this Common Condition

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announced this month that in connection with National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, which is observed each year in May, it is launching a new campaign, called Generations of Strength®. “NOF’s Generations of Strength . . . → Read More: National Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month Spotlights Bone Health

In a blog post today, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, announced that due to the Affordable Care Act (President Obama’s Health Reform Law, which some call “Obamacare”), about 15.8 Million Americans will receive an estimated . . . → Read More: 15.8 Million Americans to Receive $1.3 Billion in Rebates from Insurers Due to Affordable Care Act, HHS Announces

In a news release issued May 11, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, announced that Mother’s Day will begin the observance of National Women’s Health Week, which will run from May 13 through 19 this year. . . . → Read More: Mother’s Day Kicks Off National Women’s Health Week, May 13-19, 2012

May 14 is National Women’s Check-Up Day. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other federal agencies urge all women to have preventive health screenings and check-ups to care for . . . → Read More: FDA Provides Resources for National Women’s Check-Up Day – May 14 – and National Women’s Health Week

During a session at the 19th European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France on Thursday, May 10, Dr. Robert Pretlow of the Research Institute, eHealth International in Seattle, Washington, presented evidence suggesting that social networking and new smart phone . . . → Read More: Smart Phone Apps & Social Networking Help Lose Weight, Evidence Suggests

President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Barnard College, the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, on Monday, May 14. His address focused on issues of particular importance to women, and he then challenged the women to “stand . . . → Read More: President Obama Delivers a Message of Hope & Inspiration to Women as Commencement Speaker at Barnard College

On May 15, 2012, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius released the final version of the first comprehensive National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which has been under development pursuant to the National Alzheimer’s Project Act . . . → Read More: Obama Administration Releases New National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s

May has been declared as National Mediterranean Diet Month, a national health observance aimed at generating awareness of the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle, and the health benefits associated with it. The event is sponsored by Oldways Preservation Trust, a . . . → Read More: May is National Mediterranean Diet Month

May is Older Americans Month, a time to recognize and honor the guiding wisdom and contributions of our nation’s seniors. Older Americans Month is declared each year by Presidential Proclamation. See President Proclaims May as Older Americans Month for . . . → Read More: Govt Provides Links to More Senior Resources for Older Americans Month

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Wednesday, that Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington will receive more than $181 million in grants to help implement the new health care law. The grants will . . . → Read More: More States to Implement Health Care Law, HHS Announces

The Save the Children foundation has published its 13th annual “State of the World’s Mothers Report,” which compares and ranks 165 countries around the world in terms of the Best and Worst Places to Be a Mom. This year’s . . . → Read More: Norway Ranks as Best Country to be a Mom; U.S. 25th in the World, New Report Finds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday that the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day (May 25) as “Don’t Fry Day,” and FDA is participating in this national campaign . . . → Read More: Don’t Fry Day – May 25 – Focuses on Sun Safety & Preventing Skin Cancer

In a news release issued May 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of the Health System Measurement Project, a new web-based tool which will allow policymakers, providers, and the public . . . → Read More: HHS Launches New Web-Based Tool to Measure Performance of Health Care System

Allan Stewart graduated with a Master of Clinical Science degree from Southern Cross University at the age of 97. He received a law degree from Australia’s University of New England in 2006. Watch . . . → Read More: 97-Year-Old Man Becomes the Oldest University Graduate

Corresponding with Healthy Vision Month, a national campaign focusing on vision health, Johns Hopkins Medicine has recently issued a 2012 updated version of the “Johns Hopkins Vision White Paper.” The Johns Hopkins 2012 Vision White Paper, written by doctors . . . → Read More: Johns Hopkins Issues 2012 Vision White Paper, Focusing on How to Halt or Reverse Vision Loss

May 27 through June 2 has been declared as 2012 National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the National Hurricane Center has announced. Hurricane Season each year officially begins June 1 and runs through the end of November, according to the National . . . → Read More: May 27 through June 2 declared National Hurricane Preparedness Week

This Memorial Day, as we remember our loved ones who have gone on, including those who gave their lives in service of our country, let us resolve to honor their lives and the lives of those loved ones we . . . → Read More: Memorial Day Health Message for Caregivers: Wellness Tips from the CDC

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver’s Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled … and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. In . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Publishes Caregiver’s Handbook

The American College of Physicians (ACP), a nationwide nonprofit organization of doctors of internal medicine, issued a comprehensive report, entitled “The State of the Nation’s Health Care 2012: How Bad Budget Choices and Broken Politics Are Undermining Progress in . . . → Read More: American College of Physicians Urges Politicians to Stop Unwise Health Care Cuts, Provides Alternative Proposals

June has been designated as Cataract Awareness Month by Preventing Blindness America (PBA), a non-profit organization. As part of Cataract Awareness Month, each June, PBA and other organizations present information and resources to educate the public on the risk . . . → Read More: Resources on Cataracts Presented for Cataract Awareness Month – June 1-30

The National Parkinson’s Foundation has announced that it will sponsor a national Wellness Symposium and Young Onset Parkinson’s Conference, on June 15-16, 2012 in Orange County, California, along with a free online webcast of the events. “These two events . . . → Read More: Parkinson’s Wellness Symposium, Webcast and Young Onset Parkinson’s Conference – June 15-16

June has been designated “National Safety Month,” an annual observance sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC), a non-profit organization, “to increase awareness of the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths and to encourage safe behaviors.” Each week . . . → Read More: National Safety Month Focuses on Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls among Older Adults

“On average, men are less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than women,” but “more than half of premature deaths among men are preventable,” according to a book, Blueprint for Men’s Health: A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle, . . . → Read More: Men’s Health Week and Men’s Health Month Focus on Prevention & Wellness

New research by scientists at Columbia University has found that the sight of unhealthy junk foods activated reward centers (which trigger craving) in the brains of study volunteers who were sleep-deprived, but the same images did not activate reward . . . → Read More: Craving for Unhealthy Foods Increases with Loss of Sleep, New Study Finds

A new study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research has found that if you’re trying to quit smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit and stay tobacco-free for longer. The study, by researchers from . . . → Read More: Eating More Fruits & Vegetables May Help Quit Smoking, New Study Finds

A large new study presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Boston has found that healthy people age 45 and older who routinely get less than six hours of sleep per night . . . → Read More: Insufficient Sleep Increases Stroke Risk, New Study Finds

The National Institutes of Health last week awarded a $5.2 million grant to the University of Florida’s Institute on Aging, for continued studies of what causes age-related muscle loss (Sarcopenia) and how to prevent it. According to a recent . . . → Read More: New Studies Focus on Preventing Muscle Loss, as Key to Healthy Aging

At a June 5 conference sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, in Washington D.C., experts in care for the elderly and disabled presented findings on how better coordination of care across the “Care Span” for the elderly and disabled . . . → Read More: Health Affairs Conference Focused on the Care Span for Elderly & Disabled

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation on June 12, 2012, in which, based on its review of the scientific literature, it declined to recommend Vitamin D and Calcium supplements for prevention of cancer or bone . . . → Read More: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Vitamin D & Calcium Supplements

The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, A Guide to Women’s Health: Fifty and Forward, presents a basic overview of the changes in major health risks that women face as they age, and focuses particularly on lifestyle changes that . . . → Read More: Harvard Guide to Women’s Health Fifty and Forward Focuses on Prevention

The U.S. Government today circulated a news bulletin from its official website, USA.gov, advising of a number of new or expanded resources on how to prepare for and stay safe in a Summer weather emergency. Today is the first . . . → Read More: Govt News Bulletin Gives Preparation & Safety Tips for Summer Weather Emergencies

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday that due to the Affordable Care Act (which some call “Obamacare”), 12.8 million Americans will receive rebates from insurance companies this Summer, totaling $1.1 Billion. The insurance companies . . . → Read More: Consumers to Receive $1.1 Billion of Premium Rebates from Health Insurers under Affordable Care Act, HHS Announces

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced Wednesday that it has awarded $128.6 million of new grants to expand Community Health Centers in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. . . . → Read More: HHS Announces $128.6 Million of New Grants to Expand Community Health Centers Under Affordable Care Act — Will Serve 1.2 Million More Patients & Create Over 5,000 Jobs

A new study conducted on mice by researchers at the University of Iowa, found that ursolic acid, a compound found in apple peels, may help build muscle and fight obesity, glucose intolerance (characteristic of diabetes), and fatty liver disease. . . . → Read More: Compound in Apples May Help Build Muscles & Fight Obesity and Diabetes, New Study Suggests

Which of the following presents the greatest risk to your health? Pesticides on apple skin, drinking hot beverages from a styrofoam cup, microwaves from a cell phone, or sitting 6 hours a day? View this video from ABC News, . . . → Read More: What is the Greatest Health Risk?

The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its much awaited decision on President Obama’s signature health care law (the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act or “Affordable Care Act”). In its majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the . . . → Read More: Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law – Individual Mandate Upheld as a Tax; Medicaid Expansion Made Voluntary to States

A new Harvard Health Letter reports that a recent study by scientists at Harvard Medical School has discovered a previously unknown natural hormone in muscle cells that is produced by exercise. The new hormone, which the scientists called “Irisin,” . . . → Read More: Study Discovers Hormone Produced by Exercise that Helps Burn Fat and Prevent Diabetes

Contributed By Jackie Barber EDITOR’S NOTE: Our dear friend Jackie Barber tells the moving story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that one year ago left her completely paralyzed from neck to toe. This . . . → Read More: Overcoming Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) – A Hope-Inspiring Story of Courage & Determination

In his speech to the Nation, following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”) on Thursday, President Obama took the occasion to lay out in simple terms for the American people . . . → Read More: President Obama Lays Out Contents of Health Care Law

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Obama Administration’s signature Health Care Law, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”) on Thursday, June 28. A full report and analysis of the Court’s opinion . . . → Read More: Justices Kagan & Breyer Saved Medicaid Expansion by Voting with Chief Justice Roberts

A new study by researchers at Harvard suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee could lower your risk of developing Basal Cell Carcinoma, which is the most common type of skin cancer. The study also found that drinking caffeinated tea or . . . → Read More: Coffee May Lower Risk of Basal Cell Skin Cancer, New Study Suggests

The U.S. Government provides multiple free health publications on Exercise, Diet and Weight Management. These publications can be downloaded free of charge from Be Active Your Way – Consumer Booklet for Adults – By the U.S. Department of Health . . . → Read More: US Government Provides Free Publications on Exercise, Diet and Weight Management

Difficulty in getting a good night’s sleep often plagues women as they get older, according to doctors at Harvard. “Later in life there tends to be a decrease in the number of hours slept,” says Dr. Karen Carlson, associate . . . → Read More: Harvard Women’s Health Watch Provides 8 Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep Without Medicine

Harvard Health Publications has published a new Special Health Report entitled, “The Joint Pain Relief Workout: Healing exercises for your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.” The Report provides exercises designed by doctors at Harvard Medical School, along with Master . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Publishes New Joint Pain Relief Workout

According to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, use of cranberry-containing products (especially cranberry juice) does appear to help prevent urinary tract infections in some individuals — particularly . . . → Read More: Cranberry Products Do Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections, New Study Suggests

The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced on July 10, that more than 16 Million Medicare beneficiaries have already received free preventive care services in the first six months of 2012 due to the Affordable Care . . . → Read More: Over 16 Million Seniors on Medicare received Free Preventive Care under Affordable Care Act in 2012, HHS Announces

The National Parkinson Foundation is offering an upcoming series of free online seminars for patients with Parkinson’s Disease and their family caregivers. For more information, see the announcement below from the National Parkinson Foundation. To Register for any of . . . → Read More: Parkinson Foundation Offers Free Online Webinars for Patients & Family Caregivers

It’s never too late to start your career as a singer. Jenny Cutler proves that point. She says, “Better late than never!” View Jenny’s thrilling performance on Britain’s Got Talent … at Age 80! » View more Stories of . . . → Read More: Jenny Cutler – Discovered on Britain’s Got Talent at Age 80

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced on Friday that it has launched a new online tool to help you find out whether your health insurance company is required to pay you a rebate on August . . . → Read More: HHS Launches New Tool To Help You Find Out if You’re Getting a Rebate From Your Health Insurer under the Affordable Care Act

Four new studies presented on Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference taking place in Vancouver, Canada, have clarified the key role that different types of exercises can play in improving mental functioning in older adults and staving off . . . → Read More: Strength Training & Walking Improve Brain & Memory, New Studies Find

A new study published July 16 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has isolated three specific behaviors or strategies that were associated with the greatest success in losing weight among a group of overweight or . . . → Read More: Study Finds Three Best Strategies to Lose Weight

New reporting published July 11 in the journal HealthAffairs has found that after the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the major part of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature Health Care Law, a sharp partisan divide . . . → Read More: Health Care Providers, Insurers & Employers Now Mostly Favor Health Care Law, New Reporting Finds

Jenny Paulisinecz (95 Years old!) performed an impressive Tango with her instructor Alex Koulik at the July 10, 2012 Showcase at Goldcoast Ballroom in Coconut Creek, Florida. When Alex and Tanya Koulik, “Jenny started dancing 20 years ago after . . . → Read More: Jenny Paulisinecz Performs the Tango – at 95 Years Old!

As part of its national mission to promote public health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is providing an educational program for the public on how to lose weight and keep it off. On its website, . . . → Read More: CDC Teaches that Healthy Weight is a Lifestyle – Not Just a Diet

UPDATED July 23, 2012: A new Health Tip published by MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health advocates that seniors “make exercise a social activity.” “Participate in a group dance class or a . . . → Read More: Experts Advocate Dancing for Health

New research published July 18 in the medical journal The Lancet found that lack of physical activity by adults worldwide may cause 6% to 10% of all cases of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and colon . . . → Read More: Physical Inactivity May Cause as Many Deaths as Smoking, New Study Calculates

A new HealthBeat message from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) features a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, finding that “Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of dying from heart disease, . . . → Read More: Does Coffee Help You Live Longer?

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a Bulletin from HealthCare.gov on Friday, featuring links to five free Prevention Resources made available to you and your family because of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, . . . → Read More: HealthCare.gov Features 5 Prevention Resources for You and Your Family

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has declared August 5-11 as National Health Center Week, to recognize and highlight the crucial role that Community Health Centers play in maintaining the health of Americans. Federally-funded Community Health . . . → Read More: National Health Center Week, August 5-11, Highlights Health Care Available Regardless of Your Ability to Pay

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a news release announcing that, because of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”), President Obama’s signature Health Care Law, seniors and people with disabilities who . . . → Read More: Affordable Care Act Has Saved $3.9 Billion on Prescription Drugs for Those on Medicare, CMS Announces

Starting August 1, 2012, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature Health Care Law, requires all insurance companies to offer free coverage for an additional eight preventive health care services for women. The new free coverage, . . . → Read More: 8 New Free Preventive Health Services for Women Take Effect August 1, 2012 under Health Care Law

A new study by scientists at the University of Kansas has found that a smile on your face – especially a genuine one using both mouth and eye muscles – may help lower heart rate after stressful activities. The . . . → Read More: Can a Smile Reduce Stress?

A study by scientists in Australia has found that seniors who clipped on a pedometer nearly doubled the time they spent walking each week. The study, by Gregory S. Kolt, Ph.D., head of the School of Science and Health, . . . → Read More: Wearing a Pedometer Can Help You Walk More, Study Finds

Nola Ochs, the World’s Oldest College Graduate at age 95, set another world record by earning her Masters Degree at 98 Years Old! Now she is writing a book at age 100! Nola is pictured at left, at 98 . . . → Read More: Nola Ochs, World’s Oldest Masters Degree at Age 98, Now Writing a Book at 100 Years Old!

The Louisiana Tigerettes, a winning women’s basketball team, is proving how effective exercise can be in keeping you young. The Tigerettes have an impressive record of 195 wins and only 5 losses, and they have earned seven gold medals . . . → Read More: The Tigerettes – Winning Basketball Team at Ages 65 to 75

In a news release issued August 6, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans are projected to remain constant in 2013, at an average of $30 per . . . → Read More: No Increase in Medicare Prescription Drug Premium for 2013 – Third Straight Year of No Increase – HHS Announces

A new VitalSigns Report issued August 7 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) found that Sixty-two percent of adults reported walking at least once for 10 minutes or more in the previous week in 2010, . . . → Read More: CDC Reports More Americans Are Walking, But Not Enough – Exercise Termed Wonder Drug

Arkade (“Alex”) Nastaskin, performing with his instructor, international ballroom dance professional Liene Di Lorenzo, wowed the crowd with an impressive International Tango and Slow Foxtrot at the Goldcoast Ballroom Showcase on July 10, 2012 (videos below). At the Florida . . . → Read More: Alex Nastaskin is Competitive Champion in Ballroom Dance

Harvard Health Publications has issued a newly revised Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School on “Foot Care Basics: Preventing and treating common foot conditions.” “Three out of four Americans will suffer some kind of foot ailment in their . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Updates Report on Foot Care Basics – Preventing and Treating Common Foot Conditions

A recent study published in the journal HealthAffairs found that people on Medicare were substantially happier with their coverage and reported significantly fewer cost and access-related problems than those with private employer-sponsored health insurance or “Medicare Advantage” plans offered . . . → Read More: People on Medicare Report Significantly Better Coverage than Those with Private Health Insurance, Study Finds

By selecting Paul Ryan as his running mate, former Governor and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney has taken action that backs up and gives teeth to his previous endorsements of the Ryan Budget Plan and his promise to sign it . . . → Read More: Ryan-Romney Budget Proposals Would End Medicare as We Know It & Cut or Eliminate Programs for Poor, Elderly & Vulnerable

Family caregivers — the vast majority of whom are women — may be surprised at the positions Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s choice for his running mate, has consistently taken on women’s health and reproductive rights issues. Recent news . . . → Read More: Paul Ryan Takes Surprising Positions Against Women’s Health & Reproductive Rights

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release yesterday announcing that because of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (President Obama’s signature health care law), nearly 5.4 million seniors and people with disabilities who . . . → Read More: Under Obama’s Health Care Law, Those on Medicare Have Saved $4.1 Billion in Prescription Costs + Recd Free Preventive Care, Medicare Announces

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced a new tool to help you find out how the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (President Obama’s signature Health Care Law – which some call “Obamacare”) is benefiting people . . . → Read More: HHS Provides Tool to Find Out How the President’s Health Care Law Benefits You & Your State

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has announced an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that has sickened 178 people, with two deaths reported, in 21 states. The CDC announced yesterday that cantaloupe originating from Chamberlain Farms Produce, . . . → Read More: Salmonella Outbreak in 21 States Linked to Canteloupe Grown in Indiana

As Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Florida, with Hurricane warnings in effect for much of Florida’s West coast, government authorities are urging all citizens to prepare, and are focusing attention on government resources available to help you prepare for a . . . → Read More: Tropical Storm Isaac Puts Spotlight on Hurricane Preparedness

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research on Women’s Health, announced on Thursday that it is providing a new mobile health app for women that is available for free download to an iPhone, iPad or Android device. . . . → Read More: NIH Announces New 52-Week Mobile Health App for Women

A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology has found that 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise training are as good as, and even slightly more effective than, 60 minutes to achieve the same loss of weight . . . → Read More: To Lose Weight, 30 Minutes of Daily Exercise as Good as 60 Minutes, New Study Finds

“Many older adults do not successfully make the transition home well and end up returning to the hospital. In fact, one in five Medicare patients are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days after discharge,” according to a new . . . → Read More: New Resources on Hospital to Home Transition Featured on National Library of Medicine Site

Two recent studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, have found loneliness to be associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, loss of independence, and death. However, the extent of association . . . → Read More: Studies Link Loneliness to Higher Risk of Death, Decline and Cardiovascular Disease

“If you served in the active military, naval, or air service and were honorably discharged or released, you may qualify for VA health care benefits, including hospital services,” according to an e-mail announcement issued August 30 from USA.gov, the . . . → Read More: Do You or Your Senior Loved One Qualify for Veterans Health Care Benefits?

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was first published on HelpingYouCare™ on September 5, 2011. It remains relevant this Labor Day, and with some added links, we re-print it below: Recent reports have found that low-wage employees, in particular, are . . . → Read More: Labor Day News for Caregivers: Know Your Workplace Rights

The U.S. centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on August 21 that it has launched a redesign of its Medicare.gov website, in order to better serve Medicare Beneficiaries and their families. The redesign, CMS said, “mak[es] content . . . → Read More: Medicare Announces Redesigned Website to Better Serve Medicare Beneficiaries & Their Families

“More than 4 in 10 Americans will experience an episode of dizziness sometime during their lives that’s significant enough to send them to a doctor,” according to the August, 2012 issue of NIH News in Health, a monthly newsletter . . . → Read More: Dizziness & Balance Disorders Arise from Conditions Common with Aging, Experts Report

A new study has found an association between cardiovascular disease and exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a manmade chemical used in the manufacture of several common household products. The study of 1,216 individuals was conducted by Anoop Shankar, MD, . . . → Read More: New Study Shows Link Between Heart Disease & Chemical in Common Household Products

September has been designated as “Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month,” an officially recognized National Health Observance, HealthFinder.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, announced. “Every September, Fruit and Veggies – More Matters . . . → Read More: September Designated as Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month

The month of September has been designated as Healthy Aging® Month, an annual health observance developed to help individuals think more positively about growing older, and take actions to promote their own physical, social, mental and financial well-being. The . . . → Read More: Healthy Aging® Month Focuses on Limitless Possibilities After Age 50

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new initiative, called “Team Up. Pressure Down,” in which the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will team with pharmacists to help . . . → Read More: New Initiative to Help Americans Control Blood Pressure, CDC Teams with Pharmacists

President Obama’s health care law – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – has saved Americans an estimated $2.1 Billion on health insurance premiums, according to a new report released September 11, 2012 by the U.S. Department of . . . → Read More: Obamacare Has Saved Americans $2.1 Billion on Health Insurance Premiums, New Report Reveals

New research published September 12 in The Cochrane Library has found that of several fall-prevention methods studied, exercise including strength and balance training was most effective in reducing the risk of falling for seniors. Modifications of the home to . . . → Read More: Exercise & Home Modification Most Effective to Prevent Falls in Seniors, New Study Finds

On the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15, Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius issued a Statement, reaffirming the commitment of HHS and the Obama Administration to reducing the disparities in health care access . . . → Read More: In Hispanic Heritage Month HHS Reaffirms Commitment to Improving Health Care Access & Celebrates Progress Made under Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Consumer Update on September 19, advising that as part of its regular sampling and testing of U.S. food products, the agency has found varying levels of inorganic arsenic in samples . . . → Read More: FDA Analyzing Arsenic Found in Rice; Advises Consumers Eat a Balanced Diet of Multiple Grains

A new study that followed more than 2,000 participants over 15 years has found that eating more yogurt may help lower your risk of high blood pressure. The study, by Huifen Wang, PhD, of Tufts University in Boston, and . . . → Read More: Eating Yogurt May Help Prevent High Blood Pressure, New Study Suggests

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced that $12.5 million in awards funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act will be made to local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help . . . → Read More: New Resources to Help Seniors & Those With Disabilities Stay Independent Provided under Affordable Care Act

“Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health? Or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body?” So says the Mayo Clinic. In a paper called “Oral Health: Keeping . . . → Read More: Dental Health Key to Good Physical Health, Experts Say

A new report issued September 18, 2012 projects that if current trends continue, in 39 U.S. States more than 50% of adults could be obese by 2030, 13 states could have adult obesity rates above 60 percent, and all . . . → Read More: More than 50% Obesity in 39 States by 2030, New F as in Fat Report Projects

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report on Friday, September 21, projecting that the average person with traditional Medicare will save $5,000 from 2010 to 2022 because of the Patient Protection and Affordable . . . → Read More: Due to Affordable Care Act, People with Medicare will Save $5,000 to $18,000 through 2022, HHS Reports

September 26 has been designated as “National Women’s Health & Fitness Day,” an annual health observance sponsored and organized by the Health Information Resource Center, dedicated to promoting women’s health and fitness. The Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a . . . → Read More: September 26 is National Women’s Health & Fitness Day

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents “Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed themselves . . . → Read More: FDA Issues Scam Alert: Beware of Phone Scams from Bogus FDA Agents if You Have Bought Meds Online

The National Parkinson Foundation is offering a free telephone Helpline for Parkinson’s patients and their families. The Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636), is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. According to the National Parkinson . . . → Read More: National Parkinson Foundation Offers Helpline for Patients and Families

September 29 has been designated as “World Heart Day,” an annual health observance sponsored by the World Heart Federation. “This year in continuation from our 2011 World Heart Day theme of home heart health One World, One Home, One . . . → Read More: World Heart Day, September 29, Focuses on Prevention of Heart Disease

A new analysis of studies involving 118,696 participants, conducted by Donald Edmundson, PhD, a professor at Columbia University Medical Center, and colleagues, has found that self-reported perceived stress was associated with a 27% higher risk of coronary heart disease . . . → Read More: Perceived Stress Increases Risk of Heart Disease, Study Finds; Plus How to Handle Stress

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday awards of funding to seven organizations selected to partner with CMS and 145 nursing homes in seven different states in a new pilot program aimed at improving . . . → Read More: New Program to Improve Quality of Care for Nursing Home Residents in 7 States Announced by Medicare

A new update on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website announces and provides information about a new Helpline called “TSA Cares” that will be provided by the TSA to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. According to . . . → Read More: TSA Provides Helpline for Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

So far, much of the punditry and commentary following the first U.S. Presidential Debate, which took place Wednesday, October 3 in Denver, has focused on the style, optics, and mannerisms of the candidates — not on the substance of . . . → Read More: In Debate, Obama and Romney Clarify Positions on Medicare, Medicaid & Healthcare

October 7-13 has been declared “Mental Illness Awareness Week” in the U.S.  This annual health observance to raise mental illness awareness was declared by an Act of Congress in 1990, to occur in the first full week of October . . . → Read More: Mental Health Awareness Week & World Mental Health Day Educate About Depression

According to a special health report issued by Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School, “Sarcopenia—the gradual decrease in muscle tissue—starts at around age 30, [and] the average 30-year-old can expect to lose about 25% of muscle mass and . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Publishes Report on Strength and Power Training: A guide for adults of all ages

According to The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “Unlike drugs, supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure diseases.” That means supplements should not make claims, such as reduces ‘arthritic pain’ or ‘treats heart disease.’ Claims . . . → Read More: What You Need to Know About Dietary Supplements

On October 8, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Kellogg initiated a voluntary recall of certain packages of  Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats. In a news release posted by the FDA, Kellogg stated that the recall was . . . → Read More: Recall of Select Packages of Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats — Frosted and Unfrosted

The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2012, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Friday. This is the period when . . . → Read More: Medicare Open Enrollment Runs From October 15 Through December 7, 2012

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) has announced that, as part of observing National Family Caregivers Month in November, it will for the first time sponsor Thank a Caregiver Week during the week of November 4 through 10, 2012. “Caring . . . → Read More: Thank a Caregiver Week, Nov. 4-10, Sponsored by National Parkinson Foundation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced an expanded investigation of a multi-state outbreak of cases of Salmonella Bredeney infections. So far 35 cases have been reported . . . → Read More: Expanded Recalls of Peanuts and Peanut Butter Products – Linked to Multi-State Outbreak of Salmonella Infections

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that Social Security benefits will increase by 1.7% in 2013, as a result of a cost-of-living adjustment. The 1.7% increase will benefit nearly 62 million Americans receiving Social Security or Supplemental . . . → Read More: Social Security Benefits Will Increase by 1.7% in 2013, SSA Announces

In a Health Alert published October 17, 2012 by Johns Hopkins, Peter Goadsby, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist who is director of the Headache Center at the University of California at San Francisco, lists some of the signs and symptoms . . . → Read More: Signs That a Headache Could be Dangerous, Featured in Johns Hopkins Health Alert

On its website, Medicare.gov, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides links to comprehensive information on what Medicare covers under each of its different Parts. Here are links to Medicare coverage information, as provided on Medicare.gov: . . . → Read More: Find Out What Medicare Covers, on Medicare.gov

In a health policy paper published on October 11, 2012 in The Lancet medical journal, US and UK experts on healthcare policy who co-authored the article conclude that, even though the US and UK healthcare systems are often thought . . . → Read More: US and UK Healthcare Systems Should Learn From Each Other, Experts Conclude

The Office of Women’s Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will co-sponsor a Twitter Chat for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 23, 2012. The Chat on Twitter will focus on discussing . . . → Read More: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Twitter Chat – October 23, 2012

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a deadly multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis, which has been linked to steroid injections given for back and joint pain — . . . → Read More: Meningitis Outbreak Expands to 284 Cases; 23 Deaths

A new survey conducted by the research firm 2/7 Wall St has identified the 10 U.S. States that have the fewest doctors per 100,000 people in the population, versus the 10 States that have the most doctors per 100,000 . . . → Read More: Doctor Shortage: Which States Have the Fewest & Most Doctors Per 100,000 People?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has entered into a proposed settlement of a lawsuit in which HHS agreed to revise portions of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual to stop the long-standing practice of denying Medicare . . . → Read More: HHS Agrees to End Practice of Denying Medicare Coverage for Skilled Care & Related Home Health & Therapy Due to Lack of Patient Improvement

A new study published October 22 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, has found that type 2 diabetes patients who consumed at least one cup of legumes (such as beans, chickpeas or . . . → Read More: Eating Legumes May Help Diabetes Patients Control Blood Sugar & Lower Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds

A new study published in the Archives of Neurology, a journal of the American Medical Association, as found that among people age 90 and older, poor ability to walk, stand up, maintain balance, and perform other physical tasks was . . . → Read More: Decline in Physical Abilities Linked to Increased Risk for Dementia Among 90 Year Olds, Study Finds

Recent studies of people who are healthy, alert and active at age 100 have found that lifestyle appears to be the secret to their remarkable health and longevity. Among the key factors identified: a healthy diet; daily low-intensity exercise . . . → Read More: What are the Secrets of Living to Be Healthy & Active at 100 Years Old?

A study by Finnish researchers has found that men with relatively high blood levels of the antioxidant lycopene, commonly found in tomatoes, had a significantly lower risk of suffering a stroke over a twelve-year study period than those with . . . → Read More: Eating Tomatoes May Lower Stroke Risk, Study Suggests

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine has found that a group of men with obstructive sleep apnea who also had high blood pressure, benefited from a significant lowering of their blood pressure when their . . . → Read More: Treating Sleep Apnea Found to Reduce High Blood Pressure

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe . . . → Read More: Tips on Keeping Food & Water Safe During Emergencies, Circulated by HHS

A new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Association of Neurology, has found that among older adults, regular exercise was more effective in protecting against brain shrinkage than were either mental or social activities. Some . . . → Read More: Exercise Better than Mental or Social Activity to Protect Brain from Shrinkage, Study Finds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, . . . → Read More: Learn How to Spot and Avoid Health Fraud

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, has found an association between smoke-free workplace laws implemented in Olmstead County, Minnesota and a decline in the incidence of heart attacks . . . → Read More: Smoke-Free Workplace Laws Linked to Lower Incidence of Heart Attacks

November has been designated as Long-Term Care Awareness Month. As part of this observance, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a release yesterday, containing useful information on long-term care for seniors and their family caregivers. The . . . → Read More: Planning Ahead for Long-Term Care

In observance of Veterans Day, Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, issued a Statement on Friday, in which she said, “This Veterans Day, we honor all those who have served in our nation’s armed forces and are . . . → Read More: US Govt Does More than Honor Veterans for Veterans Day

President Barack Obama has proclaimed November as National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and appreciate family caregivers and shine a light on the crucial role they play in caring for our nation’s seniors and those with chronic . . . → Read More: National Family Caregivers Month Highlights the Crucial Role of Family Caregivers

By Deane Alban The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the early settlers with help from the Native Americans as a way to offer thanks for their surviving another brutal year. They constantly lived with the uncertainty that there would . . . → Read More: Have a Healthy Thanksgiving Without Eating Like a Pilgrim

A new HealthBeat report published November 15 by Harvard Health Publications, part of Harvard Medical School, lists five of the best “workouts” you can do without going to the gym. According to the authors, these exercises will “help keep . . . → Read More: Five of the Best Exercises You Can Do Without Going to the Gym

As part of its national observation of Diabetes Awareness Month this November, the American Diabetes Association has published a new Family Classics Diabetes Cookbook with diabetes-friendly recipes, which it says can benefit everyone this Thanksgiving — whether you have . . . → Read More: Everyone May Benefit from Diabetes-Friendly Recipes at Thanksgiving

Contributed By Shirley A. Woods EDITOR’S NOTE: In a previous post, our dear friend Jackie Barber told the inspiring story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that eighteen months ago left her completely paralyzed . . . → Read More: Caregiving for a Dear Friend with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS): Part II of a Hope-Inspiring Story

A new study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University has found that Baby Boomers show increasing interest in their health in their early 50′s and around age 65. The peak interest in health issues for Baby Boomers comes . . . → Read More: At What Ages Do Baby Boomers Show Increased Interest in Health?

Are dental x-rays dangerous? Is once a year too often? Should you make a risk-benefit analysis next time you’re in the dentist’s office? A new study conducted by researchers at Yale University has found an association between dental x-rays . . . → Read More: When Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced proposed new rules implementing three key areas of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (which some call “Obamacare”). The proposed rules were officially published in the Federal Register . . . → Read More: Proposed New Rules Implementing Key Provisions of Obamacare Published for Public Comment

In his new book, “Stick With Exercise For A Lifetime; How to Enjoy Every Minute of It,” former Occidental College swimming and water polo coach and wellness consultant Robert Hopper, PhD provides a concise guide to developing an exercise . . . → Read More: Enjoyment is the Key to Sticking with Exercise for a Lifetime, New Book Advises

The CDC has launched Sortable Stats 2.0 – a new online database of health indicators and behavioral risk factors that is sortable by state or region, by demographics, by health condition, and in various other ways. The interactive database, . . . → Read More: CDC Launches Sortable Database of Health Stats by State and Region

Frequently late? Often angry or irritated? Unsure of your ability to do something? Overextended? Not enough time for stress relief? A new report by Harvard Medical School, Stress Management: Approaches for preventing and reducing stress, “can help you identify . . . → Read More: Harvard Releases New Report On Stress Management

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has added to its website a new feature called My Social Security, which allows you to set up your personal account and access your social security information online at any time. The information . . . → Read More: Social Security Statements Now Available Online – at My Social Security

The Social Security Administration (SSA) on December 6 issued a press release, announcing that it has added 35 medical conditions to its list of “Compassionate Allowances” – a list of serious diseases and medical conditions for which one is . . . → Read More: 35 More Medical Conditions Fast-Tracked for Disability Benefits, Social Security Announces

The United Health Foundation’s released its 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings report on Tuesday, December 11. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau and American Medical Association, the report provides an overview and . . . → Read More: New Report on America’s Health Rankings Indicates Progress But Troubling Challenges

By Deane Alban You already know that high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, kidney failure, and blindness. Now there is one more reason to get your blood pressure levels under control. This condition has been found to . . . → Read More: How High Blood Pressure Puts Your Brain at Risk

A new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has measured the effect that getting enough exercise can have on life expectancy, and the even greater effect that combining enough exercise with maintaining a normal body . . . → Read More: Enough Exercise + Normal Weight May Add Up To 7.2 Years to Your Life, New NIH Study Finds

HelpingYouCare® (.com and .org), a comprehensive resource for family caregivers and their senior loved ones, has launched a new resource page in its Wellness Section on Weight Loss/ Maintaining a Healthy Weight. The new resource page includes hundreds of . . . → Read More: HelpingYouCare® Launches New Wellness Resource on Weight Loss/ Maintaining a Healthy Weight

The Mayo Clinic and TIME publishing have collaborated on a new book entitled, Alternative Medicine: Your Guide to Stress Relief, Healing, Nutrition, and More, which explores the potential risks and benefits of several “alternative medicine” therapies, as supplements to . . . → Read More: Mayo Clinic & TIME Collaborate on New Book About Alternative Medicine Therapies

Thirty-six years ago Tony Lampa and three of his neighbors saw that good tomatoes were going to waste because the tomato vines in their gardens and back yards were producing more beautiful tomatoes than they were able to eat. . . . → Read More: Seniors in their 70s and 80s Volunteer to Help Distribute Food to Those in Need

One simple act of kindness to help someone in need, by Bus Driver Kristian Doubledee in Winnipeg, Canada, may have helped move a nation, or two, to focus on the true meaning of Christmas — giving and helping . . . → Read More: One Voluntary Act of Kindness Could Start a Movement to Help Those in Need

HelpingYouCare® (.com and .org) has added a new resource on U.S. State by State health and healthcare comparisons and rankings. The new National – U.S. State by State Health & Healthcare Comparisons and Rankings resource is located in the . . . → Read More: HelpingYouCare® Adds New Resource on U.S. State by State Health Care Comparisons

Significant changes in the U.S. healthcare system will occur in 2013 and 2014 under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (which some call “Obamacare”). These changes are made by the law with the stated goals of: Improving quality . . . → Read More: What’s Changing in Healthcare in 2013 & 2014 under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act?

A new study conducted by doctors at Yale University School of Medicine and published in the January 2 issue of JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, has found evidence suggesting that consuming fructose affects regions of the . . . → Read More: Fructose Affects Brain Chemistry in Ways that Lead to Obesity, New Study Suggests

Harvard Men’s Health Watch, a newsletter published by Harvard Medical School, has released a special January 2013 issue focusing on rub-on relief for arthritis pain. The authors advise that “Anti-inflammatory medications applied to the skin as creams, gels, sprays, . . . → Read More: Rub-On Relief for Arthritis Pain Featured in Harvard Men’s Health Watch

Many doctors and physical trainers recommend strengthening all the muscles around the knee, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, and the calf, as a way of helping to prevent knee injuries. Before embarking on any exercise program, consult your doctor first. . . . → Read More: Two Exercises to Help Prevent Knee Injuries

A new study by doctors at the University of Montreal and an associated Montreal hospital have found that about half of seniors with visually impairing eye diseases report limiting their social activities due to fear of falling. This also . . . → Read More: Vision Problems Commonly Lead Older Adults to Limit Activity for Fear of Falling, New Study Finds

According to the latest Seasonal Flu Surveillance (FluView) Report, issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “the United States is having an early flu season with most of the country now experiencing high levels . . . → Read More: CDC Advises on Flu Prevention; Reports on Flu Epidemic Sweeping Nation

What are “Core Exercises?” If you answered, “Abs,” you are only partially right. “Core muscles go far beyond the readily recognized ‘six-pack’ abs that swimsuit models sport,” the authors of a Harvard Medical School Special Health Report on “Core . . . → Read More: Core Exercises Key to Good Health, Balance & Proficiency in Sports & All Activities, Harvard Reports

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article and video are updated from an earlier version that appeared on HelpingYouCare® October 9, 2011. They contain important health and prevention reminders which are particularly relevant as we currently face a widespread flu epidemic in . . . → Read More: Stop the Spread of Viruses and Germs at Home

The American College of Physicians (ACP), the largest specialist physicians organization in the U.S., announced on January 16 that it has launched a new “High Value Care website” “to help physicians and other health care professionals, medical students, and . . . → Read More: New Web Resource to Help Evaluate Medical Tests & Treatments – Their Benefits, Harms & Costs – Launched by American College of Physicians

On Friday, January 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued an updated report on the Flu Epidemic that is sweeping the nation, reporting on new data collected through the week ended January 12, 2013. While . . . → Read More: FLU UPDATE: Epidemic Severely Affecting Older People, but New Flu Cases May be Tapering Off, CDC Reports

On January 17, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced publication in the Federal Register of the final version of a new rule strengthening patient privacy rights. The new rule strengthens the privacy and security protections . . . → Read More: HHS Finalizes New Rule Strengthening Patient Privacy Rights

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) report that the flu epidemic currently sweeping the U.S. is striking older adults with weakened immune systems the hardest. “Because your immune system weakens . . . → Read More: Can You Strengthen Your Immune System?

A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins has found an apparent link between hearing loss and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults. The new study was published on January 21, 2013 in JAMA Internal Medicine, a journal of . . . → Read More: Hearing Loss Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Decline, New Study Finds

A new study published January 23 in the medical journal PLOS One has found that whether you engage in multitasking has more to do with your personality than your actual ability to multitask. The study, conducted by researchers at . . . → Read More: Multitasking Does Not Work; If You Think You are Good at It, Your Personality May be Deceiving You, Study Suggests

In an editorial published by the Huffington Post on January 24, 2013, John Geyman, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, makes a case that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) only goes . . . → Read More: Would Medicare-For-All be the Answer for our Health Care System?

February 1 is National Wear Red Day®, an annual health observance sponsored by the American Heart Association, to highlight the facts about heart attack risks and symptoms. Part of this observance is a Go Red For Women campaign, to . . . → Read More: Heart Attack Symptoms are Different for Women than for Men. Did You Know?

A new study conducted by researchers in Spain and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Tufts University found that out of 420 middle-aged dieters in Spain, those who ate a late lunch (lunch being the largest . . . → Read More: Late Meal Time for Largest Meal of the Day May Delay Weight Loss, New Research Finds

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford in England, and involving 44,561 participants in England and Scotland, has found that those who ate a vegetarian diet were a full 32% less likely to die from . . . → Read More: Vegetarian Diet Cuts Risk of Heart Disease by a Dramatic 32%, Large New Study Finds

A U.S. Federal District Court in Vermont on January 24 approved a settlement agreement reached between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and plaintiffs in a pending litigation matter, which may help all Medicare patients with . . . → Read More: HHS Agreement Now in Effect: Medicare Will Cover Skilled Maintenance Care Even Without Patient Improvement

In a new research paper published January 31 in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at the University of Alabama claim that “using internet searches of popular media and scientific literature,” they have identified 7 myths, 6 “unproven . . . → Read More: Weight-Loss Myths and Facts Identified by New Research Paper Cast in Doubt by Financial Disclosures of Researchers

The February, 2013 issue of the journal HealthAffairs features several studies addressing how more active engagement of patients in their own health and health care can affect health care outcomes and costs of care. “Studies show that more informed . . . → Read More: Patient Engagement Improves Healthcare Outcomes and Lowers Cost, New Studies Find

New research reported in the February 4 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, has found that, “Despite their longer life expectancy over previous generations, U.S. baby boomers have higher rates of chronic disease, . . . → Read More: Baby Boomers Not as Healthy as Their Parents, New Research Finds

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new report on February 7, 2013, showing that during 2012, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (which some call “Obamacare”) has saved 6.1 million people on Medicare . . . → Read More: Health Care Law Saved 6.1 Million People on Medicare Over $5.7 Billion on Prescription Drugs in 2012, New Report Shows

The Cleveland Clinic Florida will present a free Heart Health Symposium, open to the public, on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The event will include free Heart Health Screenings and Education (from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and a Panel . . . → Read More: Heart Health Screenings & Symposium Presented by Cleveland Clinic February 23

“The symptoms of thyroid diseases are so wide-ranging—affecting your mood, energy, body temperature, weight, heart, and more—that it may be difficult to get the correct diagnosis right away,” according to the authors of a recent Special Health Report on . . . → Read More: Weight Gain, Depression & Other Often-Mistaken Symptoms Could Signify Thyroid Disease, Harvard Reports

A large new study conducted by Swedish researchers has found that older women who consumed more than 1,400 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day (from food and calcium supplements combined) were more than twice as likely to die from . . . → Read More: Risks of Calcium Supplements Highlighted by New Study & Govt Recommendation

March is Women’s History Month. This observance was first declared by a law passed by Congress in 1987, and has been continued by Act of Congress or Declaration of the President each year since then. According to a news . . . → Read More: Women’s History Month Honors Women’s Contributions in Medicine, Science & Math

A large new study of half a million people across Europe, published in the medical journal BMC Medicine, has found that people who regularly eat processed meats (ham, bacon, hot dogs, salami, some sausages, and ready-to-eat packaged meats) appear . . . → Read More: New Study Finds Link Between Processed Meats and Early Death

The American College of Physicians (ACP), the largest medical specialty group in the U.S. and second-largest physicians group (whose members include 133,000 internal medicine physicians and related subspecialists), has issued its annual “State of the Nation’s Health Care” report . . . → Read More: Large Physicians Group Calls for More Health Care Reforms; Condemns Budget Impasse in Washington

Here are a few useful apps that can organize all of your elderly loved one’s documents. Evernote (note taking service), an app that saves information, web pages, notes, and attachments across all your devices. Includes a great search function. . . . → Read More: Helpful Organizing Tips for Caregivers

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, a non-profit organization “that provides education, advocacy and legal assistance to help older people and people with disabilities obtain fair access to Medicare and necessary health care,” issued a statement on Wednesday, March 13, . . . → Read More: Opinion: Center for Medicare Advocacy Condemns Paul Ryan Budget; Offers Solutions

A new study published in the March 14 New England Journal of Medicine has found that family members who are invited to be present during the quite brutal and aggressive cardiac resuscitation procedures performed as a last-ditch life-saving effort . . . → Read More: Should Family Members Be Invited Present When Cardiac Resuscitation is Performed?

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) has recently released findings of the largest clinical study of Parkinson’s disease ever conducted, measuring factors that affect quality of life and care of Parkinson’s patients. NPF announced that the early findings of the . . . → Read More: What Factors Lead to Better Quality of Life with Parkinson’s? New Study Findings; Webinar

New statistics released on Tuesday, March 19, from both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alzheimer’s Association have found that both the risk of dying from Alzheimer’s Disease and the actual number of Alzheimer’s . . . → Read More: Alzheimer’s Disease Deaths Increase Significantly Over Last Decade

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently issued a tipsheet for Alzheimer’s caregivers on Coping with Agitation and Aggression. As the tipsheet points out, agitation and aggressive behavior are common . . . → Read More: Alzheimer’s Caregiving Tips for Dealing with Aggressive Behavior Issued by National Institute on Aging

In a new study published April 7 in the journal Nature Medicine, scientists from the Cleveland Clinic reported evidence suggesting that the long-known link between eating red meat and increased risk of heart disease may be explained not just . . . → Read More: New Link Found Between Red Meat and Heart Disease: an Intestinal Bacteria

In a HealthBeat message and podcast issued on April 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pronounced that “Your health is going digital. Health applications on the go are becoming more available.” The message describes new . . . → Read More: HHS Announces New Digital & Mobile Health Apps to Help You Stay Healthy

A new study by researchers at Texas Christian University (TCU) has found that out of a group of 300 study participants, those ordering from a menu that displayed the amount of exercise needed to burn off the calories in . . . → Read More: Displaying Exercise Needed to Burn Off Foods Helps People Cut Calories Consumed, New Study Finds

Cleveland Clinic Florida has announced that it will offer Free Stroke Screenings to the public on May 3, 2013. Phone registration is required: To register, call toll-free 800-691-6555. The Cleveland Clinic states: “Strokes can happen at any age…nearly 25% . . . → Read More: Free Stroke Screenings Offered May 3, 2013 by Cleveland Clinic Florida

In a new report issued on Friday, the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund reported the results of its 2012 biennial survey on the number of U.S. adults who lacked health insurance or were underinsured. The total number of uninsured adults over . . . → Read More: Number of Uninsured Up, but Health Care Law Has Helped & Will Help Further Starting in 2014, Commonwealth Fund Reports

Is your mailbox full of junk mail? Are you tired of telemarketers bothering you or your senior loved one? Is your e-mail inbox filling up with spam e-mails that make it difficult for you to find the important . . . → Read More: Tips to Stop Unsolicited Mail, Phone Calls and E-mail, issued by FTC

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has issued a list of 10 Warning Signs Your Older Family Member May Need Help in the home. . . . → Read More: 10 Warning Signs Your Senior Family Member May Need Help, Issued by HHS Eldercare Locator

Dorothy Custer demonstrates one of the secrets of her longevity to Jay Leno. It’s comedy! She has appeared twice on “The Tonight Show.” As a teacher some years ago, she found a better reaction from her students if she . . . → Read More: Still Having Fun and over 100 Years Old

Two new Harvard studies published May 6 in the journal HealthAffairs have examined the causes of a dramatic slowdown in the growth of health care spending that the U.S. has experienced in recent years. They have concluded that the . . . → Read More: Slowdown in Health Care Spending May be Here to Stay, Harvard Studies Suggest

A new study by researchers at three universities and several medical institutions in Spain has linked a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil or nuts to better cognitive function in older people than was associated with a low-fat diet, . . . → Read More: Do Nuts & Olive Oil Help Preserve Cognitive Function?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new website, video and other resources with tips and information on extreme heat and how to prevent heat-related deaths and illness, as temperatures rise this summer. In . . . → Read More: How to Protect Yourself from the Dangers of Extreme Heat, CDC Issues New Resources

The week of June 10, culminating on Father’s Day, June 16, has been declared “Men’s Health Week,” both internationally and in the U.S., and the month of June is “Men’s Health Month.” These observances highlight men’s health facts, and . . . → Read More: Men’s Health Week, culminating on Father’s Day, Focuses on Wellness & Prevention

As part of Men’s Health Week (which runs from June 10 through Father’s Day, June 16), Erica Moss, Community Manager of Georgetown University’s Online Masters in Nursing Program, together with Georgetown University, has prepared an infographic spotlighting men’s health . . . → Read More: Spotlight on Men’s Health from Georgetown University

The following video produced by Wellness News, presents a moving tribute in song to Fathers. At the same time, it reminds whole families of important steps that men can take to protect their health and wellness.   View the . . . → Read More: A Father’s Day Health Message

A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins, analyzing data from 1,140 men and women aged 70 and older with hearing loss and 529 with normal hearing, found that those with hearing deficits were significantly more likely to have . . . → Read More: Hearing Loss Associated with More Hospitalizations & Poorer Health in Older Adults

In a new book, published June 4, journalist author Lauren Kessler uses herself as a “guinea pig” to explore in depth the world of anti-aging: from serious scientific studies, to medical information, to facts about the enormous for-profit anti-aging . . . → Read More: New Book, Counter Clockwise by Lauren Kessler, Gives Hope: 70% of Aging Process Within Our Control

The American Medical Association (AMA), the largest and primary professional organization of medical doctors in the U.S., passed a resolution at their annual meeting on June 18, officially declaring that obesity shall be recognized as a disease. The AMA . . . → Read More: AMA Votes to Recognize Obesity as a Disease

For a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers from Michigan State University, watched 3,749 people attempt (or not attempt) to wash their hands after using public bathrooms located across a college town in Michigan. They . . . → Read More: 95% of People Do Not Wash Their Hands Sufficiently, New Study Finds

Apparently some seniors on Medicare have expressed confusion or concern about whether the new Health Insurance Marketplace (also referred to as a health care exchange) being implemented under the Health Care Law affects Medicare in any way. It does . . . → Read More: Health Insurance Exchanges under Health Care Law Do Not Affect Medicare

The Poms, a group of senior dancers in Sun City, Arizona, perform to sold-out crowds and impress young and old alike with their agility, balance, headstands, and amazing moves! They are inspiring proof of the benefits of regular dance . . . → Read More: The Poms Senior Dancers Show That Dance Keeps You Young!

As part of National Family Caregivers Month – November, 2013 – the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation . . . → Read More: Free Caregiving Tips & Resources for National Family Caregivers Month from Parkinson Foundation

On June 2, 91-year-old Harriette Thompson set a record when she completed the San Diego Marathon in 7 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds. This was the fastest time for a woman over 90. The previous record was just . . . → Read More: 91-Year-Old Harriette Thompson Sets Marathon Record

Many sources recognize June 17 as “National Eat Your Vegetables Day.” Whatever the origins of this national health observance, the wisdom of encouraging Americans to consume more fruit and vegetables is underscored by a large new study published in . . . → Read More: Eating Vegetables May Prolong Your Life, Large Study Finds

A study conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin has isolated the three most effective tricepts exercises – which are most effective in eliminating upper arm flab. The study was sponsored by the American Council on Exercise . . . → Read More: Study Finds 3 Best Exercises to Cut Upper Arm Flab & Strengthen Tricepts

At 105 years old, Edith Kirkmeyer is said to be Facebook’s oldest user! She says, “When I was 95 years old, my children gave her a computer, a printer, and a digital camera, and turned me loose!” And, she . . . → Read More: Meet Amazing and Inspiring Edith Kirkmeyer – Facebook’s Oldest User at 105 Years Old!

Part 1: This is the first of a three part video conference titled “Empowering Caregivers: Hope, Joy and Self-Care” presented by Health First. The following panelists present this Part 1: Dr. Visa Srinivasan, Medical Director, Health First Aging Services . . . → Read More: Watch: Caregiving for Seniors – 16th Annual Conference by Health First – parts 1, 2 and 4

Too often the voices of older people are not heard. Judith Graham, KHN’s Navigating Aging columnist, invited nine seniors from across the country to talk candidly about their highs and lows as they enter Year 3 of the . . . → Read More: Watch: Seniors Share How They’ve Made It Through the Pandemic

Ready to be inspired? Watch Betty Jean McHugh, a 90-year-old Marathon Runner from North Vancouver, Canada. At age 90 she is proving that “you’re never too old to learn something new—or break records!” Her explanation for her spunk . . . → Read More: 90-Year-Old Marathon Runner, Betty Jean McHugh, Breaks World Records! – Proves You’re Never too Old!

A significant new study of more than 29,000 older adults conducted over a 10 year period has confirmed that six healthy lifestyle habits slow memory decline. The six healthy lifestyle habits measured include: Eating a healthy diet (adherence . . . → Read More: Six Healthy Lifestyle Choices Slow Memory Decline, Huge New 10 Year Study Confirms