Dehydration increases with age -- which is a simple way of noting that our elders are more prone to dehydration than other age groups. During the hot summer months, our community elders and family loved ones need a little extra...

Social Security offers a variety of benefits when you need them. Retirement—by far the most widely utilized benefit. Most people need about 10 years of work (40 credits) to qualify for retirement benefits. You can retire as early as...

“Don’t go out in the sun until you put on suntan lotion.” Most of us have heard this from the time we were small children. Yet, the high incidence of skin cancer is a direct result of the failure of...

"Following the doctor's orders" -- can greatly reduce total healthcare use and costs. But I know my parents are not good about this. When in consultation with their primary care physician, they acknowledge understanding the conversation. They...

The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, nearly 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older -- based on 10,000-plus baby boomers now turning 65 every day. The Institute of Medicine reports that more than...

In today's news, I came across an article discussing a recent study of the nation's nursing homes. This was a state-by-state study. Although we must allow for differences in survey protocol and data collection, there were some...

Should a functioning hospital provide a "continuum of care", in which they are attempting to care for patients as they recover, age, and deteriorate? Or is it best to bring a certain medical expertise to patients, who then...

In today's news...the announcement that total enrollments for the Affordable Care Act have hit 7.1 million - which was roughly the original expectation. This represents a significant milestone on the healthcare landscape. Indeed, healthcare in our country is changing....

For the many people who don’t feel refreshed after sleeping, exercise could be the solution. A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation found that exercisers report better sleep than non-exercisers even though they say they sleep the same...

As many Americans push toward retirement, there is an ever-present worry regarding whether seniors will outlive their financial resources. That is, will their money run out before they die? Social Security benefits help to cover the financial needs...