health care – thirdAGE

Striving for Equity in Health Care

Where you live shouldn’t determine how well or how long you live, but it does. The American Heart Association recognizes that medical care alone is insufficient to ensure better health and well-being: about 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors other than access and quality of clinical care. When people don’t have stable… Continue reading Striving for Equity in Health Care

How to Move Your Parents Without Stressing Everyone Out

Seeing a loved one’s health or memory begin to decline is beyond heartbreaking – and you’re eager to help them move to a more comfortable living situation – either in your home or nearer to you. Moving your parents closer to you feels like the right step, but with all the factors involved, it’s overwhelming.… Continue reading How to Move Your Parents Without Stressing Everyone Out

Three Ways You’re Underestimating Retirement Costs

People underestimate what their costs of living in retirement will be in three critical ways: Assuming you’ll spend less in retirement than while working: The majority of people have never really sat down and calculated what they’ll need every month.You need to be comprehensive in listing out all expenses. List everything you might spend in… Continue reading Three Ways You’re Underestimating Retirement Costs

African-Americans Hospitalized for Heart Failure Less Likely to See Cardiologist

African-American patients were less likely than Caucasian patients to be treated primarily by a cardiologist when admitted to the intensive care unit for heart failure, according to a study published in JACC: [Journal of the American College of Cardiology] Heart Failure. Previous studies have shown that in-hospital survival is higher when patients of any race… Continue reading African-Americans Hospitalized for Heart Failure Less Likely to See Cardiologist

Researchers: Too Much Information Can Be Good – if Doctors Convey It Correctly

On the internet, there’s more information than anyone could ever have imagined. But sometimes, especially when it comes to health matters, it can be a problem. Still, research shows too much information isn’t necessarily bad for patients who listen to instructions or suggestions from their health-care practitioners. University of Illinois researchers studied the issue and… Continue reading Researchers: Too Much Information Can Be Good – if Doctors Convey It Correctly

Physicians’ Attitude May Be Driving up Health Care Costs

Both public-health experts and politicians agree we need to deliver cost-effective, high-quality medical care. One of the things experts should be looking at, researchers say in a new paper, is “physicians’ belief that their actions or tools are more effective than they actually are [and that] can perpetuate unnecessary and costly care,” writes David J.… Continue reading Physicians’ Attitude May Be Driving up Health Care Costs

Discrimination Increases Risk for Mental-Health Problems

People who are the victims of chronic discrimination, whether on the basis of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation, can develop risk factors for mental disorders, experts say. “We now have decades of research showing that when people are chronically treated differently, unfairly or badly, it can have effects ranging from low self-esteem to a higher… Continue reading Discrimination Increases Risk for Mental-Health Problems

Study: Diagnostic Errors Are Too Common

At some point in their lives, most people will get an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis that could have serious consequences, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. And the findings also revealed that there have been only limited efforts to improve diagnosis and reduce… Continue reading Study: Diagnostic Errors Are Too Common

A Healthier Picture for Medicare Patients

The health picture is brighter for older Medicare patients: In a 15-year study, Yale School of Medicine researchers saw an estimated 20% drop in mortality, about 30% fewer hospitalizations, and 40% reduction in deaths after hospitalization. The findings were published In JAMA’s theme issue on Medicare and Medicaid at 50. In the study, researchers took… Continue reading A Healthier Picture for Medicare Patients

What’s Being Done about Inequality in Health Care?

Although there has been substantial progress in cancer treatment, screening, diagnosis, and prevention over the past several decades, addressing cancer health disparities—such as higher cancer death rates, less frequent use of proven screening tests, and higher rates of advanced cancer diagnoses—in certain populations is an area in which progress has not kept pace. These… Continue reading What’s Being Done about Inequality in Health Care?

Lack of Coordinated Health Care Means Unnecessary Tests and Procedures

Uncoordinated health care services are linked to higher rates of unnecessary medical tests and procedures among Medicare patients, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins researchers. In the report, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the investigators analyzed 5 percent of Medicare claims using a previously validated set of 19 over-used procedures and a measure… Continue reading Lack of Coordinated Health Care Means Unnecessary Tests and Procedures

Rx for the Medical Profession: An Injection of Humanity

The changes in medical care over the last five decades have been dramatic. Technological and scientific advances gave patients access to a level of medical diagnosis and care previously undreamed of. During this time, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act provided more people with the opportunity to take advantage of that care. Yet… Continue reading Rx for the Medical Profession: An Injection of Humanity

Why You’re Taking Care of Yourself (or Not) As You’re Aging

People over 50 who feel comfortable with aging are likelier than those who don’t to get preventive health care services, University of Michigan researchers have found. Previous research has shown that older adults can take several different paths of health. Some decline, some stay the same, and some get healthier. What path an adult takes… Continue reading Why You’re Taking Care of Yourself (or Not) As You’re Aging