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Virtual Reality and Palliative Care
You’re walking along a coastline where forest meets sea. You hear the rhythm of crashing waves and see gulls swooping down from a crystal blue sky. A light breeze ruffles your jacket. You take a deep breath of the salty, pungent air and watch as a foaming wave washes away your footsteps and sweeps the sands clean, leaving behind a shimmering, vitreous surface that reflects a pale white sun. The next thing you know, you’re in an examination room, the sun’s rays replaced by overhead fluorescent lighting. A nurse is standing next to you. She removes your headset and asks
Exploring New Treatments for Dementia Without Medication
Along with our increasing population of adults over 65 is the growing occurrence of dementia. Dementia can be caused by various diseases or conditions and affects a person’s memory and other cognitive abilities to the point of interfering with their daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and one in three older adults dies from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Though dementia most profoundly affects the individual suffering from it, it affects the lives of those closest to the sufferer, not to mention society as
Healthier Living for Seniors Through Adult Day Services
More older adults are choosing to live in their homes as they age rather than move into nursing homes. This trend has both positive and negative effects. Remaining in the familiar setting of one’s home can foster a sense of comfort, safety, and independence. Despite these positive factors, aging in one’s home, especially alone, can be detrimental to one’s overall health. Humans are social beings and most of us need regular social interaction. Twenty-four percent of Americans over age 60 experience social isolation and 43 percent report feeling lonely, according to a recently published article by Frontiers Media. Social isolation is
What Raising the Social Security Retirement Age Would Mean
In a new fiscal year 2025 budget, policymakers call for raising the Social Security retirement age. The proposal is the latest to target the largest program in the federal budget — and the largest income source for many retirees. It comes as the Social Security Administration released a report showing that, if Congress does nothing to address the program’s budget shortfall, Social Security cannot pay full retirement benefits after 2033. Pressure is mounting to prevent benefit cuts for current and future beneficiaries. Proponents of raising retirement age argue that it would help address the Social Security deficit. Opponents say there
2024 Election: Harris, Trump on Social Security and Medicare
Keeping track and making sense of government policies and presidential candidates’ promises can be daunting during any election year. This year is no exception. Consider Social Security and Medicare, two 2024 election issues that are top of mind for older Americans. As with any election, the political landscape is always changing, and candidates’ views and promises may also shift. Even after a president is sworn in, their agenda may not work out as they had hoped or promised, since the president is one part of a much larger governing body. Yet leading up to Election Day, staying informed about the
Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Cost is a leading factor in why some people don’t use hearing aids. If you’re over 65, you may wonder whether Medicare covers hearing aids. Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or the exams for fitting them. Some Medicare Advantage plans, however, offer added benefits not covered by Original Medicare, including hearing services. Medicare does cover hearing implants. Other programs and organizations also offer financial assistance for hearing aids. Given the high out-of-pocket cost of hearing aids and their importance to overall health, anyone with hearing loss may want to consider all their options. Hear! Hear! The