Blog
Older Adults Skipping Meals to Cover Health Care Costs
Imagine having to choose between eating dinner and filling a prescription. For tens of millions of Americans, that is no longer a hypothetical — it is a daily reality. A survey recently released by the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America painted a stark picture of how deeply health care costs have burrowed into everyday life. Roughly one-third of respondents said that they have had to cut back on at least one daily expense to cover their health care bills, based on a survey of nearly 20,000 adults. Researchers estimate that this represents more than 82 million Americans. The trade-offs people
Caring for Grandkids: A Way to Slow Cognitive Decline?
New research suggests that helping care for grandchildren may improve memory and strengthen overall brain function, and you don’t have to babysit every day to benefit. These benefits may be modest, but they may still prove meaningful over time. If you’ve ever come home from an afternoon with the grandkids feeling both exhausted and somehow energized, science may have an explanation for that second feeling. A new study published in January 2026 in the journal Psychology and Aging suggests that grandparents who care for their grandchildren score higher on tests of memory and verbal skills than those who don’t. For grandmothers especially,
Can AI Robots Help Older Adults Live in Their Homes Longer?
The number of adults over age 65 is growing, and most want to age in their own homes rather than moving to a nursing home or long-term care facility. Living at home offers many benefits, but it can also bring challenges, including social isolation and loneliness. Many seniors live alone, especially after a spouse has moved to a nursing home or passed away. Getting out and socializing can be difficult for older adults, especially if physical ailments make moving around a challenge. Consequently, some seniors may go days without talking to another person or with anyone checking on them. This is where
Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance: Keeping Older Adults Safe
The recent disappearance of Nancy Guthrie from her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, has highlighted the difficult balancing act many families face: older adults’ strong desire to remain in their own homes and their adult children’s equally strong desire to keep them safe. While cases like this are rare, they underscore a broader reality: older adults living on their own can be more susceptible to scams, fraud, and delayed assistance if something goes wrong. For many older adults, staying at home is about far more than convenience. However, for their children, safety risks, especially when a frightening event makes headlines, can be
A Guide to the SSI and SSDI Appeals Process for Older Adults
Receiving a denial for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can feel discouraging, especially for older adults who may already be dealing with health challenges, reduced income, or caregiving responsibilities. The good news is that a denial is not the end of the road. Many people who are initially denied benefits are later approved through the appeals process. Understanding how appeals work and acting quickly can significantly improve your chances of success. Understanding SSI and SSDI Although SSI and SSDI are both administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), they serve different purposes. SSI is a needs-based program for people with
Digital Tools to Protect Older Adults From Financial Abuse
Older adults lose billions of dollars each year to financial abuse and exploitation. In 2025, adults aged 60 and older in the United States reported $2.4 billion in losses to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), per CNBC. Because so many incidents go unreported, the FTC estimates that the actual cost of elder financial abuse and exploitation is likely much higher. Today, financial exploitation happens quietly – and digitally. Instead of stolen checks or forged signatures, abuse may involve compromised passwords, unauthorized online account access, or highly convincing phone calls or emails designed to pressure an older adult into sending money.