Aging

Maeve Jones, my sister, feeding my Grandpa. He suffered a stroke in September of 2019 and was in a skilled nursing facility from then until he passed in December of 2021. He declined more rapidly during COVID, and this picture was taken 6 months before his passing. Photo courtesy of Melissa Jones

The reality of COVID-19 in assisted living facilities

Morgan Jones

“In my year and a half working at a nursing home, I bonded with many residents while also watching many of them pass. The relationships I formed were very personally impactful, but I realized that we could be doing more to address the systemic issues affecting nursing homes.”

Adult daughter and father sitting at a restaurant reading paper.

Caring for Our Caregivers: The Unrecognized and Undervalued Family Caregiver

Minakshi Raj, PhD ’20

For years we have known that the US does not have a sufficient health care workforce to provide adequate health care for older adults. The current pandemic makes the situation all the more pressing. Now is the time to revisit and revise our policies and practices to reduce the burden of suffering for older Americans and their caregivers.

Cigarettes

Older Americans Are Risking Coronavirus Exposure to Get Their Medications

Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher and Sarah Vordenberg

It’s been nearly a month since the US government began urging older Americans to stay home to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus. That means many older adults may be running out of their usual 30-day supplies of medication. As the pandemic continues to spread, they increasingly face a difficult challenge: how to get the medications they need without putting themselves at risk.

Elderly person holding stress ball

How Do We Overcome the Burden of Chronic Disease for Older Adults?

Aruna Muthukumar

Over 85 percent of US adults age 65 and over suffer from at least one chronic illness, and about 65–75 percent of those adults suffer from two or more chronic illnesses. How can we manage this burden on older adults as well as the burden on the health care system in cost-effective ways?

parents with baby

Will New Postpartum Care Standards Help Moms?

Clara Schriemer

While maternal mortality rates are declining in all developed countries around the world, maternal deaths continue to increase in the US. However, new postpartum care guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists may be an essential step toward improving maternal health.