Could You Afford Home Health Care? New Study Says Maybe Not

THURSDAY, June 6, 2019 -- The seniors most likely to need paid home care to maintain independent living are the least likely to be able to afford it long-term, a new study reports.

Only two out of five older adults with significant disabilities have the assets on hand to pay for at least a couple of years of extensive in-home care, researchers found.

Falls Are Increasingly Lethal for Older Americans

TUESDAY, June 4, 2019 -- Deaths from falls are increasing sharply among elderly Americans, a new study finds.

Nearly 25,000 people 75 and older died as a result of falls in 2016 -- almost three times as many as in 2000. And experts warn that the toll is likely to rise along with population shifts.

For People With Heart Failure, Loneliness Can Mean Worse Care

TUESDAY, May 28, 2019 -- Fewer than 1 in 10 heart failure patients follow lifestyle treatment recommendations, and a new study suggests that loneliness is a major reason why.

Polish researchers assessed 475 heart failure patients' compliance with a regimen of restricting salt and fluid intake, being physically active, and weighing themselves each day.

'Robopets' Bring Companionship, Calm to Nursing Home Residents

FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 -- Cuddler the bear, Aibo the dog, Justocat the purring kitty: They may only be furry, lifelike robots, but they have a made a real impact in nursing homes.

That's the finding of new British research that suggests these high-tech "robopets" are the next best thing for nursing home residents unable to have a beloved pet or those suffering from loneliness.

Financial Scammers Often Prey on People With Early Dementia

MONDAY, April 15, 2019 -- When older adults fall prey to scam artists, it might in some cases be an early warning of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

The study of 935 older adults found that those who appeared susceptible to scams were at higher risk of mental decline over the next six years. Compared with their more skeptical peers, they were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment -- problems with memory and thinking that can progress to dementia.

Untrained Caregivers Bear Burden of Care for Families: Report

TUESDAY, April 23, 2019 -- Twenty million largely self-taught home caregivers in the United States perform complex medical tasks for family members and friends, a new report says.

That means that half of the nation's 40 million family caregivers do things typically performed by health care professionals, such as giving injections, preparing special diets, handling tube feedings, and dealing with specialized equipment.