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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: elderly

elderly stories: 86 news summaries

61 - 80 of 86 Stories | << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>

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'Fuzzy Logic' Could Help Create Better Elder Care

Researchers add computational mathematics to monitoring systems

Jan 4, 08 7:58 PM CST
(Newser) - Researchers in the UK and US are collaborating to develop “fuzzy logic” technology to improve care for the elderly. The 6-month project aims to create more discerning medical and accident monitors that can distinguish between, for example, a slamming door and a person falling, CNET reports. So-called fuzzy logic... More »

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technology • elderly • accident • medical devices • eldercare • fuzzy logic • mathematics

Nursing Homes Fight Drug Addiction

Use of anti-psychotics for dementia soars; alternatives sought

Dec 20, 07 1:30 PM CST
(Newser) - Despite known dangers—including an increased risk of death—the use of anti-psychotic drugs to control elderly dementia patients has surged, to an estimated 30% of all nursing home residents. Under pressure to cut back, some homes are experimenting with alternatives, like letting distraught patients do what they want to... More »

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elderly • dementia • antipsychotic drugs • nursing homes

Robots Could Care for Elderly

Toyota unveils new technology aimed at targeting Japan's aging population

Dec 6, 07 6:29 PM CST
(Newser) - Toyota’s new robot can play the violin, and the car-maker hopes it could be used in the future to care for the elderly, AFP reports. The 5-foot-tall robot has 17 hand and arm joints, giving it enough dexterity to play an error-free “Pomp and Circumstance” today. Toyota wants... More »

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elderly • Japan • Toyota • robot

Nursing Homes Misuse Meds to Control Patients

'Off label' antipsychotic use drives up costs, sparks concern

Dec 4, 07 3:05 PM CST
(Newser) - Understaffed US nursing homes are increasingly turning to antipsychotic drugs to control elderly residents, even though most display symptoms of dementia rather than the psychotic disorders the drugs are intended to treat, the Wall Street Journal reports. Such “off-label” usage defies FDA warnings that elderly patients using the... More »

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elderly • dementia • antipsychotic drugs • nursing homes • rehabilitation center • psychosis • eldercare • elder abuse • senior citizens • Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Less Prevalent Than Suspected

Study finds 10% of Americans over 71 afflicted

Oct 31, 07 12:39 PM CDT
(Newser) - A new study estimates that 2.4 million people, or 9.7% of Americans over age 71, have Alzheimer's disease, fewer than originally suspected. Unlike prior studies, which have focused on a small region or select cities, researchers assessed seniors in 42 states to arrive at the "best" estimates... More »

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health • elderly • dementia • NIH • Alzheimers Association • Alzheimer's Disease

Education Staves Off Alzheimer's

But seems to speed progress of disease once it sets in

Oct 23, 07 4:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Higher levels of education help delay the onset of Alzheimer's, but once the disease takes hold, mental decline is faster among those with more schooling, researchers have found. Each year of  education is linked to a 2.5 month delay in accelerated memory loss, according to the study in Neurology.... More »

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elderly • dementia • medical research • mental illness • brain damage • neurology • Alzheimer's Disease

Social Security's 2.3% Hike Most Stingy Since '04

Increases don't keep up with rising medical costs, critics say

Oct 17, 07 1:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Social Security benefits will rise 2.3% in 2008—or an average of $24 monthly—netting the 54 million recipients their smallest increase in four years. The cost of living adjustment, now $1,079 per month for the average retiree, is based on the third-quarter change in consumer prices, the... More »

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elderly • Medicare • retirees • Social Security • COLA

'Privatized' Medicare Dupes Elderly: Audits

Providers accused of cutting coverage, ignoring complaints

Oct 7, 07 8:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - Dems are likely loading political ammo after audits show that Medicare providers have cut thousands from coverage and snubbed those who complain. What's more, HIV/AIDS patients have been booted, standards flouted and phones left ringing. Dems have long opposed efforts to "privatize Medicare," but feds say the changes... More »

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elderly • Health and Human Services • Medicare • prescription drugs • doctor • insurance providers • UnitedHealth • Humana • WellPoint • Michael O. Leavitt • beneficiaries

Aging Brain, Not Racism, Explains Elderly Gaffes

Older people
unable to inhibit stereotypical thoughts

Sep 26, 07 2:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - Grandma’s verbal faux pas might signal not that she’s more prejudiced than younger relatives, but rather that she’s unable to disguise or overcome stereotypes, a study shows. Anecdotal evidence suggests, and earlier studies confirmed, that older Americans are more racist, but new research shows age-related brain shrinkage... More »

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baby boomer • elderly • racism • Generation X • frontal lobe

Flu Shots May Not Save Lives Among Elderly

Study finds almost no impact on death rates for those over 70

Sep 26, 07 4:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - The effectiveness of flu shots in the elderly has been highly exaggerated and the vaccination appears to have little impact on death rates among people over 70, according to a study published in the Lancet. The shots do help people under age 65, researchers concluded. The vaccinations are less effective... More »

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elderly • immunization • vaccine • flu shot • health study

Nursing Homes Raise Profits, Cut Care

Private equity firms buying up, stripping down facilities

Sep 23, 07 5:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - Caring for grandma has become big business for private firms that are buying nursing homes and making them profit generators. But to do it, they’ve severely cut staff—sometimes below legal levels, the New York Times found. “Chains have made a lot of money by cutting nurses,”... More »

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private equity • elderly • nursing homes • nursing • private equity firms • eldercare • senior citizens

Boomers Get TheirSpace

New social networking sites are aimed at 'sticky' baby boomers

Sep 12, 07 6:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Entrepreneurs are rolling out social networking websites aimed at those old enough to have spawned the devotees of Facebook and  MySpace, the NY Times reports. Investors say it's good business—older surfers are more likely to stick with a site they like, and there are a lot of tech-savvy boomers.... More »

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social networking • Internet • baby boomer • MySpace • elderly • Facebook

Breaking SoCal Heat Wave Leaves 27 Dead

Eight days of triple-digit temperatures hits hard

Sep 6, 07 4:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - Southern California's heat wave finally seems to be breaking after killing at least 27 people in crushing temperatures. The deaths include an elderly couple who told neighbors they were turning off their air conditioning to save money. Several victims died while illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in searing heat. More »

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California • elderly • Southern California • electricity • heat wave • power outage

Old Doesn't Mean Crotchety, Whippersnapper

Study finds 'negative bias' erodes with age

Sep 2, 07 5:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - Aging might cause the memory to, er, lapse, but it also can create a more positive outlook, reports Science. We tend to have a "negative bias"—an inclination to pay more attention to bad news than good—which is reversed as we age. Young people's brain activity... More »

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elderly • aging • brain • neurology • old age

Women Overtake Men Online

Women's web usage beats men's, UK study says

Aug 23, 07 5:54 PM CDT
(Newser) - British women aged 25 to 49 are spending more time online than men for the first time ever, a significant shift that may reverberate across the Web, the Guardian reports. The stereotype of youth ruling cyberspace also takes a hit in a new study—people over 65 average 42 hours... More »

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Internet • elderly • web surfing • women • Britain • teenager

Sex, Please; We're Grandparents

Health problems can interfere with lusty drive

Aug 23, 07 5:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - US grandparents are enjoying sex nearly as often as younger generations, concludes a surprising new study. Even couples in the 75-to-85-year age range reported having sex at least twice a month, with a quarter enjoying sex at least once a week. When there is a drop off in activity, it's... More »

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health • elderly • sex • sexuality • sexual behavior • grandparents

Heat Wave Claims 49 Lives

Triple-digit temperatures take
toll in Midwest, Southeast

Aug 19, 07 11:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - The heat wave sweeping across the Midwest and Southeast has claimed at least 49 lives over the past week. Officials in Alabama and Memphis reported the 10 most recent deaths on Saturday, mostly elderly citizens. The weather forecast for next week predicts some relief from the triple digit-temperatures that has... More »

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weather • elderly • Southeast • Midwest • global warming • temperature • heat wave

Skipping Meds Can Be Deadly

Half of patients undermine health
by skipping doses,
quitting medication

Jul 31, 07 5:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - Half of all patients with chronic illnesses don't take their medication as prescribed, says a new report, undermining their health and hastening their death. Patients with illnesses like heart disease and asthma often skip doses, misunderstand prescriptions or drop medication as soon as they feel better. The result is  more... More »

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medicine • health • elderly • heart disease • patients • blood pressure • prescription drugs • chronic illness • prescription

Euro Heat Wave Kills Hundreds

Most victims are elderly; Hungary hit hardest

Jul 25, 07 5:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - More than 500 people have died in the last week in the heat wave gripping central Europe. Most of the victims lived in Hungary, with some casualties reported in nearby Romania, the BBC reports. The elderly have been hardest hit. Temperatures in some areas have reached 107 degrees; the intense... More »

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Serbia • elderly • global warming • Europe • heat wave • Bulgaria • jet stream • Hungary • Macedonia

Fake Experts
Fool Seniors

Elderly cheated by 'certified' advisers whose shady offerings make millions

Jul 8, 07 9:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Elderly Americans are being duped out of millions by financial advisers with trumped-up credentials, the New York Times reports. Over 39,000 "certified senior advisers" have been rubber stamped by pay-for-service courses in the last decade, and they're selling popular—but unnecessary—financial products to the elderly. More »

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elderly • insurance companies • certified senior advisers • financial planning • scam • senior citizens

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