On Aging http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1028&ft=1&f=1028 NPR stories and audio on aging, longevity, retirement, and senior issues. More articles on health care, leisure, disease prevention, and housing. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif On Aging http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1028&ft=1&f=1028 Tackling New Tech In The Golden Years Smartphones, tablets and computers could help seniors stay connected to their communities and families. But a hefty price tag, steep learning curves, and designs meant for younger eyes and hands could keep some older adults from logging on. Guests discuss the best ways for seniors to tackle new technology, and how devices can be adapted to accommodate older users. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450899/tackling-new-tech-in-the-golden-years?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450899/tackling-new-tech-in-the-golden-years?ft=1&f=1028 Smartphones, tablets and computers could help seniors stay connected to their communities and families. But a hefty price tag, steep learning curves, and designs meant for younger eyes and hands could keep some older adults from logging on. Guests discuss the best ways for seniors to tackle new technology, and how devices can be adapted to accommodate older users.

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]]> Boomer Housemates Have More Fun Some single baby boomers are moving into group houses, a college-era solution to their modern needs. Housemates share costs, socialize, and cheer each other on through life's thick and thin. Wed, 22 May 2013 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/183903991/Boomer-Housemates-Have-More-Fun?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/183903991/Boomer-Housemates-Have-More-Fun?ft=1&f=1028 Some single baby boomers are moving into group houses, a college-era solution to their modern needs. Housemates share costs, socialize, and cheer each other on through life's thick and thin.

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]]> Alzheimer's Cases Rise, But Hope Remains More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1028 More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease.

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]]> Not All Antioxidants Halt Macular Degeneration Supplements with the antioxidant lutein and omega-3 fatty acids didn't stop age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the United States, a new study suggests. But other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, do seem to help. Wed, 08 May 2013 16:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182294469/not-all-antioxidants-halt-macular-degeneration?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182294469/not-all-antioxidants-halt-macular-degeneration?ft=1&f=1028 Supplements with the antioxidant lutein and omega-3 fatty acids didn't stop age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the United States, a new study suggests. But other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, do seem to help.

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]]> Bedside Manner: Conversations With Patients About Death Doctors often struggle with conversations about death — navigating the murky waters of when and how to convey the risks of procedures and prospects for life expectancy. When doctors are less than forthcoming, out of sensitivity or haste, difficult situations become even more complex. Mon, 06 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181636287/bedside-manner-conversations-with-patients-about-death?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181636287/bedside-manner-conversations-with-patients-about-death?ft=1&f=1028 Doctors often struggle with conversations about death — navigating the murky waters of when and how to convey the risks of procedures and prospects for life expectancy. When doctors are less than forthcoming, out of sensitivity or haste, difficult situations become even more complex.

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]]> Retirement Gone Wrong? How Seniors Can Dig Out Of Debt Older middle-class Americans are now carrying more credit card debt than younger Americans, according to the AARP. Host Michel Martin speaks with certified financial planner Steve Repak, about ways for seniors to ease the burden. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178601465/retirement-gone-wrong-how-seniors-can-dig-out-of-debt?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178601465/retirement-gone-wrong-how-seniors-can-dig-out-of-debt?ft=1&f=1028 Older middle-class Americans are now carrying more credit card debt than younger Americans, according to the AARP. Host Michel Martin speaks with certified financial planner Steve Repak, about ways for seniors to ease the burden.

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]]> Scammers Find Fertile Ground In Health Law Law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in health insurance scams across the country. Many of the scammers seem to be preying on the public's confusion over the massive changes taking place in the nation's health care system. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/22/177771012/scammers-find-fertile-ground-in-health-law?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/22/177771012/scammers-find-fertile-ground-in-health-law?ft=1&f=1028 Law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in health insurance scams across the country. Many of the scammers seem to be preying on the public's confusion over the massive changes taking place in the nation's health care system.

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]]> Walking While Old: Seniors Face Greatest Death Risk Older people are much more likely than youngsters to be killed crossing the street, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And men are more likely to be killed than women, regardless of age. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/18/177783314/walking-while-old-elderly-pedestrians-face-greatest-death-risk?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/18/177783314/walking-while-old-elderly-pedestrians-face-greatest-death-risk?ft=1&f=1028 Older people are much more likely than youngsters to be killed crossing the street, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And men are more likely to be killed than women, regardless of age.

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]]> How To Avoid A Colonoscopy Billing Kerfuffle Save yourself some hassles by checking with your doctor before the test to make sure the office will bill the insurer for the procedure as preventive screening rather than a diagnostic test. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/16/177447684/how-to-avoid-a-colonoscopy-billing-kerfuffle?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/16/177447684/how-to-avoid-a-colonoscopy-billing-kerfuffle?ft=1&f=1028 Save yourself some hassles by checking with your doctor before the test to make sure the office will bill the insurer for the procedure as preventive screening rather than a diagnostic test.

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]]> Inside The Brains Of People Over 80 With Exceptional Memory Research into why some people have strong memory well into old age suggests that their brains are different from their peers. Some parts of the brains of "superagers" responsible for attention, thinking and memory seem to be spared the typical age-related shrinkage. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176921691/inside-the-brains-of-people-over-80-with-exceptional-memory?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176921691/inside-the-brains-of-people-over-80-with-exceptional-memory?ft=1&f=1028 Research into why some people have strong memory well into old age suggests that their brains are different from their peers. Some parts of the brains of "superagers" responsible for attention, thinking and memory seem to be spared the typical age-related shrinkage.

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]]> How Exercise And Other Activities Beat Back Dementia "What's good for the heart is good for the brain," one neuroscientist says. In addition to physical exercise, researchers say that mental exercise, socializing and a good diet can also help preserve memory in older brains. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176920391/how-exercise-and-other-activities-beat-back-dementia?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176920391/how-exercise-and-other-activities-beat-back-dementia?ft=1&f=1028 "What's good for the heart is good for the brain," one neuroscientist says. In addition to physical exercise, researchers say that mental exercise, socializing and a good diet can also help preserve memory in older brains.

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]]> Seniors In The South Are More Apt To Be Prescribed Risky Drugs In many parts of the South, more than one-third of seniors are taking drugs that they should avoid, an analysis of Medicare data finds. Ten percent are taking two or more potentially problematic medicines. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/11/176910528/seniors-in-the-south-are-more-apt-to-be-prescribed-risky-drugs?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/11/176910528/seniors-in-the-south-are-more-apt-to-be-prescribed-risky-drugs?ft=1&f=1028 In many parts of the South, more than one-third of seniors are taking drugs that they should avoid, an analysis of Medicare data finds. Ten percent are taking two or more potentially problematic medicines.

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]]> Social Security Will 'Lose Credibility' If We Do Nothing President Obama will announce his annual budget proposal this Wednesday. He's expected to propose cuts to Social Security. Host Michel Martin talks with former Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue about how cuts might affect those Americans who rely on the program. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176670289/social-security-will-lose-credibility-if-we-do-nothing?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176670289/social-security-will-lose-credibility-if-we-do-nothing?ft=1&f=1028 President Obama will announce his annual budget proposal this Wednesday. He's expected to propose cuts to Social Security. Host Michel Martin talks with former Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue about how cuts might affect those Americans who rely on the program.

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]]> As Palliative Care Need Grows, Specialists Are Scarce Some advocates argue that primary care doctors, surgeons and other specialists could add palliative medicine to their usual care. Removing bottlenecks for certification of palliative care specialists could also help. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/03/176121044/as-palliative-care-need-grows-specialists-are-scarce?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/03/176121044/as-palliative-care-need-grows-specialists-are-scarce?ft=1&f=1028 Some advocates argue that primary care doctors, surgeons and other specialists could add palliative medicine to their usual care. Removing bottlenecks for certification of palliative care specialists could also help.

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]]> Isolation V. Loneliness: The Difference And Why It Matters Researchers from University College London followed thousands of people over the age of 52 for seven to eight years to assess the effect of loneliness and isolation. Isolation, not loneliness, may actually shorten people's lives regardless of health or income. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176145190/isolation-v-loneliness-the-difference-and-why-it-matters?ft=1&f=1028 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176145190/isolation-v-loneliness-the-difference-and-why-it-matters?ft=1&f=1028 Researchers from University College London followed thousands of people over the age of 52 for seven to eight years to assess the effect of loneliness and isolation. Isolation, not loneliness, may actually shorten people's lives regardless of health or income.

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