Articles

In the United States, there are over 12 million Medicare beneficiaries who also have coverage through Medicaid services in their states. Known as dual eligible beneficiaries, this group consists mainly of seniors who have limited income and a greater need for health care coverage. With dual eligibility, beneficiaries get health care coverage through Medicare, while Medicaid helps them pay Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses.   To be eligible for dual coverage, you must qualify for your state’s Medicaid program and Original Medicare Parts A and…

Medical conditions that affect the breast are a concern for women of all ages, but older women need to pay particular attention to breast health. According to the National Cancer Institute, the odds of developing breast cancer go up as women get older, and by age 60, older women have a 1-in-28 chance of developing breast cancer. The key to treating breast cancer successfully is early detection. For the most part, breast cancer and other diseases of the breast that are caught in the early…

Eating healthy and staying active are two of the most important things seniors can do for their health, but sometimes, medical conditions and injuries can make it difficult to enjoy a nutritious diet. Whether due to mobility concerns that don’t allow for meal preparation or healthcare concerns that affect digestion, suffering from malnutrition can create serious medical problems that can be life-threatening. How is malnutrition treated in seniors? Treatment for malnutrition requires the introduction of proper nutrition, but how this is handled depends on the…

Although many medications work best when taken orally in the form of a pill, others work best when injected. Still, others work best when converted from a liquid into an aerosol to be inhaled. In this latter case, a nebulizer is used to make the conversion. Nebulizers are used for medications when the most effective route for administration is to inhale the medication. Inhalation often gets medications into the bloodstream faster. Additionally, some medications need to be applied directly to lung tissue. An example of…

Varicose veins are often considered a cosmetic problem, but can these enlarged veins be a medical  concern? Despite often appearing as bulging through the skin, varicose veins are usually relatively harmless. They may come along with age, but in some cases, they may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. The cause of varicose veins is primarily a weakening of the walls of a vein’s interior. Over time, pressure builds in these weakened spots, leading to an engorged appearance.  If you have varicose veins and…

In the fight against cancer, all kinds of new technologies are making their way to the forefront. Although traditional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy are still useful as cancer treatments, newer technologies using stem cells and humanized antibodies are providing additional options for people suffering from lung cancer and other hard-to-treat cancers. Humanized antibodies are antibodies that have come from non-human sources. These antibodies undergo a technical process during which protein sequences are modified to allow the antibodies to be used in humans. One of…

Vaccines are believed to have first been discovered in the late 1700s. Since then, inoculating people against various diseases has become standard practice with many people receiving vaccine administration as infants. Among the most common vaccines given today is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, although this vaccine combo didn’t become popular until the 1970s. Prior to that time, individual vaccines for each of these conditions were available, but the MMR vaccine wasn’t widely accessible until 1971. If you’re eligible for Medicare, take advantage…

Obesity is a serious health problem for people of all ages in the United States. But for elderly people who are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, the health consequences can be life-threatening. Today in this country, over 35 percent of adults 65 and older (around eight million people) are categorized as obese according to their body mass index (BMI).  Carrying too much weight is not only uncomfortable, but it quite often leads to a host of serious medical complications that can include the following: Diabetes…

No matter how long you’ve been smoking, or how old you are, it’s never too late to kick the habit. Most people know that smoking is dangerous. It not only shortens your life, but it can cause a long list of diseases and health conditions, including:  Lung diseases like chronic bronchitis or emphysema Heart disease Stroke Increased risk of certain types of cancer like lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, cervical, or kidney cancers.  Respiratory problems  Osteoporosis Eye disease like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration Diabetes Erectile dysfunction And…

Most seniors who are over 55 years old plan to live in their homes as they age. Reasons for wanting to “age in place” are varied. Most simply like their home, want to live near their families and friends, or hope to avoid the inconvenience of moving. For many people, aging in place isn’t a problem, but if you experience common mobility issues, your home may not be safe or convenient without making some modifications. Stair lifts are one of the options that may make your…