Judith Graham

Author's posts

Families Complain as States Require Covid Testing for Nursing Home Visits

Relatives say it is important they be allowed to go into nursing homes because staff shortages are affecting care. And many are still upset about lengthy separations from loved ones during lockdowns earlier in the pandemic.

Covid led to smell problems for many. Seniors are especially vulnerable.

“Many older adults have a compromised sense of smell to begin with,” one expert said. “Add to that the insult of covid, and it made these problems worse.”

A New Paradigm Is Needed: Top Experts Question the Value of Advance Care Planning

Prominent researchers say the nationwide effort to get people to spell out how they want to be treated as they die is not improving patients’ care.

As Covid Hits Nursing Homes’ Finances, Town Residents Fight to Save Alzheimer’s Facility

Fear of covid has kept some adults from moving to nursing homes, and many facilities are in trouble financially. When Nevada, Missouri, officials announced they were planning to close a home specializing in dementia care, members of the community rose up in protest.

For Older Adults, Smelling the Roses May Be More Difficult

The loss of smell is a common issue for many seniors and is often overlooked. Yet it can have serious consequences.

It Takes a Team: A Doctor With Terminal Cancer Relies on a Close-Knit Group in Her Final Days

Dr. Susan Massad created a “health team” after learning she had metastatic breast cancer. These friends and family members help her make difficult decisions and lead the most fulfilling life possible.

‘Covid Hit Us Over the Head With a Two-by-Four’: Addressing Ageism With Urgency

In light of the pandemic’s shocking death toll among seniors, organizations are trying new strategies to help older Americans get better care.

‘They Treat Me Like I’m Old and Stupid’: Seniors Decry Health Providers’ Age Bias

Ageism in health care settings, which can result in inappropriate or dangerous treatment, is getting new attention during the covid pandemic, which has killed more than half a million Americans age 65 and older.

A Wrenching Farewell: Bidding Adieu to My Primary Care Doctor After Nearly 30 Years

Long-term relationships between patients and doctors often enrich the quality of care and create deep emotional bonds. When the doctors retire or move on, saying goodbye can be hard.

My longtime doctor is retiring. It feels like an essential lifeline is being cut.

This isn’t my story alone. Many people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are similarly undergoing this wrenching transition with their physicians.