Category: Aging

‘I Couldn’t Let Her Be Alone’: A Peaceful Death Amid the COVID Scourge

For three years, staffers at UCLA Health have been quietly fulfilling final wishes for dying patients in the intensive care unit. Amid the isolating forces of the pandemic, their work has become all the more meaningful.

Seniors In Low-Income Housing Live In Fear Of COVID Infection

On their own in dirty buildings with little guidance or support, vulnerable older residents worry about unchecked transmission of the potentially deadly virus. “We felt abandoned.”

Federal Help Falters As Nursing Homes Run Short Of Protective Equipment

More than 3,000 nursing homes reported less than a week’s worth of supplies, and 653 said they had run out entirely at some point. Stopgap FEMA equipment has not reached many facilities, and packages that have arrived have fallen short of promises.

When A Doctor No Longer Accepts Medicare, Patients Left Holding The Bag

As doctors look for alternative ways to charge patients for care, some Medicare enrollees may lose access to their physicians.

Must-Reads Of The Week

KHN senior correspondent Jordan Rau takes a spin through this week’s essential health care news.

Montana’s Tribal Nations Preserve COVID Restrictions To Preserve Their Cultures

Some of Montana’s Native American nations are holding firm on coronavirus protections even as the rest of Montana reopens. They’ve got more at stake, they say, in protecting their elders who preserve their endangered culture.

For Seniors, COVID-19 Sets Off A Pandemic Of Despair

The guidance to stay sheltered as society slowly reopens wears on older Americans, who have a growing sense of isolation and depression.

Bringing ‘Poogie’ Home: Hospice In The Time Of COVID-19

One family took up the challenge of taking their mother, who had serious medical problems and the coronavirus, from the hospital to die at home. But because of the risk of infection, home hospice can be a daunting experience.

‘We Miss Them All So Much’: Grandparents Ache As The COVID Exile Grinds On

The pandemic has forced millions of families to weigh the risks of vulnerable grandparents getting too close to their beloved grandchildren — against the heartache of staying away.

Beyond The Glam: Feeding The Coachella Valley’s Most Vulnerable Residents

Poverty is real in the Coachella Valley, a region known for its glitzy resorts and music festival. During the COVID crisis, the California National Guard and California Conservation Corps are helping an area food bank distribute food to older residents and those with disabilities.