New video series teaches Veterans how to file disability claims online

By VA News Writer for VAntage Point: Official Blog of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs PUBLISHED NOV 12, 2019 at 7:30AM VA is transforming the way Veterans learn about and apply for compensation benefits through a new video tutorial highlighting the digital Disability Compensation Benefits Claims tool, released earlier this year. Built with Veterans, for Veterans,…

Live 5 Scambusters: Scam artists impersonate Social Security more than any other agency

By Kyle Jordan Live 5 News Anchor/Reporter PUBLISHED NOV 7, 2019 at 12:05 PM EST – Updated November 7 at 7:32 PM   CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Scam artists are trying to get your personal information by impersonating the Social Security Administration more than any other government agency. The social security impostor scam continues to be…

Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2019 addresses staffing, other critical issues

By National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care FRIDAY, NOV 22 2019 Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced H.R. 5216 and S.2943, the Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2019. This legislation would address the concern faced by far too many residents every day –the lack of…

This popular Medicare plan won’t be available for some people next year

By Sarah O’Brien CNBC Personal finance reporter PUBLISHED THU, OCT 3 2019 8:30 AM EDT   For people turning 65 next year, the lineup of Medicare supplemental insurance policies — aka, Medigap plans — will look somewhat different. While the options will remain the same for people who turn 65 before Jan. 1, those who…

States Focus on Rise of Elderly Populations By 2035, older adults will outnumber children under the age of 18 in the U.S.

By Andrew Soergel Senior Writer, Economics Sept. 30, 2019, at 12:22 p.m.   THE AGING U.S. population is perhaps the most seismic demographic shift business leaders, state legislatures and health care providers will face in the next few decades, yet there aren’t many one-size-fits-all options for catering to an increasingly elderly America. The Census Bureau estimates that, by 2040,…

America’s aging population is leading to a doctor shortage crisis

By Kate Rogers CNBC Reporter PUBLISHED FRI, SEP 6 20198:37 AM EDT UPDATED FRI, SEP 6 201910:38 AM EDT MESA, Ariz. — As America’s population ages and demand outpaces supply, a physician shortage is intensifying. Projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges say the U.S. will see a shortage of 46,900 to 121,900 physicians…

Genetic-Testing Scam Targets Seniors And Rips Off Medicare

By Melissa Bailey July 31, 2019 Kaiser Health News The 86-year-old woman in rural Utah doesn’t usually answer solicitations from strangers, she said, but the young couple who knocked on her front door seemed so nice. Before long, she had handed over her Medicare and Social Security numbers — and allowed them to swab her cheek…

Can Medical Marijuana Help Kids With Autism?

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, May 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana extracts appear to help children with autism, reducing their disruptive behavior while improving their social responsiveness, a new Israeli clinical trial reports. Kids treated with either a whole-plant cannabis extract or a pure combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC experienced a…

Nearly 1 in 4 Home Care Aides Faces Verbal Abuse

By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Being yelled at or insulted is never easy. But it’s a situation faced by about one-quarter of U.S. home health care workers, a new study finds. Certain environments, such as caring for someone with dementia or working in a very cramped space, were linked…

Anger more harmful to health of older adults than sadness

Associated with increased inflammation, which can lead to chronic disease, study says AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON — Anger may be more harmful to an older person’s physical health than sadness, potentially increasing inflammation, which is associated with such chronic illnesses as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, according to new research published by the American Psychological…