A visit to the emergency room is no fun for anybody. But older people face challenges that can make a tough situation worse.

The lights, noise and endless activity can be confusing and even trigger delirium. Slick floors pose fall risks, as do hospital beds that can be hard to get in and out of.

Some emergency departments, however, are taking ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Aboard his boat in Moss Landing harbor, Tai Huynh, 71, bent over a pile of grenadier, then flung one of the deep sea fish into a large bin. Next to him, Tham Vo tipped them into a 500-pound crane lift box, swigging glass bottles of Heineken between loads.

In just over two hours recently, the pair offloaded 3,854 pounds of ...Read more

It happened more than a decade ago, but the moment remains with her.

Sara Stewart was talking at the dining room table with her mother, Barbara Cole, 86 at the time, in Bar Harbor, Maine. Stewart, then 59, a lawyer, was making one of her extended visits from out of state.

Two or three years earlier, Cole had begun showing troubling signs of ...Read more

It happened more than a decade ago, but the moment remains with her.

Sara Stewart was talking at the dining room table with her mother, Barbara Cole, 86 at the time, in Bar Harbor, Maine. Stewart, then 59, a lawyer, was making one of her extended visits from out of state.

Two or three years earlier, Cole had begun showing troubling signs of ...Read more

The assisted living facility in Edina, Minnesota, where Jean Peters and her siblings moved their mother in 2011, looked lovely. “But then you start uncovering things,” Peters said.

Her mother, Jackie Hourigan, widowed and developing memory problems at 82, too often was still in bed when her children came to see her midmorning.

“She wasn�...Read more

The assisted living facility in Edina, Minnesota, where Jean Peters and her siblings moved their mother in 2011, looked lovely. “But then you start uncovering things,” Peters said.

Her mother, Jackie Hourigan, widowed and developing memory problems at 82, too often was still in bed when her children came to see her midmorning.

“She wasn�...Read more

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — Two days after his 104th birthday, retired Oakland police Officer Toft Jessen was celebrated Thursday by dozens of Oakland police officers past and present, along with many others who lauded him as “an impressive individual” whose achievements are inspirational.

Jessen, a World War II veteran who during his nearly 37...Read more

In 2016, Bill Miller finally went to the doctor to find out what was causing his dry and annoying cough. Tests indicated he had a heart attack in the past and was now in heart failure.

Although doctors later implanted a defibrillator to restore a normal heart rhythm if needed, Miller quickly became used to the device under his skin. Eventually,...Read more

We stood on the Danube Promenade on the Pest side of Budapest, not far from the architecturally stunning Hungarian Parliament building, where dozens of shoes—men’s, women’s and children’s—lined the riverbank. Yellow ribbons inscribed with affirmations like, “we will dance again,” encircled each shoe.

Installed 20 years ago, the �...Read more

When the CEO responsible for a nursing home in Pittsburgh learned the facility would have to ban visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, she immediately thought of JoAnne Klimovich Harrop, one of the residents' daughters.

"She was her mom's lifeline, and we couldn't cut off her mom's lifeline," Debbie Winn-Horvitz said.

Harrop wasn't ...Read more

ATLANTA -- Pickleball isn’t just a passing trend — it’s a full-blown wellness movement, bringing people together like never before.

Since its pandemic-era boom, the sport has more than tripled, with almost 20 million Americans enjoying its physical and mental benefits in 2024, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

Chris...Read more

Electrocardiogram tests – which measure the heart's electrical activity – could someday be paired with an artificial intelligence model to detect premature aging and cognitive decline, new research suggests.

The study found people with accelerated ECG age had lower cognitive test scores than those experiencing normal aging. The findings are...Read more

ATLANTA -- Alan Kinder was touched last year when the strangers he encountered during his trip back to Normandy gratefully hugged and kissed him. He had returned to France with other World War II veterans so they could mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of Europe.

Still buoyed by that warm reception, the 100-year-old ...Read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Will playing Wordle regularly fend off Alzheimer’s? Will the fish oil you take daily keep your memory sharp?

Many people think it’s worth trying anything to help with brain health. After all, the forecast is worrisome: The number of people living with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is expected almost to double ...Read more

HENDERSON, Nev. -- He’s 102 years old and he can still do your taxes.

As a veteran, pilot and tax preparer, centenarian William Brew has stories to tell. Born in 1923 in Idaho, Brew has been to places that don’t even exist anymore, fought in World War II and lived through some of the most pivotal moments in American history, but now lives ...Read more

Iconic footballer turned People’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” David Beckham has about done it all. Retired for 12 years, the soccer star turns 50 in May. But the “Bend It Like Beckham” namesake isn’t letting age keep him from the gym. Despite his age, he’s bulking up and building his athleticism in new ways five to six days a week.

“My...Read more

Adhering to a Mediterranean-style eating pattern may help Hispanic and Latino adults strengthen the tissue connections in their brains, supporting overall brain health and potentially contributing to better cognitive outcomes, new research suggests.

The largest brain health benefit came from eating whole grains and fish, according to the ...Read more