Aging and Long-Term Care

Our experts in the news

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has grown substantially in the past few decades, enticing more than half of eligible people, primarily those 65 or older, with low premium costs and perks like dental and vision insurance. And as the private plans' share of the Medicare patient pie has ballooned to 30.8 million people, so too have concerns about the insurers' aggressive sales tactics and misleading coverage claims.
A companion is a surrogate family member — news-provider, anxiety-reducer, FaceTime operating system-fixer, an eyes and ears to daily life. Their presence relieves loneliness and depression, as lethal as other chronic health conditions, says the study’s author, Jennifer Nazareno, assistant professor at Brown University School of Public Health.
Facilities that serve single types of skilled nursing patients —and a payment system that differentiates and reimburses accordingly—would improve care for seniors and benefit providers, according to preeminent long-term care researcher Vincent Mor, professor of health services, policy and practice.