“What’s going on with your breathing?” asked Peter Gliatto, director of Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program. “I don’t know,” she answered, so softly it was hard to hear. “Going from here to the bathroom or the door, I get really winded. I don’t know when it’s going to be my last breath.” Dickens, a lung… Continue reading Homebound Seniors Living Alone Often Slip Through Health System’s Cracks

The United States has made almost no progress in closing racial health disparities despite promises, research shows. The government, some critics argue, is often the underlying culprit. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health News undertook a yearlong examination of how government decisions undermine Black health — reviewing court and inspection records and government reports, and interviewing… Continue reading Watch: Why the US Has Made Little Progress Improving Black Americans’ Health

Family caregivers play a vital role in the lives of their loved ones, working 24/7 to provide physical and/or emotional support to a family member in their care. Through their daily efforts and sacrifices for family and loved ones, they can often exhaust their physical and emotional limits. Family caregivers face extraordinary stress. Navigating the… Continue reading 5 Tips to Support Family Caregivers

October is Spina Bifida Awareness month! Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord membranes do not completely form during pregnancy. Spina bifida affects approximately 1 in every 2,500 babies around the world. Spina bifida is the most common congenital birth defect that leads to disability. This condition develops… Continue reading Spina Bifida Awareness Month

As individuals living with Down syndrome live and thrive into old age, some additional health conditions may become more prevalent. Each individual with Down syndrome is different, and not every person will have additional health conditions. Many of these associated conditions can be treated with medication, surgery, or other interventions. Common Health Conditions for People… Continue reading Health Challenges for Individuals with Down Syndrome

Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old. But her first marriage ended in divorce, and her second husband died more than 30 years ago. When a five-year relationship came to a close in 2006, she found herself alone — a situation that has lasted since. “I miss having… Continue reading Historic Numbers of Americans Live by Themselves as They Age

Heatstroke can be dangerous and even fatal. Beat the Heat and learn a few facts about it to keep you safe this summer!

One in four Americans aged 65 and over fall each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 112 older adults will die every day as a result of a fall. With such alarming statistics, Fall Prevention Awareness Month, Week, and Day, are more important than ever.

Having a baby comes with many big decisions and new experiences. There is an endless amount of information to take in, opinions to form, and plans to make. One of the biggest decisions all new parents will need to make is whether to breastfeed their baby. New moms may be undecided about breastfeeding due to… Continue reading The Benefits of Breastfeeding