Staying Mobile in the Hospital Helps to Get Better and Get Out

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) In her work as the chief nursing officer for Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md., Barbara Jacobs recently found herself dodging all of the patients walking d… Continue reading

House Calls Provide Better Care and Save Money. Why Don’t More Use Them?

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Margaret Birt, then 62, had routine surgery in 2006. But in the recovery room, she had complete cardiac arrest. Initially in a vegetative state, Birt regained much of … Continue reading

Delirium Isn’t ‘Just Part of Getting Older’

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) As many as half of hospital patients age 65 and older develop delirium. Once thought of as something ordinary — something that “just happens” to people as they get old… Continue reading

Photo Essay: Three States. Three Caregivers.

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) If you care for a parent or loved one, you almost certainly interact with doctors, nurses and other staff at hospitals, clinics or assisted living facilities. Dependin… Continue reading

Retail Health Clinics Adapt Care to Older Patients

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Retail health clinics, first launched in 2000, are a burgeoning part of the health care universe. Found in pharmacies, supermarkets and discount giants like Walmart an… Continue reading

Dual Stigma: HIV Positive and Over 50

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) HIV/AIDS used to be considered a disease of the young. In the early 1980s, when doctors first reported cases of HIV, nearly 70% of diagnoses were among people under 40… Continue reading

Are Nurses Ready (and Willing) to Treat an Aging Population?

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) By 2030, one in every five Americans will be of retirement age, marking the first time that older people will outnumber children. But will health care be prepared for … Continue reading

How to Effectively Communicate With Your Doctor

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) We’ve all been there. After waiting endlessly for a doctor’s appointment, your physician breezes in and out of the exam room, seems rushed and leaves you little time t… Continue reading

If Health Care Was Designed Just for You, What Would Need to Change?

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) When was the last time you felt truly satisfied with a health care experience? If you’re lucky, maybe you live in a state or an area with exceptional access to the hig… Continue reading

When the Care Is as Burdensome as the Condition

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Harold Peterson’s* cardiologist prescribes medications for his heart disease. His primary care physician prescribes medications for his high blood pressure and also de… Continue reading