The New Old Age

Paula Span explores the unprecedented challenges posed by a rapidly aging population.

The Painkiller Used for Just About Anything
In huge numbers, older people are taking gabapentin for a variety of conditions, including itching, alcohol dependence and sciatica. “It’s crazy,” one expert said.
By Paula Span
When Elder Care Is All in the Stepfamily
Adult children are less likely to assist an aging stepparent, studies show. A growing “step gap” in senior care worries experts.
By Paula Span
Some Seniors Readily Step Back. Some Never Will.
Researchers are only beginning to understand why some people embrace retirement while others won’t even consider it.
By Paula Span
Your Brain Holds Secrets. Scientists Want to Find Them.
Many Americans plan to donate their organs for transplants or their bodies for medical science. Few realize that there’s a growing need for their brains, too.
By Paula Span
Personal Conflicts, Even Violence, Are Not Uncommon in Long-Term Care
Arguments, verbal abuse and aggression are not unusual in elder care settings. Better staffing and training can ease the tensions, experts say.
By Paula Span
When ‘Prior Authorization’ Becomes a Medical Roadblock
Medicare Advantage plans say it reduces waste and inappropriate care. Critics say it often restricts coverage unnecessarily.
By Paula Span
When Families Fight Over a Relative With Dementia, It’s Time to Call in the Mediator
Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues.
By Paula Span
‘Aging in Place, or Stuck in Place?’
Homeownership is not the boon to older Americans that it once was.
By Paula Span
Why Are Older Americans Drinking So Much?
The pandemic played a role in increased consumption, but alcohol use among people 65 and older was climbing even before 2020.
By Paula Span
When Medicaid Comes After the Family Home
Federal law requires states to seek reimbursement from the assets, usually homes, of people who died after receiving benefits for long-term care.
By Paula Span