Seniors, Age 65+ - Consumer Health Ratings

Primary Listings

Find an Aging Life Care Professional

Find an Aging Life Care Professional, formerly called geriatric care manager. This national directory is easy to use, to help consumers and caregivers find an expert to assist in managing their loved one’s care. The Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) was formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. Credentials of members listed will vary widely. The credentials of the Advanced Professionals may be the most useful. Not all areas of the US are covered.

Caregiver Resources – Long-term care at home

Find caregiver resources for long-term care at home, with this guide. Caregiving at Home: A Guide to Community Resources is from the nonprofit Family Caregiver Alliance, National Center on Caregiving (based in San Francisco). Fact sheet, updated 2017.

Eldercare Locator – Search services for independent living Editor's Pick

Eldercare Locator is a way to search for services supporting senior independent living. US Department of Health and Human Services provides a free public service through the US Administration on Aging, to help seniors and caregivers find resources anywhere in the country. In addition to the website, you may call 1-800-677-1116 on weekdays to speak with someone who can help (English or Spanish). Very easy to use, by putting in your zip code.

Falls Can Kill Seniors – CDC facts

CDC Facts on falls and seniors. Falls caused about 3 million trips to the ER, and over 800,000 hospitalizations for older people. CDC reports that “Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.” Head injury and hip fractures were the most common reasons for fall-related hospital stays. Only half of seniors who fell told their doctor. Find out steps you can take: home safety, exercise, eye exams, and medicine use. Unintentional fall death rates have been rising in the last 10 years (see graph). Updated 2021.

Geriatric Emergency Department Accredited ERs

A list of accredited Geriatric Emergency Departments in hospital ERs. Accreditation is provided by ACEP Geriatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians. Click on Geriatric ED Accredited List. Unfortunately, it is not user-friendly as an Excel file. The first tab GED Accreditation will provide the basic information about who is meets accreditation standards, city and state, accreditation level. Gold (1) is the highest level. Date the organization was accredited is given. Read about the standards for optimal emergency care for older adults. When last checked, April 22, 2022, just 306 EDs in the US met some level of the geriatric ED accreditation standards. Updated 2022.

Guide to Home Safety for Seniors

The Safe Living Guide: A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors is an easy to read and practical guide to making one’s home safe from injury. Topics include preventing falls in the home (a major problem in the US and Canada), medication safety, and indoor/outdoor checklists, such as examining how you reach your mailbox. Very thoughtful guide by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Division of Aging and Seniors, revised 2015.

Nursing Homes, Employees, Seasonal Flu Shots

A question to ask your nursing home employees: Did you get your seasonal flu shot? Nursing homes who pay for their employees’ flu shots may have higher compliance, and higher rates of employee immunization, along with resident immunization, reduced influenza outbreaks, and therefore fewer deaths. See resources, including summary by Lisa Shugarman et al of the Rand Corporation “Vaccination of Nursing Home Staff, Residents, Key to Reducing Influenza Outbreaks”. According to the most recent CDC data, flu vaccination coverage continues to be lower among staff working in long-term care (LTC) settings (66%) compared with those working in hospitals (92%) or ambulatory settings (77%).

Older Adult Health Issues (MedlinePlus)

Older adult health issues at MedlinePlus addresses topics such as healthy aging, nutrition, eyesight, bruising, memory loss, aging parents, older drivers and when is the time to give up driving, depression, injuries, sleep problems, preventing confusion, skin problems, safety checklist and more. Click on Exercise for Older Adults to find out about balance, strength and flexibility exercises.

Older Americans 2020

Older Americans 2020: Key Indicators of Well-Being describes the overall status of the U.S. population age 65 and over. Most health data from 2018, but may be older or newer. Information is grouped into 6 broad categories: Population (including living arrangements), Economics (including income and Social Security), Health Status, Health Risks and Behaviors, Health Care, and Environment. By the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, October 2020.

Resources for Caregivers of Seniors

If you’re a caregiver for a senior, find additional resources here. The Aging Life Care Association (formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers) has compiled an extensive list of resources for seniors and their caregivers. Categories include associations, community/social services, government and care management. Consumers can also search for an Aging Life Care Expert.

Seniors – Health and Healthcare Resources (AARP)

AARP provides resources on health and healthcare. Resources include health and health insurance topics of interest to people ages 50 and up. Updated 2022.

Other Helpful Listings

Canes and Walker Use and Falls to Older Adults

Do Canes or Walkers Make Any Difference in falls to older adults? This is a report of a small Michigan study of people ages 60+ who fell at home and also had an assistive device such as a cane or walker. Most who fell were not using their device at the time of the fall. Top reasons: I don’t always need it; I hold onto other things such as the furniture or walls; I forget to use it or forget where I left it; and It makes me feel old. An astounding HALF of people said they never had instruction on using their cane or walker. Published April 2017 in The Gerontologist (Luz, Bush, Shen); 8-page pdf available free

Caregiving in the US, 2020

Caregiving in the US, 2020 report. A survey in mid-2019 by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found caregivers average nearly 24 hours a week in caregiving; about 10 hours is the median. Nearly 1/3 (31%) of caregivers use paid help from aides, housekeepers, drivers and others. Recipients who had medium or high-intensity care needs, long-term care needs (average 4.1 to 5.1 years) or age 65+ were more likely to have paid help in addition to their caregiver. Information about caregiver preparation to perform medical or nursing tasks. Detailed report, 2020, 107 pages.

Drug Coverage under Medicare

Learn the basics on prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Six-page Tip Sheet explains how prescription drugs, medicines and immunizations might be covered under Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) or Medicare Part D (the drug plan for seniors). Includes Covid-19 vaccine. Includes guidelines for cancer drugs, injectibles and IV drugs. Generally, Part A (hospital insurance) does not cover outpatient drugs. Publication 11315-P updated July 2021.

Exercise and Physical Activity as You Age and Any Age (NIH)

Online guide describes the benefits of exercise and physical activity for all ages. Includes sample exercises for endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility; also diet and nutrition tips. From the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Health Workforce Projections, Supply and Demand (HRSA)

Find workforce projections for many health professions, that look at supply and demand. By HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. Studies in the past 3 years show workforce needs to 2030. Studies published in 2020, 2021 and 2022 include Women’s Health Service Providers (such as OB-GYNs and midwives), Oral Health Workforce (which estimates a shortage of nearly 5,000 general dentists by 2030), and Behavioral Health Workforce (which projects shortages in psychiatrists and addiction counselors.) Potentially, the supply of psychologists and therapists will be adequate to meet demand, while there may be an excess of social workers and school counselors by 2030.) Older reports examined demand for direct care workers (like nursing assistants, home health aides and personal care aides), and nursing workforce demand. Updated as reports are published.

Healthcare Expenses for Seniors (MEPS)

Healthcare expenses for seniors are outlined in this MEPS report on Health Care Expenditures for the Elderly Age 65 and over. Median annual expenditures were $4,206 per person (about $5,724 in 2022 dollars). Average annual expenses for those with expense were $9,863 in 2011. Using medical inflation rates, $9,863 is about $13,424 in 2022 dollars. Medicare paid over 62% (up considerably from 10 years earlier); private insurance paid 16%; out-of-pocket amount declined to 12%. 96% of seniors had some healthcare expense, most often office-based care and prescribed medicines. Medications took up 22% of the total, averaging $76 per purchase. For seniors, the inpatient room rate averaged $3,199 per day (sticker shock, and nearly $4,354 in 2022 dollars); ER visit was $884 on average ($1,203 in 2022 dollars); office visit was $228. MEPS Statistical Brief #429 uses 2011 data, published Jan. 2014. Add about 36% to account for medical inflation to 2022.

How Much Does a Hearing Aid Cost?

How much does a hearing aid cost? According to research cited in Hearing Health Care for Adults, the average cost (retail price) for a pair of hearing aids was $4,700 in 2013. This was an all-inclusive price. With medical inflation, the cost would be about $6,000 in 2022 dollars. Book published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016.

Skilled Nursing Facility Occupancy – AHCA

The Skilled Nursing Facility occupancy chart shows a big drop in nursing home occupancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of 2019, nursing home occupancy was just over 80%. By January 2021, it bottomed out at 67.5%. It has since regained some ground to 75.3% October 2, 2022. Fast Facts (from 2015) by American Health Care Association (AHCA) shows a few characteristics in aggregate on 15,655 skilled nursing facilities in the US. Brief sketch only. Some nursing homes may have closed since then. A more detailed publication (also 2015) from the federal HHS, the Nursing Home Data Compendium 2015, is also available here.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2022-2023: Geriatrics Rankings

Mount Sinai (New York), and Cleveland Clinic, lead the 2022-2023 rankings of top 50 hospitals for geriatric care, from US News & World Report. List shows hospitals that do well at treating seniors ages 75 and up (at least 2,934 cases over 3 years) combining multiple specialties. Many of the 50 have Alzheimer’s Centers. Medicare survival (30-day mortality data) from 2018-2020.

Health Conditions, Glossary and Specialty Reports

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