John and Edith were playing cards one night when John asked Edith a question. She tried to answer but couldn't speak. John knew something was very wrong. Could it be a stroke? Without waiting, he called 911. The ambulance took Edith to the hospital. Emergency doctors said it was a stroke - John was right. Because John called for help quickly, Edith got the medical care she needed without delay. She started getting well, her speech came back, and once again she's having long talks with John.

There are many shots, or vaccinations, that may keep you from getting sick. Some of these shots may also protect you from getting a serious form of the illness. Here is a list of shots that may keep you healthy. Talk to your doctor about which ones you need.

Emma's family didn't know what to do. Her son put grab bars in the shower. Her daughter brought lunch over every day. The neighbors checked in often. But at 82 Emma needed more help. She wasn't able to manage her medicines, and she was having a regular problem with incontinence. Then she forgot to take her key out of the front door, and she left the water running in the kitchen sink all night. Staying home alone just wasn't working for Emma.

About one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems. About half the people who are 85 and older have hearing loss. Whether a hearing loss is small (missing certain sounds) or large (being profoundly deaf), it is a serious concern. If left untreated, problems can get worse.

AARP
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008

American Health Care Association
1201 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20036

 

Irene is retired, she loves to work in her garden. Because she has always spent hours outside, she thinks the heat and humidity of Midwestern summers don't bother her. Then last year an unusual heat wave hit her area. Every day the temperature was over 100° F, and the humidity was at least 90%. Five days into the heat wave, her daughter Kim came over because Irene sounded confused on the phone. Kim found her mom passed out on the kitchen floor. The ambulance came quickly when called, but Irene almost died. She had heat stroke, the most serious form of hyperthermia.