Michael Hanson is going to take a hike. He's also going to be gone a long time - seven months. He isn't planning to get lost, although some might suspect that he will. Hanson is blind, after all, and heading out without a guide or guide dog.

Deaf patient was dying, but no one told her The dead woman's husband settled a suit with North Memorial over the absence of interpreters.

In life these days it seems there are more questions than answers. Every time I turn around it seems another politician is in trouble, more people have lost their jobs, and someone else died an untimely death.

In this economy, shopping at Aldi, watching for double coupon days and stocking up on sale items still leave the food budget overdrawn for some individuals or families.

There's no time for sibling rivalry in the Schneider household, where big brother Luke has become like a third parent to his two siblings with autism.

I was a part of the sandwich generation before the term was ever coined. I was also a people pleaser. And never was that combination more apparent than during the holidays. My mother had always loved holidays and made a big deal out of them.

Much has been reported about the stress and burden of caregiving, but a new study suggests there may be a flip side to taking care of someone you love as they age -- a decreased risk of death.

I literally cringe whenever I hear someone call another person "retarded" when they have done or said something stupid. I feel in many ways it is ignorance on their part, or laziness. I have even seen and heard people using the term "developmentally disabled" in the same way.

It seems that I am awash as of late in a sea of negativity. It pulls at me and sucks all of my energy. I find myself responding in kind to all of the negativity and have become a person I don't like.

According to an old saying, nothing is as good for the inside of a person as the outside of a horse. Michaela Powers learned that firsthand seven years ago when she began swapping her wheelchair for an hour in the saddle.

In a cruel coincidence that scientists do not yet fully understand, research has shown that people with Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality, have a much higher incidence of Alzheimer's disease at an early age.

COLUMBIA — When her grandmother stopped answering her telephone, Susan Goeres began to worry. Then a call came in February 2007 from the Sheriff's Department in Englewood, Fla.

At age 96, John Oatman needs a little help getting around these days -- so much that he welcomes home health care workers into his home. But police accuse some of his helpers of helping themselves to Oatman's money by using his credit and debit cards.

MESA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Project StoryKeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving family heritage and announced today that new findings by the Alzheimer's Association are increasing the need to document the life stories of patients.

The mother of a 13-year-old autistic boy who was banned by a court order from attending services at a Roman Catholic church in Bertha, Minn., woke up Sunday determined to take her son to mass. But Carol Race changed her mind when Todd County Sheriff Pete Mikkelson met her at the …

The priest of the small-town parish fears injuries from the teen's behavior, but autism advocates are rallying behind his parents. The boy's mother says: "I can't discipline him out of his autism, and I think that's what our priest is expecting."

When the little girl smiled, Katherine Baumtrog almost cried.

"Caregiving is an honorable tradition, but we need to respect the caregivers," Plachta said. "And, somehow, compensate them for what they do."

Older Americans and their family caregivers are at long last warming to the notion of using technology to achieve their respective goals.

When a minor bladder infection landed Rachel Wilcox in a nursing home, it was almost her undoing. Wilcox has had multiple sclerosis for more than 40 years and was living independently in St. Paul, but her health was getting more fragile and she was having falling spells.

An innovative dance program that gets elders with dementia on their feet is enriching their lives and offering health benefits.

Chaplains working in Utah hospitals and hospices serve as the spiritual caregivers to those - of all faiths or of no faith at all - who are, oftentimes, the most vulnerable and scared. It's not an assignment for those of weak heart, mind or spirit.

As a grocery checker, Judy Mallon usually punched in product codes without hesitating. When new ones were added, though, she began having a hard time remembering them. Then, she had difficulty understanding the new customer check authorization system.

Bedsores may seem simple, but they are a serious matter for medical professionals.

Because of two local women, Illinois Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, will introduce legislation today called the Family Member Caregiver Initiative.

For years, Jim Lundquist and Sarah Stanchfield have each wanted to get married; they've seen siblings marry and parents marry. But they wanted to wait until they knew they were right for each other. "She is my soul. That is true," Lundquist said, while holding her hand.

A new section on MayoClinic.com for Alzheimer's caregivers provides helpful information on daily routines, communicating with the patient, dealing with family issues, long-term care options and self-care.

Six-year-old Fred Tilbury likes math, Hot Wheels and snowmobiling. He also likes his hair. Has a thing about it, actually

A newborn baby was injured early Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids when its Isolette caught on fire, a spokesman with Allina Hospitals said.

As a registered nurse that has had her eyes opened wide of late to how broken our medical profession is, I just wanted to share this little tidbit.

Ruby takes her love to senior homes and has taken a turn on the stage, all part of her owners' campaign to try to convince people that pit bulls aren't innately bad.

Everyone is festive–but you. You just can't seem to pull it together. A Christmas tree sounds like way too much work, and it's not like you want to have anyone over. Christmas can be especially hard on caregivers, and there are many culprits.

In my work with caregivers, I often hear the lament that no matter what they do or don't do for an elderly parent, they feel guilty. As one caregiver told me after the death of her mother, "My sister says we did enough and in reality we probably did.

Blood is a great communicator. Monitoring levels of hormones, proteins, and other substances in our blood can give us important information about everything from cancer to heart disease.

A cluster of workers have developed a neurological illness. Health officials say there is no evidence the public's health is at risk.

Renee Roehrick didn't know she had a new disease. In fact, she didn't know anything because the infection that started after a botched pedicure had crashed her blood pressure, turned her skin purple and put her on a respirator, unconscious at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood.

Have you ever been in a discussion with someone that may have started out innocently enough, but turns ugly? Have you ever been in a discussion that you know you can't win, but refuse to let go?

Randy Gallmeyer's recent death from untreated diabetes in the Ramsey County jail shocked his family members and even jail officials. It has also renewed calls in Minnesota and across the nation to improve medical care for diabetics who wind up behind bars.

You're pregnant. Your prenatal test results are in. And the doctor tells you this: Your baby has tested positive for the chromosome that triggers Down syndrome. What do you do?

When adult children realize their parents can no longer live independently, the search for help can be lonely, frustrating and stressful. Nonmedical home health care has been a lifesaver for many families.

Two years ago, federal regulators sounded a dire warning: Elderly people with dementia who take drugs like Seroquel, Risperdal and Zyprexa could suffer the ultimate side effect. They could die.

Older women with heart failure and other critical conditions receive less life support and die more than men in intensive care units, according to a disturbing new Canadian study. This difference was most pronounced among women over age 50, who were 32% less likely than men to b …

Maria Leal of Portland, Ore., tells her story slowly because her tongue is sutured, making it difficult for her to speak clearly.

Minnesota doctors say the state's newborn screening program saves lives and money; some privacy advocates say it amounts to involuntary genetic testing.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher met with reporters Friday to explain what happened to a diabetic man who died in jail. The internal investigation, he said, points away from jailers and toward jail nurses and the dead man.

The insulin and other medication needed by a diabetic inmate at the Ramsey County Jail had been given to a jail nurse the day before the man was found dying of untreated diabetes in his cell, according to Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who this afternoon is to give a news conference on th …

After years working as a nurse, Wendy Slater was burned out and facing an empty nest with two grown children moving on with their lives.

Benjamin Ruiz survived a 40-minute electrocution. He lost his legs and his arms to the terrible burns. But he didn't lose his faith or his will to live. He has deeply touched a group of St. Paulites who have become his surrogate family. And their devotio

28-year-old Nate Harris looks at pictures of his best friend Mathew and remembers the laughter they shared and the special bond. The two became as close as brothers, but according to Nate their relationship didn't start out that way.

Brotman Medical Center, a key healthcare provider serving Los Angeles' Westside, is expected to seek protection from creditors in Bankruptcy Court as early as next week, according to three executives familiar with the matter.

A hot topic during the 2008 elections will be proposals for national health care.

CROSSVILLE (WATE) -- A company paid more than $7,000 to provide assisted care for an elderly Crossville woman hasn't delivered on its promise. And it's accused of bilking people across the country. The company is called Homeward Bound Services of North America.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite increased efforts in recent years to educate the public about stroke symptoms, the people most likely to suffer stroke -- the elderly -- still often do not realize they are having a stroke, a new study shows. "Half of the patients we studied h …

An elderly lady, pitifully frail, is seated in an armchair in the lounge of a care home, dozing fitfully. Now just a little over six stone, she is a pale shadow of the vibrant woman she once was.

NEW ORLEANS — For many elderly survivors of Hurricane Katrina, life has become a minor-key coda of rubble and ruin, of discomfort and displacement, of strained social services and fear of depredation. About 40,000 of New Orleans' 85,000 elderly have returned since the city flo …

A daily dose of dark chocolate may help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, say UK researchers.

NEW PORT RICHEY - A man applied for a job at a home for the elderly. He had pleaded no contest to a violent felony; he was hired nonetheless. One morning last week, police say, he lunged at an 78-year-old Alzheimer's patient and punched him in the face.

Marcelo Ordaz-Cruz is still waiting, wondering, looking for the reason. There has to be one, he insists.

Mercedes Gorden kept a souvenir from her stay in the hospital. It's the plastic ID bracelet that she got the day she arrived, Aug. 1, when she was known simply as "Disaster Victim #16."

A little village in Hyogo Prefecture held a gathering in 1947 to show respect for the elderly and to ask them to share their wisdom and life experiences. It is said that this was the origin of the national holiday--Respect-for-the Aged Day.

Where are you right now as you read this? In a coffee shop contentedly across from your significant other? In a rocking chair with a sleeping baby nearby? At your laptop reading the newspaper online? And how do you feel about that? Happy to be in the company of another? Happy to …

Audrey Estrada, 52, of Coon Rapids, has found joy in a place where people usually find despair. Her mother Ruth Jones, 85, is in the third stage of Alzheimer's. Estrada makes the three-block walk everyday to a care facility in her neighborhood

Say hello to Bethny Libsock. She is 36 years old, lives alone, works and has a virtually spotless driving record. Like most of us, she has the right to vote, drink and freely associate with whomever.

I've seen the trick a hundred times.

Families who are struggling to pay the spiralling costs of care for their elderly relatives could soon have a new cheaper option: outsourcing to India.

I greet you with a smile. " Hello!" You stare at me for several long seconds. Recognition first appears in your eyes. You suddenly see "me." A slow smile fills your face. "Hello Mary!" A hug quickly follows. "You give the best hugs!" say I.

You probably think I threw the Viagra thing into the headline just to grab your attention, you know, like when the word "sex" is in a book title, but then there's nothing about sex in the book.

Teens talk candidly about growing up with a sibling who has special needs.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After her first day of classes this week at the University of North Carolina's campus here, Aleyna Castillo crossed a field, passing joggers and cyclists and students sprawled on the grass, reading in the sunshine. She didn't linger at her brick dormitory.

A University of Minnesota scientist has discovered a way to detect Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and other brain disorders by using a device that tracks magnetic signals in the brain. Although the research is still in its early stages, it could lead to a relatively quick an …

Jackie Jacoby moves slowly and deliberately through her apartment with the help of a walker, but because the doors are wide, the cabinets are low and the bathroom is large, she can live there independently. Jacoby's new home, Kingsley Commons, was built specifically for people w …

Annelisa Purdie is an administrator, a teacher, scold, backstop, cheerleader — within the limited number of visits allotted by insurance.

Some fought the war and won battles, but still know they are in the war. Others stood by their side, held their hands, helped them cope — and continue to help them heal.

The assignment was to create a device to help people with early stage Alzheimer's remain independent," said Alison E. Lee, 21, of Kirtland, Ohio, who served as coordinator of the team of six seniors.

When I read about the mother/daughter murder-suicide at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery on July 24, my back went up.

Sometimes, when there's no cure, it's best to just go with the flow as a loved one becomes more confused.

Groups want to make neighborhoods comfortable places for elderly people not interested in assisted living.

OAKLAND - With a television crew and photographers in tow, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent Wednesday morning mopping floors, cleaning cobwebs and preparing breakfast for an 86-year-old wheelchair-bound amputee, as he accompanied a home health care worker on h …

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Kentuckiana's record-breaking heat wave is dangerous for everyone, but the elderly are especially at risk. As WAVE 3's Maira Ansari investigates, there are steps people can take to stay safe while battling the stifling heat.

Golden years revert to Golden Book years, as grandparents such as Cebby Koepke, Wendy VanDusen and Pat Harrison find themselves raising grandchildren, more likely reading "The Poky Little Puppy" than travel guides, theater programs and restaurant menus. "All of a sudden, I'm sta …

STAFF at one of Queensland's biggest hospitals are being told to reject sick, elderly people transferring from nursing homes, and hastily discharge all other patients. In a further sign the health system is getting worse rather than improving, Princess Alexandra Hospital's emerg …

Lu Marvin, 90, looks forward to her visits from her Care for You Too caretaker. "She is wonderful," Marvin said. "She's good to me, and she bathes me and she does my laundry. We have good conversations."

More than 25 percent of American families are caring for aging parents or other aged relatives.

CLINTON — An elderly woman who fell for a lottery scam and mailed off $30,000. A resident who had all his clothes stolen from his nursing home. A "Meals on Wheels'' program that serves 130 seniors — but has a waiting list of 165 elderly residents needing daily nutriti …

PHOENIX — On Thursday in Toledo, Ohio, Ron Bunnell will have a kidney removed, and moments later it will be placed inside Angela Heckman, a woman he barely knows.

DeeAnn Groves knows how hard it is to care for a parent with Alzheimer's disease. She cared for her mother, who struggled with Alzheimer's, until she needed more supervision than Groves could give her.

A Jackson woman, living in a senior facility, says she was unknowingly signed up for an insurance plan by a salesman who promised it wouldn't affect her social security payments. But now she's lost hundreds of dollars and is no longer covered by Medicaid. Ninty six year old Ale …

An increasing number of baby boomers find themselves sharing their homes with elderly parents, adult children or young grandchildren.

In the wake of an alleged elderly scam, Greenville police are warning area residents not to give out their personal information to strangers.

At age 82, Margot Richard, whose health is declining and who has suffered a series of bone-breaking falls, now needs someone to look out for her. Instead, the elderly Adams County mother still spends her days looking after her autistic 40-year-old son, Paul.

When Bob Parrott heard the news about 5-year-old Kaylie Dickerson, he took it hard. "I didn't sleep much last night," Parrott said. Dickerson had autism. She wandered away from her home in Blaine Thursday afternoon. Two hours later, her body was found in a nearby pond.