How to find the right post-hospital care

For patients and their families, a hospital stay can be a confusing and stressful time. But for hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries who are very sick or have complex needs, the question of where to go after the hospital may be even more difficult. Patients who need continued care after a hospital stay are destined for “post-acute care” — skilled nursing or therapy services that may ... READ MORE

Beacon celebrates 20th year of 50+Expos

For the past 20 years, the Beacon newspaper has been providing free community education events every fall for readers and their families. Known as the 50+Expos, they are held in both suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia for the convenience of residents throughout the metro area. Between the two events, more than 100 informative exhibitors will provide giveaways and helpful... READ MORE

A guide to grains for eating healthily

Our quick guide to grains

Amaranth: Technically a seed, amaranth is high in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Barley: Try traditional pearl barley in soups or as a base for a stir-fry. Brown rice: Always a better choice over white rice due to its fiber content, brown rice also contains magnesium and selenium. Buckwheat: Despite its name, this seed is gluten-free. Try it in... READ MORE

When your sense of smell lets you down

We spend our days interacting with the world around us through our senses of sight, sound and touch. But anyone who has developed complete nasal obstruction from an infection or severe allergies has experienced what it’s like to be without one of our most basic senses: our sense of smell. In other animals, the sense of smell is crucial for survival, reproduction and rearing of... READ MORE

Hope for nipping Alzheimer’s in the bud

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to nip Alzheimer’s disease in the bud before it got started — or at least nab it in its early stages? This has, of course, been the dream of researchers and medical professionals for several decades. Now it appears the dream might soon become a reality. Last month, an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences... READ MORE

Gut feelings: How food affects our mood

The human microbiome, or gut environment, is a community of different bacteria that has co-evolved with humans to be beneficial to both humans and the bacteria. Researchers agree that an individual’s unique microbiome is created within the first 1,000 days of life, but there are things you can do to alter your gut environment throughout life. In the relatively new field of... READ MORE

Coming around to cannabis

Dr. Matthew Mintz wasn’t an early proponent of medical uses for cannabis (the scientific name for the plant more commonly known as marijuana). In fact, he said, “I was a little skeptical.” Mintz, a board-certified internist and Washingtonian “Top Doctor,” attended George Washington University medical school and then practiced medicine while serving on GW’s faculty for the... READ MORE

Volunteer for studies of lung health, COPD

Short of breath? Nagging cough? If you’re a former smoker or are suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or another lung illness, Johns Hopkins’ Breathe Center may be able to help. At the same time, you can help others if you enroll in one of the center’s many studies on lung health. The Baltimore Breathe Center, originally known as the Johns Hopkins Center for... READ MORE

Box, dance, sing and repeat

Like many of today’s retirees, Marty Lefstein, a former computer programmer who lives in Parkville with his wife, Gita, leads a busy life. He practices yoga, takes dance and boxing classes, and belongs to a singing group. What’s surprising to many is that Lefstein, 67, has had Parkinson’s disease for the past 24 years. But far from slowing him down, that fact encourages the... READ MORE