Senior & Home Care

NEW YORK – November 06, 2026 -- Families caring for a child with complex medical needs or an aging parent now have a new set of stories, expert insights and educational resources: Future of Personal Health has launched its Supporting Our Caregivers campaign in USA TODAY and on its digital content hub.

Denise Richards shares her experience as a parent-caregiver

Actress and advocate Denise Richards appears on the cover. She is the mother of a daughter with a rare chromosomal disorder, and she talks about what it takes to advocate for a child with complex medical needs. Her story centers on family advocacy, compassionate care and access to resources for parents working through complicated healthcare journeys.

Five topics cover the caregiving journey

The campaign addresses these areas:

Hamm – November 05, 2026 -- Families arranging live-in care for a relative in Germany often face private costs of 3,500 to 5,000 euros a month, depending on care level and individual needs, according to care provider SILESIA Pflege- und Betreuungsdienste GmbH. Founder and managing director Sarah Lange-Pasternak argues that the employment model behind a caregiver matters as much as the person herself.

A fall, a hospital stay or advancing dementia can quickly leave a relative needing many hours of daily support, more than visits from an outpatient nursing service can cover. Many families look for care at home, but run into models where caregivers are placed by foreign agencies or posted to Germany. Reports of problematic working conditions and unclear responsibilities add to the uncertainty.

WASHINGTON – November 04, 2026 -- Seven in 10 families (70%) now use AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude when searching for a senior living community, yet 75% say they would not make a final decision without independent validation, according to new U.S. News & World Report research.

The online survey, fielded by an independent third-party platform, reached more than 500 U.S. adults who were actively researching or had recently moved into senior living communities.

Younger relatives drive AI use in the search

Adults ages 18 to 44 adopt AI at the highest rates, and grandchildren are a key force. They use it to research care options, draft inquiries and vet safety records for grandparents. Within this age group, 53% use AI for discovery and side-by-side facility comparisons, 33% use it to draft outreach emails and 32% use it to investigate safety records and complaints.

Pasadena – November 03, 2026 -- California Medicare beneficiaries comparing plans before Open Enrollment closes on December 7 have a new data point: Forbes Advisor named Imperial Health Plan of California one of the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in California 2027, and its Imperial Dynamic Plan (HMO) caps out-of-pocket costs at $295.

Imperial scores 4.8 out of 5 in Forbes Advisor's review

Forbes Advisor's research team gave Imperial a 4.8 out of 5 rating. That is the second-highest score among the five companies it recognized. The Imperial Dynamic Plan (HMO) is the company's top-rated plan.

The ranking draws on Forbes Advisor's own evaluation of 290 Medicare Advantage plans in California. It weighed plan-level quality and cost, CMS star ratings, enrollment share, and county coverage.

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio – November 03, 2026 -- Long-time homeowners and seniors weighing a move can start by treating downsizing as "rightsizing," according to a HelloNation guide featuring Ohio real estate agents Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm of REMAX Crossroads.

Daily strain and unused rooms point to the right time

The Grimms say the signs build over time: unused rooms, maintenance issues, or daily tasks that become more tiring. Spotting them early can prompt useful family conversations and reduce the chance of rushed decisions later.

Small steps make a family home easier to leave

Memories and family history tied to a house can make moving overwhelming. The guide recommends breaking the process into small steps, starting with organizing storage areas and sorting personal items in manageable sessions.

Traverse City – October 30, 2026 -- Families touring senior living communities may want to ask how dining, activity spaces, outdoor areas and wellness programs work day to day, not just how they look, according to a new HelloNation article.

The piece draws on insights from Rusty and Kelly Ackerman of French Manor Assisted Living in Traverse City, Michigan. It argues that families often focus on apartments and care services, while amenities are closely tied to how residents actually spend their time.

Flexible dining gives residents control over their day

Meals are a daily experience that shapes routine, health and social connection, the article notes. It advises families to ask about variety and flexibility. When residents can choose when and what they eat, it supports independence and a sense of control, which matters during the move into a new living environment.

San Francisco – October 30, 2026 -- If a holiday visit is your first full day in months with an aging parent, a memory care director says what you notice is worth writing down and bringing to a doctor.

Gloria Vo, executive director of Frank Residences, an assisted living and memory care community at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, says families often call after the holidays. Vo is trained in dementia support through the Crisis Prevention Institute. Her advice: nobody needs to diagnose a parent at the dinner table, but paying attention is not overreacting.

November is Alzheimer's awareness month, with 7.4 million Americans affected

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's.

Sherwood – October 30, 2026 -- For seniors weighing a walk-in shower against a tub, a HelloNation article says zero-threshold walk-in showers are often the safer and easier choice, especially for people who use walkers or chairs.

Bathrooms come first because wet surfaces and tight space raise the risk

The article, featuring Troy and Molly Mueller, remodeling experts in Sherwood, Wisconsin, says the most effective aging-in-place changes start with safety. Bathrooms are usually the first area addressed.

Tubs can still work, but they typically need extra safety measures such as grab bars or step-through inserts. The article says the right choice depends on each household's needs.

Slip-resistant flooring and grab bars in key spots add stability without changing the look of the room. Handheld showerheads and built-in seating add comfort and ease of use.

Los Angeles – October 30, 2026 -- Eligible Astiva Health members in Southern California can now get covered medical supplies delivered through Shield HealthCare, which is fully contracted with the health plan.

Coverage depends on each member's plan

Members whose plans include covered supplies can order through Shield HealthCare. Coverage varies by member and plan, and every order must meet the applicable benefit, eligibility and coverage requirements.

Shield HealthCare supplies patients at home and handles insurance billing

The company provides medical supplies to patients at home. It also offers billing support to help customers work through insurance requirements and access eligible products.

Speyer – October 27, 2026 -- Comparing moving quotes by price alone can hide how a company will actually treat your furniture, say the founders of Speyer-based John & Martin Umzüge. Leon Martin and Daniel John point to several things customers can check before they book, and to a care-insurance grant of up to €4,180 for eligible movers.

A site visit of 30 to 40 minutes comes before the quote

According to the company, an in-person inspection takes place in 95 percent of cases. A moving adviser, or one of the two founders, goes through the household goods with the customer and clarifies which furniture is going and which extras are needed, such as furniture assembly or packing. The company usually sends an individual quote within 24 hours.