What we're following

• •Medicare costs and plans shift ahead of open enrollment With enrollment season here, beneficiaries are warned to expect higher costs and plan changes, so reviewing coverage now could protect budgets. Read it
• •Nursing home report: better staffing, rising depression A national report shows encouraging staffing gains but a troubling rise in depressive symptoms, a reminder that care means more than numbers. Read it
• •Virginia study finds assisted living 'weak' and 'ill-prepared' State reviewers describe poor conditions in assisted living, raising concerns for families trusting these homes with aging loved ones. Read it
• •Fewer Medicare Advantage options, higher prices in one county Seniors in Monroe County are finding higher prices and fewer plan choices, showing how enrollment changes hit real communities. Read it
• •Half of nursing home residents have vision problems Nearly half of residents face visual impairment, with cataracts a leading and often preventable cause worth checking with a doctor. Read it