Aviva Patz

New York

Senior Health Editor at U.S. News & World Report

Deputy Editor at https://t.co/2WDidIJ1i4, singer in NYC alt-rock band The Hey Honeys, mom to two wild gals, veggie lover, beauty junkie. Tweets are mine.

Articles

How to Create a Butterfly Garden That Pollinators Can't Resist

2 weeks ago | marthastewart.com | Aviva Patz

Photo: PhotoRx / GETTY IMAGES Butterfly gardens can bring so much life to your yard. Not only do they attract these delicate pollinators, but they also support local ecosystems, providing nectar and pollen-rich plants for bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife.
How to Create a Butterfly Garden to Attract Beautiful Pollinators

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Aviva Patz

Butterfly gardens can bring so much life to your yard. Not only do they attract these delicate pollinators, but they also support local ecosystems, providing nectar and pollen-rich plants for bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife.
What to Do During a Mental Health Crisis

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine K. Howley |Aviva Patz

It can happen to anyone at any time: A triggering event, such as the loss of a loved one, work or school stress, financial problems, an illness, substance use or another factor, leads to a mental health crisis.
How to Support Someone With an Eating Disorder

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesFood, nutrition, health and wellness are all bound up together inextricably. But for people who have eating disorders, the simple act of eating a healthy, satisfying meal can become an overwhelmingly distressing affair. There are several types of eating disorders, and across the board, these diseases are difficult to recover from. Especially anorexia nervosa, which has the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric disorders.
How to Talk to Your Parents’ Doctors: Tips for Successful Communication

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine K. Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesIt can be difficult to accept, but the people who took care of you when you were young may need your help as they age – and it's a good idea to plan ahead for this time. “Finding the right moment might not be easy, but waiting too long or until something frightening happens puts your parent’s health at risk,” says Dr. Zachary Bittinger, a clinical assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: The Key Differences

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine K. Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesAge brings many challenges, among them a loss of independence that means some seniors will need help taking care of themselves. There are many senior living options available for folks who need hands-on support, and two common ones can provide big benefits for residents: assisted living and memory care. While these two options are similar in many ways, they have some important differences.
What Is Life Like in an Independent Living Community?

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine K. Howley |Aviva Patz

For many older adults, there comes a time when selling the family home and downsizing becomes attractive. And for many, that means moving to an independent living community. Getty ImagesSuch was the case for Cathie Ghorbani's 82-year-old mother, Louise, who moved into Southminster, a senior living community in Charlotte, North Carolina, last September. Ghorbani says the family chose that location because it was familiar – Cathie's grandmother had moved there when it first opened.
Does Medicare Cover Dementia Care?

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesFor many seniors – including the more than 66 million Americans who are beneficiaries of Medicare, the federal health insurance program primarily for older adults – age-related cognitive decline is a common problem. A 2024 study in JAMA Network Open found that more than 10% of Medicare beneficiaries had diagnoses that suggested they had or were likely to have some form of dementia.
Resources for Caregivers of Military Veterans

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine K. Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesFor a growing number of family members and friends acting as caregivers for military veterans, the burden of war lasts long after a loved one returns home. According to 2023 data from RAND, a nonprofit research and analysis organization, there are 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers, or about 5.5% of the adult population, in the United States. The costs of this caregiving can really add up.
What Are Cataracts? Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

1 month ago | health.usnews.com | Elaine Howley |Aviva Patz

Getty ImagesYour eyes, like every other part of your body, are unfortunately subject to the ravages of time. As we age, vision and eye health often decline. One of the most common changes that occurs with age is the development of cataracts. According to data from the National Eye Institute, about 68% of Americans aged 80 and older have cataracts, and rates are increasing every year. Read on to learn what cataracts are, the causes and symptoms of cataracts and what to expect from cataract surgery.