Aging in Place Planning: Groundbreaking Study- Take Charge of Your Cognitive Health with Simple Lifestyle Changes

As we age, the risk of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression threaten our independence, decision-making, and financial health. The consequences of these conditions threaten our families with burden, cost, and concern. These conditions change how we live, make decisions, and plan for the future. But here’s the good news: a groundbreaking new study from Mass General Brigham, widely covered by CNN, The New York Times, and Fox News, suggests that simple everyday steps can lower our risks.

By making small changes now, we can protect our brains, stay independent longer, and make life easier for ourselves and our loved ones. From the perspectives of estate planning, elder law, and aging in place planning, the findings offer critical insights into preventive health strategies that can enhance quality of life, reduce care giving burdens, and inform legal and financial preparations for aging. This article dives into what the study found, why it matters for planning your future, and how you can start today.

What the Study Says

The Mass General Brigham study, looked at tons of research to identify 17  modifiable risk factors shared by stroke, dementia, and late-life depression (LLD), things we can change to lower our chances of suffering from these conditions. These aren’t complicated medical fixes—they’re things like eating better, staying active, or even spending more time with friends. 

High blood pressure and kidney problems have the most profound impact, but staying active and keeping your brain engaged can make a significant difference in cutting your risk. The study found that improving just one of these areas—like going for regular walks—can help protect against all three conditions. They even created a tool called the Brain Care Score to help you track your progress. For example, boosting your score by 5 points could cut your risk by 27% over 13 years. That’s something to get excited about!

The reason that the study is groundbreaking is that these conditions, which contribute significantly to stroke, dementia and depression, share vascular and small vessel pathologies, making their overlapping risk factors critical. The 17 modifiable risk factors common to at least two of the three diseases are: blood pressure, kidney disease, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, alcohol use, diet, hearing loss, pain, physical activity, purpose in life, sleep, smoking, social engagement, stress, body mass index (BMI), leisure time cognitive activity, and depressive symptoms. Among these, high blood pressure (hypertension ≥ 140/90 mm Hg) and severe kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) had the greatest impact on disease incidence and burden, while physical activity and cognitive leisure activities were associated with the most significant risk reduction. The interconnected nature of these risk factors means that improving one—such as increasing physical activity—can positively impact others, like blood pressure, sleep, and social engagement.

Why This Matters for You and Your Family- Aging in Place, Estate Planning and Elderlaw Implications

As we get older, we want to stay in control of our lives—living in our own homes, making our own choices, and not leaning too heavily on our kids or loved ones. Stroke, dementia, and depression can make that harder, affecting everything from your health to your finances. This study gives us a roadmap to fight back, and it’s especially important if you’re thinking about aging in place, planning your estate, or  protecting your future.

Staying in Your Home (Aging in Place): Most of us want to stay in our own homes as we age,  surrounded by our friends, family, memories, and comfort. This study says you can make that more likely by moving your body, sleeping well, and managing stress. Here’s how to make your home work for you:

• Make It Health-Friendly: Add a place for stretching, a blood pressure cuff, or even smart lights to help you sleep better. These little changes support the habits the study recommends.  

• Fix Hearing Loss Early: Your home should not be a prison. Untreated hearing loss can make you feel isolated and raise your dementia risk. It makes you less likely to leave your home, and more likely to isolate. Get a check-up—it’s a small step with big payoffs.

• Get Family/Friends Involved: Ask your kids or grandkids to join you for walks or game nights. Invite friends over for a sports event or movie. It's fun, keeps you social, and lowers your risk of depression.  

• Use Tech: Set up reminders on your phone for meds or try a sleep-tracking or exercise app to stick with healthy habits.  Schedule Zoom or Facetime calls with families and friends to talk. Consider my article regarding the use of technology to reduce dementia risk and age in place.

Planning for Your Future (Estate Planning): Nobody wants to think about losing the ability to make decisions, but stroke or dementia can make that a reality. By taking steps like managing your blood pressure or quitting smoking, you can keep your mind sharp longer, which means you’re more likely to stay in charge of your money, your home, and your care. Here’s how you can plan smarter:

• Set Up a Routine Healthcare Plan: Work with a doctor, physicians assistant, personal trainer, deploy an online health app, and/or work with family and friends to improve your health, increase activity, and spend more active and engaging time with family and friends.  Design these around things you already enjoy or like.  Set goals, and work towards them to create a routine. 

• Advance Directives: Engage a lawyer to create a healthcare proxy and living will that says what you want if you become sick. Avoid simple minimalist forms, and actually state your intentions regarding long-term care (e.g., "if I need care I want it to be in my home," or "I do not want to burden my children financially, but hope they will provide time and support when needed").  Mention your current routines and plans (e.g., "monitor my blood pressure a few time a day," or "continue my selected supplements as they have demonstrated success" or I might qualify for Aid and Attendance because your father was a wartime vet, talk to the VA if I need help at home"). 

• Pick Someone You Trust: Choose a family member or friend to handle your finances and/or health decisions if you can’t. Make sure they know your goals, like staying healthy to avoid nursing homes and direct them to take advantage of your existing plan (e.g., if my Medicare benefit runs out, use my MA plan's "hospital at home" benefit, or pay for home care using my long-term insurance policy/short- term disability policy).   

• Deploy Trusts: Consider establishing trusts to fund healthcare needs, including home modifications or caregiver support, to facilitate aging in place, and/or to protect assets from long-term care spend down in the worst case.

• Save for Care: Set up a trust or savings to cover things like home modifications (think grab bars, ramps, a hospital bed at home, or a simple blood pressure monitor) so you can live independently longer.

• Financial and Insurance Planning: Consider aging in place planning when making other financial, insurance, or investment decisions. Consider, for example a Medicare Advantage Plan with home health care benefits, or a life insurance policy that is convertible to lifetime long-term care benefits.

Protecting Your Rights (Elder Law):  Elder law is fundamentally about making sure you’re taken care of as you age, whether that’s qualifying for Medicaid or finding community support. This study shows that simple changes—like joining a book club or getting your hearing checked—can keep you healthier, which means less stress on your wallet and your family. Here’s what you can do:  

• Stay Social: Loneliness can lead to depression, so find a local senior center or volunteer opportunity to stay connected. It’s good for your brain and your mood.  More, it protects your decision-making by providing interactions with people who know you and can alert you or your family if there are changes and/or help you if a predator or scammer attempts to take advantage of you.

• Plan for Medicaid: If you’re worried about long-term care costs, talk to an elder law attorney about protecting your savings while staying healthy to delay those costs.  

• Guardianship Protection: Implement a plan to protect you and your assets from guardianship.  Even a simple revocable trust can, in many states, be crafted to remove or frustrate guardianship control of the trust assets.

Easy Steps to Start Today

The study calls these 17 factors a “menu of options,” meaning you don’t have to do everything—just pick what works for you. Here are some ideas to get going: 

1. Check Your Blood Pressure: Get a home monitor and aim for under 120/80. Cut back on salty snacks, eat more fruits, and talk to your doctor if you think you need meds.  
2. Move More: Walk around the block, try chair exercises, or join a local tai chi class. It helps your heart, brain, and even your mood.  
3. Quit Smoking: If you smoke, call a quitline or ask your doctor for help. It’s one of the best things you can do for your brain.  
4. Stay Connected: Call a friend, join a hobby group, or volunteer. Feeling connected keeps depression at bay, and keeps you active.  
5. Challenge Your Brain: Do crosswords, read a new book, or learn a skill like painting or a new technology or device. It’s fun and keeps your mind sharp. 
6. Sleep and De-Stress: Try a bedtime routine or a quick meditation app to relax. Good sleep and less stress are brain boosters.

The Brain Care Score is a great way to see how you’re doing—just answer questions about your habits, and it’ll show you where to focus. The study says they’re working on more ways to use this tool, so keep an eye out!

How They Did the Study (And Why It’s Solid)

The researchers looked at 182 big studies from 2000 to 2023, narrowing it down to 59 that really dug into what causes these conditions. They focused on things you can actually change, like how much you exercise or how you manage stress, and figured out which ones matter most. They then employed a statistical analysis to compare how much each factor affects your risk, so you know where to put your energy.

This approach is strong because it pulls together lots of research, not just one small study. But it’s not perfect—they might’ve missed some things specific to depression, for example, and they can’t say for sure that changing these habits causes less disease (it’s more like a strong hint). Still, it’s a reliable guide for making smart choices.

What Else We Learned (And Why People Are Talking)

This study’s a big deal because it shows you don’t need a magic pill to protect your brain—just small, doable changes. People are excited about it—CNN called it a “hopeful message,” and experts say it’s empowering to know we can take control. It’s also a wake-up call: with dementia cases expected to skyrocket and strokes hitting even younger folks, starting now is key. Plus, things like finding purpose or staying social remind us that aging well isn’t just about your body—it’s about your heart and soul too.

One cool takeaway? The study’s Brain Care Score is like a personal coach for your brain. It’s already helping people, and researchers want to test it more to make it even better. For now, it’s a simple way to see what you’re doing right and where you can improve.

Wrapping It Up

Growing older doesn’t have to mean losing your independence or worrying your family. The Mass General Brigham study shows that by making small changes you can lower your chances of stroke, dementia, and depression. That means more years in your own home, more control over your future, and less stress for everyone. Whether you’re planning your estate, talking to a lawyer, or just want to age on your terms, these steps are a powerful way to take charge and implement a plan. So grab a friend, take a walk, and start building a healthier, happier future today.

Aging in Place: Multigenerational Living as a Strategy to Avoid Institutional Care and Support Family Caregiving

As the U.S. population ages, the desire to age in place—remaining in one’s home and community as one grows older—has become a priority for many older adults. According to a recent AARP survey, 77% of adults aged 50 and older want to stay in their homes for the long term, a trend unchanged for over a decade. However, rising healthcare costs, limited long-term care options, and the financial burden of institutional care (e.g., nursing homes costing over $100,000 annually) pose significant challenges.

A growing solution to these issues is multigenerational living, where families pool resources to care for aging loved ones at home. A recent article from National Mortgage Professional highlights this trend, noting that 17% of homebuyers in 2024 purchased multigenerational homes to reduce costs, care for aging parents, or accommodate adult children. This article explores how multigenerational living supports aging in place, aligns with elder law strategies to avoid institutional care spend-down, and strengthens family caregiving, with insights for Ohio residents.

Multigenerational Living: A Practical Solution for Aging in Place

The National Mortgage Professional article underscores a shift in homebuying trends, driven by economic and caregiving needs. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 36% of multigenerational buyers cited cost savings as their top reason, followed by caregiving for aging parents (25%) and supporting adult children (21%). Generation X buyers (36%) and Millennials (28%) are leading this trend, with some Gen Z buyers (44%) motivated by financial support. These homes often include features like mother-in-law suites or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), designed with grab bars, slip-resistant flooring, and zero-step entries to support seniors’ mobility needs.

Multigenerational living aligns with aging in place by allowing older adults to remain in a familiar environment while receiving care from family members. This setup contrasts with institutional care, which can deplete savings and disrupt emotional well-being. For example, the KFF Health News reports that 9 in 10 people find it “impossible or very difficult” to afford nursing home costs without Medicaid, and assisted living facilities average $54,000 annually. By sharing housing costs, families can redirect funds to home modifications (e.g., wider doorways, first-floor bedrooms) or in-home care services, enhancing safety and independence.

Elder Law Strategies: Avoiding Institutional Care Spend-Down

In elder law, a key goal is to avoid asset spend down, where seniors exhaust their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid, which covers long-term care but often requires institutional settings. Multigenerational living offers a financial and legal strategy to preserve assets while meeting care needs. By pooling resources, and aging in place, families can:

• Reduce Housing Costs: The Veterans United survey notes that multigenerational homes help families afford larger properties, lowering per-person expenses compared to separate households or senior living facilities.

• Delay or Avoid Medicaid Eligibility: Keeping seniors at home with family care reduces reliance on costly institutional care, preserving savings and assets for inheritance or other needs.

• Leverage Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS): Ohio’s Medicaid program offers HCBS waivers, such as the PASSPORT program, which funds in-home care services (e.g., personal care aides, meal delivery) for eligible seniors, supporting aging in place without institutionalization.

• Eliminate the Inherent risks of Institutional Care: Institutional care comes with some profound inherent risks, such as medical and non-medical mistakes, security risks, infection risks, and guardianship risks, most of which can be eliminated or reduced by aging in place (for a discussion regarding these risks, attend an Aging in Place Planning Workshop).

These strategies are not, however, without complications or risks.  Families should fully consider title, security, and ultimate disposition issues carefully before reflexively doing what comes naturally; how these issues are confronted and resolved have tax and legal implications for all concerned.  Effective elder law, financial and health care planning is critical to maximize these benefits. Families should:

• Consult an Elder Law Attorney: An attorney can structure assets (e.g., through trusts) to protect them from Medicaid spend-down while ensuring eligibility for HCBS.

• Consult a Financial Planner/Insurance Specialist: Effective financial  and insurance planning can help assure that you are maximizing your financial resources to age in place, and provide opportunities for alternative to institutional care or spend down at a time of need (e.g., long-term care insurance, short term disability insurance, home health care policies, or Advantage Plans with robust aging in place benefits such as "hospital at home").

• Draft Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives: These documents ensure fiduciaries can manage financial assets, and make health care decisions minimizing the risk of the legal system intruding into what otherwise a family might consider private decisions.

• Plan for Care Costs: The Center for American Progress notes that unpaid family caregiving, common in multigenerational homes, saves families from hiring professional caregivers, but supplemental HCBS can bridge gaps when needs escalate.

Family Caregiving: Benefits and Challenges in Multigenerational Homes

Family caregiving is the backbone of multigenerational living, with 63% of older adults receiving care from family, often in their 20s to 40s. The National Mortgage Professional article emphasizes caregiving as a key motivator for multigenerational buyers, particularly for aging parents. Benefits include:

• Emotional and Social Support: The Institute on Aging highlights that multigenerational homes reduce isolation, a major health risk for seniors, by fostering daily interactions and shared activities like cooking or storytelling.

• Cost-Effective Care: Family caregivers provide unpaid care, saving thousands compared to professional services. The AARP reports that 1 in 5 Americans is a family caregiver, with 40% caring for someone in their home.

• Flexible Care Arrangements: ADUs allow caregivers to monitor seniors closely while maintaining privacy, supporting both independence and safety.

• Preferred Treatment or Protection of Assets: One key Medicaid provision that highlights these benefits is the two-year live-in child caregiver exemption for home transfers, which allows certain family caregivers to receive the home of a Medicaid applicant without triggering penalties or asset recovery.

However, caregiving can strain families, especially women, who face a median wage loss of $24,500 over two years when providing intensive care. Challenges include:

• Emotional and Physical Toll: Caregiver.com notes that caregivers often experience fatigue, irritability, and lack of personal time, particularly in multigenerational households with multiple care recipients (e.g., grandparents and grandchildren).

• Role Negotiation: Families must define responsibilities, as some members may prefer hands-on care while others focus on chores or finances.

• Conflict Risks: Lifestyle differences (e.g., noise levels, guest policies) can spark disputes, requiring open communication.

To address these challenges, families can:

• Involve Capable Children and Grandchildren: Young family members can assist with light tasks (e.g., reading to grandparents), fostering bonds and easing caregiver burdens.

• Seek Respite Care: Ohio’s Area Agencies on Aging offer respite services, allowing caregivers temporary relief.

• Use Technology: Technology can provide surprising solutions and necessary relief for caregiving burdens when employed properly.  More, use of technology can actually support cognitive health, and slow cognitive decline.

Practical Tips for Families

Assess Home Suitability: Use the National Institute on Aging’s Home Safety Checklist to identify modifications (e.g., stair railings, better lighting) for aging in place (make only necessary modifications to avoid unnecessary expenditures depleting funds for what may be alternate future needs).

Discuss Expectations: Hold a family meeting to clarify caregiving roles, financial contributions, and lifestyle preferences.

Incorporate Technology: Use technology where appropriate, and protect its availability and access by completing a Digital Asset Inventory, ensuring fiduciaries can act swiftly as needs arise.

Explore Housing Options: Consider ADUs or multigenerational homes with accessible features, as 59% of caregivers in the AARP survey value such designs.

Seek Legal Guidance: An Ohio elder law attorney can tailor plans to leverage HCBS, protect assets, and age in place.

Conclusion

Multigenerational living is a powerful strategy for aging in place, offering financial savings, emotional support, and caregiving flexibility. By reducing reliance on institutional care, families can avoid spend-down and preserve assets, aligning with elder law goals. However, success requires planning. In Ohio, leveraging programs like PASSPORT makes sense. As the National Mortgage Professional article shows, multigenerational homes are more than a trend—they’re a meaningful solution for families navigating the challenges of aging.

For some insight into the laws, rules and regulations governing ADU's in Ohio, go here and here.

Law Day- Supreme Court of Ohio Honors Judicial Legacy with Melhorn Exhibit

The Melhorn exhibit, Preserving Ohio’s Judicial Legacy, honors Judge Calvin Pease’s courageous 1806 decision asserting judicial independence. Visit the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Law Library to explore this landmark moment in Ohio Law.

Court News of Ohio published the following: 

The Supreme Court of Ohio commemorates Law Day on May 1 with the unveiling of the Melhorn exhibit, “Preserving Ohio’s Judicial Legacy.” This presentation highlights a significant contribution to the state’s legal history with Frank Melhorn’s donation of the historic article, Important Law Intelligence, first published in the Scioto Gazette on December 25, 1806.

The article, attributed to Judge Calvin Pease, captures a pivotal moment in Ohio’s judicial history. Judge Pease, facing considerable political pressure and the threat of impeachment, rendered a groundbreaking decision ruling an act of the Ohio Legislature unconstitutional. This assertion of judicial independence marked the first recorded use of judicial review in the state and laid the foundation for the judiciary's role as a coequal branch of government. Often referred to as Ohio’s Marbury v. Madison, this early case exemplifies the enduring principles of justice and the rule of law in Ohio.

The Supreme Court recognizes Frank Melhorn for his efforts in preserving this historic document for the public’s viewing. Utilizing high-resolution scans provided by the American Antiquarian Society, Melhorn oversaw the creation of two replicas of the article,  now on display publicly, offering greater accessibility for those interested in Ohio's judicial history. Together, this donation honors Judge Pease’s courage while serving as a testament to Ohio’s commitment to preserving its legal heritage.

Law Day, a national observance held annually on May 1, celebrates the rule of law and its role in protecting freedoms and promoting justice. This year’s commemoration underscores the historical contributions of individuals like Judge Pease, whose legacy continues to inspire confidence in the judicial system.

The Supreme Court of Ohio invites the public to reflect on and celebrate these foundational moments of legal history. For more information on the exhibit, visit the Supreme Court’s Law Library.

Hearing Loss Linked to Nearly One-third of Dementia Cases in Older Adults- What it Means

A recent article, "Hearing loss linked to nearly one-third of dementia cases in older adults" from McKnights, references a study published on April 17, 2025, in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Let’s break down the study’s claims, assess its implications, and explore actionable steps for seniors and their families.

Analysis of the Study

The study, conducted on 2,946 older adults with a mean age of 75, found that nearly one-third (32%) of dementia cases at a "population level" could be attributed to hearing loss, as measured through audiometric testing. This figure is derived from the population attributable fraction (PAF), a statistical measure estimating the proportion of a disease (dementia, in this case) that might be prevented if a specific risk factor (hearing loss) were eliminated. 

Notably, the study found no significant association between self-reported hearing loss and dementia risk—only audiometrically confirmed hearing loss showed this link. The association was stronger in women, those over 75, and white individuals.

Does Hearing Loss "Cause" Dementia, or Contribute to Faster Onset?

The study does not claim that hearing loss directly causes dementia. Instead, it highlights a correlation, suggesting that hearing loss may contribute to dementia risk at a population level. The article and related sources  emphasize that if the relationship is causal, addressing hearing loss could potentially delay or prevent up to 32% of dementia cases. However, causality is not proven here. Several mechanisms are proposed to explain the link:

• Cognitive Load Hypothesis: Hearing loss forces the brain to expend more energy on processing sounds, leaving fewer resources for memory and cognitive functions, potentially accelerating cognitive decline.

• Social Isolation: Hearing loss can lead to social withdrawal, which is a known risk factor for dementia due to reduced cognitive stimulation.

• Brain Atrophy: Some research suggests hearing loss may cause faster brain shrinkage in areas related to memory and cognition.

The study’s language—“could be attributed to”—indicates an association, not causation. It aligns with prior research, such as the 2020 Lancet Commission on Dementia, which identified hearing loss as one of 12 modifiable risk factors, estimating it contributes to about 8% of global dementia cases.  Similarly, isolation has been associated with a 28% higher risk of developing dementia over nine years, regardless of race or ethnicity, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society This new study’s higher estimate (32%) reflects a focus on older adults with clinically significant hearing loss, but it doesn’t confirm that hearing loss directly triggers dementia. Instead, it suggests hearing loss might accelerate the onset or progression of dementia symptoms in those already at risk.

Limitations and Critical Examination

• Correlation vs. Causation: The study relies on observational data, which cannot establish causality. Other factors, like shared underlying causes (e.g., vascular issues affecting both hearing and cognition), might explain the link.

• Self-Reported vs. Audiometric Data: The lack of association with self-reported hearing loss raises questions. It could mean many older adults are unaware of their hearing loss, or that self-reports are unreliable, potentially skewing the perceived impact.

• Demographic Bias: The stronger link in women, white individuals, and those over 75 might reflect demographic differences in the study population rather than universal truths. For example, women tend to live longer, increasing their dementia risk overall.

• Interventional Evidence: While the study suggests treating hearing loss might delay dementia, it doesn’t provide direct evidence. Related research, like the 2023 ACHIEVE study, found that hearing aids slowed cognitive decline by 48% in high-risk older adults over three years, but this also isn’t definitive proof of dementia prevention.

• Meaning of "Population Level" Relationship: When a study finds a correlation "at a population level," it means the relationship between two variables (e.g., hearing loss and dementia) is observed across a large group of people, typically representing a broad population. This correlation reflects a general trend or pattern in the data when averaged over the entire group, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to every individual within that population. For example, a study might find that higher coffee consumption is correlated with increased anxiety at a population level, meaning this trend holds true when looking at the group as a whole.

• Meaning of "Individual Level" Relationship: The alternative is finding a correlation "at an individual level," where the relationship between variables is examined for specific individuals rather than the group. This approach looks at how changes in one variable correspond to changes in another for each person. For instance, a study might track an individual’s coffee intake and anxiety levels over time to see if they rise and fall together for that person.

Comparison:

• Population-level correlations are generally more reliable for understanding broad trends because they are based on larger sample sizes, which reduce the impact of outliers and individual variability. They’re useful for making generalizations about a group, but they can mask individual differences. For example, a population-level correlation might show that smoking increases lung cancer risk, but some individuals who smoke might never develop cancer due to other factors like genetics.
• Individual-level correlations can be less reliable for generalizing because they’re based on fewer data points (just one person or a small group) and are more susceptible to noise, such as random fluctuations in the data or unaccounted variables. However, they’re more precise for understanding a specific person’s experience, which can be critical in personalized medicine or tailored interventions.
• Merits of Both:  In short, population-level correlations are more reliable for broad insights but less precise for individuals, while individual-level correlations are more specific but less generalizable. The choice depends on the study’s goal—general trends versus personalized understanding.

What the Study Actually Tells Us

The study tells us that hearing loss, when confirmed through objective testing, is strongly associated with dementia risk in older adults, particularly those over 75. It estimates that addressing hearing loss could theoretically reduce population-level dementia risk by 32%, but this is a hypothetical projection, not a guaranteed outcome. The findings underscore hearing loss as a significant, modifiable risk factor, but they don’t confirm it as a direct cause of dementia. Instead, hearing loss likely interacts with other risk factors, potentially hastening the appearance of dementia symptoms in vulnerable individuals.  In making individual health decisions, it is just one of several variable that may factor in health care decisions.

Actionable Steps for Seniors

Based on the study’s findings, seniors can take proactive steps to potentially reduce their dementia risk:

• Get Regular Hearing Tests: Since the study found a link only with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss, seniors should prioritize objective hearing assessments, especially if they’re over 60, as one-third of this age group experiences hearing loss. Regular testing can catch issues early.

• Use Hearing Aids if Needed: If hearing loss is detected, using hearing aids may help. The ACHIEVE study suggests hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in high-risk individuals. Even if they don’t prevent dementia, they can improve quality of life by enhancing communication and reducing social isolation.

• Stay Socially Engaged: Hearing loss can lead to isolation, a known dementia risk factor. Seniors should maintain social connections, whether through community activities, day centers, or family interactions, to keep their brains active.

• Monitor Overall Health: Hearing loss is one of many modifiable risk factors for dementia. Seniors should also address other risks, like high cholesterol, physical inactivity, and depression, as outlined in the 2024 Lancet Commission Report, which identifies 14 such factors (action items for all 14 risk factors are outlined at the end of this article).

• Advocate for Accessibility: Hearing aids can be expensive, and access varies. Seniors should explore subsidies or programs that make hearing aids more affordable, as equitable access is crucial for widespread impact.

How Family Members Can Help

Family members can play a critical role in supporting seniors to act on this information:

• Encourage Hearing Tests: Family members can gently encourage seniors to get their hearing checked, especially if they notice signs like difficulty following conversations or frequent misunderstandings. Offering to accompany them to appointments can make the process less daunting.

• Support Hearing Aid Adoption: If hearing aids are recommended, families can help seniors adjust to them. This might involve researching affordable options, assisting with fittings, or providing emotional support, as some seniors may resist using hearing aids due to stigma or discomfort.

• Facilitate Social Interaction: Families can help combat isolation by organizing regular visits, outings, or activities that keep seniors engaged. For example, involving them in family events or community programs can provide cognitive stimulation.

• Monitor for Cognitive Changes: Since hearing loss may accelerate dementia symptoms, families should watch for early signs of cognitive decline, like memory lapses or difficulty with tasks. If noticed, they can encourage cognitive screening, as suggested by related research on falls and dementia risk.

• Advocate for Holistic Care: Families can ensure seniors see healthcare providers who take a comprehensive approach, addressing hearing loss alongside other dementia risk factors like diet, exercise, and mental health.

Conclusion

While the study highlights an important link, it’s worth questioning the narrative that hearing loss is a primary driver of dementia. The 32% PAF figure is striking, but it’s a population-level estimate, not a personal risk prediction. Other factors, like genetics or socioeconomic barriers to healthcare, might play larger roles for some individuals. Additionally, the focus on hearing loss shouldn’t overshadow other modifiable risks—like vision loss, isolation, or smoking—which also appear to contribute to dementia rates. Seniors and families should view hearing loss as one piece of a larger puzzle, addressing it within a broader strategy for brain health.

In summary, the study suggests hearing loss is a significant risk factor that may hasten dementia onset, but it doesn’t prove causation. Seniors should prioritize hearing tests and interventions like hearing aids, while families can support them through encouragement, social engagement, and advocacy for comprehensive care. This approach can potentially delay cognitive decline, though it’s not a guaranteed shield against dementia.

The 14 Risk Factors identified by Lancet

1. Ensure good quality education is available for all and encourage cognitively stimulating activities in midlife to protect cognition.
2. Make hearing aids accessible for people with hearing loss and decrease harmful noise exposure to reduce hearing loss.
3. Treat depression effectively.
4. Encourage use of helmets and head protection in contact sports and on bicycles.
5. Encourage exercise because people who participate in sport and exercise are less likely to develop dementia.
6. Reduce cigarette smoking through education, price control, and preventing smoking in public places and make smoking cessation advice accessible.
7. Prevent or reduce hypertension and maintain systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or less from age 40 years.
8. Detect and treat high LDL cholesterol from midlife.
9. Maintain a healthy weight and treat obesity as early as possible, which also helps to prevent diabetes.
10. Reduce high alcohol consumption through price control and increased awareness of levels and risks of overconsumption.
11. Prioritize age-friendly and supportive community environments and housing and reduce social isolation by facilitating participation in activities and living with others.
12. Make screening and treatment for vision loss accessible for all.
13. Reduce exposure to air pollution.
14. Considerations for People with  Dementia:

• Interventions after diagnosis help people to live well with dementia, including planning for the future. Multicomponent coping interventions for family carers and managing neuropsychiatric symptoms are important and should be person-centred.
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms should be treated, and clear evidence exists that care-coordinated multicomponent interventions are helpful. Activity interventions also reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms and are important to maintain enjoyment and purpose for people with dementia. There is no evidence for exercise as an intervention for neuropsychiatric symptoms.
• Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine should be provided for people with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. These drugs are cheap, with relatively few side-effects; attenuate cognitive deterioration to a modest extent, with good evidence of a long-term effect; and are available in most high-income countries, although less so in low-income and middle-income countries.
• There is progress in and hope for disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, with some trials of amyloid-β-targeting antibodies showing modest efficacy in reducing deterioration after 18 months of treatment. However, effects are small and drugs have been trialled in people with mild disease and people with few other illnesses. These treatments have been licensed in some countries but have notable side-effects, with few data about long-term effects. The expense of these treatments and the precautions that must be taken, which have resource implications for staff, scanning, and specialist blood testing, could limit their use and be challenging for health systems. We recommend that full information is shared broadly about the unknown long-term effects, the absence of data about the effects in people with multimorbidity, and the scale of efficacy and side-effects, particularly for APOE ε4 genotype carriers. We recommend that people on amyloid-β-targeting antibodies are carefully monitored.
• Cerebrospinal fluid or blood biomarkers should be used clinically only in people with dementia or cognitive impairment to help to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Biomarkers are only validated in largely White populations, limiting generalizability and raising health equity concerns.
• People with dementia who become acutely physically unwell and need to be admitted to hospital deteriorate faster cognitively than others with dementia. It is important to protect physical health and ensure that people have help if needed to ensure that they eat and drink enough and can take medication.
• COVID-19 exposed the vulnerability of people with dementia. We need to learn from this pandemic and also protect people with dementia as their lives and wellbeing, and that of their families, have been valued less than that of people without dementia.

Federal Judge Blocks Biden-Era Nursing Home Staffing Rule – Implications for Care Quality and Families

On April 8, 2025, a federal judge in Texas struck down a Biden administration rule aimed at establishing minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. This ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, has significant implications for the quality of care in nursing homes, the families who depend on these facilities, and the broader debate over healthcare regulations in the U.S. I'll explores the details of the rule, the lawsuit challenging it, the court’s rationale for blocking it, and the potential effects on nursing home residents and their families.

The Blocked Rule: Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes

The rule, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in April 2024, sought to address chronic staffing shortages in nursing homes by imposing the first-ever federal minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the regulation required nursing homes to:

• Employ a registered professional nurse (RN) 24 hours per day, seven days a week, a significant increase from the existing federal requirement of eight hours per day.

• Maintain total nurse staffing, including nurse aides, at a minimum of 3.5 hours per resident per day (HPRD), ensuring a baseline level of care for residents.

The Biden administration framed the rule as a critical step to improve care quality for the 1.2 million residents in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities, citing systemic issues exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as understaffing leading to neglect and poor health outcomes. CMS argued that higher staffing levels would enhance resident safety, reduce infections, and improve overall care, aligning with the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act’s (FNHRA) goal of protecting residents’ “health, safety, and dignity”.

The Lawsuit: Basis for Challenging the Rule

The lawsuit by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), a major nursing home industry group, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, among others, in May 2024 argued that the rule was unlawful on several grounds:

Exceeding Statutory Authority: The plaintiffs contended that HHS and CMS lacked the authority to impose such stringent staffing mandates. Federal law, specifically the Social Security Act, explicitly requires nursing homes to have an RN on-site for eight consecutive hours per day and to provide “sufficient” staff to meet residents’ nursing needs. The plaintiffs argued that the new rule’s 24/7 RN requirement and 3.5 HPRD standard went beyond what Congress had authorized, effectively rewriting the law.

Financial and Operational Burdens: The nursing home industry highlighted the practical challenges of compliance, citing workforce shortages and financial strain. The AHCA claimed that the mandate would force many facilities to close, displacing vulnerable seniors, as the industry already struggles to hire and retain staff amid a national shortage of healthcare workers. At least one operator, LaVie Care Centers, blamed the staffing rule for its bankruptcy filing.

Arbitrary and Capricious Rulemaking: The plaintiffs argued that CMS failed to adequately justify the rule’s immediate implementation and did not tailor the staffing requirements to the diverse needs of nursing home populations, as required by federal law. They claimed the 3.5 HPRD formula was a “one-size-fits-all” approach that ignored facility-specific factors.

The Court’s Ruling: Legal Basis for Blocking the Rule

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs on April 7, 2025, vacating key provisions of the CMS rule. His decision rested on the following legal bases:

Lack of Congressional Authority: Kacsmaryk ruled that HHS and CMS exceeded their statutory authority under the Social Security Act. He noted that Congress had explicitly set the RN staffing requirement at eight hours per day, and the 24/7 RN mandate went beyond this limit. Similarly, the 3.5 HPRD standard was deemed inconsistent with the law’s requirement for “sufficient” staffing tailored to residents’ needs, as it imposed a rigid national formula.

Failure to Tailor Requirements: The court found that CMS did not meet statutory requirements to customize staffing levels based on the specific needs of each facility’s resident population. Kacsmaryk criticized the 3.5 HPRD formula as an unlawful “one-size-fits-all” approach, arguing that it did not account for variations in resident acuity or facility resources.

Procedural Deficiencies: The judge held that CMS failed to adequately explain the need for immediate implementation of the rule, a requirement under the Administrative Procedure Act. This procedural lapse further supported the decision to block the mandate.

The ruling was celebrated by the AHCA and industry groups as a victory for nursing homes, with AHCA President Clif Porter stating that the “unrealistic staffing mandate threatened to close nursing homes and displace vulnerable seniors.” Critics, including elder abuse attorney Ed Dudensing, argued that the decision “undermines the very safeguards designed to protect our elders’ dignity and well-being.”

Impact on Quality of Care: RN Staffing and Health Outcomes

Vacating the staffing rule raises significant concerns about the quality of care in nursing homes, particularly given the establishment view of well-documented correlation between RN staffing levels and resident health outcomes.  In a later article I will address critically recent challenges to this establishment view.  Regardless,  studies have consistently shown that higher RN and LPN staffing is associated with generally better physical and psychological outcomes for residents, while understaffing contributes to neglect, infections, and increased mortality.

Physical Health Outcomes: 

• A 2021 study published in Health Affairs found that nursing homes with higher RN staffing levels (at least 0.75 hours per resident per day) had significantly lower rates of hospitalizations, pressure ulcers, and infections compared to facilities with lower RN staffing. The study estimated that increasing RN staffing to this level could prevent 136,000 hospitalizations annually.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2022 CMS report highlighted that nursing homes with RN staffing below 0.4 HPRD had a 30% higher mortality rate from the virus, as understaffed facilities struggled with infection control and timely care. See, CMS, “Nursing Home Staffing and COVID-19 Outcomes” (2022).

• The blocked rule’s requirement of 3.5 HPRD, including RN presence 24/7, aimed to address these issues by ensuring consistent oversight and care. Without this mandate, facilities may continue to operate with insufficient RN staffing, potentially leading to increased physical health risks for residents, such as falls, medication errors, and untreated infections.

Psychological Health Outcomes:

• A 2019 study in The Gerontologist found that higher RN staffing was associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety among nursing home residents. RNs, with their advanced training, are better equipped to recognize and address psychological distress, provide emotional support, and coordinate mental health interventions.

• Understaffed facilities often rely on chemical restraints (e.g., psychotropic medications) to manage resident behavior, a practice that led to litigation in the Talevski case, where the Supreme Court affirmed residents’ rights under the FNHRA to be free from unnecessary restraints. The blocked staffing rule could have reduced such practices by ensuring RNs were available to implement non-pharmacological interventions, improving residents’ psychological well-being.

Impact on Families of Nursing Home Residents

Families who depend on nursing homes to keep their loved ones safe and well face significant challenges as a result of this ruling. To family members, the decision removes a federal safeguard that could have ensured consistent care, leaving families with heightened uncertainty and potential risks:

Increased Risk of Neglect and Abuse: 

• Understaffing is a leading cause of neglect and abuse in nursing homes, as overworked staff may lack the time to provide adequate care. The NHRA requires personalized care plans and regular reviews, but without sufficient RNs, these plans may not be implemented effectively. Families may worry about their loved ones experiencing preventable issues like pressure ulcers, dehydration, or untreated infections due to inadequate staffing.

• For example, in the Talevski case, a family discovered that their father was chemically restrained with psychotropic medications due to understaffing at a county-owned facility, leading to his deterioration. Families will likely worry that such incidents may become more common without mandated staffing improvements.

Emotional and Financial Strain:

• Families often choose nursing homes expecting professional care that they cannot provide themselves, particularly for loved ones with complex needs like dementia. The ruling may force families to spend more time monitoring their loved ones’ care or hiring private caregivers to fill gaps, increasing emotional and financial burdens.

• If facilities close due to financial pressures, as the AHCA warned, families may face the trauma of relocating their loved ones, potentially to facilities farther away or with even lower staffing levels.

Aging in Place Planning

One positive effect of the court's decision, and the controversy surrounding it, is that more potential residents and families of potential residents will take seriously the need to age in place, and implement comprehensive aging in place planning. If you would like to know more, subscribe to this blog.  You will be receive periodic notifications of online aging in place planning workshops. If you can't or don't want to wait, there is a recorded, somewhat dated, workshop available here: https://bit.ly/Aging-in-Place-Workshop.  You can watch this presentation in the comfort of your home, and share it with your successor trustees and health care agents. 

Aging in Place Planning is a comprehensive estate, financial, and health care plan orienting your decision-making and resources to make aging in place more attainable, likely, and enforceable by your trusted advisors and fiduciaries, all to the goal of avoiding non-hospital institutional care entirely.  It incorporates reducing the risks of guardianship, and protecting assets from a court-appointed guardian.  

Aging in Place Planning can be incorporated into any existing estate plan.  It can be can be used in conjunction with irrevocable trust planning to shield assets from nursing home spend down, or as an alternative to such planning if it is deemed unnecessary or unacceptable.  

Advocacy Challenges

The NHRA provides for ombudsmen to investigate and address nursing home issues, but without federal staffing mandates, families may need to rely more heavily on these advocates to ensure care quality. Ombudsmen, too, are often overstretched, and their ability to enforce improvements may be compromised by increased demand resulting from the consequences of inadequate staffing.  Of course, like any funded resource, the ombudsmen program is limited without robust federal backing.

Broader Implications and Critical Analysis

The ruling reflects a broader tension between regulatory oversight and industry autonomy in healthcare. While the AHCA and nursing homes argue that the mandate was unworkable amid workforce shortages, critics assert that it was a necessary step to protect vulnerable residents. The decision also highlights the political divide on healthcare policy: Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration, including CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, have signaled opposition to the rule, while Democrats sought to preserve it.

The establishment narrative—both from CMS and the industry—has obvious gaps. CMS’s rule, while well-intentioned, did not adequately address the root causes of staffing shortages, such as low wages, poor working conditions, vaccine mandates, and a lack of training programs, which continue to drive nurses away from the industry. Mandatory staffing may, actually miss the point entirely, since it is the nature of the resident population that dictates needs; some populations require less from an RN, and more from either LPNs or aids. Finally, staffing is not likely a panacea for the inherent risks of institutional care, many of which lead to rehospitalizations, the real target of federal effort. 

On the other hand, the AHCA’s claim that the mandate would lead to widespread closures may be overstated, as some facilities might have adapted by leveraging technologies like telehealth, and future demand may slow as a result of greater reliance on hospital-at-home, the former as specifically suggested by Oz.

Regardless, from a resident and family perspective, the ruling is a setback. The public will likely perceive that without federal enforcement, care quality may remain inconsistent, particularly in underfunded facilities, leaving families to bear the burden of advocacy and oversight.

A focus on either providing more alternatives to institutional care or encouraging and financing aging in place where possible might provide greater and more satisfying solutions. Reconsideration and reorientation of long-term care in the U.S. is long overdue.

Conclusion

The federal judge’s decision to block the Biden-era nursing home staffing rule on April 7, 2025, removes a critical safeguard intended to improve care quality for nursing home residents. The rule aimed to address systemic understaffing by mandating 24/7 RN coverage and a minimum of 3.5 HPRD, but the court ruled that CMS exceeded its authority, citing inconsistencies with congressional legislation and procedural deficiencies. The ruling is likely to perpetuate understaffing, increasing risks of neglect, infections, and psychological distress for residents, as evidenced by studies showing the benefits of higher RN staffing.

For families, the decision heightens concerns about safety and well-being, potentially requiring greater involvement and resources to ensure adequate care. While the nursing home industry celebrates the ruling, the long-term impact on vulnerable residents underscores the need for alternative solutions, such as state-level mandates or incentives to address workforce shortages, to uphold the FNHRA’s promise of dignity and care for nursing home residents.