A surprising number of Americans admit to misleading their doctors to obtain antibiotics. About one-third of U.S. adults say they have exaggerated or misrepresented their symptoms to get a prescription, even when antibiotics may not be necessary. This behavior can have serious consequences. The unnecessary use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, allowing bacteria to develop the ability to survive medications designed to kill them. Over time, this makes common infections harder to treat and increases the risk of serious illness. Doctors need accurate information from patients to prescribe the right treatment and protect everyone's health.

How to Remember Names: 7 Tricks That Actually Stick

We’ve all been there: You meet someone, exchange pleasantries, and moments later realize you’ve forgotten their name. It happens to the best of us, and it can become more frustrating as we get older. But forgetting names isn’t necessarily a sign that your memory is failing. Often, we simply aren't paying enough attention when we first hear a name. The good news is that remembering names is a skill you can improve. Here are seven practical tricks that can help older adults sharpen their recall, avoid those awkward moments, and make a better impression.

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How Social Security Benefits Change From Age 62 to 90

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the most important financial decisions older Americans will make. Start collecting at 62, and you'll receive smaller monthly checks for the rest of your life. Wait until full retirement age—or even 70—and your monthly benefit can increase substantially. But what happens after you begin collecting? How do benefits, purchasing power, and your financial needs change as you move from your 60s into your 80s and beyond? Here's a look at how Social Security benefits change from age 62 to 90 and what retirees should understand along the way.

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We Asked 45 People Over 80 About the Secret to Happiness—

And They All Wished They’d Known This One Thing Earlier

What does it take to be happy in your 80s and beyond? Is it good health, financial security, family, friendships, or simply learning to appreciate the little things in life? We often spend our younger years chasing success, worrying about the future, and putting off the things that bring us joy. But perhaps those who have lived the longest have learned something the rest of us are still trying to figure out. We asked 45 people over 80 about the secret to happiness. Their answers revealed a common lesson—and something many wished they had understood much earlier in life.

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40 Useful Gifts for Seniors 

Who Already Have Everything

Shopping for someone who already has everything can be one of the toughest challenges, especially when that person is a senior who insists they don't need a thing. Another sweater, another coffee mug, or another knickknack may not be the answer. The best gifts are often the ones that make everyday life easier, more comfortable, enjoyable, or meaningful. Whether you're shopping for a parent, grandparent, friend, or older loved one, these 40 gift ideas offer something a little more useful and thoughtful than the usual holiday present.

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Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids: 

Why Doctors Urge Caution After 65

A good night's sleep can become harder to come by as we get older. For many adults over 65, reaching for an over-the-counter sleep aid may seem like an easy solution to restless nights. But doctors warn that some of these products can do more harm than good for older adults. Certain ingredients may increase the risk of falls, confusion, memory problems, and dangerous interactions with other medications. Before reaching for a bottle of sleep aids, seniors should understand the potential risks and why a safer approach to getting a good night's sleep may be worth considering.

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- An Unlucky Combination: 

Friday the 13th is considered unlucky in many Western cultures, but nobody knows exactly how the superstition began.

- Three Fridays in One Year: 

A calendar year can have as many as three Friday the 13ths.

- Fear Has a Name: 

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

- Ancient Associations: 

Some believe the superstition comes from the Last Supper, where Jesus and his 12 apostles made 13 people at the table, followed by his crucifixion on a Friday.

- A Big Economic Impact: 

Some people avoid traveling, shopping, getting married, or making major decisions on Friday the 13th, potentially costing businesses millions in lost activity.

*FUN FACT: Friday the 13th isn't unlucky everywhere. In Italy, Friday the 17th traditionally carries the bad-luck reputation!

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden (D-OR), along with 18 Democratic Senators, have a request for information (RFI) seeking input on making home care more affordable and accessible, improving nursing home care, and strengthening the long-term care workforce.

Individuals are also invited to share their experiences with health and long-term care with Senator Wyden using this form. Remember to bring your experiences, stories, and priorities into your comments.

Comments are due December 18 to   homecare@finance.senate.gov.

America’s long-term care system needs help. 

Europe can provide a model for how to improve it.

America’s long-term care system is facing serious challenges, from rising costs and staffing shortages to the growing number of older adults who need help with everyday activities. Families are often left struggling to find affordable, dependable care for loved ones, while seniors worry about maintaining their dignity and independence. But the United States doesn't have to start from scratch. Several European countries have developed different approaches to long-term care that emphasize affordability, home-based services, and support for family caregivers. Their experiences offer valuable lessons as America looks for ways to improve care for its rapidly aging population.

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What Type of Home Are You Looking For? 

It May Not Be What You Think!

When we think about finding a new home, we usually picture the kind of place we've always wanted: a comfortable house, a condo, or perhaps an apartment in a desirable neighborhood. But as we get older, our priorities can change. Convenience, affordability, accessibility, safety, and proximity to family may become more important than square footage or a beautiful view. For older adults considering a move, the ideal home may look very different from what they once imagined. It's worth taking a fresh look at what home really means—and what will make the next chapter of life more comfortable.

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Seniors Call on the Next Congress 

to Prioritize Social Security

Social Security is more than a monthly check for millions of older Americans. It is the financial foundation that helps pay for housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday necessities. Yet concerns about the program's long-term finances, rising living costs, and the adequacy of benefits continue to worry retirees and those approaching retirement. As a new Congress prepares to take office, seniors are making their voices heard and demanding that Social Security receive the attention it deserves. Their message is clear: protecting the benefits Americans have earned should be a priority, not another political talking point.

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Make a Chicken Soup

A member of my household was sick. Thinking this through, it dawned on me that countless times in my life I’ve been told that chicken soup is great for seasonal and flu-like infections. As much as I’ve cooked with chicken my entire life, I have never really made a genuine, no-compromise, hard-core, from scratch, old-fashioned chicken soup.

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The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was quite different from the traditional turkey-and-stuffing feast we enjoy today. The three-day celebration shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag likely featured venison, wild fowl (possibly duck or goose), fish, shellfish, corn, beans, squash, and nuts. Deer provided by the Wampanoag were an important part of the meal. There were no mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, or sweet potatoes as we know them today. Instead, the feast reflected the foods available in 17th-century New England.