skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Often Hidden, Research Casts Light on Kinless Adults with Dementia

play audio
Play

Thursday, August 31, 2023   

Washington state researchers are spotlighting an often overlooked population: kinless adults with dementia.

The population is often difficult to study for a variety of reasons. Marlaine Figueroa-Gray is a medical anthropologist with Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute who has been involved in this research.

She said when people with dementia don't have a spouse or children, there often isn't someone who acts as a point of contact for studies. Figueroa-Gray noted that there other consequences, too.

"When people also end up living as a kinless person with dementia," said Figueroa-Gray, "they don't have that family support to bring them even in to get their medical care."

Figueroa-Gray said researchers wanted to figure out what happens to these folks when they don't have caregiver support. So they took a unique approach, and looked through administrative records to find kinless adults with dementia.

In another study, Figueroa-Gray said researchers found this population struggling with daily activities - and needing assistance bathing, dressing and managing medication.

"They had challenges driving, and they experienced changes to affordability of daily life - often being unable to keep up with rising rents in their neighborhood," said Figueroa-Gray. "And all of these needs are obviously more challenging to manage without close support."

Figueroa-Gray noted that a network of neighbors can sometimes provide care for dementia patients, but these relationships can be fragile.

She said many people can find themselves in this situation, so it's important for everyone to understand it.

"Really thinking about the system and policy level," said Figueroa-Gray, "what can we do to support people as they age and might, kind of, age out of their family relationships by just surviving other deaths that happen?"



Disclosure: Kaiser Health Plan of Washington Project contributes to our fund for reporting on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Health Issues, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …


Florida immigrant advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to help undocumented individuals navigate encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. (David Peinado/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …

Social Issues

play sound

The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Social Issues

play sound

Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021