Bridging the gap between young and old

In this youth-obsessed culture, it’s not too surprising that some young people view older people with disdain. The problem, some researchers say, is when that “ageism” results in negative discrimination, or if younger people develop an unhealthy fear of getting older themselves. Or worse, when older people are exposed to negative stereotypes about aging — and even come to accept them as true — their health and memory can worsen. Some studies have found it can even shorten their life expectancy. A newly published study by researchers across the country, including one with the Health Collaborative in San Antonio, examined ...Read More >

Marking the end of treatment in a big way

Chemotherapy is an ordeal for anyone — especially a kid. Damon Billeck knows that for a fact. The 12-year-old developed a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer about a year ago that eventually cost him his arm. But Damon was determined not just to live life as a normal kid, but to be an advocate for all kids going through the same ordeal. Knowing that the end of a long course of treatment is a moment worth celebrating, Damon wanted to make it a real celebration for kids at University Hospital. He approached the San Antonio Fire Department and ...Read More >

Keeping kids safe from medication poisoning

Checked your medicine cabinet lately? There’s a good chance it’s stuffed with medicines. In fact, there are more medicines in homes across America than ever before — raising the risk that some of it might fall into the hands of children. More than 59,000 kids across the country were treated in emergency rooms in 2013 — many of them because they got their hands on medicines while parents or other caregivers weren’t watching, especially among kids age 5 and younger. The problem is compounded by the fact that more children are living or spending time with grandparents — who tend ...Read More >