In Massachusetts, the legislative process moves in two-year cycles, requiring advocates to repeatedly resubmit bills and rally support amidst thousands of proposals. This cycle...

Just a decade ago, holistic medicine was still considered by many to be an outlier — a fringe interest reserved for yoga enthusiasts, herbalists, and alternative thinkers. But today, the tide has turned. Hospitals welcome Reiki practitioners into operating rooms, universities host “Food as Medicine” seminars, and patients are reclaiming their health by demanding care that addresses not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. The rise of holistic medicine is not a wellness trend or cultural rebellion — it’s a necessary course correction for a healthcare system overwhelmed by chronic disease, ballooning costs, and emotional burnout. From the Margins to the Medical Mainstream In 2022, nearly 37% of U.S. adults used some form of complementary...

By all accounts, Cindy Smith’s 92-year-old father was a man of humor and dignity. A World War II veteran and retired county planner, he had lost some of his eyesight and needed a walker, but his wit remained razor-sharp. So when an aide in his California assisted living home chirped, “Let me help you, sweetheart,” he quipped back with deadpan brilliance: “What, are we getting married?” The moment was funny — but revealing. It’s a striking example of a widespread communication habit that too often diminishes older adults: elderspeak. What Exactly Is Elderspeak? You may not know the term, but you’ve likely heard it — or even used it without realizing. Elderspeak is a pattern of speech used...

On Easter Monday, after delivering his final public address, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88—closing a significant chapter as leader of the Catholic Church. His death shortly after such an important holiday sparked reflection on a curious phenomenon: many people seem to “hold on” through important events or dates before passing. While it may appear as sheer willpower or miraculous timing, this process is often far more complex and communal. Behind these moments are often networks of caregivers, family members, and medical teams working in concert with patients, helping them reach milestones or spend precious time with loved ones. Understanding what truly matters to patients and their families is a vital part of...