Category: Safety

Falls in Older Adults

As I approach 70 years old, I find myself being more careful going down stairs and reaching out more often to catch my balance. Although I have not had a significant fall — unless I count when I’m mountain biking — I still worry about it like most older adults. More than 25% of adults aged 65 years or older fall each year, with one out of five falls resulting in a serious injury such as fractures of the hip, wrist, humerus, and pelvis, head and brain injury, chronic disabilities, and even death (36,000 in 2020). The risk increases with […]

Holiday Tips for Safe Travel and Mental Health

The holiday season in the United States and throughout the world has begun, and many people travel to visit family during these months — including some who may be traveling with a chronic illness, all of which have added complications due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We at NeedyMeds have some tips for healthy travel over the holidays along with suggestions for staying safe and mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Getting fully vaccinated and/or receiving boosters of available COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself from infection while traveling — especially if you are uninsured; COVID vaccines will […]

Health Benefits Through Worker Solidarity

Labor Day is a national holiday to recognize and honor the American labor movement and the contributions of organizers and laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. In 1954, over a third of American workers were unionized; by 1983, membership dropped to one in five. Today, only one out of every ten workers in the U.S. is a member of a labor union. Labor unions not only advocate for healthy and safe work environments; they raise wages, decrease inequality, and improve the lives and promote the health of workers, their families, the community, and public health.   […]

Be Safe and Healthy in the Summer Sun, Heat, and Crowds

Summer has arrived in the United States. Over the following months, it will be important to protect ourselves from the health risks posed by the sun and heat. Regardless of skin color, exposure to the sun carries many dangers to one’s skin — from wrinkles often associated with aging to freckles, sunburns, benign tumors, or cancerous skin lesions. Exposure to heat can also have many negative impacts on one’s health ranging from a rash, exhaustion, fainting, or even death. During the ongoing and evolving coronavirus pandemic, being in crowded areas — even outside — without appropriate protection measures can pose […]

Sexual Violence is a Public Health Crisis

CONTENT WARNING: This blog discusses rape and other forms of sexual violence.   Over recent years, the #MeToo movement has grown to bring sexual violence, abuse, and toxic behavior into awareness within American culture, but there is still much misinformation and stigma to combat to ensure the health and safety of everyone affected. Systems of protecting abusers and retaliating against survivors have been observed in many industries: film, music, game development, education, elite sports, and the military — only brought to light after years of harm done to countless people.   Sexual violence is the most under-reported crime with only 36% […]

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About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.