Latest news with #elderly
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Three dead after fire in elderly ward at Hamburg hospital
Three people have died after a fire broke out overnight at a hospital ward caring for elderly people in Hamburg. The north German city's fire brigade said they were unable to reach the three victims during the rescue effort. They died at the scene. The fire at the Marienkrankenhaus was reported shortly after midnight. Around 220 emergency workers were dispatched to tackle the blaze and treat patients. More than 35 people were injured. Two people were taken to another hospital in the city for treatment. One person has life-threatening injuries, said the fire brigade. They added 18 others had suffered serious injuries and another 15 people had minor wounds. Some of the injured were treated in the Marienkrankenhaus's emergency room by hospital staff. When the first firefighters arrived, a ground floor room at the hospital was already ablaze and the fire was threatening to spread to the room above. Patients in other rooms came to their windows to tell firefighters they were unable to leave due to the smoke. The building has four floors. The fire brigade said they used turntable and portable ladders to rescue patients, several of whom were elderly and had mobility issues. Other patients were helped out through corridors with the aid of fire escape hoods, a breathing apparatus used by fire brigades in smoke-filled environments. Firefighters were able to stop the flames spreading to other rooms in the hospital. The cause of the fire is not yet known. At least seven dead after two Russian bridges collapse Two dead and hundreds arrested in France after PSG Champions League win Silent acts of resistance and fear under Russian occupation in Ukraine
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Nothing Beautiful About 21% Cuts To Social Security
the real risk is doing nothing is not only an inspirational reminder to not procrastinate it is a ... More political strategy for those who want to cut Social Security. In first 200 days into President Trump's second administration, Social Security is under both overt and covert attack. Though there are no dramatic cuts to Social Security being proposed, don't be fooled – doing nothing is doing something bad. Here's what people are asking, and what they need to know. Social Security is the foundation of retirement income for a majority of older Americans. Nearly 90% of people over 65 receive benefits, and for 40% of them, it accounts for more than half of their income. For about 1 in 7, it provides over 90% of what they live on. Social Security has never missed a payment in its 90-year history. Yet many retirees today are living on the edge. The median benefit—about $1,976 per month—is simply not enough to cover basic expenses in many parts of the country. Older women are especially vulnerable. Because they tend to earn less, live longer, and have fewer retirement savings, Social Security is often their only source of income. Without it, elder poverty in the United States—already the highest among G7 countries—would be much worse. The primary challenge is not demographic. Yes, more people are retiring than ever before—over 60 million Americans now receive Social Security retirement benefits, up from about 32 million in 1983—but we knew this would happen. Back in 1983, Congress believed it had adequately funded the program to prepare for the aging Baby Boomer population. What lawmakers did not anticipate was that wage growth would be concentrated at the top, above the Social Security payroll tax cap. As a result, most earnings growth escaped Social Security taxation. Meanwhile, more wages stagnated and a growing share went to cover health insurance—income that is also exempt from Social Security taxes. Wage stagnation, periods of unemployment, and the rise of under-the-table and gig work, where neither employers nor workers contribute to Social Security, have all reduced revenue flowing into the system. That's why the program is now paying out more than it collects. Since 2010, annual costs have exceeded tax income. The system has survived by drawing down the Trust Fund—but that fund is running out. By 2033, unless Congress acts, Social Security will only be able to pay 79% of promised benefits. This isn't a forecast anymore—it's a countdown. A 21% across-the-board cut would hit everyone – about $16,500 cut in annual benefits for a typical dual-income couple – regardless of income. Future retirees—especially Gen X and Millennials—face a far more precarious future because they have fewer defined benefit pensions, and are more likely to rely on volatile market-based savings like 401(k)s. But a 401(k) is better than nothing and 50% of U.S. workers at any one point in time have nothing – their employers don't have retirement plans. And while stocks and housing markets have grown, these gains have primarily benefited the wealthy. The median retirement savings for the bottom 50% of Americans is zero. Meanwhile out-of-pocket healthcare and long-term care costs are projected to exceed $120,000 for the average person turning 65 today. Most retirees are not prepared to bear that burden, especially with eroding Social Security benefits and Medicaid cuts. Older people need Medicaid and so do their family members – who would have paid if it weren't for Medicaid. Surprisingly, middle and upper income people will rely on Medicaid more and more for long-term care. Now, over 30% of 70-year-old singles in the bottom third of the income distribution receive Medicaid as does over 10% of singles in the top third if they survive into their 90s. And, middle - income folks who spend at least two years in a nursing home are nine times more likely to be on Medicaid than those who are not. According to PolicyLink and the Urban Institute, the median present value of lifetime Social Security benefits for Gen Z is $410,000 ($439,900 for white non-Hispanic, $359,800 for Hispanic, and $332,700 for Blacks). Research from The New School shows that among near-retirees, Social Security wealth is $188,300 for the bottom 50%, (vital because they have no retirement savings or home equity. For the middle 40%, Social Security wealth is $300,500, worth more than the $200,000 in their retirement accounts and $128,000 in home equity. There's no mystery here. The solution is revenue. One of the most effective and popular reforms would be to lift or eliminate the cap on earnings subject to the payroll tax. Right now, people stop paying into Social Security once they earn above $168,600. In effect, a millionaire pays a smaller share of their income into Social Security than a middle-class teacher or nurse. Raising revenue solutions are included in the proposed Social Security 2100 Act including: To help people save for retirement we need to creating an automatic, public supplemental retirement account to ease pressure on families hoping to live on Social Security alone. The Retirement Savings for Americans Act debated by Congress now would do that. Because inaction is the strategy. The current administration and its allies in Congress are choosing to 'do nothing'—a deeply political choice that ensures Social Security will hit the wall by 2033. That is not passive. That is deliberate negligence. A benefit cut of 21% isn't hypothetical—it's already written into law if Congress fails to act. Moreover, Trump's 'no tax on tips' proposal in the"One Big Beautiful Bill" sounds generous to workers but it would significantly reduce Social Security's revenue by about $30 billion and accelerate its insolvency to as soon as 2032, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. And there's more: 1) layoffs of 7,000 SSA workers, closure of offices, 'fraud crackdowns' that deny people access to benefits, and 2) the elimination of evaluation and independent research – on Feb. 21, 2025 D.O.G.E cut the Research and Disability Research Centers at 6 Universities – on Social Security could lead to self-dealing, politicization and inefficiency. These efforts erode the public's trust and the agency's ability to serve its mission. A letter requesting RDRCs to be reinstated from respected academics and groups advocating for the aged was sent to Republican and Democratic lawmakers – Susan Collins, Patty Murray, Tom Cole and Rose DeLauro in March. If nothing changes, benefits will be cut by 21% in less than a decade. For a median retiree, that's a loss of about $414 a month. That's not just a policy failure. It's a betrayal of a promise. Americans paid into Social Security with every paycheck they earned. To renege now is not fiscal prudence—it's political cowardice. As I've said before: enemies of Social Security don't need to pass a bill to kill it. They just need to run out the clock. Every day of inaction is an act of aggression against the system that protects our elders from poverty and indignity. It's time to stop pretending that nothing is happening to Social Security. Social Security card sinking underwater in stormy seas as concept for issues around funding of USA ... More pensions to seniors
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Death of Hajj-bound pilgrims raises questions about compliance in home countries
The death of a number of pilgrims on flights heading to Saudi Arabia where they were set to perform Hajj has raised questions about measures taken at their home countries to ensure that pilgrims are physically capable of performing the ritual. According to Indonesian media outlets, an Indonesian pilgrim died during flights to Medina. The woman in her sixties who suddenly collapsed on board. A video showed her body lying and covered aboard as passengers were trying to comfort a man, who appeared to be a relative of the woman who died on the flight. وفاة حاجة إندونيسية على متن طائرة متجهة إلى المدينة المنورة لأداء #الحج — فيديوهات ترند (@Trend_vide0s) May 10, 2025 Indonesian media reports said that the woman was later buried in Medina, home to Islam's second holiest mosque. While the initial medical report stated that the cause of death was dehydration, the mission suggested that a heart attack was the primary cause. In Malaysia, authorities confirmed the deaths of five pilgrims due to heart attacks. In Pakistan, five deaths have been recorded since the start of the Hajj pilgrimage, most of whom died from health complications just after their arrival to Saudi Arabia. While Indonesia and Malaysia previously accounted for the majority of early Hajj deaths, the list has recently expanded to include other countries such as Libya and Bangladesh. Most of these deaths are elderly people suffering from chronic illnesses. While all deaths reported up to the end of May were not linked to mass accidents or epidemics, some occurred before, during or just after their flights. The Saudi Ministry of Health had emphasized in its guidelines to foreign missions the need to ensure pilgrims' physical fitness and undergo medical examinations to prove their ability to endure the rigors of Hajj. Indonesian pilgrims benefit from a Saudi scheme offering Hajj-linked facilities, within an initiative known as the 'Mecca Route.' In addition to Indonesia, pilgrims from Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey and Cote d'Ivoire benefit from the 'Mecca Route' initiative. The initiative aims at providing fast-track services to pilgrims from these countries by smoothly finalizing their procedures in the homeland, tagging and sorting out luggage at the departure airports and eventually delivering their luggage right to their residences inside Saudi Arabia. They head directly to their residences in Mecca and Medina on designated smooth routes. These steps are implemented after verifying all health requirements are met. However, these recent deaths, which have affected various nationalities through different travel methods, have raised questions about the fitness of some pilgrims to perform the physically demanding Hajj under harsh climatic conditions. It also raised concerns about the extent to which some countries adhere to the health requirements set by Saudi Arabia and that aim at ensuring the safety of pilgrims, according to observers who spoke to Saudi media outlets. Saudi physician Ahmed Al-Omari addressed the issue in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat saying that 'if some pilgrims collapse during the flight or upon arrival, how will they fare in the extreme crowding and temperatures that can reach 45 degrees Celsius in Arafat and Mina?' Last year, hundreds of people died while performing Hajj amid soaring temperatures. The total death toll during last year's pilgrimage reached 1,301, according to Saudi health ministry. 83 percent of the deceased were pilgrims who had undertaken the journey without the necessary permits, according to the ministry. It said that the Kingdom provided approximately 1.3 million preventive services to pilgrims, adding that authorities also delivered over 465,000 treatment services, including 141,000 for those without Hajj authorization. The Kingdom has been keen on ensuring that the pilgrims' needs are met, however, pilgrims without Hajj authorization from the authorities organizing the process often find themselves either without guidance or far from several places offering assistance. Facilities, including buses, are pre-arranged and conveniently accommodate regular pilgrims who have registered in advance. Some governments have acknowledged the existence of fraud by some travel companies to transport pilgrims illegally due to the great pressure on visas and costs. To tackle this, the Kingdom has issued an extensive awareness campaign ahead of this year's Hajj season, warning against fraud Hajj announcements and warning pilgrims from embarking on the journey without authorization. The Kingdom has also warned facilitators of violators from breaking the law under the threat of being held accountable legally. Climate change an important factor Climate studies have raised the alarm about further increases in temperatures in the coming years. The scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters previously noted this in a 2019 study, stating that climate change will raise heat stress for pilgrims to levels exceeding the threshold for severe danger in the coming years. A study from King Faisal Specialist Hospital found that temperatures in Mecca are rising at a rate of 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade, but heatstroke cases have dropped by 74.6 percent, resulting in a nearly halved mortality rate. To tackle the rising temperatures, the Saudi government has implemented many measures. These include spray fans and water mist columns to cool open spaces, the distribution of water and umbrellas, the provision of air-conditioned transportation, free medical services during the Hajj, in addition to painting the asphalt surfaces of the Namirah Mosque, near Mount Arafat, to lower temperatures.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘There's a problem at your bank': UK police raise alarm over courier fraud
You get a call with the bad news that something has gone wrong at your bank. The caller says they are from the police or the bank and that someone will be coming round to pick up your debit card. This courier takesthe card away and uses it, running up thousands of pounds in debt before you realise that something is wrong. The scam – known as 'courier fraud' – is not new, but in recent months there have been warnings about it from police forces around the UK. The Met revealed this week that it had arrested 18 people, and had recovered £250,000 and hundreds of bank cards as part of a two-month crackdown. The London force said criminals often targeted vulnerable members of the public, particularly older people, with 80% of victims aged over 65. The oldest victim the Met knows of was 101. In March, a man was jailed for a courier fraud, in which an 80-year-old woman was tricked into handing over her bank cards and pin numbers, and buying gold bars and giving them to scammers for safekeeping. In total more than £600,000 was stolen. There is a phone call from someone saying they are from the police or the bank and that they are investigating a problem with your account or your bank. They say they need you to take steps to protect your money and/or ask you to help them investigate. Sometimes they ask you to withdraw cash and give it to them for safekeeping, or for them to analyse – in one version of the scam they say someone at the bank is acting fraudulently and they will use the notes to investigate. Often they ask you to hand over your bank card. Once you have agreed you are either asked to put the cash or card in the post, or told someone would be coming round to your home to collect it. You will be put under some pressure to act quickly. In one case this year, the fraudster told his victim he was calling from Scotland Yard's Action Fraud team and that the card was needed because the police wanted to check it for fingerprints to make an arrest. The victim was told if she did not comply she would be arrested. When the courier turns up they will often pretend to be from the police. Your debit and/or credit card or cash, or sometimes victims are asked to buy gold or other assets to give to the criminals to 'look after'. Be very wary of unexpected phone calls from your bank or the police, particularly if the person on the other end of the line asks for personal or financial information. If you are worried, end the call and contact your bank or the police on a different phone – use the number on your bank card or call 101 in the UK for police. If you only have one phone, wait at least a minute before calling as scammers have been known to keep the line open and take the call. If there is no dial tone before an answer, hang up. Never hand over your money, bank cards or make purchases after an unexpected call, and never share your pin. If you have handed over your card, contact your bank immediately to cancel it. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘There's a problem at your bank': UK police raise alarm over courier fraud
You get a call with the bad news that something has gone wrong at your bank. The caller says they are from the police or the bank and that someone will be coming round to pick up your debit card. This courier takesthe card away and uses it, running up thousands of pounds in debt before you realise that something is wrong. The scam – known as 'courier fraud' – is not new, but in recent months there have been warnings about it from police forces around the UK. The Met revealed this week that it had arrested 18 people, and had recovered £250,000 and hundreds of bank cards as part of a two-month crackdown. The London force said criminals often targeted vulnerable members of the public, particularly older people, with 80% of victims aged over 65. The oldest victim the Met knows of was 101. In March, a man was jailed for a courier fraud, in which an 80-year-old woman was tricked into handing over her bank cards and pin numbers, and buying gold bars and giving them to scammers for safekeeping. In total more than £600,000 was stolen. There is a phone call from someone saying they are from the police or the bank and that they are investigating a problem with your account or your bank. They say they need you to take steps to protect your money and/or ask you to help them investigate. Sometimes they ask you to withdraw cash and give it to them for safekeeping, or for them to analyse – in one version of the scam they say someone at the bank is acting fraudulently and they will use the notes to investigate. Often they ask you to hand over your bank card. Once you have agreed you are either asked to put the cash or card in the post, or told someone would be coming round to your home to collect it. You will be put under some pressure to act quickly. In one case this year, the fraudster told his victim he was calling from Scotland Yard's Action Fraud team and that the card was needed because the police wanted to check it for fingerprints to make an arrest. The victim was told if she did not comply she would be arrested. When the courier turns up they will often pretend to be from the police. Your debit and/or credit card or cash, or sometimes victims are asked to buy gold or other assets to give to the criminals to 'look after'. Be very wary of unexpected phone calls from your bank or the police, particularly if the person on the other end of the line asks for personal or financial information. If you are worried, end the call and contact your bank or the police on a different phone – use the number on your bank card or call 101 in the UK for police. If you only have one phone, wait at least a minute before calling as scammers have been known to keep the line open and take the call. If there is no dial tone before an answer, hang up. Never hand over your money, bank cards or make purchases after an unexpected call, and never share your pin. If you have handed over your card, contact your bank immediately to cancel it.
