Editors’ Top 5, Week of November 28

Election Ushers in Home Care Minimum Wage Hikes
In what has been described as a stunning set of results, America’s election decided a heck of a lot more than selecting the nation’s next president. (Amy Baxter/Home Health Care News)

Dementia Rates Decline Sharply Among Senior Citizens
A new study finds that the prevalence of dementia has fallen sharply in recent years, most likely as a result of Americans’ rising educational levels and better heart health, which are both closely related to brain health. (Liz Szabo/Kaiser Health News)

Heavy Screen Time Rewires Young Brains, For Better And Worse
There’s new evidence that excessive screen time early in life can change the circuits in a growing brain. Scientists disagree, though, about whether those changes are helpful, or just cause problems. (Jon Hamilton/NPR Health Shots)

Why Homecare Agencies Should Share Their Caregivers
A startup that recently entered the home care market with $3.1 million in funding has a new goal: to get competing home care agencies to share their caregivers. (Mary Kate Nelson/Home Health Care News)

Hospital Companions Can Ease Isolation For Older People
Loneliness can be a problem for older people, especially when they’re in the hospital. Their children may have moved away. Spouses and friends may themselves be too frail to visit. So a California hospital is providing volunteer companions in the geriatric unit. (Ina Jaffe/NPR Health Shots)