Need open heart surgery? Forget about heading to Manhattan. Surgeons at the Active International Cardiovascular Institute at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y. just completed the Institute’s 100th open-heart surgery procedure—and the center has only been open in five months.

The same holds true for cancer care. Traditionally, patients with a cancer diagnosis head to Sloane Kettering, to Philadelphia, Manhattan, or even Chicago for top-notch treatment centers. Today, the Nyack Hospital USB Cancer Center offers the latest treatments and because of its affiliation with NY Presbyterian, has a broad outreach to specialists in the field. What about when a stroke, or a catastrophic injury requires rehab? There’s no better option than one of the nation’s preeminent rehab centers, located, again right here in Rockland. The Helen Hayes Hospital is widely recognized as a leader in rehabilitation medicine and research—and has been for nearly 100 years. They are working on ground-breaking research on traumatic brain injuries, as well. (read more)

The first batch of the nation's 77 million Baby Boomers are entering their 60s, and already they are changing the nature of retirement. Today's retirees live more fun and active lives, choosing among new options that are a far cry from the antiseptic nursing home nightmare.

Most dramatically, today's retirees are finding ways to live at home longer and still get the care and services they need. Those who opt for retirement-community living are creating communities that suit their lifestyle. As Baby Boomers start to retire en masse, "I think that's going to produce even more options," says Elinor Ginzler, director of livable communities for AARP. "There's going to be an increasingly varied array of more choices." (read more)