Recently I noticed the ATM in my grocery store had been removed. I was a bit baffled by the decision, and a bit annoyed. The location was convenient. I could combine my shopping trip with banking. One stop, two chores accomplished. What I did not think about at the time is the safety and security [...]
I’m hoping my cousin gets the healing she needs this month. Almost a year after her brother David passed away, she is having a celebration of life for him. I wrote about Janet in January 2020 in a column titled “A life is changed in the blink of an eye.” Janet had come to help [...]
After months and months of pandemic public health restrictions, stay-home orders and phased reopenings, the governor lifted the restrictions June 15 and we should come much closer to “normal” soon. As I check in with my own feelings about this transition, the two words that comes to mind for me are anticipation and anxiety. I [...]
Like many, I entered the role of caregiver without any preparation. My husband and I began caring for our elderly neighbors, Fred and Hildy. Over time we were dealing with a dizzying array of doctor visits, personal care needs, and physical and cognitive health issues without any of their family to lean on. I had [...]
Wanda takes pride in the care she provides to her husband, Jim, as he goes through his journey with dementia. Before COVID, Jim attended the Senior Concerns Adult Day Program. Wanda felt his weekday presence there helped slow the progression of the disease as he engaged in conversation, activities, meals and exercise with others in [...]
Silent whispers from our body come in many forms and may include aches or pains, emotions, gut feelings or just a sense that something is off. It’s easy to ignore these signs, but by doing so we may be jolted to attention when, at last, our body screams. Case in point. My Auntie Jean had [...]
I’ve been looking through an ethical lens at some of the COVID-era choices people make. Have you ever heard the statement, “Do the right thing even when no one else is watching?” That is a statement about ethics. Ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behavior; they suggest we do the right thing even [...]
If I outlive my husband and have difficulty living independently, I want to move to an assisted-living facility. I thrive in the company of others, and a socially isolated life would be lonely and depressing. However, with an eye on COVID and social isolation, I’ve been thinking about features I would like to have available [...]
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the book “Live Smart After 50: The Experts’ Guide to Life Planning for Uncertain Times” that I co-edited and co-authored with 32 other experts in the field of aging. It was a passion project for a few members of the Life Planning Network, a national organization of individuals [...]
Early on, when COVID vaccine appointments first became available for seniors age 75-plus, the online application asked the user to select their insurance. Most seniors have Medicare and selected that option. Next, they were instructed to upload a copy of their Medicare card. Calls were coming in to Senior Concerns: “I am trying to make [...]
