Betty Berry’s Column
Senior Concerns’ Senior Advocate Betty Berry’s column appears weekly in the Ventura County Star.
Nutrition Requirements Change As We Age
Restaurant dining has always been a joyful experience for me. In terms of aesthetics – at lunch, I enjoy the respite from my workday and at dinner, conversations with my husband or friends. Regarding the food, in both cases I like trying new dishes as well as appreciating old [...]
Self Care Tips For Caregivers
Q: I am caring for my husband who has dementia and I am exhausted. How can I better take care of myself while caring for him? A: Caring for a loved one is a beautiful and loving thing to do, and it is also exhausting. It can be both [...]
Tax -Free Preparation Services For Seniors
Q: Where can I find free tax preparation this year for seniors? A: Free tax preparation services are available for seniors aged 60 or older, and to anyone with income of $60,000 or less, regardless of age. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has operated a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance [...]
Primary Care Providers Are Hard To Come By
In the past five years I have had four primary care physicians. No, I am not a difficult patient, I am the product of changing dynamics in the practice of primary care. Five years ago, I had a primary care physician I really liked. She listened to me and [...]
Tips For Moving A Loved One With Dementia Into Your Home
Q: My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and we recently moved her in to live with my family and I. She gets very agitated with me. How can I help her feel calmer at my home? A: First, I will say thank you for moving her into your home and [...]
Is Anxiety Causing My Pain?
Q: My doctor thinks some of my physical complaints are because of anxiety. How can I know if anxiety is causing my pain? A: Anxiety often has physical symptoms, and yet many people do not realize the impact that your emotions can have on physical health. Studies have reported [...]
Families’ Hidden Treasures Come In Many Forms
Many years ago, my father-in-law Danny, who was in his late 70s, was hanging new kitchen cabinets. Part of the job meant moving some of the ceiling tiles. When he moved the tile directly above the kitchen sink, he happened upon a paper bag holding $8,000 in cash. His wife, [...]
Siblings, Step Siblings and Parents
Q: My mother remarried 10 years ago and now I have an adult step sibling. My step sibling does not agree with me on how to help our parents as they age. How can I better work with him as our parents need more help? A: It is not [...]
The Benefits of Exercise as We Age
The benefits of exercising as we age are tremendous. It helps reduce fall risk, control joint swelling, improves mood and stamina and has many more health benefits. And yet for most people, inactivity increases as they age. By age 75, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports [...]
Acknowledging Feelings of Grief Is the First Step Toward Healing
I will be attending two celebrations of life this month. The first is for my friend Margaret. I wrote about her in one of my recent columns, about her surprise 90th birthday party with 50 of her friends and neighbors. Margaret died in December, a week before she was scheduled to [...]
How to Maintain Your Independence
Q: My biggest fear is losing my independence as I age. What can I do now to help keep my independence longer? A: Losing independence is one of the top fears people experience as they get older. We live in a society that values independence, being self-sustainable and not [...]
Monthly Planners Are An Easy Way to Visualize What’s Ahead
As one year comes to an end, a new one begins. I recently received my 2023 monthly planner. Full of expectations for the coming year, I can’t wait to begin to fill it up with appointments, activities, and events. Each year I spend some time looking for just the right [...]
The Holidays Are Over, Now What?
The holiday season may bring joy, excitement, anticipation, and busy schedules. For others, it may include feelings of loss, sadness, and stress. No matter what you feel, chances are it is a time filled with emotion. When it ends, it can often be met with a sense of letdown. For [...]
New Year, New Version of You
There is so much push for New Year’s resolutions and for a fresh start in the New Year. We often hear: New Year, New You! But we have to question why a new you is even necessary! There are certainly some things from this past year I would like to [...]
The Meaning of the Holidays Looks Different for Many
The holiday season means very different things to different people. I recently commented to a friend that I love the holidays and was surprised by their response. They told me they find it very difficult because growing up it was such a time of stress in their family. The memories [...]
Consider a Walk for Your Next Get-Together
It might sound like a random invitation, but at a recent holiday gathering of women friends, a community acquaintance, Terry, invited me to go for a walk. We’d been talking about feeling a bit stressed and sad watching some of the rude behavior of others, whether in the media or [...]
Wintertime Health Tips
Q: I live alone, and am worried about getting sick. Do you have any suggestions on how I can take care of myself if I do get sick? A: Illness can be a very scary time. Especially now, with so many viruses going around and worrisome information on the news [...]
Staying Healthy This Holiday Season
Q: It feels like so many different illnesses are going around. How can I continue celebrating the holidays without getting sick from being around people? A: There are several viruses going around right now and some days it does feel like everyone is sick around us. COVID infections, the [...]
Don’t Put Off Estate Planning Another Year
It was my recent fall - documented extensively in previous columns - that compelled me to suggest to my husband that we review our estate plan. I guess I needed to remind myself that I am not immortal, and I wanted to be sure that our plan fits our current [...]
Progressed Dementia and Holiday Gift Giving
Q: My mom has progressed dementia. What can I buy her for the holidays this year? A: When someone has progressed dementia their memory loss is severe and traditional gifts may no longer be appropriate or useful. However, wanting to do something nice for your mother to recognize holiday traditions [...]
