Betty Berry’s Column
Senior Concerns’ Senior Advocate Betty Berry’s column appears weekly in the Ventura County Star.
It makes sense that seniors need to be counted in 2020 census
I recently attended a presentation by a partnership specialist for the Los Angeles Regional Census Center. She met with a group of nonprofits to explain details of the upcoming 2020 Census and to express the importance of each household completing the census. According to AARP, older Americans have been more [...]
Can lifestyle affect memory?
QUESTION: I keep hearing that our lifestyle can affect our memory. Can diet and exercise really help our memory and prevent dementia? ANSWER: I wish I had the perfect answer that by changing your diet and exercising more you could prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Unfortunately, we still have no [...]
Finding gratitude during the stress of the holidays
QUESTION : I always hear everyone talk about being grateful this time of year. Sometimes I just don’t feel so grateful though! My life has changed so much these past few years as I have gotten older and the holidays just aren’t the same as they used to be. How [...]
State master plan on aging deserves review
Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to grow to 8.6 million by 2030, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order recently calling for a Master Plan for Aging to be developed by Oct. 1, 2020. The master plan will serve as a blueprint for state government, local communities, private [...]
Family caregiving needs are on the rise
QUESTION: I am reading and hearing more and more about family caregivers and family caregiving. Do you have any facts or figures about this subject? ANSWER: You are hearing more and more about family caregiving and family caregivers because the need for this type of care is growing every day. [...]
Seniors at risk during outages
Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his famous “hierarchy of needs” theory in 1942. At the time, he saw food, water, sleep and shelter as the most basic of all human needs. I would contend electricity has now become a basic human need. Without electricity, it would be extremely difficult to lead [...]
Senior Concerns offers free seminar: “Senior Expert Panel”
Senior Concerns, as part of its commitment to provide support for seniors, will present a community seminar titled “Senior Expert Panel,” on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 4:00-5:30 p.m. at Senior Concerns, 401 Hodencamp Road, Thousand Oaks. This informational seminar is being presented by Brian Collins, a licensed real estate professional [...]
Navigating placement options
QUESTION: I am a caregiver for a family member and currently doing okay but I know in the future I will need to seek placement. What should I look for in selecting a facility? ANSWER: You are to be commended for looking into placement well in advance of when you [...]
Navigating placement options
QUESTION: I am a caregiver for a family member and currently doing okay but I know in the future I will need to seek placement. What should I look for in selecting a facility? ANSWER: You are to be commended for looking into placement well in advance of when you [...]
Senior Concerns to Partner with Ladin Subaru’s 2019 Share the Love Campaign
For the 7th consecutive year, Ladin Subaru has selected Senior Concerns to participate as the “hometown charity” as part of Subaru of America’s Share the Love Campaign. During the campaign period, which runs from November 14, 2019 to January 2, 2020, Subaru customers have the opportunity to select a charity [...]
Are America’s seniors facing and ‘aloneness’ epidemic?
Recently, my coworkers and I have begun to see a spike in the number of seniors in our community who go days on end without human contact. Yet when asked if they’re lonely, they say no. These individuals are quite content with their daily schedule. In many cases, they’re proud [...]
Spouses need knowledge of each other’s responsibilities
QUESTION: My dad has always handled the finances and paperwork for the household. My mother has said she didn’t want the responsibility but now I am concerned about what will happen if something happens to my dad and then could no longer do it. Any suggestions as to how to [...]
Senior Concerns Offers Free Seminar on Legal Information for Elders
Senior Concerns, as part of its commitment to provide support for family caregivers of aging loved ones, will present a community seminar titled “Legal Information for Elders” on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 4-5:30 p.m. at Senior Concerns, 401 Hodencamp Road, Thousand Oaks. This seminar will be presented by Mike Williams [...]
Walkers need to be alert at all times
QUESTION: I have been told walking will help my physical problems. While I think walking a great exercise I am concerned with traffic and potential accidents. Do you have any hints on ways to reduce a chance of an accident? ANSWER: Pedestrian safety is very important because it affects each [...]
Individual financial planning may be more beneficial than a group setting
QUESTION: Every day I seem to have a mailbox full of “invitations” to free seminars on living trusts and financial planning. I’m not really sure I need to be concerned with such topics, but if I do, would these seminars provide me with the information I need? ANSWER: This is [...]
More and more older adults picking up pickleball
I’ve never been a sports-oriented person. I’m not sure if it’s the required physical exertion or the competitive aspect that doesn’t excite me, but I’d much rather spend my days pursuing a host of other activities. So when my husband announced he wanted us to join a club and play [...]
Understanding Medicare’s “Benefit Period”
QUESTION: My mother has been in and out of hospitals for the past two years. She used her 100 days in a skilled nursing facility and now my father is paying the bill. She went back in the hospital for four days. I thought that if you were hospitalized and [...]
Ladin Subaru Collecting Gifts for Meals On Wheels Participants
As part of its Share the Love Campaign, Ladin Subaru is partnering with Senior Concerns to hold a holiday gift drive on Monday, December 9, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Ladin Subaru, 3725 Auto Mall Drive in Thousand Oaks. The community is invited to drop off small gifts that will be delivered [...]
Is Medicare your primary or secondary insurance coverage?
QUESTION: I recently applied for my Medicare benefits and soon after received a form to complete asking for information about employer’s health plans that I might be entitled to. Why would Medicare need such information? ANSWER: Medicare needs to know about other health care coverage in order to establish your [...]
Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment is approaching
QUESTION: If I remember correctly it is about this time of year that Medicare has its Annual Open Enrollment. Can you provide the dates and any information that would be helpful? ANSWER: Medicare Annual Open Enrollment will start on Tuesday October 15th and run through Saturday December 7th. During this [...]
