Senior Advocate

Recently, I spoke with a physician who shared the profound impact a social worker had on her career. We were discussing the needs of individuals nearing the end of life. She explained that, as a doctor, she had always been taught that success meant keeping the patient alive. However, with experience she came to [...]

When an adult child is trying to help their parents, the first step is often gathering information. In many cases, they do not already have the details necessary to fully understand how to provide support. Ideally, as people age, they share important information with close family members, including details about insurance coverage and financial [...]

Q: I live alone and have been feeling anxious lately about my safety. What can I do to feel safer as a widow living alone?A: I have heard this concern frequently, especially following national news coverage about the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother. Stories like this naturally leave many older women who live alone feeling [...]

Recently, I observed several events that reminded me of the fragility of life. First, a woman I did not know personally, but with whom I shared many mutual friends, passed away unexpectedly. Her sudden death shook those who knew her and served as a stark reminder of life’s uncertainty. Second, an old friend reached [...]

Q:  Why is it so hard for some people to ask for help? My mother is so stubborn and will resist my help every time I offer. A:  Accepting help can be challenging at any stage of life, and this difficulty often escalates with age. It is frequently associated with a feeling of vulnerability [...]

Q:  I have Medi-Cal for my insurance, along with Medicare. What do I need to know about the changes coming to Medi-Cal? A:  Medi-Cal is what we call the Medicaid program in California. It is a vital healthcare program that provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income individuals, families, seniors, people with [...]

Q:  My husband has dementia, and recently, when we were out in public, he made rude and mean comments  to strangers. How can I stop this? A:  Dementia-related behaviors are not uncommon and are caused by damage in the brain. The damage may affect areas that control social filters, the person’s ability to regulate [...]

Q:  I care for my husband who has dementia and I still have him listed as my emergency contact. How can I update my paperwork and make a plan in case something happens to him or to me? A:  It is important to establish a contingency plan for your husband’s care, while also developing [...]

Q:  How come I can never remember people’s names when I am introduced to them? A:  There are a lot of reasons why many of us do not retain the names of people when we are first introduced. Most of the reasons have more to do with attention and less to do with our [...]

Q:  People have commented that I do not seem like I have Parkinson’s Disease because I do not shake. How can I handle these insensitive comments? A:  Parkinson’s Disease includes many symptoms beyond the most well-known one, the tremor. About 25 to 30 percent of people with Parkinson’s never develop a tremor at all. [...]