Senior Advocate

Q:  I am having trouble affording the rising cost of food these days. What resources are there to help? A:  You are definitely not alone in this. Food costs have been rising, as have many of our other expenses. Thankfully, there are several resources available that may be able to help. One of the [...]

Q:  What is this year’s theme for Older Americans Month? A:  Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated each May. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a federal agency, OAM is a time to recognize the contributions of older Americans, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older [...]

Q:  My mom asked me to be her agent on her Advance Healthcare Directive, and I am anxious about this responsibility. What do I need to know? A:  As a healthcare agent, you generally step in when the person is no longer able to make or communicate their own healthcare decisions. You are meant [...]

Q: Is Artificial Intelligence useful for understanding my health issues? A: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a helpful way to gather information about a health topic. However, it is important to understand both its benefits and its limitations when addressing medical concerns. AI is still relatively new, yet it is already integrated into [...]

Q: My sister is caring for her husband who has dementia. Is there something nice I can do for her since she is so stressed?   A: Caring for a loved one is a selfless way to give your love and comfort, but it is not without its stressors. It can be physically challenging, [...]

I was recently reminded of the power of listening to others from their perspective. I was watching a television show called The Pitt about a hospital emergency room. There was an older couple grappling with how to continue living independently at home. The daughter was worried and trying to persuade them to accept care [...]

Q: What is the importance of National Volunteer Month? A: National Volunteer month is held in April every year and is a time to celebrate and recognize the impact of volunteers in our community. It serves as a reminder not only to thank the volunteers we see but also to encourage everyone to get [...]

The first official day of Spring was March 20th. When I think of the change of seasons I am reminded to do some spring cleaning. But this year I chose to reframe the idea of spring cleaning not just to focus on tidying my home, but as an opportunity to refresh and support my [...]

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 [...]