Senior Advocate

Martha Shapiro, Director of Programs at Senior Concerns, authors a weekly column for the Ventura County Star titled “Senior Advocate,” focusing on issues affecting seniors and their family caregivers.

When A Friend Gets Alzheimer’s

Q: My mother’s best friend was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and my mother is very upset. How can I best support my mother right now? A: A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can feel life shattering, but the reality is often not what we expect right away. Your mother is probably both concerned for her friend [...]

By |2026-10-05T09:22:39-07:00October 5th, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments

How We Can Age Smarter

What does it mean to age smarter? I think a lot about this topic, and one thing is inherently true: there is no single correct way to age smarter. But you can think ahead and give yourself every opportunity to age the way you want. For most of history, aging just happened to you. [...]

By |2026-09-28T14:56:09-07:00September 29th, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments

The Modern-Day Golden Girls

I recently met a woman who is living in her own “modern-day Golden Girls” house, as she calls it. Luann and her wife are both in their 60s, and since 2018, they have shared a home with both of their mothers, now in their 90s. Four strong, independent woman, one house. Two generations of [...]

By |2026-09-22T16:39:42-07:00September 22nd, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments

A Walker as a Sign of Strength

Q: I use a cane instead of my walker to avoid being thought of as frail. Why do I let my pride get in the way? A: It is natural to want people to see us as capable or strong. We wear certain clothes, put on makeup, and find ways to appear confident even [...]

By |2026-09-15T14:12:52-07:00September 15th, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments

Is it Aging, or is it the Medication?

I recently attended a seminar held at Senior Concerns that posed an important question: Is it aging, or is it the medication? Andrea Simon, a hospital pharmacist, presented and  shared some of the medication-related issues she has encountered in her work over the years. Older adults visit the emergency room for medication-related problems more [...]

By |2026-09-08T10:12:55-07:00September 9th, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments

Preparedness Starts at Home

For my birthday last year, I was gifted a rechargeable battery-backup light bulb. This seemed like an unusual gift, but it is a lifesaver in a power outage. My friend who gave it to me shared that she has started giving gifts of useful and practical items she has found. She said this not [...]

By |2026-09-01T16:09:35-07:00September 2nd, 2026|Martha Shapiro's Column|0 Comments
Go to Top