Other Side of 50

When I was in corporate America, the companies I worked for invested a lot of money in employee education and development. Part of the reason this is on my mind right now is because I saved all of my training manuals and just had the opportunity to go through them. I can see how training [...]

Q: 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? A: Medicare needs to know about other health care coverage in order to establish your benefits file and to determine whether Medicare [...]

I know many people who worry about getting Alzheimer’s because a grandparent, parent or sibling suffers from it. When keys are lost, eyeglasses are misplaced, or things historically recalled are forgotten, family members of those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias often wonder if they, too, have the disease. But according to the Alzheimer’s Association, the [...]

Q: Over the holidays I will be spending some time with my dad, who lives in another state. For some time I have been concerned about him continuing to live alone. What signs might indicate that it may be time to seek assistance for him? A: A number of activities could send up a red flag warning [...]

Q: In the past I’ve heard about Medicare fraud and how important it is for everyone to fight it. I’m sure fraud occurs in all areas of care but am concerned with services provided by in-home agencies. What red flags would you suggest we look for? A: You are correct. Fraud occurs in all areas of our [...]

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times titled “The Caregiver’s Dilemma” chronicled the author’s struggle to care for herself as she looked after her mother, who has dementia and was in a rehab facility with a broken hip. As I read the article, I could feel the author’s exhaustion. And when she concluded that [...]

Q: I am beginning to get more forgetful and wonder whether it is just old age or something more serious. Do you know where I might get some answers? A: November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and one of the events is National Memory Screening Day. This will be offered at more than 2,000 sites, [...]

Q: I am going to need in-home health care and wonder how to go about selecting an appropriate agency. Is there anything in particular I should focus on, and does Medicare have any special requirements in order for the care to be covered? A: Medicare Part B covers medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, [...]

My mom was on a short errand last week when I called the house. My dad answered the phone. After some small talk, my dad asked me a cryptic question: “Is there anything serious you want to tell me about your mother?” I thought for a minute, but couldn’t come up with any secrets my [...]

Q: Recently I became aware of scams involving misuse of personal checks. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid becoming a victim of this crime? A: Scams involving misuse of personal checks and bank account information have become “big business” with annual losses in the billions. The most effective step consumers can take to guard [...]