Senior Advocate

Q:   How can I be sure that I am treating people with disabilities with respect? I always worry I will say the wrong thing. A:  I really appreciate your question and think it is always important to remind ourselves not to stereotype people with disabilities or make assumptions about them. I have a friend, Carol [...]

Q:   I don’t think my mother is a safe driver anymore. How can I talk to her about stopping driving? A:  Driving is a sensitive topic at any age. Especially here in Southern California where most of us rely on our cars as our only means of transportation. Transportation equals independence to most drivers. Any [...]

Q:  What can we do to help combat ageism? A:  This is a great question and one we all need to think about. Just today I was at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council meeting where ageism was discussed by the Chair of the Council, Dr. Karen Gorback. She talked about [...]

Q:  My sister lives alone and recently fell and broke her hip. Thankfully someone was there at the time, but it got me thinking about emergency lifeline buttons. How do I know how to select the right one for her? A:  Lifeline is a brand name for what is called a personal emergency response system [...]

Q:  I care for my husband, and he is having more and more mobility problems. What are some useful tools to help me care for him that I can get for my home? A:  There are many different devices that can assist you in your care of your husband. These days, we have something for [...]

Q:  I thought Medicare would pay for care at home after my surgery. What does Medicare pay for at home? A:  I often hear from people a misconception about what Medicare covers for care in the home. It is very important for people to understand the benefits and limits of this insurance. It can [...]

Q:  I keep hearing about the value of intergenerational programming. What is it and why is it important? A:  Intergenerational programming is just as it sounds. It is when programs include people of all ages and generations, older and younger, to benefit all groups of people. You may notice that a lot of programs are [...]

Q:  My friend is caring for her husband who needs her full assistance. How can I get her to take better care of herself while still caring for him? A:  People who are caring for a loved one often put their own care and needs last. As a friend and onlooker, it can be very [...]

Q:  I have been unhappy lately and I feel like I need a new start in my life. How can I find ways to make changes and start over in a later phase of life? A:  It is one thing to get a fresh start by moving or changing careers, but another to find a [...]

Q:  I am trying to clean out my home and de-clutter. How do I know what mementos are worth keeping and what I should give away? A: Evaluating our own belongings and making tough decisions about what to keep and what to give away is always a challenge. But, it’s especially hard when we [...]