Senior Advocate

There is so much push for New Year’s resolutions and for a fresh start in the New Year. We often hear: New Year, New You! But we have to question why a new you is even necessary! There are certainly some things from this past year I would like to forget, but ultimately, I believe [...]

The holiday season means very different things to different people. I recently commented to a friend that I love the holidays and was surprised by their response. They told me they find it very difficult because growing up it was such a time of stress in their family. The memories of struggling between different expectations [...]

Q:  I live alone, and am worried about getting sick. Do you have any suggestions on how I can take care of myself if I do get sick? A:  Illness can be a very scary time. Especially now, with so many viruses going around and worrisome information on the news about the severity of illnesses [...]

Q: It feels like so many different illnesses are going around. How can I continue celebrating the holidays without getting sick from being around people? A: There are several viruses going around right now and some days it does feel like everyone is sick around us. COVID infections, the seasonal flu, and Respiratory Syncytial [...]

Q: My mom has progressed dementia. What can I buy her for the holidays this year? A: When someone has progressed dementia their memory loss is severe and traditional gifts may no longer be appropriate or useful. However, wanting to do something nice for your mother to recognize holiday traditions and bring her joy is [...]

The Thanksgiving holiday is a great excuse to talk about what you are grateful for. The holiday name means “to give thanks” and was originally celebrated as a day to give thanks for the previous year’s harvest. Now it has evolved to a gathering where people usually go around the table and say what [...]

Q:  What are over-the-counter hearing aids? Are they the same as prescription hearing aids? A:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed in August to allow over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold directly to the public. No prescription is needed and no fitting by an audiologist is required. This is a big step in making hearing [...]

Q:  My father passed away this year and I am dreading the holidays. How can I get through this without being so sad? A:  The year after a loved one’s passing is filled with firsts. The first birthday, the first Thanksgiving, the first of every event without your father present will be filled with [...]

Q:  I am caring for my mom who lives with us and my two young kids. Besides that, I also work a full-time job. How can I better balance my work and caregiving responsibilities? A:  First, I want to let you know that you are not alone in this. According to a Pew Research Center [...]

Q: What do I need to do to prepare for the upcoming flu season? A: The flu season begins in October and usually peaks between December and February. Older adults are more likely to have slower immune response and have higher risk of infection and complications from the flu. In fact, approximately 90% of influenza-related [...]