Senior Advocate

Q: What is the significance of Pride month for older adults? A: All people deserve an opportunity to age with dignity, free from discrimination, and surrounded by not only the people they love but also by service providers that support their needs. Pride month was created to support this goal of equality for all. June [...]

Q: My friends all say I should get a second opinion from another doctor before scheduling surgery. I trust my doctor and do not want to go through the hassle of finding someone else. Is getting a second opinion necessary? A: Having a planned surgery that is not an emergency provides you the opportunity to [...]

Q: My friends all say I should get a second opinion from another doctor before scheduling surgery. I trust my doctor and do not want to go through the hassle of finding someone else. Is getting a second opinion necessary? A: Having a planned surgery that is not an emergency provides you the opportunity to [...]

Q: I take care of my husband who has dementia. Our adult children are always trying to hire help for me or give me their opinions. How can I tell them nicely that I do not want their help? A: It must feel difficult to hear your children offer opinions on your role as caregiver. [...]

Q: I understand that May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, but what does that mean? A: National Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in American’s lives. Each year the President makes a proclamation of this important month, showing the country the [...]

SENIOR ADVOCATE – April 27, 2022 Q: I recently went to a friend’s home for the first time, and I think she may be a hoarder because the house was filled with junk. How can I help her? A: Hoarding is a serious issue that causes stress and unsafe living conditions. If your friend is [...]

Q: What is an Area Agency on Aging and do we have one in our community? A: An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is an agency designated by the state to address the needs of older adults in the community. AAAs were created in 1974 under the Federal Older Americans Act, with the mission of [...]

Q: My husband refuses to wear his hearing aids and it’s driving me crazy. How can I make it easier for both of us when he has trouble hearing me? A: Living with someone who has hearing loss can be challenging. A study published in the International Journal of Audiology states that 80 percent of [...]

At Senior Concerns, one type of phone call has been steadily increasing in the last few years, older adults calling because they are in danger of losing their housing. Typically, older adults on Social Security have a fixed income that only increases nominally with a cost-of-living increase of a few percent a year. However, rental [...]

Q: I am looking for work as an older adult and finding it difficult. Do you have any tips for an older job seeker? A: Many older adults look for new work opportunities for various reasons, including financial needs, the joy of new work challenges and the satisfaction of completing a purposeful workday. However, job [...]