Senior Concerns In the News

Q: My mother has been in and out of hospitals for the past two years. She used her 100 days in a skilled nursing facility and now my father is paying the bill. She went back into the hospital for four days. I thought that if you were hospitalized and [...]

In preparation for the Ladin Subaru 23rd annual Love Run on Sun., June 5 in Westlake Village, Senior Concerns is seeking volunteer groups from employers, service groups, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to work in a variety of race-day roles. Volunteer groups can assist with race-day check-in and packet pickup, work [...]

Q: My parents are getting on in age and will eventually need my assistance. I have no idea where to start planning. Can you suggest some starting points? A: Many people avoid dealing with this subject until a crisis arises. You are to be congratulated for wanting to be prepared. [...]

Would you like to have fun while supporting an amazing cause? Are you looking for a way to give back to the community? Here is a great opportunity to make the difference in the lives of our elder friends and neighbors! In preparation for the Ladin Subaru 23rd Annual Love [...]

Q: Every day I seem to have a mailbox full of invitations to free seminars on living trusts and financial planning. I'm not really sure I need to be concerned with such topics, but if I do, would these seminars provide me with the information I need? A: This is [...]

Q: I am a low-income senior and have heard friends talk about assistance they are receiving from various programs. Do you know where I could obtain information about some of these programs? A: You have asked a question that might be of interest to many low-income seniors, so mark your [...]

Q: My dad has always handled the finances and paperwork for the household. My mother has said she didn't want the responsibility, but I am concerned about what will occur if something happens to my dad and he could no longer do it. Any suggestions as to how to get [...]

Q: I am trying to help my parents manage their prescription drugs. They each take several as well as over-the-counter items and vitamins. Do you have any suggestions? A: Managing multiple medicines is never an easy job and when you are helping with medications for several people the job becomes [...]

QUESTION:  At the start of each year I get confused about the Medicare Part B deductible.  I have several doctors and never know which one I should pay.  Can you provide a simple explanation? ANSWER:  The key to understanding the puzzle can be found in your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). [...]

QUESTION:  The past two months have been very busy with holiday celebrations and many educational and entertaining presentations, expos and seminars.  January, by contrast, is usually a rather quiet month.  Do you know of any activities scheduled for next month? ANSWER:  From what has crossed my desk in the past [...]

Jan. 8 is the deadline to nominate a local employer for the Caregiver-Friendly Workplace Award. The annual award is given by Caregivers Matter ... Conejo Cares, a partnership between Senior Concerns, the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills. Nominees [...]

Senior Concerns will present an informative seminar on UberASSIST and UberWAV, two new on-demand transportation services offered by Uber Technologies Inc. to help meet the need for private, door-to-door transportation options for seniors and family caregivers in Ventura County, at 5:30 p.m. Tues., Jan. 19 at Senior Concerns, 401 Hodencamp [...]

QUESTION:  My mother lives alone and mostly manages on her own.  I try to check-in on her to make sure she is okay.  Recently I chose to go though her refrigerator to make sure there wasn’t any spoiled food.  I found a number of items older than the dates stamped [...]

Ladin Subaru in Thousand Oaks has donated $7,000 to Senior Concerns to help support the organization’s Meals On Wheels program. The grant, part of Subaru’s national Share the Love Campaign, will provide about 750 freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals for homebound seniors in T.O. and Newbury Park. Where's the story? [...]

    QUESTION:  Lately it seems I am reading and hearing more and more about medication errors.  It appears that these errors happen in numerous ways both at home as well as in health care facilities such as assisted living and hospitals.  Do you have any safety tips for unsuspecting consumers?   [...]

Senior Concerns and Bank of America will present a special community seminar, Savvy Saving Seniors®, It’s In the Cards, on Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Senior Concerns, 401 Hodencamp Road, Thousand Oaks. Many consumers, especially seniors, are looking for ways to better manage and protect their money. [...]

  QUESTION:  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?   ANSWER:  Medicare needs to know about other health care coverage in order to establish [...]

QUESTION:  I don’t know if it is because I’m a senior but I’m tired of receiving poor responses to problems I try to resolve.  Can you make any suggestions? ANSWER:  I’m sure your frustrations are shared by the general public and not limited to senior citizens.  When you find that [...]

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at Senior Concerns’ Bargain Boutique and Thrift Store’s Sidewalk Sale, planned for Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Bargain Boutique and Thrift Store is located at 80 E Hillcrest Dr, Suite 120, Thousand Oaks. The Bargain Boutique offers [...]

QUESTION:  In reading some literature on Medicare hospital coverage I came across something called “benefit period” that I didn’t fully understand.  Could you provide a simple explanation? ANSWER:  A benefit period is a way of measuring use of hospital and skilled nursing facility (also known as a SNF) services.  It [...]