This week, the weather is warming up. Considering that parts of the country have been sweltering for weeks, having weather in the 70s and 80s seems like a very good thing and for the most part, it is. However, hot weather can be hard on older bodies especially as temperature climb into the 90s. Every…
Over 42 million Americans continue to smoke despite a link to bone disease, cataracts, diabetes, macular degeneration and erectile dysfunction. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable, premature death and illness in the United States and kills half a million people each year. As compared to the general population, a much smaller percentage of people…
Over 12 million Americans access Long-Term Care services. The edge of the Baby Boomer wave means that in just 12 years, the first of them will reach 80 years of age, increasing the odds that they’ll need Long-Term Care services. Those individuals will eventually create an unsustainable demand on those resources. Although Long-Term Services and…
Heidi Heffron-Clark’s father passed away at the age of 52. After his death, his wife rolled his IRA into her IRA. Then in 2001, Heidi’s mother also passed away after she had named Heidi her sole beneficiary for the IRA. Heidi transferred the IRA into an inherited IRA and began taking monthly distributions. After Heidi’s…
They say variety is the spice of life but the average Medicare beneficiary must choose between 18 private Medicare Advantage plans and 35 stand-alone Part D drug plan options. The point of all those options is to make it possible to make choices that will allow you to have the best coverage for your situation. …
The state of Washington is looking to help past, present and future caregivers. That’s why DSHS and its Area Agencies on Aging partners are asking family caregivers to complete an online survey. They want to hear your thoughts on: how to make helpful information and services easier to find, your caregiving experience and needs, and…
Do you have a parent that won’t let go of the car keys? Are you worried about how safe you are to drive but don’t want to lose your independence? The range of attitudes about driving go from handing over the keys without a fuss to declaring that you’ll get the keys when you pry…
Usually when I write about health, I write about diet or nutrition. I might even throw in a bit about purpose. What I usually don’t write about is music. No doubt, you’ve seen this video. It went viral a couple years ago. It’s about the power of music in a man with severe dementia. You…
While the vast majority of older Americans want to continue living in their own homes as they age, many will end up moving into senior living communities. A recent National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC) meeting in Washington D.C. addressed ways to avoid making that transition. Technology: webcams, Skype and other monitoring devices can greatly…
According to a 2004 research paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), economic theory would suggest that individuals would purchase Long-Term Care insurance to protect themselves against the risks associated with custodial care costs. The private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization found that, “long-term care expenditures represent a significant financial risk for the…
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