State of the Union: Status of Senior Programs

Q. My husband and I watched the State of the Union address on Tuesday night, until we fell asleep. We heard a little bit about Social Security and Medicare, but couldn't get the complete gist of what President Obama was saying. If … [Read more...]

Balanced Budget Act: Good or Bad for Seniors?

Image source: Wall Street Journal On November 2, 2015, the Balanced Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. According to the President’s statement on the day of the signing, "Democrats and … [Read more...]

She was in the Hospital a Week, and They’re Calling it Observation Status!

Image Source: Dailymail Q. Last month, my 82 year-old mother, Shirley, fainted and hit her back on the bathroom counter on her way to the ground. When she came to, she could hardly move, but she was able to grab her … [Read more...]

Critter Corner: Why Take Advantage of End-of-life Care Talks?

Dear Baxter,  I just read that Medicare will fund end-of-life planning discussions with doctors, as of Jan. 1, 2016. Why is this important? My doctor already does this for free. And why should seniors take advantage of these … [Read more...]

Preparing Yourself for Medicare Open Enrollment

Every day, an average of 10,000 Americans will become eligible for Medicare as they turn 65 — and face a complex new set of health care decisions. If you're among them, you may feel perplexed about what you need to do about … [Read more...]

70% of Americans turning 65 will need Long-Term Care

Correction: The title of our newsletter is incorrect. It should be "One in seven adults will have a disability for more than five years." We  apologize for this error!   Photo from homeaidescny.org A … [Read more...]

A “Guardian Angel” When One is Needed Most

Marjorie never felt alone at her nursing home. Although her husband died last year, and her children couldn’t be there a lot of the time to visit her, she seemed content. Her ability to speak clearly and her memory were … [Read more...]

ACA is Here to Stay – Is That Good for Seniors?

Photo Source: Irish Times Q. I heard that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is here to stay, as of yesterday when the Supreme Court ruled to save the health care law. Is the ruling good for seniors? Also, can you clarify whether … [Read more...]

Highlights from the White House Conference on Aging

Photo from Whitehouse.gov This past Monday, on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and the 80th anniversary of Social Security, the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging was held. … [Read more...]

Hospice Care For Mom? But, She Isn’t Dying.

Q. My mother, Roxanne, 76, has suffered from lung disease for ten years. She still has her wits about her, and spends her days knitting, reading historical novels, and sipping tea. Recently, her doctor recommended hospice care, … [Read more...]

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