Marjorie (66), a widow, and Stan (67), a divorcee, have lived together for six years. A decade before, Marjorie watched her husband suffer from Frontotemporal Dementia, which caused him to be violent towards her, until he entered a nursing home and … [Continue reading]
Will Getting a REAL ID be a REAL problem for Seniors Who Can’t Make it to the DMV?
Q. My mother is 73, lives in Virginia and doesn’t have any immediate travel plans, but her driver’s license has expired. She is housebound for the most part due to physical ailments and doesn’t drive. I have been hearing a lot about the REAL ID and … [Continue reading]
How Can You Get a Professional Evaluation of a Senior Loved One’s Driving?
Dear Hayek, My mother and I are concerned about my father's ability to continue driving. He is confident, however, that he should still be on the road. He even offered to be evaluated by a professional. How do you go about doing so in Virginia? … [Continue reading]
Telehealth Scams are on the Rise: How Not to Fall Prey
This past winter, John Ernest got a call that showed up on his caller ID as being from "Medicare," asking if his father, Dean, who lived in a nursing home at the time, needed a free orthotic brace for pain. John knew that Medicare would not be … [Continue reading]
Man in Vegetative State Kept on Life Support for a Year to Boost Hospital’s Transplant Survival Rates
Q. I just read a very disturbing article about Darryl Young, a 61 year old Navy veteran who was kept on life support for a year while in a vegetative state. Members of the medical staff didn't offer options such as hospice care to his family because … [Continue reading]
Virginia and Washington, DC Both Earn ‘A’ on National Palliative Care Report Card
Dear Magic, I recently read that the state of Virginia and Washington, DC both received an ‘A’ grade for their palliative care offerings. Can you explain the difference between palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life care? Thanks for … [Continue reading]
The Healing Power of Communication
Jay Monahan was married to award-winning journalist, Katie Couric, for nearly 10 years and they had two daughters together. He died in 1998 at age 42 of colon cancer and, sadly, Katie’s sister, a Virginia state senator, also died of cancer three … [Continue reading]
A Major Shift in Autism Research
Q. My son, Tyler, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is verbal but he prefers to be alone and he avoids social situations whenever he can. My neighbor’s son, Christopher, who is also on the spectrum, is completely non-verbal and has severe … [Continue reading]
What Happens to Adults with Autism Who “Age Out”?
Dear Bebe, There is a lot of funding for research about early diagnosis and early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there doesn’t seem to be much attention paid to adults with ASD. My daughter is 18 and has … [Continue reading]
The Older Americans Act Expired On 9/30: What that Means
Dan Adcock, Director of Government Policy and Research at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and one of the authors of the Older Americans Act reauthorization in 1992, wanted to see for himself how the Older Americans Act … [Continue reading]
Why Do People with Alzheimer’s Remember Old Memories While New Memories Fade?
Q. I recently went to visit my father, Paul, who has Alzheimer’s. I posted a picture of us on Facebook, which prompted several cousins who lived nearby who I rarely see to visit while I was there. His first cousin, Sophie, came to visit … [Continue reading]
Were You Double Billed by Medicare in September?
Dear Rune, Welcome to the Critter Corner! I hope you can help me. I believe I may have been double billed last month by Medicare. Is t his something that you have heard about, and if so, what should I do? Thanks for your help! Bill … [Continue reading]
The Dangers of Joint Bank Accounts
Emily, 67, is seriously thinking about adding her adult daughter, Katie, as joint owner of her bank account. She is considering this because she wants to ensure that Katie would have easy access to her money in case of an emergency. Adding a … [Continue reading]
CarFit Can Help Keep Seniors Safe on the Road Longer
Q. My father has had Parkinson’s for five years now. He is a little shaky and is starting to experience some of the mobility and speech problems that are typical as the disease progresses. His mind is as sharp as ever, though, and he still wants to … [Continue reading]
Adaptive Equipment Can Increase Driver Safety
Dear Angel, My sister loves to drive her Mini Cooper with the roof down when the weather is nice outside. She has some physical ailments that I feel make it unsafe for her to drive, though. This makes me worry when she is on the road. For … [Continue reading]
Is DICE the Key to Managing Dementia Without Medication?
Karl Sieloff, 56, had been an engineer at General Motors for more than three decades. Each day he arrived at work on-time and always had a good attitude. He went home to his loving wife, Kate, and was proud of their son, Kurt, who became a … [Continue reading]
Is Planned Suicide Different Than Dying with Dignity?
Q. My neighbor, Sam, is a ninety-year-old widower who has lived alone in his home for several years. His health has deteriorated over the past few months and he frequently comments about how much he misses his wife. His daughter lives far away and … [Continue reading]
A Friendship Line for Lonely Seniors
Dear Ernie and Janette, My father died earlier this year and my mom lives alone. She has friends she sees sometimes, but I can tell she is lonely. I talk to her as much as my schedule allows, but unfortunately, that’s not enough. Is there a place … [Continue reading]
Open Enrollment is Now Much Easier
Nancy had been counting down the days to her retirement for a couple of years now. As the day got closer, she turned in her retirement paperwork to human resources, enjoyed the party her co-workers threw for her, and envisioned all of … [Continue reading]
Saying Goodbye to the Family Home: Helping Your Aging Loved One Grieve a Move
Q. My mother, Wendy, has lived in the same home for over 50 years. She and my father stretched their budget and bought the home together in the 60’s and have made quite a few memories there. They watched four of us grow up there, … [Continue reading]
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