Dear Hayek, My daughter was convinced that she had the omicron variant of COVID-19 last month but couldn’t get a test at any of the local pharmacies because they were sold out everywhere. It turns out she had to wait a few days and was able to make an appointment to get tested and luckily, […]
How Dangerous Is the Omicron Variant for Seniors?
Carol and her husband, Scott, are considering visiting their friends in Florida for Christmas. They are thinking about driving to save money on airfare. They were all ready to go but are deciding whether to change their plans because of the emergence of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus. What the World Health Organization […]
CMS Lifts COVID-19 Nursing Home Visitation Restrictions
Before the pandemic and even more so during it, social isolation and loneliness have been considered serious health risks for older Americans. Judith Gimbel worries that isolation is killing her mother, Ida, who she hasn’t seen in years but talks to on the phone often. “I don’t think she’s deteriorating … I know she is,” […]
What the US Government is Doing to Keep Nursing Homes COVID-Free
In late spring of 2021, the 142 nursing homes operated by the Good Samaritan Society hit a milestone that was unthinkable just four months earlier: Zero cases of COVID-19 across the whole company, from 900 at the peak of the pandemic. The relief was short-lived though. In recent months, the case count has ticked up […]
Why Should I Consider Antibody Testing for COVID-19?
Dear Oakley, I’m pretty sure I had a mild case of COVID-19 earlier in the year. Do you think I should go and get an antibody test, and if so, why? What is the difference between an antibody and an antigen test? Is antibody testing covered by Medicare? Thanks for your help! Anne T. Boddie […]
Is COVID Back? A Life-Saving Treatment that Many Seniors Don’t know Exists
Q. My grandchildren are in school in Fairfax County and they just got a letter stating that they will need to wear masks to school, whether or not they are vaccinated. This, of course, is because of the new CDC mask guidelines, recommending that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people mask indoors in areas with significant […]
Is it a Violation of HIPAA to Ask Someone if they’ve Been Vaccinated?
Josie shared on social media that she and her teenage son and daughter just got vaccinated against COVID-19. In a conversation at the school, Mary shared that she saw Josie’s post and that the three of them got their first dose. Was Mary violating Josie’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rights by sharing […]
Navigating the New Social Norms After Getting Vaccinated
Dear Oakley, I am fully vaccinated and am trying to follow the new norms and get used to not wearing a mask or physically distancing myself. I disliked wearing a mask the past year because my glasses would always fog up, so I’m glad not to have to wear one anymore. Many people look at […]
Could the COVID-19 Vaccine Negatively Affect Someone with Parkinson’s or Dementia?
Dear Angel, Q1. My father is hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine because he has Parkinson’s. My friend is experiencing the same hesitancy with her mother, who is in the early stages of dementia. Have you heard anything about the COVID vaccine for people with Parkinson’s or dementia, and why they should or shouldn’t get […]
FEMA will Offer Funeral Assistance for People Who Have Died of COVID-19
Dear Oakley, My friend’s dad recently died of COVID-19. Funerals are so expensive. Does the government provide any relief to help pay for them? Burr Yinghim — Dear Burr, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend’s father. Grieving the loss of a loved one during the fear and anxiety about the […]
Has the Pandemic Changed Funerals Forever?
Q. The pandemic has caused me to refocus my energy on planning for my future and for my family when I’m gone. I have seen people I know die of COVID and their families stressed about their funerals during a time of grief. I don’t want that to ever happen to my family, so I […]
President Biden Signed the American Rescue Plan Act … What It Means for You!
Last week, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides approximately $1.9 trillion in spending to address the continued impact of COVID-19. The American Rescue Plan Act is a follow-up to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), which became law in late March 2020, and that […]
Seniors are Facing Barriers Trying to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine. What to Do.
Janet needs to get the coronavirus vaccine. She is 74 and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She leaves the house rarely, only to pick up her medicines in the pharmacy drive-thru. She has caregivers coming in to help her that may have been exposed to coronavirus themselves, so between that and her COPD, she won’t […]
Beware of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
Dear Angel, My sister got a call telling her that she was exposed to COVID-19 and the caller asked her for personal information and $150 to sign her up for a vaccine quicker. She thought it could be a scam, so she hung up, although she would like to get vaccinated soon. Do you know […]
How Can a Senior Get a COVID Vaccine in Virginia, DC, and Maryland?
Dear Magic, My husband, Ricky, is 70 and I am 67. We would like to get coronavirus vaccines, but don’t know how and where. Do you have any information about doing so in the DC area? Thanks for your help! Vax Scene — Dear Vax, Coronavirus vaccines are now available, and if you are over […]
There is So Much That Seniors Need to Know About the New Coronavirus Relief Package
Q. You recently published an article about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for businesses. You mentioned that there is a second stimulus check and some new benefits for seniors, but mostly elaborated on benefits for small businesses. Can you expand on some of the benefits of the second Coronavirus Relief Package for seniors? Thanks so […]
Our Top 20 Articles of 2020
Last year (2020) was quite a year and, like most people, I am glad to see it go! Those who read our newsletter or follow our blog know that we covered a lot of ground during this challenging year. COVID-19 uprooted many areas of life. COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes were and still are a […]
Can You Get Coronavirus from Holiday Cards?
Dear Hayek, First, I want to say that you look quite debonair in that holiday sweater! I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question, but every year we send and receive lots of holiday cards from friends and family all over the world. During the coronavirus pandemic, is it safe to do so? Do […]
How the Pandemic has Reshaped the Way We Look at Retirement
Q. My husband and I have been working for nearly 35 years each and are due to retire in the next few years, but things seem uncertain for everyone now. My understanding is that the pandemic has added new challenges to the retirement plans of many people, putting some out of work and pushing some […]
How Nursing Homes are Planning for a Third Surge of COVID-19
When it comes to COVID-19, the news from around the country isn’t encouraging. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, said he is concerned that the United States is facing “exponential growth” of COVID-19 cases. Doctors Believe that Personal Behaviors are Driving the Projections Up Some people in their fatigue from […]