Q. My mother has dementia and seems to be declining rapidly. Her needs are becoming more than my father and I, and a nurse’s aide, can handle at home. We’ve decided the time has come to consider nursing home care. All of the news stories I have read about long-term care facilities during the coronavirus […]
Virginia’s Nursing Homes Prepare for New Testing Requirement
Dear Angel, My father is in a nursing home in Spotsylvania County. I am concerned about his safety during the coronavirus pandemic. One concern is staff coming to work sick or asymptomatic, which happened in a nursing home where his friend resides. How often are Virginia nursing homes supposed to conduct testing of staff? Thanks […]
Extra Financial Assistance for Caregivers at This Time
Dear Oakley, I am a caregiver for my aunt who has dementia, and who is also a veteran. I used to work part-time in addition to caregiving, but lost my job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you know of any extra financial assistance programs during this time? Thanks for your help! Keir Giver — Dear […]
Now May Be a Good Time to withdraw $100K from Your Retirement Accounts, Penalty-Free!
Q. My wife, Patty, and I are in our late 50’s and have been hit hard by COVID-19. Luckily, neither of us got the virus, but financially, we have been struggling. I got furloughed from my job and Patty teaches yoga, and the yoga studio where she teaches, like so many others during this pandemic, […]
Virginia, Maryland, and DC Now Allow Visitors in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Q. Last month, we had a scare when the nursing home where my mother, Marcia (85), who has dementia, resides called and said that she stopped eating and seems depressed and withdrawn. Although she doesn’t quite know who we are, my mother used to light up when we visited and brought the grandchildren. The nurse […]
Virginia Allocates $246 million to Help Long-term Care Facilities After COVID-19 Pandemic
At a retirement community in Springfield, the last scheduled event that Lea (88) attended was a Valentine’s Day dance in February. Since then, there have been no more potluck dinners, card games, special outings, or other social activities scheduled at Lea’s complex. And even as Virginia enters phase 3, it’s unclear to her when things […]
Futuristic Post-Pandemic Changes Coming to Senior Living?
Dear Angel, With the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the danger it poses to residents, some things need to change now and for the future. What changes are being implemented and/or planned? Thanks! Chan Jess — Dear Chan, While it’s uncertain how or when the COVID-19 pandemic will end, […]
Keeping Seniors Safe as Things Reopen
Q. My granddaughter, Hailey, called the other day and she sounded happier than she has been in months. Her small business and other stores and restaurants in the DC Area are beginning to reopen starting today (Friday, 5/29). She told me that the stay-at-home order has been lifted and that several malls and restaurants will […]
Should Nursing Homes Reopen to Visitors?
Q. My mother, Betty, is in a nursing home in Richmond. Although she has advanced dementia, I could tell that she always enjoyed our family’s visits. Her face always brightened when she saw me, my wife, and her grandchildren. She would smile when we looked through old photo albums, listened to her favorite songs, or […]
New Fairfax County Grocery Shopping and Pharmacy Pick-up Service for Older Adults
Dear Magic, My 85-year-old neighbor, Ruth, goes to the supermarket, but not often. Even with her facemask and rubber gloves, she doesn’t want to risk anything. She is not technologically savvy, so she cannot order online. I’ve helped a few times by picking her up some essentials, but I am so busy with my job […]
How the CARES Act Helps Older Adults
Q. My husband owns a small business and recently the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established by the CARES Act helped provide his business with funds to pay 10 weeks of payroll costs. This act pretty much saved his business. I also heard that through the CARES Act, nearly a billion dollars is going towards senior […]
How the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Helps Feed Seniors in Need
Dear Angel, I heard about the CARES Act and how it helps seniors, as well as small businesses, and others during the coronavirus pandemic. Are there any other laws to help seniors with nutrition services? They are needed now more than ever, since it’s safer for seniors to remain in their homes to protect themselves […]
If You Needed a Ventilator, Would You Really Want One?
Q. My niece, Rebecca, was hospitalized with coronavirus last month and was placed on a ventilator. When her temperature was quite high and her oxygen levels were low and she needed life-saving measures, she didn’t have an advance medical directive in place to indicate her preferences, so they just went ahead and hooked her up […]
Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Affect Social Security?
Mike is 58 and hopes to retire from the government in seven years. His wife Diane will be 56 in the spring and plans to retire when Mike does. Similar to most people these days, they are staying at home and have had some time to think about their future and their retirement. Mike and […]
Should I Update My Incapacity Planning Preferences Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Dear Ernie and Jannette, I have seen friends and family fall ill with coronavirus. Luckily, they all survived. It got me to thinking that I need to review and update my advance directives at this time to make sure what I wanted before is still relevant if I should get coronavirus. I did my planning […]
How a 104-year-old Survived Coronavirus
William “Bill” Lapschies, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, has recovered from coronavirus, making him the oldest survivor of the pandemic in the United States. Two others in their 100’s also survived–one in Italy and one in China. Bill, who also survived the Spanish flu, reportedly recovered from coronavirus just in time for his 104th […]
What Can I Do to Help the DC Area First Responders and Healthcare Workers?
Q. My mother, Anna, is in a local nursing home and receives exemplary care from the nurses, doctors, and health aides there. I want to do something to give back to them and to others on the frontline in the DC Metro Area who are risking their lives to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. […]
How to Relieve Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Oakley, We’ve been home for a month now and every day is the same. I honestly don’t know what day it is anymore, and I’ve lost that excitement that usually came with Fridays or the anxiety when Monday comes again. It feels like I’m the star of the movie, “Groundhog Day,” where every day […]
Are They Moving Coronavirus Patients into Nursing Homes?
Q. My mother, Phyllis, is in a nursing home in Northern Virginia. I heard that across the country, they are moving coronavirus patients into nursing homes. I understand that my mom is quarantined to her room, but I still think that this a bad idea given that seniors (particularly nursing home patients) are among the […]
Can Coronavirus Affect Pets?
Dear Angel, I am the proud mom of three dogs, who are getting lots of attention with my husband and I working from home, and with the kids here too. They mostly stay in the house but enjoy long exercise walks around dinner time. We also have a gray outdoor cat, who visits each day. […]