Drug misuse among seniors has become an “invisible epidemic,” or so the government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration believes. No one really knows how serious this epidemic has become, despite all the surveys and studies conducted by various government agencies and research organizations, and with good reason. Seniors use lots of drugs, probably […]
Updated July 2025 Technology hasn’t managed to replace hugs and smiles–yet–but technology has made a huge difference in the lives of seniors, their families, and their caregivers. Tech for Aging is Here–and More is Coming With today’s technology, it is now possible to detect falls and summon immediate help, locate wandering seniors or lost keys […]
No one really knows how many people are caregivers. The CDC estimates 53 million in 2020. Everyone does agree, though, that caregivers need support and a mini-industry seems to be growing in response to this need. That support starts the old-fashioned way with books and publications. The “Caregiver’s Handbook” published as a special report by […]
If your aging parents are a bit leery about using today’s technology, call in the grandchildren. Even the youngest ones seem to intuit how to use smart phones and tablets, search for and download apps, and have mastered the Internet. And they no doubt can show their grandparents how to use a fitness tracker or […]
The African proverb “it takes a village” meant raising a child, but today it also applies to caring for an aging population. Today’s new villages are an integral part of the growing movement to provide the support and services that will help America’s rapidly aging population “age in place” in their own homes by performing age-challenged […]
If that’s your answer to queries about where your elderly mother lives, you and your mom are part of one solution for the looming problem of how to care for America’s rapidly aging population, which is growing at the rate of some 1.7 million seniors each year. Maybe your mother lives in a portable self-contained […]
Your parents are enrolled in Medicare and they’re insured for hospital, outpatient visits and drugs, so their basic health needs are covered. Well, yes and no. Don’t be blindsided. There are some glaring gaps in coverage–especially when it comes to an aging population–and you should be aware of those gaps and what you can do […]
Every fall, Medicare recipients–your parents included–are bombarded with notifications about the upcoming “open enrollment” period and their options for switching coverage. As you read them, be aware that these notifications basically are advertisements for the different plans. This annual “open enrollment” period, currently from about October 15 through December 7, should not be confused with […]
Most people, including your parents, sign up for Medicare when they “retire” and hit 65, unless one or both of them still works and they may be covered by an employer’s health plan. But retirement at age 65 is not as fixed as it once was. Maybe because people are living longer, maybe because they […]