The federal agencies with primary responsibility for helping Americans stay in good health are the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CDC monitors outbreaks of disease and offers advice that — if followed — should help Americans improve or maintain their health. The […]
Retirement is often a time for downsizing. Maintaining a large home with empty bedrooms requires time and money that might be more productively devoted to enhancing a retirement lifestyle. Retirement can also be a time of reduced income. While more retirees than ever are finding new ways to supplement their retirement income, many find that […]
Every year, about 2 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI), typically in the form of a concussion. While concussion victims usually make a full recovery, TBIs cause about 100,000 deaths in the United States annually. Even when a TBI is not fatal, brain damage can impair physical abilities, including the ability to walk […]
The oft-repeated adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is an unfair generalization. Some older dogs that are capable of learning new tricks might not see the point of doing so. Some might be willing to learn but lack the energy to perform. Some might have vision or hearing problems that impair […]
Retirement communities are often the right choice for seniors who are ready to downsize after selling a family home. Typically designed with safety and convenience in mind, retirement communities allow older adults to live independently while offering amenities (such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and golf courses) that encourage residents to remain active. Property managers […]
The legal obligations between two people in a romantic relationship often depend on whether they were married. State laws generally require each spouse to support the other during their marriage — and sometimes after the marriage ends. Couples who choose not to marry can usually avoid that obligation, at least if they make clear that […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (a mouthful popularly known as CMS) is the federal agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Older adults primarily interact with CMS when they enroll in Medicare or need to resolve a Medicare billing dispute. Like nearly all federal agencies, […]
An AARP survey confirms that most Americans would prefer to remain in their homes during their senior years. Aging in place is an achievable goal for many, particularly if home modifications help aging residents cope with disabilities. Aging in Place Harvard Health identifies several benefits of growing older in a family home. Living at home […]
Families have always been the primary source of care for older adults who can no longer live independently. In medieval times, older adults who had no surviving family were relegated to residences in “poorhouses” or “almshouses.” Even in more recent centuries, poorhouses paid scant attention to safety and sanitation. Neither were they designed to give […]
Most seniors are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they turn 65 if they apply for or are already receiving Social Security benefits. Medicare Part A provides coverage for treatment after hospitalization. Seniors need to take the initiative to enroll in Medicare Part B. That coverage pays a large chunk of most medical treatment […]