Savvy Senior by Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior
What tips can you recommend to help seniors with downsizing? I have been thinking about moving to a retirement community, but in order to move I need to get rid of a lot of my stuff. I have a four bedroom house as well as an attic and basement that are full. Any tips would be appreciated.
Overwhelmed Senior
Dear Overwhelmed,
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you tell me about health care benefits for veterans? A friend of mine recently enrolled his 79-year-old father and, much to his surprise, got all his medications paid for. I am currently 59 and served in the Army Reserve many years ago and would like to find out what VA assistance I might be eligible for. This is something I never thought about. Can you help me?
Forgotten Reservist,
Dear Forgotten,
Savvy Senior is a media/information service devoted to baby boomers and senior citizens, and the families who support them. Savvy Senior, written by columnist Jim Miller, offers unbiased information through a variety of outlets, including a syndicated column published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines across the country, Savvy Senior is the No. 1 information column written for boomers and seniors in the USA. If you have a question send it to questions@savvysenior.org
How To Keep Up With Your Medications
Dear Savvy Senior,
What devices can you recommend to help forgetful seniors keep up with their medications? My 76-year-old mother takes nine different prescription drugs and that doesn’t include all the vitamin supplements or over-the-counter medicines she takes. Any suggestions?
Heart Attack Season
Dear Savvy Senior
When I had a heart attack last year my doctor told me to take extra precaution during the winter months because my risks of having another one could increase. Is this true? How can the seasons of the year affect your heart?
-Old Man Winter
Dear Savvy Senior,
When my 62-year-old brother applied for his retirement benefits early this year, he found that Social Security had made several mistakes on his earnings record in past years. The result was his monthly benefit check was much lower than it should have been. It took him months to straighten it out. How can I prevent this from happening to me?
Social Insecurity
Dear Savvy Senior
What kinds of resources are available to help seniors with severe vision impairment? My wife has macular degeneration and has become very discouraged. What can you tell us?
Looking for Help
Dear Savvy Senior,
Is mixing over-the-counter medicine with prescription drugs dangerous? My 70- year-old husband is currently taking six different prescription medications and two over-the-counter drugs. I’m worried he’s taking too much medicine. Any suggestions?
Doped Up
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you give me the recommended health screenings for seniors and which ones Medicare (Part A or B) pays for?
Healthy at 64
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you tell me about clinical trials and how to go about finding one? My husband (who’s 62) was just diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and we are interested in trying anything that may be able to help him. What can you tell me?
Clinical Candidate