The definitionof solo is: "for or done by one person alone; unaccompanied, companionless." Are you an a solo ager? Reading on the subject of aging shows that the number of seniors over 65 living alone is on the rise and they are called "solos...
Most of us have heard of getting our affairs in order. One may reach out to an attorney/estate planner to draw up a last will and testament or to designate what becomes of our assets when we die. Back in the late 1960s, an attorney wanted to help...
Editor's note: This post contains material from a published piece featuring Jeff Weinberg by Christine Sorenson of KDKA News. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — We know older people are the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s not just the disease...
Over the past two months, I have joined with colleagues from across the country — Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Houston — to create webinars for fellow healthcare advocacy professionals on the impact of COVID-19. One fascinating...
Many do not understand Medicare, let alone how it is paid for. Most people only know that when they turn 65 or retire from their job, they switch to Medicare and all those taxes they paid during all those years will ensure they receive their...
Summer months bring fun outdoor activities such as picnics, swimming, BBQs, and beaches; it also brings hurricanes. This year’s hurricane season is predicted to be more active than usual. Given the indications that COVID-19 will persist during...
You may know that May was Mental Health Month, which is very apropos because in the United States, and even the world at large, the global pandemic brought on by the Coronavirus has created a mental health crisis which is likely to last well after...
"She is my eyes, ears, hands, and feet. I am disabled." That is how Joan, a weak but feisty 89-year-old, described my work to a nurse at the assisted living facility (ALF). Joan developed brain cancer after melanoma metastasized. Following rehab...
CPR performed in the hospital will lead to a patient’s discharge about 18% of the time. In fact, the American Heart Association says that when talking to patients about CPR, healthcare providers should tell patients that roughly 15%, or 1 in 6...
Over the past few months, the world has changed in many ways. No more so than when it comes to accessing the care and advice of the physicians upon whom we depend. Today, nearly all non-essential appointments are occurring virtually, whether...
Merriam Webster defines imminent as: ready to take place; happening soon. It’s too bad my patient’s family didn’t understand that. No one told them their 30-year-old family member’s cancer was so far advanced that death was ready to take place...
Medicaid, Medicare and retirees. It can be confusing. Here is information that applies to seniors who qualify for Medicaid: Dual Special Need Plan (DSNP) - this is a type of Medicare Advantage plan for those on Medicaid, it is your typical MA/MAPD...
Returning to your doctor’s office may not be the same since your last visit. Due to a decrease in outpatient visits, some offices are reducing clinic hours and appointment availability. Many medical offices are requiring new procedures before...
The current pandemic environment has changed many things about our lives. And for the elderly, and those with preexisting health conditions, these changes cannot be ignored. For this population, illness due to COVID-19 can come on rapidly and be...
As restrictions are slowly being lifted around the country, individuals are returning to hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices for their routine or non-emergency medical appointments and procedures. While re-entering these environments is often...