Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about restless leg syndrome? I’m 58 years old, and frequently have jerky, uncontrollable urges to move my legs, accompanied by a tingling sensation, and it keeps me awake at night. Jumpy John Dear John, If an irresistible urge to move your legs has you kicking in your sleep, then chances are pretty good you have restless leg syndrome (RLS), a condition that affects 7 to 10 percent of Americans. Here’s what you should know. RLS, also known as Willis-Ekbom D...
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide some tips on how to protect seniors from financial scams? My 76-year-old aunt was recently swindled out of $25,000 and I want to make sure my own mother is protected. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Financial scams that target the elderly continue to be a huge problem in the U.S. In fact, it’s estimated that one in five Americans over age 65 are scammed out of roughly $36 billion every year. Here are some tips that can help you spot a scam, and what you c...
Dear Savvy Senior, I’m considering making changes in my Medicare coverage during the open-enrollment period. Can you recommend any free resources that can help with my choices? Swapping Senior Dear Swapping, There are a number of good resources you can turn to that can help you choose Medicare coverage that better suits your needs that are completely free to use. As you may already know, each year during Medicare’s open enrollment – Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 – all Medicare beneficiaries can cha...
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you give me some tips on picking an all-inclusive residential retirement community that offers independent housing along with assisted living and nursing care? My husband and I are looking to downsize and simplify, but we want our next move to be our last. Approaching 80 Dear Approaching, If you want your next move to be your final one, an all-inclusive retirement community – also known as a continuing-care retirement community (or CCRC) – is a great option to con...
Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been reading that there are a bunch of different flu vaccines for seniors this flu season. Which flu shot is right for me? Flu-Conscious Carol Dear Carol, It wasn’t that long ago that if you wanted to get protected from the flu, you simply got a flu shot. But now days, there are so many flu vaccine options you might feel like you are ordering off a menu. To help you decide which flu shot is right for you, you need to consider your health, age and personal pre...
Dear Savvy Senior, How does health insurance and Medicare cover health care outside the U.S.? My husband and I have a trip abroad planned this fall and would like to find out if we should buy extra insurance. What can you tell us? Almost Retired Dear Almost, Great question! No one likes to think about health problems while on vacation, but medical emergencies happen, and your regular insurance may not cover your care when you’re traveling abroad. To avoid any expensive surprises, here are s...
Dear Savvy Senior, Do you know of any resources that help family caregivers monetarily? I have to miss a lot of work to take care of my elderly mother and it’s financially stressing me. Stretched Thin Dear Stretched, Caring for an elder parent can be challenging in many ways, but it can be especially difficult financially if you have to miss work or quit your job to provide care. Fortunately, there are a number of government programs, tax breaks and other tips that may be able to help you m...
Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about clinical trials and how to go about finding one? Old and Ill Dear Old, Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans participate in clinical trials in hopes of gaining access to the latest, and possibly greatest, but not yet on the market treatments for all types of illnesses. But, you need to be aware that clinical trials can vary greatly in what they’re designed to do, so be careful to choose one that can actually benefits you. Here’s what you sho...
Dear Savvy Senior, What retirement planning tips can you recommend to single women? I’m 54 and divorced with a teenage daughter and very little saved for retirement. Financially Behind Dear Behind, It’s an unfortunate reality, but most single women – whether they’re divorced, widowed or never married – face much greater financial challenges in retirement than men. Why? Because women earn less money – about 80 cents for every dollar that men make, on average, and they have shorter working careers...
Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to find good, trustworthy, qualified people who can help seniors with home chores or small jobs? Looking for Mom Dear Looking, Getting help at home for any number of household tasks is a lot easier than it use to be thanks to a number of web-based tools that can quickly and easily connect you and your mom to a wide variety of skilled, carefully vetted workers. Here’s what you should know. Finding Qualified Help One of the best ways to find qualified, rel...
Dear Savvy Senior, How well does Medicare cover diabetes? I’m 66 years old and was recently told by my doctor that I have pre-diabetes. If it progresses to full-fledged diabetes what can I expect from Medicare? Recently Retired Dear Recently, Medicare actually provides a wide range of coverage to help beneficiaries who have diabetes, as well as those who are at risk of getting it – but they don’t cover everything. Here’s a breakdown of what Medicare covers when it comes to diabetes service...
Dear Savvy Senior, What options can you recommend for finding a good executor for my will? At one time I thought one of my two kids could do it, but they are both financially inept and would probably make a mess of things. Looking for Options Dear Looking, Choosing an executor – the person or institution you put in charge of administering your estate and carrying out your final wishes – is one of the most important decisions in preparing a will. A good executor can help ensure the prompt, accura...
Dear Savvy Senior, I manage a large health clinic that treats thousands of seniors each year, and we’ve have found that patients that come prepared when they visit our doctors are much more satisfied with the care they receive. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for doctor’s appointments? Healthcare Helper Dear Helper, There’s no doubt about it. Studies have shown that patients who help their doctors by providing important health information and preparing thems...
Dear Savvy Senior, Can my Social Security benefits be garnished if I have some outstanding debts? I just turned 62 and would like to start collecting my retirement benefits, but want to find this out before I apply. Worried Retiree Dear Worried, Whether your Social Security benefits are garnishable or not depends on whom you owe. Banks and other financial creditors, for example, can’t touch your Social Security checks. But if Uncle Sam is collecting on a debt, some of your benefits are fai...
Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? My aunt has dementia, but they don’t know if she has Alzheimer’s disease, which is very confusing to me. Trying To Understand Dear Trying, Many people use the words “Alzheimer’s disease” and “dementia” interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. In fact, you can have a form of dementia that is completely unrelated to Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s what you should know. Dementia versus Alzheimer’s Dementia is a...
Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any specific auto gadgets you can recommend that can help senior drivers? Both of my parents are in their eighties and still pretty good drivers, but due to arthritis and age they’re very stiff, which causes them some driving problems. Researching Daughter Dear Researching, To help keep senior drivers safe and prolong their driving years, there’s a plethora of inexpensive, aftermarket vehicle adaptions you can purchase that can easily be added to your parent’s vehic...
Dear Savvy Senior, What resources can you recommend to help seniors with vision loss? My husband, who’s 76, has macular degeneration that has progressed to the point that he can’t do a lot of his routine activities anymore, and has become very discouraged. Looking for Help Dear Looking, Unfortunately, there are around 15 million Americans, like your husband, living with macular degeneration today. Over time, this progressive disease can rob people of their central vision, making everyday tas...
Dear Savvy Senior, What are the cheapest cell phone plans available to seniors today? I’m 78-years-old and want it primarily for emergency purposes. Infrequent Caller Dear Infrequent, While unlimited high-speed data, video streaming and mobile hotspot are now standard for most cell phone plans today, there are still a number of low-cost wireless plans designed with seniors in mind. These plans offer limited talk time and text, which is ideal for seniors who want to stay connected without s...
Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to go about making a living will? I recently retired and would like to start getting my affairs in order, just in case. Approaching 70 Dear Approaching, Preparing a living will now is a smart decision that gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life. Here’s what you should know, along with some resources to help you create one. Advance Directive To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you n...
How to Find Retiree Travel Perks Dear Savvy Senior, What types of travel discounts are available to older travelers? I just retired and am interested in learning about travel deals for people over 60. Ready To Go Dear Ready, There are literally thousands of different travel-related discounts available to retirees that usually start anywhere between the ages 50 and 65. These discounts – typically ranging between 5 and 25 percent off – can add up to save you hundreds of dollars on your next tri...
How to Choose a Good Estate Sale Company Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide some tips on how to choose a good estate sale company who can sell all the leftover items in my mother’s house? Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring, The estate sale business has become a huge industry over the past decade. There are roughly 22,000 estate sale companies that currently operate in the U.S., up nearly 60 percent from just 10 years ago. But not all estate sale companies are alike. Unlike appraisal, auction a...
‘Extra Help’ Program Helps Seniors With Their Medication Costs Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any special Medicare programs that help seniors with their medication costs? My 74-year-old mother, who lives primarily on her Social Security, takes several high-priced drugs that sap her income even with her Medicare drug plan. Looking for Assistance Dear Looking, Yes, there’s a low-income subsidy program called Extra Help that can assist seniors on a tight budget with paying for their premiums, deduct...
What You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about reverse mortgages for retirees? My wife and I are contemplating getting one but want to make sure we know what we’re getting into. Running Short Dear Running, For retirees who own their home and want to stay living there, but could use some extra cash, a reverse mortgage is a viable financial tool, but there’s a lot to know and consider to be sure it’s a good option for you. Let’s start with the basics. A...
How to Find Great Volunteer Vacations Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are approaching retirement and are interested in learning more about volunteer vacations. Can you give us some information on this travel option, and refer us to some good organizations that offer these types of trips. Love to Travel Dear Love, If you’re looking to do more on your next vacation than relax in the sun or go sightseeing, volunteer vacations – also known as voluntourism – which combine travel and volun...
New Shingles Vaccine Provides Better Protection for Seniors Dear Savvy Senior, A good friend of mine got a bad case of shingles last year and has been urging me to get vaccinated. Should I? Suspicious Susan Dear Susan, Yes! If you’re 50 or older, there’s a new shingles vaccine on the market that’s far superior to the older vaccine, so now is a great time to get inoculated. Here’s what you should know. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a burning, blistering, often excruciating skin rash t...
