Interim HealthCare Blog
Posted: 9/21/2017 8:12 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
I think I’m paying too much for the medications I take. I have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and my out-of-pocket spending is over $4,000 thus far in 2017. When and how can I change my Medicare drug plan?
Inquiring Carol
Posted: 9/14/2017 8:03 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
My wife and I are both in our late sixties and are looking to buy a new car. Can you recommend some good resources that can help us evaluate and choose a good car for older drivers?
Car Shoppers
Posted: 9/7/2017 7:53 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
Are there any services you know of that check in on elderly seniors who live alone. I worry about my 84-year-old father falling or having a medical emergency, and not being able to get to the phone to call for help. And he won’t wear a lifeline help-button.
Desperate Daughter
Posted: 8/31/2017 12:43 PM by
Interim HealthCare
A healthy living plan sounds extremely formal, but it's really just a framework for how you and your loved one are going to manage her overall health on her caregiving journey. It's an important conversation to have with your loved one and her medical team.
Posted: 8/29/2017 9:43 AM by
Interim HealthCare
As people age, they naturally experience sarcopenia – a fancy word for muscle loss. On average, people lose between 8 and 50 percent of their muscle mass as they age. Men tend to lose muscle faster. The problem with muscle loss is that it can lead to mobility problems, which can sometimes lead to older adults losing their independence. However, research shows that eating more protein may help r...
Posted: 8/24/2017 12:03 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
My elderly father gets over 100 pieces of junk mail every week, and I just discovered that he’s given away nearly $5,000 over the past few months to many of the solicitors that mail him this junk. Can you offer any tips on how can I stop this?
Irritated Son
Posted: 8/18/2017 12:36 PM by
Interim HealthCare
With the many changes taking place in your parent’s life, it is just one more difficult phase of the disease when it comes time for them to give up their driver’s license. But the time will come. The good news is that there are often a myriad of other transportation options and, in many cases, your parent will have been feeling uncomfortable behind the wheel and hesitated letting you know so as...
Posted: 8/17/2017 11:44 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
What resources can you refer me to for long-term care financial help? My 84-year-old mother needs assisted living or nursing home care, but we don’t have a lot of money and she doesn’t have long-term care insurance.
Searching Daughter
Posted: 8/14/2017 8:25 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Having had one heart attack is a scary proposition and it can make your loved one worry about the possibility of having a second one. Following some of these tips can help your loved one to reduce the risk that she might have a second heart attack.
Posted: 8/10/2017 11:34 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m interested in downsizing my smartphone wireless plan, and am looking for the best low cost options. I use my phone primarily for talking and texting, but also need some cellular data for checking my email and other functions when I’m away from WiFi. What can you tell me?
Senior Saver
Posted: 8/3/2017 11:24 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m worried about my 72-year-old mother who has been taking the opioid medication Vicodin for her hip and back pain for more than a year. I fear she’s becoming addicted to the drug but I don’t know what to do.
Concerned Daughter
Posted: 7/27/2017 1:59 PM by
Interim HealthCare
In your role as a family caregiver, your parent’s safety, health, comfort, and happiness are your highest priorities. You want to know that they are getting everything that they need to keep them this way as they age in place, and to help them to live the highest quality of life possible throughout their later years. In trying to make sure that you can achieve this for your parent, you might ha...
Posted: 7/27/2017 10:43 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’ve heard that there are free online search tools that can help people look for lost or forgotten money left behind by deceased relatives. Can you refer me? When my father passed away his financial affairs were in such a mess, I’m wondering if there was anything he left behind.
Wondering Daughter
Posted: 7/21/2017 12:20 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Being a family caregiver for an elderly loved one can be one of the most important and fulfilling decisions that you can ever make in your life. After all, this is a chance for you to give back to them for the care that they have given you, to show them that you love them, and to make sure that they are getting all of the care, support, and assistance that they desire and deserve. When entering...
Posted: 7/20/2017 10:40 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
Is regular heartburn or indigestion anything to worry about? My 60-year-old husband eats a lot of Tums or Rolaids throughout the day to help him manage it, but it keeps him up at night too. What can you tell us?
Inquiring Spouse
Posted: 7/17/2017 9:10 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Having a difficult time hearing what's going on around her can be really difficult for your loved one to deal with. It can also mean that communication is not as easy as it could be. Taking your time communicating and avoiding making the situation worse are all good first steps.
Posted: 7/13/2017 10:20 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
I just received my Medicare card in the mail and was surprised to see that the ID number is the same as my Social Security number. I know it’s a bad idea to carry around anything that displays my Social Security number because it makes me vulnerable to identity theft. Wasn’t the government supposed to stop putting Social Security numbers on Medicare cards?
New Beneficiary
Posted: 7/6/2017 10:08 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any auto safety products that can help seniors with older cars? My 80-year-old father, who drives his beloved 2004 Toyota Avalon, is still a good pretty driver but he has limited range-of-motion, which makes looking over his shoulder to back-up or merge into traffic very difficult.
Inquiring Son
Posted: 7/6/2017 8:32 AM by
Interim HealthCare
Mobility limitations are extremely common among elderly adults. If you are a family caregiver for a senior who is dealing with this time of difficulty, it is an important priority for you to help them cope with these limitations and approach their activities of daily living in a way that will keep their quality of life high while keeping them safe and secure. While there are many things that yo...
Posted: 6/29/2017 3:29 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Often part of the job of being a family caregiver is coordinating medical care and taking care of your parent’s important paperwork. Unfortunately, organizing important documents is sometimes forgotten until an emergency occurs. When that happens, it can be difficult to navigate your parent’s medical care and handle some other important decisions. If you haven’t already done so, getting your pa...