Planning For Solo
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...
Understanding Advance Directives
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...
Loneliness: The Second Epidemic- Jeff Weinberg Featured on KDKA, Pittsburgh
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...
Moving Forward In the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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...
Who Pays For Medicare: The Basics
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...
The Perfect Storm: Preparing For Covid-19 During Hurricane Season
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...
May Was Mental Health Month
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...
I Am A Care Manager And This Is What I Do
"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 and Advance Directives: The Facts
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...
Making the Most of Virtual Physician Appointments
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...
When Death is Imminent...
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 Insurance: Know The Options
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...
COVID-19 Doctor Visits: What To Expect at Your Next Appointment
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...
Should I Stay or Should I Go: Elderly and At Risk During Covid-19
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...
Playing It Safe: Healthcare Visits During the Pandemic
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...