Aging Well in the Gorge November 15th 2016
What is your picture of a drug addict? A young man on a street corner shooting up heroin? But did you ever think it could it also be the 75-year-old grandmother addicted to OxyContin since recovering from back surgery? It may not be the picture you imagined, but the overuse of prescription painkillers can be […]
Aging Well in the Gorge November 8th 2016
This coming Friday is Veterans’ Day – a day set aside to honor those men and women who served our country. (In Oregon, one-fourth of veterans are 65 and older.) You can show your appreciation and support during the Veteran’s Day Parade which will follow the usual parade route beginning at 11am – or you […]
Aging Well in the Gorge November 1st 2016
What do businessmen Warren Buffett and Bill Marriott; entertainers Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Anthony Kennedy, plus fourteen US Senators including John McCain and Bernie Sanders have in common? They are all working past the age of 75. And yet the Oregon Constitution requires all judges […]
Aging in the Gorge October 25th 2016
Imagine you are the director of a local non-profit and you want to celebrate your organization’s thirty-year anniversary. What would you do? Invite all the local elected officials to a community party with free cake and ice cream? Take out a full page ad in the newspaper? Good ideas, but One Community Health, a local […]
Aging Well in the Gorge October 18th 2016
Last month I mentioned the Aging in the Gorge Alliance (AGA) – a recently formed grass roots association whose goal is to create local communities that promote and foster the well-being of elders through education and advocacy. One of their first initiatives is the “Community Reads” project. They raised enough local funds to purchase and […]
Aging Well in the Gorge October 11th 2016
In a few days Medicare Open Enrollment starts. And in preparation you should have received your “Annual Notice of Changes” which describes any changes in your current Medicare plan for 2017 such as cost, coverage, and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks. It is strongly recommended that you review those changes to make […]
Aging Well in the Gorge October 4th 2016
According to LongTermCare.gov, 70% of people turning age 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives. Often that care is provided by paid in-home care professionals. To find an in-home caregiver, you can contact one of the home care businesses in the Gorge. Or you can hire your own caregiver […]
Aging Well in the Gorge September 27th 2016
Most of us want to stay in our own homes as we age, but we also want to stay safe. And staying safe includes making sure your smoke detectors are installed and working. I was reminded of the importance of smoke detectors several weeks ago when my wife and daughter drove by the house fire […]
Aging Well in the Gorge September 20th 2016
While laying back in the dentist chair as I’m getting my teeth cleaned, I couldn’t help but notice the poster taped to the ceiling (inventive way to take advantage of a captive audience!) for the ”I AM…” photo shoot. “I AM…” sponsored by Keilman Dental Clinic, offers students, teachers and community members a unique opportunity […]
Aging Well in the Gorge September 13th 2016
It’s that time of the year. I’m not talking about the weekend football games or the disappearing daylight, but flu season. Seasonal flu outbreaks can start as early as October, and most often peaks between December and February. Flu is a particular concern for older adults, because while the flu was once a nasty […]