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This weekend, communities around the country will recognize and celebrate Juneteenth, an important annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Many of us were taught in school that slavery ended with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Unfortunately, in many parts of our country, the practice continued. On June…

Q: I live in an apartment in a small housing authority development. After paying my essential monthly expenses, I rarely have any money left. My neighbors are in the same situation. We especially worry about the cost of groceries. Do you have any ideas that could help us? A: An NBC news report earlier this year…

Q: My daughter and son-in-law both lost their jobs this past year due to the pandemic. They still haven’t found secure employment and decided it was best for their two children to move in with me. They needed an internet connection, which I had installed. However, the cost has become a hardship for me, and I’m…

Q: I have spent the last 15 months leaving home only for the most essential reasons. I occasionally saw close neighbors but always wore a face covering and kept a safe distance. Since I live by myself, this was a very lonely time. I felt fortunate to get the vaccine once it became available to people…

Q: Recently, I have begun experiencing pain in my knees, making it difficult for me to get up from a chair. A friend suggested I could have arthritis. I don’t know a lot about the disease beyond seeing it mentioned in ads for pain relievers on television. What should I do? A: Your question about arthritis is…

Q: Years ago, my parents met with an attorney to put their home and financial assets in a trust. I was named my mother’s health care power of attorney if my father became incapable of acting on her behalf. I didn’t give this much thought until my father died. Now, my mother is 95 years old,…

Q: My neighbor made the difficult decision to place her husband in a long-term care facility as his needs became more than she could handle. She visits him several times per week, and, on some occasions, has found him in unacceptable conditions. Now she is riddled with guilt about not keeping him at home. She hesitates…

Q: I am concerned about my sister. Her husband of over 50 years died six months ago. Several times when I have called, I noticed that her speech was slightly slurred, and a relative who lives nearby told me she has smelled alcohol on her breath. My sister had a drinking problem when she was much…

Question: Some of my friends are afraid of getting the COVID-19 vaccine because they think it will give them the actual disease. What can I tell them to ease their fears? Answer: This is a common fear among many who are hesitant to get the vaccine. According to healthcare officials, you cannot get COVID from…