What is hoarding and can it be treated?
Hoarding is a progressive and chronic condition. According to the International OCD Foundation, hoarding is a complex disorder made up of three connected problems: collecting too many items; difficulty getting rid of items; and problems with organization. Hoarding is not about the stuff someone has in their home. The stuff is a result of many…
Having meals delivered for seniors
Q: My father has a medical condition that makes him at risk for contacting COVID, and his physician has instructed him to remain at home as much as possible. I am worried about his nutrition. Is there a way he could receive meals delivered to his home? A: Our agency operates Meals on Wheels, a…
Concerns about voting
Q: This year, I am concerned about voting in person because of COVID and the flu season. Due to my age and chronic health condition, I am not going to take a chance on exposing myself by potentially being in long lines of people waiting to vote. Can you provide information on absentee voting? What…
Four Ways to Volunteer During COVID-19
We’ve been fortunate to have community members who have stepped up and helped out social services agencies like ours since the start of the COVID-19. Now, four months into the pandemic, the need for volunteers continues. “Initially, we received inquiries as to how a person could help,” says Sheila Hewitt, our Volunteer Coordinator. “People had…
Is it safe to keep a medical appointment?
Q: I have a follow-up medical appointment next month. This was scheduled the last time I saw my physician six months ago. I have been very careful avoiding people as much as possible ever since the pandemic started. I really don’t know if I want to keep the appointment and take a chance I could…
Discussing home care with parents
Q: Over the last few months my sister and I have been calling our elderly parents on a daily basis to make sure they are managing during these difficult times. We have begun to realize it may not be possible for them to remain living in their own home. They both have chronic health conditions…
Do I really need a will?
Q: Over the last several months, I have been thinking a lot about the future. If I get sick right now, I really don’t have my legal and financial affairs in order. I finally filled out my Advance Directive which I had avoided for a long time. I also put a relative’s name on my…
Finding the Light in the Time Zone of Now
Most of us have experienced the sensation of time passing more quickly than we realized. “Was that really three years ago? Seems like yesterday.” Or, the exact opposite; a faded memory of something having happened years previously, when in fact it was a more recent event. We are into this COVID period for close to…
Tips for elder airplane travel
Q: I will be moving my mother from out of state to a facility near where I live. She gets nervous if she is in a vehicle for any length of time so it seems the only way to relocate her is by flying. Due to her advanced age, dementia and frailty I am a…
Safeguarding our Mental Well-being During COVID-19
By now all of us have heard the guidelines and recommendations put forward by the experts regarding safeguarding our mental health. During the past months I feel I have experienced a range of emotions amongst my own circle of friends and family. “How are you managing?” “How are you feeling?” Questions which elicited answers…
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