Blog

Q:  I live in Newburyport and feel so bad for what happened in Lawrence and the other towns with the gas explosions. I am curious the impact that had on agencies like yours who work in Lawrence. Can you shed some light on how an agency like yours responds to such an immediate tragedy? A:  …

Q:  I will be returning to my hometown over the holidays. I have several older relatives (in their late 70s and 80s) who live in the area. I have heard there may be a few problems, people are concerned for their welfare. I am trying to gather information before I make the trip. How do…

Q:  My 92 year old mother lives in her home receiving 24 hour care. The two private workers have been with her for 18 months and are very responsible but I still worry. She lives in an area that is rarely in the direct path of a hurricane but often receives residual effects of a…

Q:  I have been widowed for a long time, a good friend is in the same situation. We are left out of some social events because we no longer have a partner. Neither of us really want to get married again but have talked about finding someone we could go out to dinner with and…

Q:  It was with great sadness I learned of the death of Senator McCain. I followed his career for many years. I was in college during the late sixties and watched television reports of the return of our prisoners of war from Vietnam. The Senator was a fighter in many arenas so it was mystifying…

Q:  I graduated with a bachelor’s degree more than 40 years ago. I had a very satisfying career prior to retirement. For a long time I have pondered about going back to school to further my education. No one who has heard me say this has given me any encouragement. The general comment is I…

Q:  My retirement income makes me ineligible for any subsidies or assistance. I still have to be careful and stick to a strict monthly budget since I have minimal savings. My biggest worry is the cost of my electric bill seems to keep going up each year. Do you have any ideas on how to…

Q:  I am a mature woman, I prefer that description rather than saying I am getting old. I am independent and the only instance I need to hire help is in my yard. I admit I have a slight mobility issue but I am not confused and believe I use good judgment. I frequently socialize…

Q:  The other day when I was picking up a prescription the pharmacist asked if I was interested in getting the new Shingles vaccine. He even volunteered to call my physician if I agreed. I had a vaccination for Shingles several years ago after suffering through the rash and I never wanted to have a…

Q:  Two years ago I attended my 50th high school reunion. It was wonderful to reconnect with people I haven’t seen since we graduated. There was a small number of classmates I recognized immediately and the appearance of others had changed dramatically. One common theme was weight gain. Recently my doctor suggested that I should…