Ask Joan – Weekly Q and A Column

Question: Every day, my mailbox is filled with advertisements about insurance plans to supplement my Medicare. I’m satisfied with my current Medicare plan, so why am I being hounded nonstop? Answer: Companies that offer additional coverage for Medicare beneficiaries are trying to increase their customer base. They are prohibited from calling you or visiting you at home…

Question: My elderly mother is currently in the hospital with both COVID-19 and a urinary tract infection. She has slowly been making progress and will soon be discharged. She remains frail and sleeps a great deal of the time but won’t require the level of medical care she has been receiving. Today, the hospital told me…

Question: I have a friend who says he feels “hopeless” about the world and life in general. He refuses invitations to get together, seldom gets dressed, and has even stopped watching his favorite sports teams on TV. How can I help? Answer: Many of us feel we are experiencing difficult times. Few people would turn on today’s…

Question: I know several people my age, 75, who use the internet regularly, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began. I’ve tested a desktop computer at the public library with the assistance of staff, but I can’t afford a computer at home. Are there any programs to help someone like me? Answer: Absolutely! Our agency is…

Question: My mother is becoming much more afraid of falling as she gets older. Some of her friends have had serious falls, and she’s worried she could be next. What can she do to ease her fears and help prevent her from falling? Answer: Your question is important and timely. This week is national Falls…

Question: I get a flu shot every fall and have had the COVID-19 vaccination. My primary physician recently said she had reviewed my vaccination history and recommended that I get a couple of booster shots. I am in my late 70s and wonder whether this is necessary. Where can I find information about the vaccinations…

Question: A friend of mine often compliments the care manager from your agency. She says he is an immense help in allowing her to remain living in her own home. Can you tell me a little about what a care manager does? Answer: I am always pleased when the good work of our care managers…

Question: I’ve just turned 55, but I’ve always been a planner. What can I do now to prepare my house for living in once I retire? Answer: Many of us want to age in place, to remain living in our own homes for as long as possible. But what if our homes are not the best place…

Question: When I was younger, I was an avid sun worshiper because I thought I looked better with a tan. After having several skin cancers, I cut back my time in the sun. Now that I’ve reached my 70s, I find that heat waves leave me feeling wilted. They never bothered me before, so I’m…

Question: My parents are getting older, and I would love to record an oral history. However, I don’t know where to begin and don’t want to seem too intrusive. Have you got any suggestions? Answer: It’s a recent trend in books and magazines to sum up subjects or periods of history by discussing a series of carefully—or…