Ask Joan – Weekly Q and A Column

Q:  I retired last year and have been traveling and enjoying spending more time with my grandchildren. I have decided I would like to get involved with volunteer work. My professional background was focused on nutrition and food safety so I thought about the meals program for out town’s older adults. The town needed someone…

Q:  My parents both passed away within a few months of each other. I am now the power of attorney for my disabled younger brother. My parents kept him at home his entire life and cared for him by themselves. I am at a loss of how to get help for my brother. I did…

Q:  I always look forward to visits from family who live out of state. I enjoy cooking but when you live alone it doesn’t have the same appeal. When I knew the “gang” was coming I prepared all their favorite meals. My frustration level finally came to a boil a year ago. We would all…

Q:  My mother sold her home after my father passed away. She relocated to a smaller apartment in a nearby community and is having trouble meeting people. She was once very active in her church so I suggested she find a new congregation to join. Her strange comment was she didn’t need religion she needed…

Q:  I will be traveling to visit my mother for several days. Every time I am there she asks me over and over how long can I stay and when am I leaving. I know this is probably due to her Alzheimer’s diagnosis but it is enough to drive me crazy sometimes. How do I…

Q:  I am writing to get help for my brother. He has been a smoker for more than fifty years. He has tried quitting on numerous occasions but it never lasted beyond a week or so. He finally just gave up. His physician has told him he is in danger of losing his legs due…

Q:  During a recent trip I made a brief stop at an Interstate Rest Area. There was heavy traffic and the parking lot was crowded. After leaving the facilities, I hesitated for a moment because I realized I hadn’t taken notice of which aisle I had parked in (I was in a hurry to get…

Q:  One day last week an elderly neighbor showed up at my door in tears. She said her husband had left in the morning to run errands and hadn’t returned to fix her lunch…she was hungry. I brought her inside and she continued to tell me he gets angry with her all the time, closed…

Q:  Several of my friends have told me they heard we are getting new Medicare cards. Some are convinced this means the program is changing. Are they taking away any of our benefits we are currently getting? A:   There is no basis for their concerns at this point. Actually the reason for the new cards…

Q:  My husband is seriously ill and the long-term prognosis is not very encouraging. The physician involved in his care has decided he is not a suitable candidate for surgery due to his age. My adult children disagree and believe their father will not live much longer without the surgery. They are also upset with…