Q: I've been living with diabetes for many years and find I tend to struggle during the holidays. I want to celebrate with loved ones but also stay on track with managing my disease. Do you have any tips for what I can do? A: The holidays bring lots of joy and...
Ask Joan: Sharing the Joy of Thanksgiving
Q: With so much happening in the world today, it sometimes feels hard to keep a positive outlook. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays. Do you have any advice to share about ways we can foster the joy of Thanksgiving? A: Thanksgiving is not...
Ask Joan: What you need to know about Open Enrollment
Q: I have been receiving mailings and flyers almost daily from insurance companies promoting their Medicare plans. I usually toss them in the trash without even looking over the information. I have good insurance through my husband’s retirement benefits package, so...
Ask Joan: Grandparents raising grandchildren need help
Question: My close friend was recently awarded full custody of her two young grandsons. She is a loving, devoted grandparent and shared with me that she is sometimes overwhelmed by her responsibilities. A friend suggested your agency might offer some...
Ask Joan: Seniors benefit from the power of pets
Question: When my husband died seven years ago, I got my dog, Lily, for companionship. I’m retired now and living on a fixed income. I’m worried I won’t be able to afford to keep her, and that would just be devastating to me. Is there a program out there that might be...
Ask Joan: Caregivers can get extra help at home with PCA Program
Question: I find myself struggling to care for my 76-year-old aunt , who lives with m y family and has severe arthritis. I feel I’m being squeezed between the responsibilities of taking care of my children and m y aunt. She requires a great deal of care, and I’m...
Ask Joan: Volunteering is healthy for you, your community
Volunteers are part of the lifeblood of our organization. We couldn’t do what we do without them, and I feel fortunate our agency benefits from their generosity. We’re not the only ones who benefit from their hard work. The people we serve in our communities certainly...
Ask Joan: October 7 is Ageism Awareness Day
Joan Hatem-Roy, CEO of AgeSpan For the past few months, we’ve been promoting ageism awareness with the slogan “Aging: So cool everyone’s doing it!”And everyone is!As the saying goes, time waits for no one, and aging happens to all of us, every day. We shouldn’t view...
Ask Joan: Long-term care ombudsman advocates for residents
Q: For several years, my mother was able to remain in her own home with the help of private pay aides. It became clear this would not be an option long term due to cost and her physical deterioration, so I moved her into an assisted living facility. I have since...
Ask Joan: Fear of falling can leave seniors at home alone
Question: About a month ago, my mother fell and hurt herself. Nothing serious, just a slight bruise, but now she’s apprehensive about leaving the house because she’s afraid she’ll fall again, and it might be more serious. I’m not sure what I can do to ease her...