Category: Resources and Tips

Trouble balancing is the most common reason seniors seek medical help Good balance is critical to staying active, independent, and to go about daily life. If you have good balance you can walk without staggering, and you are unlikely to fall while getting out of a chair.  If you’ve ever felt lightheaded or dizzy, you…

Natural disasters are devastating to families, businesses, and homes. The number one disaster threat to homes and families isn’t a dreaded Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. It’s not torrential rains and massive flooding.  It’s not even a colossal freeway pileup. Instead, it’s a tiny spark – that leads to a flame – that leads to a fire –…

Did you know that if you’re unhappy with your Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C), you have options? Each year, there’s a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31. During this time, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your health plan, you can do one of these: If you switch…

In response to the isolation seniors are facing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Council on Aging has developed our new Caring Connections program. Older adults are at the highest risk of developing more serious illness from COVID-19 and are being asked to be the most vigilant about social distancing. But, with our new…

The good news, winter’s here. The bad news, it’s cold and flu season. COVID-19 isn’t as seasonal but easier spread when more people are indoors. Staying safe and healthy should be one of your top concerns, especially if you are an older adult since the symptoms of COVID-19 can be more severe as you age. …

While you’re busy making holiday plans, the scammers are making their wish list. If you know what these con artists are up to, it’s easier to spot scams rather than fall for them. Unfortunately, seniors are a common target for fraudsters, especially during the holidays. Why? Seniors often have nest eggs, own their homes, excellent…

Medicare open enrollment is happening right now, and it’s important to understand exactly what Medicare is and which plans you can choose. Based on Medicare survey data 57% of all Medicare enrollees don’t review or compare their coverage options annually. The problem? You may not have the plan that best serves your needs. And the…

The single barrier to age-friendly communication with older people is how information is presented in the print form or audibly. The font size on text materials, mainly hard copy and visual displays such as television, can often be too small to read.  Product labels and instructions, particularly for medications, can be hard to decipher. Page…

Our in-depth, one-on-one Medicare insurance counseling sessions are designed to help older adults and their families, friends, and caregivers make the right Medicare choices. During open enrollment, Robert Cohen, a long-time SHIBA counselor for the CoA, helps hundreds of people make the right choices for each individual situation.  “I try to steer people in the…

The path of aging is complex, which is especially true during the pandemic era. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are on the rise and the lockdown has exasperated the problem. Many seniors don’t know where to turn. They didn’t plan to worry about surviving a pandemic. But life doesn’t come with a script or any…