What’s the difference between Initial Enrollment or a Special Enrollment in Medicare?
By Sara Duris Q. What’s the difference between Initial Enrollment or a Special Enrollment in Medicare? A. When you turn 65, you are eligible to enroll in Medicare. This is your Initial Enrollment period, spanning seven months — the three months before you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after your birthday. […]
Foster Grandparent volunteer finds her purpose
By Alexandra Newman One of the things I value most about my role at Area Agency on Aging is getting to tell stories about how the programs we run impact lives. Sometimes I’m interviewing a client who lives independently in their home thanks to the MI Choice Waiver program, or a caregiver who got a break thanks to a respite program, or […]
Recognizing the diverse accomplishments of women during Women’s History Month
By Lynn Kellogg This weekend kicks off Women’s History Month. It’s a time to recognize the vital role women have played in shaping our society and knowledge while demonstrating ability to overcome obstacles. A new designation for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area caught my eye. It celebrates two remarkable women and an 1856 […]
Beyond the Diagnosis: Choosing Community for People Living with Dementia
By Christine Vanlandingham When someone is diagnosed with dementia, something unexpected often happens: their world gets smaller. Friends stop calling, invitations dry up, and well-meaning people aren’t sure what to say or do. One local individual told me, quietly and painfully, “All of our friends disappeared after my husband’s diagnosis.” That response—withdrawal, discomfort, silence—is common. […]
Local, free tax preparation assistance available
By Sara Duris There are two free tax preparation programs for older adults and low-income individuals to take advantage of this tax season. Both the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and AARP Tax Volunteer programs are available now through the end of March, with some programs open until Tax Day, April 15. […]
A safe place for male caregivers
By Alexandra Newman I recently overheard an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) care manager on the phone with the caregiver of a client. While I could only hear her half of the conversation, you could tell the gentleman on the other end of the phone was in distress. “You are not alone. You are not alone,” I heard her […]
Protest parallels
By Lynn Kellogg Amid extreme unrest, a protester’s sign in Minnesota hit home, “History is Screaming – Are you Listening?” So many ideas flashed through my head of the hard-fought gains and values we as a people had come to trust. Loss of treasured freedoms are being felt throughout the country. Loss of human and […]
The Power of a woven community
By Christine Vanlandingham We all have moments in life when the path forward suddenly feels uncertain — moments when strength and independence, which once felt effortless, begin to require more hands, more creativity, and more community than we ever expected. For sisters Angelia and Rose Michelle Jackson of Benton Harbor, that moment came after loss, […]
Being ‘dually eligible’ and treatment at nursing facilities
By Sara Duris Q. I’ve had the same chore provider for three years and now I found out they won’t get paid anymore. What is happening? A. I’m going to speculate that you have both Medicare and Medicaid insurance coverage, or in other words you are dually eligible. Individuals who are dually eligible can have […]
Together for health, home and community
By Alexandra Newman Life has become very segmented. You probably have several different streaming services to watch the television programs you like. You have to be on four or more social media platforms constantly to understand all the pop culture memes and references. You have to fact check your news across a variety of different sources. I find myself making lists for several different grocery stores based on pricing and product […]