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Q: My dad's hearing loss is leading to miscommunications with my mom, causing family frustration because he refuses to get a hearing evaluation. What can we do? A: Hearing loss can lead to significant misunderstandings within families, particularly for older adults who may struggle with communicating their thoughts and feelings. In many cases, this situation is compounded by a parent's reluctance to undergo a hearing evaluation, which can cause frustration for family members. Understanding the u...
As the days get shorter than the mercury in the old thermometer you still have outside, you may feel an urge to stay inside more. While it's natural to want to cozy up by the fireplace, too much sitting can seriously harm you. Let's talk about why staying active matters and how you can do it safely this winter. When we sit for long periods, our bodies get weak. Our muscles get smaller, and our bones become brittle. Blood doesn't flow as well, which can lead to dangerous clots in our legs. Our...
Dear Savvy Senior, What's the best way to find a good handyman or tradesman that can help with small jobs around the house? - Almost 75 Dear Almost, It's a great question. Finding a good home repair/handyman can be a bit of a crapshoot. How do you find someone who will return your calls or texts, show up on time, do the job right and finish it, all at a fair price? Here are a few tips and resources that can help you search. What kind of help While it may seem obvious, whom you call on for h...
Here’s a conversation I have had more than a few times. I'm talking to a new client, and she has decided to go with a living trust in order to avoid probate. I'm explaining a few things about the process, and I say “Along with your living trust, we'll be drafting a few other documents, including a power of attorney, a deed to put your home into the trust, a will…” The client interrupts. “What do you mean, a will? I said I want a trust, not a will!” “You’re getting a trust,” I explain, “but alo...
Q. My MacBook Air no longer starts up. During a recent system update the progress bar stopped midway through. I rebooted, only to be greeted with a giant circle with an exclamation point on the screen. A. Broken tech devices can trigger a wicked explosion of emotional upset. We pour so much effort into our devices. Failures are rare, but they do happen. So do mistakes, like accidentally deleting important information. When an error like this occurs, the best thing to do is to take a deep breath and remember that you have options. All is not...
Q. Where can I learn more about tech-related topics? I’m not interested in news as much as how-to guides and general knowledge. A. There are so many options available online that finding gems can seem overwhelming. So I’m going to focus on a couple of sites that are well suited for helping my readers refresh their skills. The first is TechBoomers, which has focused on tech for the last 10 years but recently changed their name to Tech Life Unity (techlifeunity.com). Senior Planet is a site from AARP that hosts hundreds of video classes on top...
You have no doubt seen recent ads about “house stealing.” This is a real thing, although I think “title theft” is the better term. They don’t actually steal your house; it is still sitting there, firmly attached to the ground. But potentially it could indeed cause you to lose your house. Here’s how it works. You can prove you have title to your house because there is a series of deeds in the public record, showing who owned the underlying property, and who they sold it to, and that sequence of...
Grandparents often play a profound role in a child's development and life, providing not just affection and guidance, but a link to family history. Their absence, however, can leave a void that lasts a lifetime. But what if a missing grandparent is a beloved celebrity, admired around the world-someone whose legacy is shared publicly, but whose presence is never personally experienced? In 1977, Jade Marx was just 3 years old when her maternal grandfather died. He was comedy legend Groucho Marx....
Q: My wife recently passed away. How do I live without her? I feel lonely and lost. A: My heartfelt condolences for your loss. The grief you are experiencing can feel overwhelming and unbearable. Heartbreak following the death of a loved one is challenging; it begins in the mind, but impacts the entire body, heightening stress and affecting your senses. What is happening After a significant loss—be it a death, job loss, divorce, or other major life transition—grief manifests in stages. It...
School is about to start, and I'm thinking about what it means to be a senior. Wearing the label "senior" makes you think about who you are and the kind of role you serve. Whether you're graduating high school or nearing your 80s, you serve as a role model to those younger than you. To me, the senior in my life who has inspired me the most is my Oma. Growing up spending time with her every Thursday was by far the highlight of the week. Not just because she is my Oma, but because of how...
Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are in our 50s and would like to know what resources you recommend for locating senior discounts, and what age do they kick in? - Frugal Fay Dear Fay, One of the great perks of growing older in America is the many discounts that are available. There are literally thousands of senior discounts on a wide variety of products and services including restaurants, travel and lodging, entertainment, retail, health, grocery stores, automotive services and much more....
Q: Have you heard about TikTok Shop? It is fascinating how my 72-year-old cousin has successfully sold her personally designed sweatshirts online through this platform. How does it work? A: TikTok Shop is part of the popular TikTok app, serving as an online marketplace where users can shop for various products and showcase their own creations. This platform enhances the shopping experience by making product discovery and transactions seamless and easy. TikTok is just one of the many pathways...
August is a month rich with family traditions-reunions, barbecues, road trips, and multigenerational gatherings that bring kids, parents, and grandparents together. For families with a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD), these visits can be both precious and challenging. Grandchildren may be visiting from out of town, eager to connect with grandparents they don't see often. For those living with memory loss, these visits can be a source of joy-but also...
It is a dangerous thing to try to summarize a complex piece of legislation. As I’m sure you know, Congress recently passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which runs close to 1,000 pages. Reading something that long would be difficult, even if it was a well-written, enjoyable book. “Les Miserables” is longer at about 1,500 pages, but a congressional bill will include a lot of secondary references, so it will say something like “8 US Code section 347(a)(4) is repealed” and if you want to unders...
Only about three out of every 10,000 Americans will reach the age of 100. Included in that rare longevity category is actress June Lockhart who tipped the century mark on June 25 this year. "I can't believe it either!" she told me recently. And no, it's not merely coincidence she shares a name with her birth month. Parents Gene and Kathleen Lockhart were both actors who married in June 1924 in Chicago. The following year, their only child was born – also in June. "They were expecting a boy w...
Q. How difficult is it to check out eBooks from the public library? A. There are a number of different methods to access library books on a device. One of the most commonly used is also one of the easiest to use: Libby. Not every library system supports Libby, so check your local branch before you move forward. Install the Libby app from your device’s App Store. Enter your library credentials, usually a card number and PIN number. If you need help with this step, ask someone at your local library for assistance. The Libby app allows you to b...
The Forget-Me-Not-Chorus is a musical gathering of people with dementia. They performed at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center June 6. This testimonial is from Jeanne Bussey, who is the caregiver for her partner, Ken Cassity. It was provided by Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska. I'm here today, accompanied by Ken, my forever partner, and Elaine, our good friend. Today I'm going to talk about the wonders of music. Ken and I were both lucky to grow up in families enriched by music, so we learned...
Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of legal documents do I need to help my family take care of me in my elder years? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help. - Approaching 80 Dear Approaching, All adults, especially an older adult like yourself, should have at least five legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family...
With the rising popularity of peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, it's crucial to protect yourself from fraud on these platforms. While these apps make transferring funds from one person to another quick and easy, they also increase the risk of scams. According to Forbes, P2P fraud losses reached an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022, and that number has only risen since. Transactions are instantaneous and usually irreversible, so knowing...
Q: Why do I feel like TV or online ads are trying to trick me into a certain way of thinking? A: Media has a significant and often subtle influence on our unconscious thoughts and actions, shaping our perceptions of reality, social norms and self-identity. Our unconscious mind holds a vast reservoir of thoughts, memories, emotions, and instincts that function outside our conscious awareness, continuously affecting our behavior. While the unconscious mind serves as the foundation, the conscious...
Our state brings us stunning scenery and the joy of wide-open spaces, but it also gives us harsh weather and natural disasters. Earthquakes, winter storms, wildfires, and flooding are all things to think about. Most of us have plans in place for our own safety, but what about our beloved pets? Dogs, cats, or other animals live with us, and it's just as important to plan for their safety, too. In an emergency, pets depend on us. Having a pet-friendly plan can make a big difference. If you have...
Released 60 years ago this year, "The Sons of Katie Elder" is often cited as a favorite amongst John Wayne fans. In addition to the delightful screen chemistry between Wayne and co-star Dean Martin as lead actors, the cast is a who's who of beloved classic film character actors including Paul Fix, James Gregory, Strother Martin, Rhys Williams, and John Qualen. And John Doucette. With his deep, rich, distinctive voice and rugged features, Doucette was a prolific supporting actor in more than 140...
Jim Irsay died recently, age 65. If you don’t know who Jim Irsay was, he was the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team. His father bought the team and moved it from Baltimore. Jim inherited the franchise and ran it for most of his life. Irsay had an estate which has been estimated at $4.8 billion, the Colts being the bulk of that at an estimated $4.4 billion. He was divorced and left his entire estate to his three daughters. This is going to be a problem for them. Under current law, e...
Q. Is there a quick way to open your most used app on an iPhone? A. Siri, the sometimes-maligned voice assistant, is generally fast at opening a named app. Skip the “Hey Siri” phrase and use the hot key to invoke Siri. The hot key is different on different iPhone models, but it’s usually the home button or the power button. On my phone, tapping the power button and saying “open camera” is faster than finding and tapping the camera icon. As long as I use the same name that appears under the app’s icon, it works nearly every time. If you just ins...
As our beautiful Alaska spring turns to summer, many people sneeze and sniffle more than their normal. Pesky seasonal allergies can make enjoying our gorgeous outdoors difficult. Let's go over helpful information about recognizing allergic reactions, treating them, and minimizing seasonal allergies. First, let's talk about how to know if you're having an allergic reaction. Mild to moderate symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery or itchy eyes, and itchy throat. You might also...
