Living life with chronic conditions is like trying to walk through a revolving door in a hamster’s wheel! Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease, like heart disease and stroke, cancer, or diabetes. Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities…
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. You need both Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy. Some Medigap policies offer coverage when you travel outside the U.S. Generally, Medigap policies don’t cover long-term care…
Mental health can mean different things to different people. To me, mental health means being at peace in the moment. For someone that has struggled with anxiety and depression for more than half of their life, the feeling of being settled, still, and at peace is what matters most to me in this chaotic world…
Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The focus for 2022 is aging in place – how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible. The theme for 2022 is Age My Way,…
Region 3B Area Agency on Aging, d/b/a CareWell Services Southwest, is seeking inputfrom the public about the needs of and available services for seniors in Barry andCalhoun counties as a part of its FY 2023-2025 Multi-Year Plan (MYP) with the Bureauof Aging, Community Living and Supports, MDHHS-Health and Aging ServicesAdministration. All interested parties are invited…
You may have heard that Medigap companies are raising their premium rates. Most plans use “attained age” pricing tiers–as you age, your premium prices increase. This is because the odds of developing chronic health issues, needing health maintenance tune-up surgery, or supporting long-term health conditions with monitoring or rehab increases as you age. You can…
Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week (held annually on the third week of April) is a time to celebrate volunteers, recognize their impact, and encourage volunteerism in our communities. Community-based organizations across the country celebrate National Volunteer Week as a way to recognize “the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges.” Volunteering has social, mental,…
by Jen Rice, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Fighting cancer is a team effort that involves family, friends, and your care team. Don’t underestimate the strength that can come from having your support network by your side. Three out of four newly diagnosed patients say that they remember or understand little of what their healthcare team…
CareWell Services’ Friendly Phone Reassurance Program is back! This program exists to connect older adults who live alone, are homebound, or just need someone to talk to with caring and compassionate volunteers. Each participant will receive regular phone calls at a scheduled time from trained volunteers. The program’s goal is to combat social isolation and…
from Active Daily Living Everyone knows cleaner air means healthier bodies, but new research suggests it might also help aging minds. “Our study is important because it is one of the first to show that reducing air pollution over time may benefit the brain health of older women by decreasing their likelihood of developing dementia,” said study…
From CareWell’s Daily Active Living Newsletter Older adults’ risk of falling may have increased during the pandemic due to declines in physical activity and mobility, along with increased isolation, a University of Michigan poll shows. Many also became more fearful of falling, which, in turn, can increase the risk. “Taking steps now to reduce fall…
The brief December respite from Medicare Advantage Plan TV commercials is over. Starting January 1, Medicare Advantage insurance plans have until March 31 to convince current plan users to switch between Medicare Advantage Plan companies. For these first three months in 2021, Medicare Advantage plan users can switch either to another Medicare Advantage Plan, or…
By Carl A. Gibson For some people at certain points in time, being a part of the senior center community exemplifies a jigsaw puzzle experience. The emphasis, however, is not on the game as puzzling, but on coming together with new and long-standing friends, all of whom were new at some point in time. These…
When starting your genealogy search, it is important to understand what you are up against. Our histories are a fickle thing. Sometimes individuals may be looking for their parents or other long lost family members. Others think they know all about where they came from, only to find out that they were given inaccurate information.…
Maintaining healthy eating habits is important at all stages of life, but as we age we may experience some unexpected barriers that make these habits more difficult. There are several ways to make healthy eating easier as we adapt to changes in schedules, health, and ability. Here are a few tips to incorporate as we…
If you qualify, Original Medicare covers vaccinations at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. This means you pay nothing (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover vaccinations without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements for the service. Always ask if a provider participates with…
On Thursday, December 9, 2021, Forks Senior Center (FSC) will be holding their Annual Membership Meeting. All Forks Senior Center members are encouraged to attend. The meeting will take place at the Forks Senior Center at 101 N. Albion Street in Albion at 3:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. If members are unable to attend…
Mental health plays a considerable role in overall health and wellbeing, and only recently are many of these conditions being normalized brought to the forefront in the media. Many challenges surround the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions including identifying risk factors, increasing awareness, receiving proper treatment, removing the stigma, eliminating health disparities, and…
The annual Part D Deductible for 2022 may be as high as $480 for some Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage with Part D drug plans. In 2021, the highest deductible was $445. A deductible, in simplest form, is the amount you must pay out of your pocket before the insurance will kick in and…
We believe every person should be able to maintain their health, independence, and choice as they age. No matter what that looks like for you or the older adult in your life, it’s possible. Aging presents new and unique challenges. These challenges are easier to face when you understand them. However, there’s so much information…
