Dear Savvy Senior: My 75-year-old mother is currently taking 16 different prescription and over-the-counter medications, and I’m worried she’s taking way too many drugs. Can you suggest any resources that can help us? —Worried Daughter Read more
A lot can be hidden behind a marriage. For Brad and Cyndi Marler, it was that they are both gay. Read more
Highway safety experts have long been concerned about a possible epidemic of accidents and fatalities as people in their 70s, 80s and beyond continued to drive. The children of older drivers have worried along with them, sometimes going to extremes to commandeer the keys of their aging parents when reasoning fails to get them off the road. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: I have arthritis in my hips and knees and have a difficult time getting around. What do I need to do to get a Medicare- covered electric-powered scooter or wheelchair? — Need a Ride Read more
If the public has learned anything about medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that science is constantly evolving. New findings can change how experts define a given illness, as well as how they diagnose, prevent and treat it. Read more
In her 40s, Dierdre Wolownick taught herself to swim. In her 50s she took up running. Then, at 60, she became a rock climber — and not just any rock climber. Read more
That warm day in June 2013, West Baltimore neighborhood leader Marvin L. “Doc” Cheatham was campaigning for the House of Delegates on the other side of town when he heard someone calling him: “Doc!” Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: When my dad died, we thought he had a life insurance policy, but we have no idea how to track it down. Any suggestions? — Searching Son Read more
Dear Mayo Clinic: I just turned 65 and had my annual physical. This year, my doctor recommended that I receive a high-dose flu vaccine. Why do I need a high-dose vaccine? Read more
Anne Cotton had enjoyed her years at an assisted- living facility in Corvallis, Ore. But at 89 her health problems began to mount: heart failure, weakness from post-polio syndrome, a 30-pound weight loss in a year. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you recommend any resources that offer help to family caregivers? I’ve been taking care of my 86-year-old mother and could use some help. — Burned-Out Brenda Read more
I hadn’t expected the tears. My primary care doctor and I were saying goodbye after nearly 30 years together. “You are a kind and a good person,” he told me after the physical exam, as we wished each other good luck and good health. “I trust you completely — and always have,” I told him, my eyes overflowing. Read more
Sometimes, seemingly small changes in a health measurement can make a large difference to people’s well-being. Such is the case with the effect on blood pressure of the essential nutrient sodium, the problematic half of the popular flavoring agent sodium chloride, commonly known as salt. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you tell me about stomach aneurysms? My father died from one about 10 years ago, and I’m wondering whether that can increase my risk of developing one myself. — Almost 60 Read more
LaVonne Borsheim’s family could not understand why she was suffering such intense pain. Read more
Dr. Stanley Wang, a cardiologist at Austin Heart Central at the Heart Hospital of Austin, has been sending his patients the same message for months: If they get COVID- 19, they are among the highest-risk patients for severe disease and hospitalization. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Do you know of any financial assistance programs that can help seniors with home improvement projects? I would like to help my grandparents make a few modifications to their house so they can continue living there safely, but money is tight. — Searching Grandson Read more
In May, Vincent Keenan traveled from Chicago to Charlottesville, Va., for a wedding — his first trip out of town since the start of the pandemic. Read more
Say you’re a 65-year-old looking ahead, wondering about your health and your finances, pondering what life might be like in 20 years. Read more
Dear Mayo Clinic: My friend’s father recently died from a medication error. One of his prescriptions was filled incorrectly and caused a fatal reaction. I take multiple medications for various conditions. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Is it important to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans every year? My pharmacist highly recommends it, but it’s such a hassle sorting through all those different plans. Is there an easier way to shop and compare Medicare drug plans? — Lazy Beneficiary Read more
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