Dear Savvy Senior: My aunt recently asked me to be the executor of her will when she dies. I’m flattered that she asked, but I’m not sure what exactly the job entails. What can you tell me about this? — Inquiring Niece Read more
Robert Johnson, who turned 100 in early July on a hot and sunny Florida day, barely hesitated when asked what he’d do if given another chance to go to Antarctica, the land of eternal ice and snow that he first journeyed to as a teenager. Read more
As hospitals care for people with COVID-19 and try to keep others from catching the virus, more patients are opting to be treated where they feel safest: at home. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: I understand that COVID-19 hits smokers a lot harder than nonsmokers, but quitting at my age is very difficult. Does Medicare offer any coverage that helps beneficiaries quit smoking? — Must Quit Read more
Stewy Carlo had a short life, but he lived every moment. While serving in the Army, he bought a 1951 Mercedes and motored around Europe. Read more
In April, as the coronavirus was rampaging through the Northeast, Larry Churchill considered what he would do if the pandemic caused medical shortages. Should he, a 75-year-old, direct care to younger people before him if he got sick? Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you recommend any services or technology that help me monitor my elderly mother who lives alone? Since the coronavirus pandemic started last March, my sister and I have noticed that my mom’s health has slipped a bit, so we would like to find something that helps us keep tabs on her when we’re not around. — Concerned Daughter Read more
Exercise may help change exercisers’ brains in surprising ways, according to a new study of physical activity and brain health. Read more
In a gym full of barbells, stationary bikes and other workout equipment, Nadar Atari is hunched over a table, pencil in hand, trying to finish a sudoku puzzle. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any financial assistance programs you can refer me to? The coronavirus pandemic has cost me my part-time retirement job and has shrunk my measly IRA account. — Needy Retiree Read more
A big study to help Medicare officials decide whether to start covering brain scans to check for Alzheimer’s disease missed its goals for curbing health care costs, calling into question whether the pricey tests are worth it. Read more
As the pandemic affects the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, one local community organization is doing everything it can to help people stay at home, fearing that the pandemic could take a disproportionate toll on an elderly population that maintains the language and culture of the tribe. Read more
One hundred and 14 days. That’s how long Mary Daniel went without seeing her husband after the coronavirus forced the banning of visitors from his nursing home, separating the couple for the first time since he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s seven years ago. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: Can you offer some good stretching tips for seniors who are staying home during the pandemic? I’ve gotten so stiff and achy in recent years that I have a hard time doing basic activities like bending over to tie my shoes. — Stiff as a Board Read more
Staying physically active comes with a whole host of health benefits for older adults, from maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints to potentially helping to reduce high blood pressure, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more
At Wansho Laundry in central Taiwan, most dirty clothes dropped off to be steamed or washed or dry-cleaned end up right back in the hands of their rightful owners, cleaner than when they arrived. Abandoned garments, however, can end up on Instagram. Read more
Dear Savvy Senior: What happens to a person’s possessions if they die without a will? I’m almost 60 years old and have never gotten around to making one, but the coronavirus crisis has made it a priority. — Will-less Willie Read more
Bertha Seavers quietly inspired countless Cairo children to develop a love of reading and learning during her decades- long career as a librarian. Read more
What to do about Lake Placid? For weeks, Dave and Nancy Nathan had been debating whether to proceed with a long-planned family trip to a lodge there next month, marking his 80th birthday. Read more
To help connect you and your mom virtually, there are various products on the market that offer simple video calling for seniors who have limited ability or experience with technology. Read more
The risk for cardiovascular disease may might begin to increase at blood pressure levels well below the currently defined guidelines. Read more
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