Finally: Some good news on the COVID-19 front! The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which shows a 95 percent efficacy rate, as well as the Moderna vaccine with its 94 percent efficacy, are both being fast-tracked by the FDA for emergency use. There is optimism that they will receive approval in the U.S. any day now, and initial [...]
I hope you have been enjoying our new audio podcast, entitled “Aging is a Trip,” which takes a candid, but lighthearted look at numerous aspects of aging and retirement. Dr. Karen Wilson In a recent two-part interview, I was honored to speak with Dr. Keren Wilson, who has a Ph.D. in gerontology and [...]
If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you may have experienced some sticker shock. According to USDA forecasts, grocery prices are expected to increase an average of 3 percent this year. This surge is being led by beef prices, which are predicted to rise by 8 percent versus 2019 costs, as well as pork, [...]
In last week’s post, I discussed the importance of not only visiting the healthcare center at the continuing care retirement community (CCRC, or life plan community) you are considering, but also doing some due diligence research to ensure they will provide you with the quality of care you expect, should you ever need it. In [...]
As a follow up to my recent blog posts on the challenges of comparing continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and comparing rental retirement communities to CCRCs, I wanted to share with you the different ways that the term "independent living" is used in the senior living industry. Spoiler alert: It is a phrase that is [...]
Long-term care is generally defined as a range of supportive services needed to meet an individual’s personal care needs over an extended period of time. Often, long-term care is not medical care; instead, it is help with everyday personal tasks, sometimes referred to as activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), although [...]
Are there certain words that make you feel a certain way, triggering either positive or negative feelings? Family, work, home, taxes, and vacation might be a few examples. Working in the senior living space, I think a lot about the specific terminology that is used within our industry vertical, as well as the aging-related language [...]
Although Medicare is usually thought of as coverage for hospital stays (Part A) and doctor visits (part B), it also has an application to senior living. When I speak to groups of people who are considering moving to a retirement community—specifically continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)—I’m often asked how Medicare plays into the decision. [...]
When it comes to caring for an aging loved one, having family members by your side can be a tremendous help—mentally, physically, and financially. But there are also times when having to consider more than one opinion on an issue can cause great strife between relatives. We often see this challenge come up between adult [...]
In last week’s blog post, I discussed the steps you and your family can take in advance of a healthcare emergency to reduce some of the stress of a difficult situation—what’s referred to as “pre-crisis planning.” From exploring assisted living facilities in your area to working with an experienced financial advisor to prepare your assets, [...]
