How to Enjoy Thanksgiving During a Pandemic-Pat Arter
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday meal to cook. Everything is from scratch, and the house smells amazing for days. My husband always rolls his eyes as I dig into the freezer at the store to find the biggest turkey available. I love leftovers, turkey sandwiches, and we always freeze some for soup. My […]
Holiday Volunteering in the Time of COVID-Christine Vanlandingham
Giving Thanks – Giving Back. That’s a good mantra for this or any time of year. While giving financial contributions to causes that are close to your heart is always valued, sharing your time and talents has special benefits, both for the recipients of your service and for you. Health experts at Mayo Clinic report […]
What is a Failure to Thrive (FTT) diagnosis and info on TV Medicare Plans
Q. My mother’s doctor gave a recent diagnosis of “failure to thrive.” My mom has always been petite and we haven’t noticed significant weight loss in her. What does this mean? A. In general, Failure to Thrive (FTT) happens when an older adult has a loss of appetite, eats and drinks less than usual, loses […]
Rediscovering the Joy of Cooking-Lynn Kellogg-October 24, 2020
Nearly thirty years ago I sat through a compelling talk by a futurist talking about how different clusters of age groups, or cohorts, viewed varied aspects of life. Having great respect for data but not being a statistician, I’ve always enjoyed hearing others lay out societal trends in a way that makes you think a […]
Love in Action-A Senior Volunteer Story – October 16, 2020
“People don’t talk to each other like they used to. You used to know your neighbors, and if you needed something you would help each other. When I have needed something, I used to be able to turn to my neighbors. That doesn’t happen anymore,” said 80-year-old Area Agency on Aging Senior Companion Volunteer Kaye […]
Professional Volunteer Online Class Host – Campus for Creative Aging
Region IV Area Agency on Aging/Campus for Creative Aging Professional Level Volunteer Position Description Classification: Professional Level Volunteer Reports To: Campus Coordinator Function: To assist Region IV AAA staff and volunteer teachers and coaches with online class management on Zoom and other online platforms allowing for increased consumer access to […]
The Restorative Power of Nature – Christine Vanlandingham – October 10, 2020
There’s something restorative about time spent in nature. I write this column from a fireside camp chair in one of Michigan’s majestic state parks. The weather and the setting have been worthy of a Pure Michigan ad campaign. Crisp weather and leaves beginning to show off their fall colors in earnest. Hiking through the dunes […]
Medicare Open Enrollment – Sara Duris – October 3, 2020
Q. My father has had the same Part D Prescription Drug plan for three years. His doctor put him on two new prescription drugs and suddenly his co-pay has increased. What’s going on and what can we do to lower his drug costs? A: How much someone pays for drugs through a Medicare Prescription Drug […]
Preventing Falls is an Important Part of Enjoying Life – Lynn Kellogg – September 18, 2020
My late husband was a role model for using common tools to prevent falls so that we could focus on enjoying life rather than fear of falling and recovery from injury. Many people seem to think falling is a normal part of aging, it’s not. Most falls can be prevented. We each have it within […]
How Foster Grandparents could still help students in 2020 – Pat Arter- September 6, 2020
In the last couple weeks, I have had the pleasure of talking with many of our Foster Grandparent volunteers. Our Foster Grandparent program is about 80 volunteers strong. These volunteers would typically spend 20-30 hours a week mentoring students in schools throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. These volunteers have a wonderful opportunity to […]