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Friday, November 14, 2025

Gift Ideas to Help Seniors Stay in Touch Over the Holidays

 



Spread the love and stay connected with adaptive phones and remote tech support subscriptions. 


When parents, grandparents, and older loved ones are spread across the country or globe, family members find creative ways to stay in touch–and that’s especially important around the holidays. Hearing or vision loss can make keeping in contact more challenging, but the technology is out there to help any older adult use a phone to communicate via audio, text, and video. 

The Ooma Senior Phone Bundle uses your home internet to provide a home phone experience with features tailored to older adults. It includes large backlit buttons, photo-dial keys, a loud ringer, visual ring indicator, and hearing aid compatibility. There’s built-in scam blocking thanks to the extra device, called Ooma Telo, that connects to the Internet and blocks common scams. You can also set it to send all unknown callers directly to voicemail. For family members worried about older adults living alone, Ooma’s address-based 911 will be a welcome feature; while cell phones only give a general idea of the caller’s location to 911 operators, the Ooma provides a registered home address. It will also place automated alerts to family if the Ooma user calls 911. Their customer support is well-reviewed and trained to provide service to older adults; users can call the “Concierge” service 24/7 for setup or help. But this service costs $14.99/month. The Senior Phone Bundle, which includes the adaptive Clarity phone and Ooma Telo Internet-connected device, sell for $159.99.

The company Hamilton Captel offers captioning telephones that can be game changers for people with hearing loss. One user shared, “I now initiate telephone conversations instead of requesting my spouse to speak for me.” One of their best sellers is the CapTel 2400i, a captioning landline phone that displays word-for-word captions of everything said on a call, in real time. It features a large, backlit touchscreen display with adjustable font sizes, colors, and the ability to scroll through captions. The phone amplifies audio with tone control and hearing-aid compatibility, and includes a strong speakerphone for hands-free calls. It also includes a built-in answering machine that captions messages, a directory that can store more than 90 contacts, and speed dial and “dial-by-picture” features. The phone itself and the captions service is free for eligible users, funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Users can choose between Auto Captions (computer-generated) and Assisted Captions (human-assisted) modes.

The Jitterbug Smart4 from Lively is a smartphone tailored for ease of use. It presents a single, simplified list menu with large, readable text so the user isn’t overwhelmed by many icons or nested menus. But it runs on Android and can download apps from Google Play store–it’s still a smartphone, just easier to use. The Jitterbug supports voice typing, which makes text messaging easier for people with limited hand mobility. There’s also real-time call captioning, so during phone calls, spoken words appear as text. The device has loud, clear dual speakers, long battery life up to 37 hours of talk time, and fast charging. The phone itself costs $119.99 from Lively (cheaper prices may be available from box stores like Best Buy), and users need to choose a Basic, Preferred, or Premium Lively plan, starting at $19.99/month plus data. A nice thing about these plans is that they all come with 24/7 emergency assistance and transportation support in the form of agents available to answer tech questions or schedule users a ride with Lyft. 

Adding Tech Support Makes for a Truly Thoughtful Gift

Remember, you can make remote support and setup assistance part of any gift. If it’s available but not already included, make the first call/setup session part of the present. Depending on the gift and the senior’s level of tech savvy, you can also create a written quick guide to accompany the new gift (e.g. “To call grandkids: press green button, then choose name”). This is especially thoughtful if you can’t be there in person to present the gift. 

There are also services that provide tech support that meets the specific needs of older adults. Here are three: 
  • Cyber Seniors is an international non-profit that pairs young people with older adults for personalized tech support. The youth gain experience with tech and tutoring, seniors gain free help with tech problems on their own schedule, and everyone benefits from the intergenerational connections. Seniors can link up with volunteers for free through local Area Agencies on Aging or other nonprofits that license with Cyber Seniors. 
  • Candoo Tech has featured in this newsletter before because it’s one the best-known tech service attuned to the needs of older adults. Plans start at $19/month for unlimited tech support for a wide variety of devices. Subscribers also gain access to Candoo’s library of tech support workshops and videos.
  • The Smarter Service offers customized memberships to meet the needs of individuals, senior centers, and senior living communities. Plans start at $20.83/month and can include device support, help with travel planning and online ticketing, help with smart home monitoring and security, and help with password management, social media, and more. Depending on your area, they can even offer in person support. 

We want our loved ones to be able to pick up the phone and call. All these gifts have the potential to help make it happen: less frustration and more connection this holiday season.


Additional Sources:


Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Resources That Make a Difference for Veterans

 



As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, here are veterans benefits that every CSA should know about. 


Some CSAs grew up in military families or served in the military themselves, and others aren’t as familiar with the challenges and unique needs of military families. As CSAs, our clients almost certainly include veterans, and possibly veterans who are eligible for a suite of services that they aren’t yet taking advantage of. Only 45% of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries use more than one VA benefit. 

This Veterans Day, make it your business to get to know some of these benefits. For certain clients and their families, they could be life-changing.

In a 2024 CSA Journal article, Carmen Perry-Tevaga provided readers with a guide to the Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension available to eligible active-duty veterans and their surviving spouses through the VA. The A&A Pension is designed to help veterans cover the cost of long-term care, whether that’s in-home nursing care or assisted living. In 2024, the maximum annual pension rates under this program were: 
  • Single veteran: $27,549
  • Married veteran: $32,433
  • Surviving spouse: $17,935
A person may be eligible if they need assistance with activities of daily living, are housebound, live in a nursing home, or have severely limited vision. 

The A&A pension is a needs-based benefit, meaning the VA evaluates applicants based on financial need to determine eligibility. As of last year, an applicant’s net worth needed to be $150,538 or below; this number changes every year. 

According to Perry-Tevaga in her recent article, the A&A pension can provide financial relief, improved quality of life, and support for surviving spouses–and yet, many people who may be eligible don’t try to take advantage. 

Through the Disability Housing Grants program, the VA offers veterans and service members “with certain service-connected disabilities so they can buy or change a home to meet their needs and live more independently.” A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant provides financial assistance to veterans who need to retrofit their home to allow them to live there with certain service-connected disabilities. In 2025, the maximum grant amount is $121,812, and other related grants are available for people who meet additional eligibility requirements. 

Help for Caregivers

The VA also offers programs that provide essential support to the caregivers of veterans. Respite Care provides short-time care for veterans who live at home, to provide a break for family caregivers. The Home Respite Care program pays for short-term in-home care of a few hours, and Nursing Home Respite Care pays for the veteran to stay in a care community for a few days while the family is out of town. 

In some locations, Adult Day Health Care may be available for veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living. These programs provide a place for older adults to go during the day for companionship and recreation, while allowing caregivers to work at their jobs or rest. 

Help with All the Paperwork

With all these and other benefits, the paperwork involved can feel overwhelming and constitute a barrier to accessing the service or grant. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can assist with the paperwork, for free. Indeed, it’s highly recommended that veterans take advantage of this service in order to avoid delays in the application process. They’ll also help with tracking applications and appeals processes, when necessary.
    
Applicants will need to provide their service record and all the other documents that determine eligibility–a Veteran Service Officer can help you determine what those documents are and where to find them. The National Veterans Foundation provides a list of federal, state, and independent agencies that provide Veteran Service Officers. 

More Non-VA Benefits

Most veterans are probably aware of the Wounded Warrior Project, but it’s worth taking a look at all the many resources they offer, including peer support groups, financial counseling, and the Independence Program, which can provide direct care and support to eligible wounded veterans who served post-2001. Similarly, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) serves veterans and their families by assisting them with accessing VA benefits plus counseling, transition services, and entrepreneurship support. 

Here are two other non-governmental resources that many veterans and their families may not know about: First, VetTix honors service members by offering free tickets to a variety of sporting events and concerts–all donated by the venues. Their mission is to help veterans “reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build life-long memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life.” In 2024, they gave out 6.6 million tickets to veterans and their families, and they have over 3,500 open events on their website. The tickets include NFL, MLB, theater, stadium concerts, comedy tours, and more. Second, GOVX supports a variety of nonprofits that serve veterans and families, and they also host a clearinghouse of discounts available to servicemembers, from event tickets to gym memberships to streaming subscriptions. 

While there’s no doubt that older veterans and their families need even more benefit options at the federal, state, and local levels, many of our clients aren’t taking advantage of the benefits that are already out there. CSAs can help make sure these clients aren’t missing out on thousands of dollars.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.




Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Understanding RSV

  



Flu season is in full swing, and that also means an elevated risk of RSV, especially for older adults. 


Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) only recently entered the public consciousness in a big way, but it’s been a major concern for doctors and researchers around the world for decades. Children and healthy adults who contract the RSV virus will usually experience mild cold-like symptoms. But infants, adults with weakened immune systems, and older adults are at risk of developing life-threatening illness, similar to a severe flu. RSV hospitalizes 159,000 adults over 65 in the U.S. each year, and between 10,000 to 13,000 die from RSV infection. 

What should older adults know about RSV and the vaccines that are now recommended to prevent RSV infection and severe illness? 

RSV Risk and Symptoms

RSV is a common virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It causes upper and, in severe cases, lower respiratory infections. 

According to the CDC, adults with the highest risk for contracting severe RSV include: 
Adults ages 75 and older
Adults with chronic heart or lung disease
Adults with weakened immune systems
Adults with certain other underlying medical conditions
Adults living in nursing homes

In mild cases, people will notice cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and a low-grade fever. In severe cases, RSV spreads the lower respiratory tract and causes symptoms including: 

  • Fever
  • Severe cough
  • Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
  • Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
  • Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Unfortunately, RSV is just as easy to catch as a common cold. It passes from person to person through the air or direct contact, and can also survive for hours on hard surfaces. It enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth. Best practice for preventing RSV infection is the same as the common cold or flu: wash your hands often, avoid sharing drink or food with others, and keep surfaces clean. And, just recently, there’s also an effective vaccine available for RSV.

A New Vaccine Option

The RSV vaccine is quite new: two RSV vaccines were approved by the FDA for the first time in 2023. In clinical trials, the vaccine had a 94% effectiveness rate in preventing severe disease in older adults. In the trial, severe disease was defined as needing a ventilator or supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The 2023 approvals were at least 60 years in the making. “RSV has been one that’s taken us a while to be able to unlock its mysteries and secrets,” said Dr. Steven Varga, a researcher and dean at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital whose career has been devoted to the search for an RSV vaccine. “It’s a really exciting time,” he told CNN. “It’s been a long time coming.”

The CDC recommends that everyone over 75 get an RSV vaccine, and that adults over 50 talk with their healthcare provider about their risk factors and consider getting the shot. The three vaccines available are Abrysvo, Arexvy, and mResvia. The CDC does not recommend one over the others. 

Unlike the flu and COVID shots, the RSV vaccine is currently a one-time shot. So, if you already got it in the last two years, there’s no need to get another one. With more research, this recommendation may change in the future, when CDC determines how long effective protection from the vaccines lasts.

Side effects from the vaccine are similar to those associated with other vaccines: most commonly, mild redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, and fever, headache, and nausea may also occur.

The best time to get an RSV vaccine, if you’ve never had one, is in the late summer or early fall. But the incidence of severe disease peaks in December and January, so there’s still time to talk with your healthcare provider about getting shot before the holidays.

If you do catch RSV during the holidays, and symptoms are mild, at-home remedies for the common cold will likely help: drink plenty of water, use throat lozenges, and get as much rest as you can. 


Additional Sources:


Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Monday, November 10, 2025

For a Longer Life, Give Thanks

 




An "attitude of gratitude" may be a cliche, but the truth is, having one can actually lengthen your life. 


Before digging in to the turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, many families will pause and share something they’re grateful for. According to scientists, bringing that Thanksgiving spirit and practice into the everyday can help people live longer and healthier lives. Here are some research-backed reasons for cultivating an attitude of gratitude year-round, and how to commit to the practice.

Gratitude Is Powerful

When scientists study the health and longevity benefits of gratitude, they’re usually referring to a practice of focusing on what we have, rather than what we don’t have. In other words, practicing gratitude means emphasizing what is, rather than what is not. Like a mindfulness practice, a gratitude practice is about bringing our attention to what’s around us in a non-judgemental way.

In a recent study of female nurses between 69 and 96 years old, researchers found that those who felt gratitude more often had a 9% lower risk of mortality within three years. That effect emerged after adjusting for other factors like physical and mental health, social connectedness, socioeconomic status, and religion. One of the authors of the study, Tyler VanderWeele, is co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge," VanderWeele told Harvard Women’s Health Watch. "But what's remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what's around them and express thanks to others for what's good in their life."

Indeed, for such an accessible intervention, gratitude’s positive effects on health are pretty amazing. Experiencing gratitude on a regular basis has been shown to support cardiovascular health; in one study, people with a gratitude practice experienced an improvement in symptoms like inflammation, and were more likely to stick to treatment goals. In a meta-analysis of 64 clinical trials, researchers found that individuals who practiced gratitude had lower rates of anxiety and depression. 

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas studies well-being at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is unfair to demand gratitude from anyone if they’re feeling particularly impoverished,” she said in an interview with CNN.  “But it’s not unfair to point out some of the simple and easy immediate factors that are actually a source of goodness. It could be the feeling of warm sun through a window on your shoulder…it’s just a matter of really noticing that there are things around you, even in moments that are difficult.”

How to Cultivate Gratitude Daily

Everyone feels gratitude spontaneously sometimes, but the real health benefits emerge for those who cultivate gratitude with intention. Here are a few ways to practice.

Stopping and Noticing: LIke Dr. Simon-Thomas suggests, pausing to notice the goodness in everyday moments is a form of gratitude practice. Any mindfulness technique will bring the same effect. To remind yourself to stop and look for the good, try connecting this new habit with something you already do everyday. For example, instead of using your morning coffee time to doomscroll or watch the news, use that time consistently to pause and notice the good things your senses are telling you. The smell of coffee, the sound of birdsong, the chill of the autumn air, the comfort of your favorite chair… all these are available for the noticing.

Ask Yourself Three Questions: Pick three questions to ask yourself every day to generate a sense of gratitude. 
What sensations am I grateful for in this moment?
Who has given me something recently–a gift, kindness, their time?
What is bringing me comfort?
What art/book/movie/media gave me happiness today?
What am I looking forward to? 
You might decide to keep a gratitude journal: writing down your answers can help you remember to practice, and re-reading weeks of entries can bring back grateful feelings all over again. It’s also fine to simply write the questions on a post-it note and place it in a spot you’ll see every day. To improve health and well-being, the important thing is consistency, to build up an orientation of gratitude.

Write a Thank-You Note: When a particular person comes to mind during your gratitude reflection, consider letting them know you’re thankful for them by writing a note or email. VaderWeele, one of the recent study authors, says, "I do think writing a thank-you note or gratitude letter gets your mind to dwell on something positive for a longer period, to think more deeply about it, because you have to put it not just in words, but in writing." Plus, "It also deepens the relationship and builds that bond."

Gratitude doesn’t cost a thing, and it makes a real difference. This Thanksgiving season, take a few moments out of the busyness to let that gratitude in. 





Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Thursday, November 6, 2025

It's Never Too Late: Two New CSAs Share Their Journeys to Certification

   



Senior Spirit sat down with two freshly-minted CSAs to chat about the experience of gaining the CSA certification in their 80s.


After months of study, this summer, Robert Clark, 85, and Richard J. Young, 81, each earned their certifications to become members of the CSA class of 2025. If you weren’t lucky enough to take the class with them (or if you were!) read on to learn about the troves of professional and personal experience that Bob and Rick bring to their roles as CSAs.

Rick, a Michigan native, worked in sales and marketing at Ford for 23 years. Then he got into the retail automobile business, working for several Ford dealers in various positions before starting a leasing business of his own. As they were nearing traditional retirement age, Rick’s late wife, whose career involved supporting the developmentally disabled community, shared with him a conviction she had: that there was something they could do with their talents and abilities that would enable them to give back and really help people. 

“We wanted to give back, and that was our major driving force to go into this business,” Rick said. “We saw a real need.” As they researched the options, they decided that a CarePatrol franchise would be a great fit for them. CarePatrol helps people determine their needs and move into safe, care-appropriate and affordable care communities. The process is highly relationship-driven, and there’s no cost to the families. 

“At first it was a little bit difficult for me, because I had come from an automobile sales position, and this is not a sales position,” Rick said. “This is a care position.” He strives to learn everything he possibly can about each client in order to offer them the best placement options–work he finds to be challenging but highly rewarding. “There's a great deal of self satisfaction when…I can look at a client, and say, let me take that burden off your shoulders, let me carry it for you. We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and we want to carry your issues and your problems.” Rick and his wife ran the business together until she passed away a few years ago. Today, Rick works with a stellar employee who lives in a neighboring Michigan county.

As for Bob, a native of Southern California, he started his career with a stint on a mountain rescue team and then moved into insurance sales. Bob joined Toastmasters International to strengthen his skills in sales and found that the experience helped him connect with people at every level; he’s now been an active member for over 55 years.

Bob started a career in financial planning when it was still called “coordination of assets” and built a successful practice. In the 90s, he served as an in-house analyst for an insurance litigation firm. Volunteer service has always been important to him, too; Bob was a hospice volunteer for Scripps hospital, an ombudsman for San Diego County, and a facilitator for an international men’s organization. These days, in Las Vegas, he works mostly with seniors, providing education through the Socratic method; that is, asking questions to drill down to the essence of what the person really needs. 

Becoming a CSA

Bob is a consummate lifelong learner. With an eclectic home library of over 2,000 books, “There’s not too much that I'm not interested in,” he says. “I don’t have to be an expert in it, but I want to have a pretty good understanding and be able to have an intelligent conversation.” Over the course of his career, he’s earned a number of certifications, including Certified Life Coach, Certified Long-Term Care Professional, and Certified Mediator. This summer marks the second time Bob completed the CSA course: the first time was back in the early days of SCSA, and his certification lapsed around 2008. 

While preparing for the CSA certification this time around, Bob committed to studying from 6:30am to 3:30pm, six days a week for three months. He also noticed something new about the course content on older adults. “When I started the CSA program,” he said, “it was like, they’re talking about me. They’re taking this information to deal with the people out there. I’m one of the people out there.” 

As CSAs in their 80s, Bob and Rick are serving and advising their generational peers. Bob described the advantage this gives as the difference between sympathy, or feeling for someone, and empathy, or feeling with someone, through experience. “People in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, sometimes even 60s, are looking into a fog bank when it comes to the aging process,” Bob said. “Unless you’re actually living it, you can’t totally understand it.” 

As a CarePatrol owner-operator, Rick made a commitment to the company to become a CSA. “It had been 58 years since I graduated from college, and that’s a lot of years,” he said, “when you're trying to acclimate yourself to the studying and retention.” Rick put in many hours studying for the exam; he read the books twice and took piles of notes. “There was a ton of material–good material, I found out, well written articles by professionals in each area–but it took a lot.” He created a space in his home where he would be comfortable studying for hours, surrounded by pictures of his wife and family. “It took me a great deal of time and discipline, perseverance.”

Rick hesitated to schedule a date for the test. When he finally walked into the exam room this past June, he noticed immediately that there was no one else his age taking the test. In that moment, he only felt more motivated to prove that he could pass–and he did. “It was the greatest high for me. Some people couldn’t believe that I did it at my age. I guess I learned, too, that you’re never too old to learn. If you keep your mind active, I firmly believe, it actually improves not only your lifestyle, but it improves your longevity.”

Both men would recommend the CSA course to others. “It’s a very comprehensive course, and it will expand your mind and your thinking and broaden your awareness about life’s daily challenges for seniors,” said Bob, who emphasized that rather than making you an expert, the course heightens awareness. “It gives you a kind of understanding so you can learn to identify problem situations, and then you bring in the experts.” Bob cited the Leaders Network as an example of how CSAs leverage the expertise of fellow CSAs. 

Bob distinguishes between networking and netweaving: between chasing after connections, and positioning yourself as a resource so that people come to you. With his CSA certification, he hopes he can become “a valued resource for people, not just seniors. Hopefully I can help them get through the fog bank a little bit easier.”

Still Learning

Now that they’ve passed the test and officially gained the CSA designation, both Bob and Rick are moving on to new endeavors. Bob shared that he’s preparing to embark on another certification process starting this January; he preferred not to share which one, but he expects it will take him about six months of intensive study. Ask him about his progress when you see him at the SCSA Conference in Denver this coming August. 

Rick is putting his focus back into growing his business while he starts to think about a succession plan. He’s researching the process of creating a sturdy agreement that would allow his employee, Katie Rivest, to buy into the business and eventually buy him out. 

By studying and earning their CSA certifications in their 80s, both Bob and Rick decided it wasn’t too late to learn to provide even more skillful support to the people they serve. “Don’t ever back away and consider yourself, once you hit your 60s or 70s or even your 80s, that your life is over,” Rick said. “There’s a whole lot of life to live.”




Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Monday, November 3, 2025

Famous & 65

   

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

November 4

This fiery redheaded comedian made her name with a sharp tongue and an unapologetic take on Hollywood culture. She broke out in the 1990s as part of the ensemble on the sitcom Suddenly Susan, but truly came to fame with her Emmy-winning reality show My Life on the D-List, which chronicled the ups and downs of her career in hilarious fashion. A two-time Emmy winner and Grammy Award recipient for Best Comedy Album, she became known for her stand-up specials and her willingness to skewer celebrities, politics, and herself. Beyond comedy, she’s been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and free speech. 

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?


November 5

This chameleon-like performer is celebrated for her fearless approach to acting, from avant-garde art films and mainstream blockbusters. Audiences know her for ethereal, otherworldly performances in films like Orlando, Doctor Strange, and Suspiria, as well as her Academy Award-winning role in Michael Clayton. She’s equally at home playing androgynous icons (like Bob Dylan in I’m Not There), supernatural beings (like the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia), or eccentric villains (in 2023’s Problemista). Born in Scotland, she’s also known for her presence on the fashion scene.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?



November 11

This acclaimed character actor has built a career on stealing scenes across film, television, and stage. He earned multiple awards for co-writing, co-directing, and starring in Big Night, a celebration of Italian food and family that became a modern classic. He’s known for playing the protagonist’s stylish mentor in both The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games series, and for his roles in the dramas Spotlight and Supernova. With Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards to his name, as well as an Oscar nomination, he’s basically the quintessential character actor. He’s also a major foodie: he hosted a CNN culinary travel show where he ate his way across Italy, and last year published a book called What I Ate in One Year.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?




November 17

Icon…mogul…queen. Known for both his sharp humor and uplifting catchphrases, this San Diego native rose to prominence in the 1990s with the dance hit Supermodel (You Better Work) and a VH1 talk show. He later created and hosted a reality competition series that became a cultural juggernaut and won dozens of Emmy Awards. With charisma and talent to spare, he continues to champion queer visibility and recently shared his story with the world in an intimate and well-received self-titled memoir.  He’ll be remembered for transforming drag from an underground art into a global phenomenon.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?



November 25

This singer-songwriter became one of the first artists to successfully bridge contemporary Christian music and mainstream pop, earning her the nickname “The Queen of Christian Pop.” After rising to fame in the 1980s with faith-based hits, she later crossed over to the Billboard charts with best-selling albums like Heart in Motion, featuring the smash single “Baby Baby.” Over her decades-long career, she’s sold millions of records, won six Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Her Christmas albums and tours have become seasonal staples beloved by generations of fans.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?


Source:

Wikipedia




Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
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Friday, October 10, 2025

When Aging in Place, Stay Fire Safe

     



Older adults are at particular risk from house fires. 


National Fire Prevention Week officially marks 100 years this October 5th to 11th. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) inaugurated National Fire Prevention Week in 1922, and President Calvin Coolidge named it a national week in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in the United States. The week takes  place each year in October because the Great Chicago Fire devastated that city in early October 1871, killing over 250 people and leaving 100,000 homeless. 

In a new era of climate-change-fueled wildfires, fire prevention is top of mind for many, especially those in Western states. Home fires are still an everyday concern, too, with over 3,500 Americans dying in a house fire each year. A structure fire is reported every 95 seconds in the U.S. Unfortunately, older adults are particularly at risk of injury and death from house fires. 

In fact, according to FEMA, people over 65 are at twice the risk of dying in a house fire as compared to younger adults. The reason, at least in part, has to do with mobility and sensory awareness. Most fatal fires happen when people are sleeping, and people with hearing loss are at greater risk of failing to wake in time to exit the building. Older adults who use a wheelchair or walker, or who have balance issues, are also at greater risk in a fire, as are people with cognitive decline or dementia. Cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires, and cigarettes are the leading cause of deadly fires among people over 65. Forgetting to turn off the stove or fully snuff out a cigarette is all too easy for someone experiencing cognitive decline. Plus, all these age-related conditions may reduce reaction time in a critical fire situation. 

In a horrific tragedy at a Massachusetts assisted living center in July, nine residents died when a suspected electrical fire broke out. The center is being investigated, and the event serves as a painful reminder of the necessity of robust fire safety planning in places where older adults live. 

Fire Safety Tips for People Aging in Place

Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to assist those aging in place to create a home environment where fires are less likely to occur. And, if a fire does break out, working alarms and a plan will help seniors stay safe. 

  • Sleep on the ground floor. If possible, older adults should sleep on the floor of the home where they can exit without navigating stairs. Try to remove any hazards or barriers that would prevent an easy and quick exit in the case of a fire. Keep the floor clear of items that could cause a person to trip (best practice for fall prevention in general!), and consider removing any interior locks that take time or are tricky to unlock. Security bars on doors and windows should have emergency release mechanisms on the inside to allow for egress in the event of a fire.

  • Be battery-smart. The theme for this year’s National Fire Prevention Week is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Lithium-ion batteries are omnipresent these days, in our smartphones, headphones, e-cigarettes, laptops, power tools, and more. But if used improperly or purchased from shady sellers, these batteries are liable to catch fire. To avoid fires and explosions, charge devices on flat, hard surfaces; purchase batteries and chargers only from reputable sellers; and dispose of used batteries properly. See the NFPA website for more tips. 

  • Develop fire-safe habits. Remember that the top causes of house fires are cooking and smoking. Stay in the kitchen while cooking food; it’s too easy to step out for just a second and get distracted. If you smoke, smoke outdoors only. When finished, wet cigarette butts or deposit them in sand. Don’t leave space heaters unattended, and make sure they have a 3-foot buffer from other objects.

  • If you can’t hear your smoke alarm, install a bed shaker and/or a visual alarm. The U.S. Fire Administration and others recommend installing a smoke alarm that uses a flashing light or vibration to alert residents of smoke. Some people with hearing loss may be able to use a device that produces low-frequency vibrations as an alert mechanism. 

  • It’s good to have a plan. Especially for older adults living alone, spending some time to plan ahead with family could make all the difference in the moment of a house fire. Talking it out can help everyone to envision the scenario and what could help in the moment: for example, does the homeowner keep their walker or cane near their bed at night? Is there a clear path to a window, if fire blocks the door?  

NFPA provides free resource guides on smoke alarms, fire planning, and more. They also offer a program called Steps to Safety™: Prevent Fire and Falls at Home that pairs local EMS and fire fighters with community groups to provide fire safety education to older adults. October is a great time to share these potentially life-saving resources with clients and families.



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The Digital Afterlife: Managing Social Media Accounts After Death

    



Set up a legacy contact on each of your social media accounts; your family will thank you.


The evocative new term “digital afterlife” can refer to a few different phenomena. Some AI startups are promising to recreate the personas of deceased loved ones using the digital traces they left behind–a digital “life after life,” of a kind. Talking to a hologram that looks and sounds like a family member after they’re gone? As intriguingly dystopian as that is, it’s not the kind of digital afterlife we’re talking about today. Rather, we’re dealing with another, more common, use of the term that refers simply to “your online presence and digital assets after death.” This presence can include your bank accounts, email accounts, digital wills, and, of course, social media.

As many of us have experienced, the digital afterlife of a loved one’s social media can prompt both poignant and painful moments. Reviewing the person’s photos and posts can feel like a gift; but it’s jarring when Facebook asks if you want to invite them to an upcoming event. And families may find themselves confused about how to deal with this social media afterlife in a way that honors their loved one’s wishes and privacy. There are steps to take, both before and after a person’s death, to pave the way for a smooth transition of their social media accounts.

Planning for the Digital Afterlife of Your Social Media

You can do two things now that will ease the way for your loved ones when it’s time to manage your social media afterlife.

Use Legacy Contact Features. First, use the legacy contact feature on Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Apple. A legacy contact is a person you designate who will be granted access to manage your account after your death. In most cases, the legacy contact does not have access to everything in your account, such as private messages, but they will have the power to either delete your account or memorialize it. 

A memorialized Facebook page uses the phrase “Remembering” above the name of the person who died, and that person’s wall often turns into a place for friends to post tributes. A legacy contact on Facebook can approve or reject tributes on the person’s wall and change the privacy settings on different posts. They can also request that the account be deleted instead. 

To set an Apple legacy contact, you’ll need to designate the person under Settings, Privacy & Security, and then share a long code with that person, either via encrypted text or with a printout. That person may still need to provide a death certificate to access the account. An Apple account may be linked to a wide variety of digital presences, including banks and credit cards, so this level of security makes sense. With any digital account, make sure the person you’re naming is someone you trust. 

Create a Social Media Will. While it will be helpful to name individual legacy contacts with each social media account that matters to you, another great step to take is to create a social media will. My Wishes has a template for an online will, including a social media section, that will make the process easy. A will goes beyond choosing a legacy contact; it gives you the chance to state exactly how you would like each of your accounts handled after death. Loved ones will know exactly what steps to take.

Managing a Loved One’s Social Media Afterlife
When a loved one has died without taking either of these steps, families may wonder what to do. Some may feel a sense of urgency to gain access to social media accounts in order to close them. 

Personal Representatives Aren’t Automatically Digital Executors. If the will doesn’t specify anything about online accounts, or if there is no will, the executor of the person’s estate may or may not be able to gain control over their social media accounts. According to the American Bar Association, the legal access that executors are granted to social media accounts of the deceased varies greatly by state and by the company that holds the account. Some states even have laws that prohibit people from accessing a deceased person’s online accounts, even when the person has the username and password. In such a murky situation, it may be necessary to research how to gain control over each individual social media account. It could be critical to get support from someone who knows this territory. 

Ask for Help from a Professional. The digital afterlife industry is professionalizing as we speak. Founded in 2021, Professional After Loss Services (PALS) is an organization that supports after-loss professionals who “provide logistical and administrative services for clients who are executors or administrators of a loved one's estate.” Their clients are widows and widowers, estate executors, and surviving family members. An after-loss professional can help with much more than dealing with a loved one’s social media afterlife, but this topic is squarely within their wheelhouse. Use their directory to find certified after-loss pros in your area. There are already so many details to deal with after the death of a loved one, and social media accounts can be a surprisingly stressful element in the mix. An after-loss pro can help.



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Thursday, October 9, 2025

The Holidays are for Crowding the Kitchen

     



Try these five cooking challenges this season: guaranteed to warm up some new family memories.


There’s something special about cooking together as a family, especially during the holidays. The smells and tastes of the holidays vary from family to family, but whether you were making chocolate chip cookies, tamales, fruitcake, ozoni, black eyed peas, or bûche de Noël as a kid, those family food memories are strong ones because they’re tied to our senses. 

With the air cooling and the holidays approaching, now is a great time to think about how to foster connections between generations this season in one of our favorite places: the kitchen. Here are five cooking challenges to set your family, from the littlest grandkids to the great-grandparents, to create new memories around food.

Make a Favorite Family Recipe Together

This one may not be a challenge, depending on the family. If you already have a recipe, or several, that gets folks to the kitchen together every year, then keep it going and skip to the next challenge! But here’s a great place to start for families whose kitchen traditions aren’t so robust. Is there a recipe you remember from growing up, or from five or ten years ago, that you want to bring back and teach? If your family includes some young chefs, be sure to invite them. “Research shows kids who participate in the kitchen and help with grocery shopping are more likely to try nutritious foods,” says Jenny Klufa, a youth nutrition specialist at Oklahoma State University.

Dig deep: is there a smell or a taste that you haven’t tried to recreate in the kitchen in many years? If you love holiday nostalgia, nothing takes you back like the smell of a fresh baked good. Here are some old-fashioned Christmas cookies to jog your memory. 

Set Out to Create a New Family Favorite

If your family doesn’t have a go-to holiday recipe, or if you want to diversify, take on a new recipe and make it your own. There’s no shortage of delicious holiday recipes that will please the crowd. Over time, cooking the dish or baking the cookies again will turn the playful experiment into a family tradition. (Here’s a secret: do it two years in a row, and you can automatically call it a tradition.)

Ask the Kids to Teach You Something

Of course, a wonderful thing about family recipes is that the older generations pass on their kitchen wisdom to the younger generations. Recipes travel across continents and centuries this way. But if you’re looking for a new challenge during the holidays this year, flip the script and ask the youngest members of the family to lead you in making their new favorite recipe. If you’re really adventurous, ask them what recipes are trending on TikTok and give one of those a try. Don’t worry if it’s a disaster–we’re trying to make memories here. 

Make a Dish Rooted in Family Heritage

What better time than the holidays to celebrate family heritage together? For this challenge, try to find a dish rooted in your family’s national heritage that you’ve never tried to make. German, Brazilian, Croatian, Moroccan, Ethiopian, Norwegian, Spanish, Filipino, Creole–pick the branch of your family tree whose cuisine you know the least about. One good place to start: a recipe box passed down from past generations that hasn’t been cracked open in years. Or research the holiday food traditions from that part of the world. You’re guaranteed to learn something new, and there’s a good chance you’ll discover a new favorite flavor, too. 

Cook and Deliver a Meal Together

Try cooking together with a purpose. Odds are there are several community groups near you asking for donations of home cooked meals during this season. Or, bringing a meal to a neighbor can make a big difference. This challenge works well combined with any of the others above!

Look: cooking during the holidays can be stressful, and making it a group event may seem like asking for trouble. But really, it’s about togetherness and fun. Don’t aim to try these challenges when you’re cooking a four course meal before all the guests arrive. Just get in the kitchen for the joy of it. Bon appétit! 



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Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Good News in Science: Dog & Cat Ownership Boosts Brain Health

    



Just one more reason to love our furry friends.


Finally, some good news: researchers have linked dog and cat ownership to healthier cognitive functioning in late life. In fact, this news isn’t brand new: scientists have known for years that interactions with pets support healthy brains. For example, in a 2022 article entitled “Pet ownership is associated with greater cognitive and brain health in a cross-sectional sample across the adult lifespan,” authors McDonough et al. found that “pet ownership, especially dog ownership, may play a role in enhancing cognitive performance across the adult lifespan, which could in turn influence protection against age-related cognitive decline.”

This year’s research findings are perhaps not so surprising: an article in Scientific Reports by Rostekova et al. found that “Dog and cat ownership was associated with slower cognitive decline compared to no pet ownership; bird and fish ownership showed no such association.”

Not to say that birds and fish don’t provide worthy companionship or well-being benefits, but it’s dogs and cats who have the capacity to help their owners stay mentally sharper for longer. In fact, the authors of the first study make the rather astounding statement that “owning a pet can reduce one’s brain age by up to 15 years.” 

What’s so powerful about the effect that dogs and cats have on their owners, especially as those owners enter late life? Adriana Rostekova, lead author of the more recent article, hypothesizes that perhaps the social stimulation provided by dogs, in particular, but also cats, helps stave off cognitive decline. She added that it’s “possible that interaction with dogs and cats provides unique cognitive stimulation, which may be less pronounced in other, less demanding pets” like birds and fish. 

When continuing care communities and hospitals offer animal-assisted activities or therapy, they support residents’ happiness, social interaction, and physical movement. These findings suggest that animal visits also support cognitive function, including memory and verbal fluency. Truly, whatever these pets are getting paid, it’s not enough.

Tips for New Senior Dog Owners

There are so many reasons to enjoy life with a dog. For older adults who are currently dog-less and considering inviting a pooch into their lives, here are some factors to consider for a smooth transition.
  • Energy level & size: Choose a breed or mixed breed whose exercise needs match your lifestyle. Lower-energy dogs or smaller breeds may be easier to manage. Senior living experts recommend breeds like cocker spaniels, shih tzus, or French bulldogs.
  • Age of the dog: Puppies require training and lots of energy, while older dogs may be calmer and already house-trained.
  • Health & mobility: Consider your own mobility and to what degree you can handle walking, bending, or lifting. Also consider who’s around to assist you with dog care, and what their interest and availability is for helping on a day-to-day basis or as a dogsitter.
  • Finances: Factor in costs for food, vet visits, grooming, and emergencies. Talk to friends and family to decide if pet insurance would be a good choice. 
  • Living situation: Check pet policies if you live in senior housing or an apartment, and consider whether there’s outdoor space nearby that’s safe and accessible for both you and the pup.

Tips for New Senior Cat Owners

You’ll be fine. 

Just kidding–adopting a cat is still a big decision, but it’s common knowledge that cat care is lighter than dog care on the whole. That may make a cat a better choice for some seniors. In addition to the considerations above, consider a new cat’s temperament. Cats’ personalities vary widely: some are lap cats, others are more, shall we say, independent. Choose one that matches your lifestyle. In terms of space, cats adapt well to apartments and smaller homes, but they still need room for scratching posts, perches, and toys.

It’s a beautiful thing that dogs and cats help us see and remember the world clearly as we grow older. Keep doing whatever you’re doing, little guys: we love you for it. 



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Medicare Annual Enrollment: Updates & Important Reminders

   



Use this month to review the mixed bag of changes to Medicare coming in 2026 and update your elections by December 7.


This year, Medicare turns 60, and a record 4.18 million Americans turn 65. Almost all Americans over 65 use Medicare, and the majority rely on it as their primary insurance. With some significant changes to Medicare coverage coming this year, just about everybody in this age bracket will want to take some time to consider their coverage, starting this month.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. If you’re already enrolled in Medicare, you can make changes to your plan now. It’s always good to consider your options during this period, since Medicare plans have changed, and your own health needs may have changed, as well. If you make any changes during this Open Enrollment Period, they’ll go into effect January 1, 2026.

For unbiased help choosing the right Medicare plans for you, contact your Medicare broker or your state’s SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Here are some recent developments to discuss with them.

Medicare Prescription Payment Plans Will Automatically Re-enroll

This year, there’s no need to re-enroll in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP): if you had this plan in 2025, it will automatically carry over to 2026 unless you make a change. The MPPP is a free plan available to anyone with drug coverage under Medicare, whether with Medicare Part D or an Advantage plan. Instead of paying in a lump sum at the pharmacy for medications, MPPP enrollees will receive a bill monthly, along with their premium bill. Spreading out the cost of medications over the calendar year helps individuals keep up with payments and avoid sticker shock at the pharmacy.

Medicare Advantage Plans May Make Cuts to Coverage

Enrollees whose benefits include Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) should be aware of new restrictions on these benefits. Examples of benefits that CMS has deemed non-health related and that will not be covered include: cannabis, life insurance, unhealthy food, and cosmetic procedures.

In addition, the Congressional Budget Office predicts an overall 4% cut in Medicare payments to hospitals between 2026 and 2034 due to the budget reconciliation bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) passed by Congress in May. Medicare Advantage plan providers and hospitals will start looking now for ways to cut costs and maximize savings.

Medicare Savings Program Ease of Enrollment Will Vary By State

The same bill pushed back to 2035 updates to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which would have streamlined enrollment in the program. As a result, an estimated 1.38 million low-income Americans (with incomes at or below 135% of the federal poverty level) will no longer be able to pay the gaps in prescription coverage that the MSP helped them afford. Researchers estimate 18,200 preventable deaths per year as a result of this rollback. Since MSP is administered by states, states can still act to reduce barriers to enrollment in the program. 

CMS Will Use AI to Expand Pre-authorization Under Original Medicare

This year, six states–New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington–will adopt the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. For now, this pilot program will focus on evaluating eligibility for coverage of specific procedures like knee surgery, outpatient spinal injections, and certain categories of prosthetics and other medical equipment. Patients with Traditional Medicare in the six states who request these kinds of care will have their requests reviewed first by private AI companies and then by a clinician, according to CMS. While CMS says they intend the WISeR Model to eventually reduce Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse across the country, other experts worry that “the combined influence of automated screening and financial incentives may lead to clinically unjustified denials of care.” This is a shift, as WISeR will be applied under Original Medicare, while prior authorization has historically been required only under Medicare Advantage plans. 

The takeaway for enrollees in 2026? If you live in one of the six states, be aware of which procedures are now subject to the WISeR Method, as their approval rates will be less predictable this year. And in 2027, keep an eye on the expansion of this model to other states and more kinds of care.

There’s also good news regarding prior authorization: new CMS regulations prohibit Medicare Advantage insurers from withdrawing prior authorization for care except in cases of obvious waste or fraud. According to Christine M. Clements, JD, a managed care law specialist, in Medscape News, “plans cannot use additional clinical information that might be available after they make their decision to reopen a coverage decision” unless the new information points to an obvious error in the original diagnosis. This is good news for both patients and providers.

If you consider all the changes and decide that your current plan will work just fine for 2026, you don’t need to take any action during this year’s Annual Enrollment Period. Your existing plan will continue on January 1. 


This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.


Additional sources:
https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2025/07/cms-is-getting-wiser-about-medicare-waste-but-at-what-cost-to-providers 


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