Caregiving: A community conversation
By Alexandra Newman “We start off life and it follows a predictable, developmental sequence. We don’t think about the probability that we’ll become caregivers.” That was a quote that stuck with me from a Community Conversation about caregiving that was held last month at the South Haven Center for the Arts. As part of the […]
The genius of the Older Americans Act
By Lynn Kellogg Some ideas are just genius. We go through life, and if we’re fortunate, make it to older ages. Whether rich or poor, we all just want to keep doing our thing, whatever interests or passions that entails, until we don’t, and are gone. Our lives change at every age, from childhood through […]
Showing up for our neighbors
By Christine Vanlandingham Growing up in rural Indiana, I spent much of my childhood in communities where people knew one another well – often across generations. When a need arose, neighbors took action. If a family was going through a difficult season, meals appeared on the porch. If someone was recovering from surgery, the lawn […]
Food assistance available locally for those in need
By Sara Duris Region IV Area Agency on Aging (AAA) receives many inquiries about food availability. Below are some resources for those needing food and those seeking fresh fruit and vegetables this summer. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also referred to as a Bridge card, is Michigan’s food assistance program for low-income individuals and […]
‘Today we celebrate our Independence Day’
Learning about independence from alien movies By Alexandra Newman Somehow, every year, I end up with the column that runs on the weekend of Independence Day. In 2023, I wrote about my grandparents remaining independent in their home as my grandpa was on hospice care. In 2024, I wrote about a gentleman enrolled in the MI Choice Waiver and Integrated Care […]
Dispelling myths on social security
By Lynn Kellogg Few federal initiatives have had such broad sweeping success as Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid come close, but Social Security stands alone in its universality, pay-in, earned right status, and nationwide success. The idea of Social Security goes back to the Civil War era. The first U.S. federal pension plan was created […]
When Fast Isn’t the Same as Right
By Christine Vanlandingham We are living in a moment where answers come faster than ever before. Type a question. Get a response. Move on. It’s efficient. It’s impressive. And, at times, it’s incredibly helpful. But recently, I had a moment where I asked an AI tool a question. The answer came quickly — and it […]
Be on the lookout for Medicare fraud, elder abuse
By Sara Duris Q. My father went to a local health fair and was offered a knee wrap to help his arthritis. He was told it was free but on his recent Explanation of Benefits, it appears Medicare was billed for an expensive knee brace that isn’t even like what he got from the vendor. […]
Finding creativity, purpose, growth, learning at every age
By Alexandra Newman As you’re reading this, I’m on a boat off the coast of Florida sailing toward Mexico. My first time venturing outside of the United States. My mom, sisters, and I have been planning this trip for over a year, and I am so incredibly excited that it’s finally here. During the cruise, we’ll be celebrating my mom’s 60th birthday – a milestone I hope to celebrate in […]
Climate change could be disastrous for future generations
By Lynn Kellogg Last month I traveled to Denver to visit a friend. Not having been to Colorado for a while, I was excited to see her and catch glimpses of the Rocky Mountains. Seeing her was great. The greatness of seeing the Rockies was tempered by their condition. A friend who years ago climbed […]