Caregiver Resource Center is a good idea – Lynn Kellogg – May 27, 2023
There’s an incredibly good idea being considered in Lansing. It’s the creation and implementation of a statewide Caregiver Resource Center model for families and friends caring for their loved ones. It’s a one-time investment with the fund source identified, planned and available. This is a no-brainer. We all know people trying to figure out the […]
Putting the spotlight on Michigan seniors – Christine Vanlandingham – May 20, 2023
Wednesday, on the state Capitol lawn, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared May as Older Michiganians Month. (Or is it Michiganders? The debate goes on …) “Seniors have spent their lives building this great state,” Whitmer said. “It’s our duty to ensure they’re taken care of and have the dignity, respect and independence they deserve.” Whitmer […]
How to avoid scams and what to do to help your neighbors – Sara Duris – May 14, 2023
Q. My friend told me you can’t laminate your Medicare card, is this true? A. Medicare advises beneficiaries to not laminate their Medicare cards, but it is not prohibited. The reason for this is that laminating the card makes it more difficult to determine if the card is authentic and creates a challenge for scanning […]
People want to hear your stories – Alexandra Newman – May 7, 2023
In this column, we often talk about stories. How important they are to pass down to your family and friends, how they can bring us together, and how they can empower us. Earlier this week, I attended the 16th annual Tri-county Legislative Forum held by the Area Agency on Aging in which folks told their […]
Share the gift of nature – Lynn Kellogg – April 30, 2023
In a letter to his brother Theo in 1874, Vincent Van Gogh wrote, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” His love of nature radiates in the vibrancy of his paintings. So many find peace, spiritual strength and overall well-being in nature. Eco-therapy, spending undistracted time in nature, is acknowledged and embraced […]
Journey with Dementia Minds was unforgettable – Christine Vanlandingham – April 23, 2023
Journey with Dementia Minds – an Unforgettable Hour “I may forget years of technical training, but I’ll remember this hour for the rest of my life.” That quote from a physician who participated with me in a ‘Journey with Dementia Minds’ session in Lansing earlier this month summed up my sentiments exactly. It was the […]
Hunt for housing needs patience and planning – Sara Duris – 04/16/2023
Q. We are trying to find low-income housing for my mother. Every place has a wait list and I’ve heard you can’t even apply for a Section 8 voucher. Do you have any options? A. There is a difference between low-income housing, or HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Housing and Section 8, now called Housing […]
A partner in independence – Alexandra Newman – April 9, 2023
Support can come in all shapes and sizes. It can look like a friendly phone call once a month. It can look like a friend bringing you medicine when you’re sick. It can even look like a ride to the gym. But one thing is certain, as AAA client Laquita of Berrien Springs told me […]
Women of inspiration – Lynn Kellogg – April 2, 2023
My mother was a woman of energy and drive. Influenced by her parents, she had a heart for helping others. Marrying my father in 1940, she started college a few years later only to be told she had to leave to “make room for the boys coming home from WWII”. By the time I […]
Share your stories with the next generation – Christine Vanlandingham – March 26, 2023
There is power in story. Both in the telling and the hearing. History has shown that story has helped shape the human experience. Before there was formal written communication, there were stories. March is Women’s History Month. Celebrated each year, the 2023 theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories”. Not a bad theme. But […]