Well Senior Blog

Three apples are placed on a dark surface next to a wooden cutting board. Two of the apples are green, and one apple is red. The green apples are positioned in the upper left and lower left corners, while the red apple is in the lower right corner.

Medicare: Wellness and prevention

January 3, 2024

If you are used to having an “annual physical” and ask for that, original Medicare won’t pay for it. That is, original Medicare won’t pay doctors to do a general physical exam “to see what turns up”; you’ll pay out of pocket. (Medicare Advantage might have this as an “extra.” Check with your plan.) Medicare…

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Three elderly women with gray hair are sitting around a table outdoors, laughing and enjoying coffee from red mugs. The table is decorated with a mosaic pattern and a small blue pot. The background is blurred, suggesting a pleasant, sunny day.

Making friends in later life

December 6, 2023

We tend to think friendships should grow organically. They don’t. Particularly in our later years, when we often lose friends—to death, illness, or moving away—we need to be much more intentional about making new ones. This is especially so for “solo agers,” those without children and grandchildren. The younger generations in the family typically make…

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A stethoscope placed on a stack of U.S. dollar bills, including a hundred-dollar bill featuring Benjamin Franklin, and other denominations. Beside the money is a colorful bar graph showing different levels of data on a piece of paper.

What is IRMAA?

November 1, 2023

When Medicare first began in 1965, the idea was that it was for everyone over age 65, not just those who were poor. There would be no stigma. Things are different now. We live longer. Medical costs are rising. In 2003, Congress decided that those with higher incomes should chip in extra to share the…

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Illustration of a masked person in black clothing climbing over a fence towards a house. The house has windows, a door, and a surveillance camera mounted near the roof, aiming at the climber. Nearby are some bushes and trees.

Crime proofing your home

October 4, 2023

Seniors experience property crime thirteen times more often than violent crime.  Burglary is the most common. (Interestingly, it typically occurs between noon and 4:00 pm!)  The average loss is roughly $3,000, although that does not account for the emotional impact: A profound sense of violation and vulnerability. October is Crime Prevention Month. There are things…

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A smiling older woman with short white hair and glasses stands at a doorway. She wears a striped long-sleeve shirt and rests one hand on the doorframe. Behind her, a rustic wooden wall features a metal heart-shaped decoration.

Sharing your home

September 6, 2023

There are many advantages to having a housemate: Defraying expenses. Sharing household chores. Help with transportation. Companionship. Increased safety. Peace of mind. In a survey of older adults who shared their homes, 50% said that since gaining a housemate, they are happier, sleep better, are getting out more, and they call upon their families less…

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A bald man with a white beard and mustache is standing against a textured grey wall. He is wearing a dark jacket over a white shirt and is making a playful expression while raising both index fingers in a gesture of caution or warning.

Saying “no” when your kids ask for money

August 2, 2023

Once you’ve decided it’s unwise to give or lend money to children—or grandchildren—think through how you want to communicate your decision. Money is often equated with love. Even if this is a loving decision (e.g., you’ve determined that giving or lending them money is encouraging something unhealthy), how and when you decline is important for…

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A wooden cutout of a house with a large heart in the middle is surrounded by paper cutout figures holding hands, forming a chain on a dark turquoise background. The image represents community, unity, and home.

“With a little help from our friends”:
The Village movement

July 5, 2023

Aging in place has great appeal and can be challenging and expensive. Elders who are part of a “Village” help each other with simple tasks, making it easier and more financially feasible to stay at home. Today, there are close to 250 Villages across the country. They are part of a widespread grassroots movement of…

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A camera, a pair of sunglasses, a pen, and two United States passports are placed on a world map. This travel-themed arrangement suggests preparation for a journey or vacation.

Medicare coverage while traveling

June 1, 2023

Planning a trip? Your health insurance might not come with you! International travel. If you need medical care outside the United States—an ER visit, hospitalization, ambulance, medical exam, labs, or a medical evacuation—there are very few circumstances in which original Medicare will help out. You should be prepared to pay 100 percent of any medical…

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An older woman with short gray hair is smiling at the camera while adjusting her black-rimmed glasses. She is wearing a light-colored shirt, a yellow scarf with white stripes, and a watch on her left wrist, set against a plain gray background.

Solo aging: Eyes wide open

May 3, 2023

Aging comes to us all. What makes solo aging different is the need to be more proactive about arranging for help. Twenty-two percent of older adults acknowledge they will need to take care of themselves. (Even if you are partnered now or have children, you are wise to consider the possibility of solo aging because,…

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