QUESTION: When I was growing up, memory loss, often called senility, was just normally expected to occur with old age. Today, I hear memory loss referred to as Alzheimer's. Has senility just been given a new name or is Alzheimer's something different? ANSWER: I can remember being told exactly what you heard and am sure [...]

QUESTION: You have provided information about Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes in the past. Do you have any information about the single-session classes being offered between the fall and winter semesters? ANSWER: Yes — I was given that information last week. During the semester break, six classes will be offered at two locations: “Kemal Ataturk, [...]

QUESTION: I live alone and am very much afraid of fire. I would like to “fireproof” my home but don’t have any idea on how to start. ANSWER: Every year, home fires kill and injure thousands of people, many of them seniors. You can stop fires before they start by following basic fire safety rules: [...]

QUESTION: I am attempting to help several older members of my family with their health care coverage and trying to understand various concepts such as Medicare fee-for-service, original Medicare, health maintenance organization plans, Senior Advantage plans, and Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Can you help? ANSWER: This is an excellent [...]

QUESTION: I am trying to collect information on services available to seniors who want to remain in their homes. Is there one location where I can start my search? ANSWER: The Camarillo Council on Aging is offering a panel presentation, “Local Safety Nets for Seniors,” that seems to fit your need. The event will be [...]

QUESTION: If I remember correctly, it is about this time of year that Medicare has its annual open enrollment. Can you provide the dates? ANSWER: Medicare annual open enrollment will start Oct. 15 and run through Dec. 7. During this period, you can change the coverage you have from Medicare-fee-for-service (also known as Original Medicare) [...]

Q: I am looking for a family activity in early October. Do you have any suggestions? A: I think I have just the event for your family outing. Cypress Place Senior Living and the Young and Brave Foundation will co-host Under the Big Top from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 8. This fundraiser will [...]

Q: Recently while in the hospital, I was treated by a doctor who was referred to as a hospitalist. Is this a new specialty, and if so, how will this type of doctor fit in with a person’s general care? A: You might call this a specialty. A hospitalist is a doctor who specializes in [...]

QUESTION: The Empowered Caregiver seminar series has been dark for the summer. Will those seminars begin again this month? ANSWER: The series will return Sept. 27. September’s topic will be “Relieve Stress and Promote Wellness Through Meditation." The presentation will be facilitated by Vinay Chhabra, owner of Pacific Senior Care. Chhabra developed an interest in [...]

QUESTION: If I remember correctly, there has been some activity in the past regarding a possible Village to Village program in Thousand Oaks. Is there any update on that potential program happening in the Conejo Valley? ANSWER: You recall correctly. The committee that was researching the possibility has done extensive work on this project and [...]