Betty Berry’s Column
Senior Concerns’ Senior Advocate Betty Berry’s column appears weekly in the Ventura County Star.
Where Can I Get Help Filing My Taxes For Free?
Q: Where can I get help filing my taxes for free? A: Tax season can be overwhelming. Having a reliable place to go for help is important. Thankfully, there are free and trustworthy programs available for seniors aged 60 or older, and to anyone with an income of $60,000 or [...]
Financial Planning For Solo Agers
Last week my husband and I joined a Zoom call with my mother and her financial advisor. It was an annual call to go over my mom’s needs and goals in the coming year. My husband and I are my mother’s partners in her financial decisions. Up until five years [...]
What You Need To Know About The HomeShare Program
Q: What is the HomeShare Program and how can I learn more about it? A: Ventura County HomeShare is an innovative program that helps match people who have a home with extra room and people who are seeking a room to rent. Simply put, home sharing is an arrangement where [...]
The Delicate Question Of Senior Autonomy
Q: My 89-year-old mother gets upset with me when I can’t reach her on her home or cell phone, and I head over to her house to make sure she is OK. What can I do to reduce this stress? A: I can understand the stress behind this question. This [...]
Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens A Waiting List Good news! The Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura (AHA) will be accepting applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program from very low-income households. Note The Date The AHA will accept applications from Tuesday, January 30, 2024 through Tuesday, [...]
For Older Adults, Preparing for Doctor’s Appointments Is Essential
I call January my health month because it is when I schedule my annual doctor appointments, with my primary care physician as well as the specialists I see. One certainty is that almost all of us will have an annual wellness exam or an appointment to address a specific health [...]
Why Do The Years Feel Like They’re Moving Faster As I Age?
Q: I cannot believe it is 2024 already! Why do the years feel like they are moving faster as I age? A: It is quite normal to feel like time is speeding up as we get older. There are many reasons for this feeling. We can better understand why this [...]
Reflecting On The Past Year
As the year comes to an end it is a good time to reflect on the past 12 months. It can provide you with a way to resolve issues, learn from the past, and celebrate the good before starting a new year. The new year is often a time to [...]
What’s In Your Purse Or Wallet?
Years ago, I remember getting permission to go into my mother’s purse to get a piece of gum or hard candy. Inside was a veritable treasure trove of items for a young girl to examine. Lipstick, a compact, eyeliner, a hairbrush, a calendar, a pen, an address book, an embroidered [...]
Spending The Holidays With A Loved One Who Has Dementia
Q: My husband has dementia, and I am worried about the family spending time with him at Christmas. Many of them do not realize how different he is now, and I am afraid of what they will think. A: The holidays often bring people together who have not seen each [...]
What Is The Difference Between Hospice And Palliative Care?
Hospice and palliative care are both medical services that include interdisciplinary teams to provide pain and symptom relief. They are similar services, but with different goals of care. Hospice care is focused on comfort care without intent to cure the person. This is because either curative treatment options no longer [...]
Tips For Getting Motivated For The New Year
Q: How can I get through December and feel ready and motivated for the New Year? A: People handle the last month of the year in many ways. If you are like me, this entire month becomes like one big to-do list. I feel the stress before we enter [...]
Getting Organized Can Boost Wellbeing
If you are not traveling to see family or have relatives staying with you over this holiday, you may have some downtime on your hands. When many of us are juggling schedules and working on a never-ending list of to-do's, an organized space can seem like something nice to [...]
Tips For Staying Healthy Around The Holidays
Q: It seems like everyone is getting sick right now. How can I stay healthy while going to holiday gatherings? A: As we head into winter we will see an increase in the cold, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). A winter increase in COVID cases is also expected as [...]
How To Destress The Thanksgiving Holiday
Q: How can I enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday this year without feeling so stressed? A: Holiday gatherings can feel stressful for many different reasons. Some of us are hosting and feel pressure to make the experience wonderful for everyone who attends. Some of us are caring for a loved [...]
November is National Family Caregivers Month
Over 40 million Americans provide unpaid care to an aging loved one or an adult with disabilities. November was first declared National Family Caregivers month in 1997 and has been proclaimed every year since by the President in office. It is a time to celebrate, recognize and thank those who [...]
“Complimentary Home Repairs For Seniors” Expands Its Service Area
Great News: "Complimentary Home Repairs For Seniors" Is Now Available In The 91360 Zip Code Senior Concerns is working in partnership with the Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club to provide complimentary home repair services — now available to seniors living in the 91360, 91361 and 91362 zip codes. If [...]
The Benefits of Lipreading For Older Adults
Many older adults are relieved that most people no longer feel the need to wear face masks. The reason is one you may not suspect; Unmasking gives us the ability to lipread. Lipreading is defined as the art of being able to see speech sounds. It is often called [...]
How To Cope With Memory Related Issues
Q: What are some ways I can cope with my memory slowing down as I age? A: It is normal to experience some memory related issues as we age. Recalling words or names may take longer, and you may misplace things from time to time. This is different than dementia, [...]
Veterans’ Benefits Explained
Q: How can I learn more about Veterans benefits and see if my dad qualifies now that he needs more care? A: In our country, we estimate there are over 18 million Veterans who have served in conflicts around the world including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam [...]