Savvy Senior

Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve had mild tinnitus – ringing in my ears – for years, but when I got COVID in January it got worse. Are there any treatments you know of or can recommend that can help? Almost 60 Dear Almost, Unfortunately, new research indicates that tinnitus, a common hearing problem that affects around 50 million Americans, may be worsened by COVID-19 or possibly even triggered by it. Here’s what you should know along with some tips and treatments that may help. What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NIGHT-us or … [Read more...] about Coping with COVID exacerbated tinnitus

Dear Savvy Senior, Do you know of any golfing equipment that can help older golfers? My dad, who’s 76, loves to play golf, but arthritis in his hands has made griping the club challenging, and his fragile lower back makes stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball a problem too. Is there anything out there that can help? Golfing Buddy Dear Buddy, There are actually a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with injuries, arthritis or loss of mobility. Here are several golfing products … [Read more...] about Photos courtesy of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Parker Parker, a 9-year-old female mixed breed, is a sweet older dog who, despite her tremendously large ears, cannot actually hear very well. She makes up for this loss by being very observant. She loves to go on little scavenger hunts for treats and toys. Jazzy Jazzy, a 2-year-old female domestic medium hair, is a cuddle who’s eager eager for playtime followed by a quiet nap. She’s great with people of all shapes, sizes, and ages, and gets along well with other cats. Even dogs. Gordo Gordon, a 3-year-old male mixed breed, is a bashful boy. Since he is cautious, it takes him some time to warm up to new friends, but once he does, he’s very loving and affectionate. Gordo enjoys slow and steady petting as well as wet food. Shelter evaluators think Gordo would do best as the only pet in a patient home that will allow him time to adjust. He has tested positive for heartworm, but FAMD covers the cost of the treatment. Adoption fees vary. All cats go home spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations. All dogs go home spayed or neutered, microchipped, heart worm tested (if at least 6 months old), and up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations. The Dearborn Animal Shelter is at 16121 Reckinger Drive in Dearborn. Shelter hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 313-943-2697 or go to www.metrodetroitanimals.org.

Dear Savvy Senior, Do you know where I can find cheaper high-speed internet services for my home? I’m 70-years old and live strictly on my Social Security and would like to find something faster and less expensive than I currently have. Surfing Susan Dear Susan, There are actually two new resources available today that can help you save money on your home internet services, but what’s available to you will depend on your income level and where you live. Here’s where to begin. Internet Discounts Depending on your financial … [Read more...] about Helping seniors find discounted high-speed Internet services

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you offer for downsizing? My husband and I would like to relocate from our house into a retirement community condo near our daughter but need to get rid of a lot of personal possessions before we can move. Overwhelmed Willa Dear Willa, The process of weeding through a house full of stuff and parting with old possessions is difficult and overwhelming for most people. A good place to start is to see if your kids, grandkids or other family members would like any of your unused possessions. Whatever … [Read more...] about How to downsize your home for a move

Dear Savvy Senior, Is there an easy way to figure out how much I will need to save for retirement? My wife and I are both in our late fifties and want to figure out about how much we’ll need in order to retire comfortably. Ready to Retire Dear Ready, How much money you need to retire comfortably is a great question that all working adults should ask themselves. Unfortunately, far too few ever bother thinking about it. But calculating an approximate number of how much you’ll need to have saved for retirement is actually pretty … [Read more...] about How much will you need to save for retirement?

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good technology classes or online learning resources for inexperienced seniors? I have a computer and a smartphone, but my knowledge and skills are pretty limited. Tech Challenged Senior Dear Senior, There are many different technology teaching tools available to older adults that can help you learn new tech skills so you can better utilize your devices. Here are some good options to consider. Local classes or workshops: Depending on where you live, there may be community resources … [Read more...] about How seniors can learn new technology skills online

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about prediabetes, and how can you know if you have it? My 62-year-old husband, who’s in pretty good shape, was recently diagnosed with prediabetes and didn’t have clue. Could I have it too? Wondering Spouse Dear Wondering, Underlying today’s growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes is a much larger epidemic called prediabetes, which is when the blood sugar levels are higher than they should be but not high enough to be called diabetes. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates … [Read more...] about Could you have prediabetes?

Dear Savvy Senior, How much does your claiming age affect your Social Security benefits, and what are the most popular ages people start taking their retirement benefits? Nearing Retirement Dear Nearing, You can sign up for Social Security at any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up to around 6 to 8 percent higher payments every year you delay. To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, go to … [Read more...] about The most and least popular ages to claim Social Security

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you offer on helping an elderly parent with their finances? My 84-year-old father is having trouble keeping up with his bills and insurance, and I just found out that he’s been making contributions to a suspicious charity. Reluctant Daughter Dear Reluctant, Many adult children serve as financial helpers to their elderly or ill parents. They provide services like paying bills, handling deposits and investments, filing insurance claims, preparing taxes and more. Here are some tips and resources … [Read more...] about How to help your elderly parent with their finances

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about balance exercises? I’ve fallen a few times over the past year and have read that balance exercises can help me regain my steadiness, but I’m not exactly sure what to do. Unsteady at 70 Dear Unsteady, Most people don’t think much about practicing their balance, but they need to. As we age, our balance declines if it isn’t practiced, which can lead to falls that often result in a broken bone. Every year more than one in four people age 65 and older fall, and the risk increases with … [Read more...] about Keeping your balance as you age