• Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How Seniors Can Learn New Technology Skills Online


    By Jim Miller

    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.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How to Keep a Watchful Eye on an Aging Parent


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Can you recommend any services or technology that help me monitor my elderly mother who lives alone? Since the coronavirus pandemic started last March, my sister and I have noticed that my mom’s health has slipped a bit, so we would like to find something that helps us keep tabs on her when we’re not around.

    Concerned Daughter

    Dear Concerned

    Depending on how closely you want to monitor your mother, and what she’s comfortable with as well, there are check-in call services along with some new monitoring technology devices you can turn to for help. Here are several to consider.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Can I Stop Social Security if I Go Back to Work?


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    I lost my job last month because of the coronavirus crisis. With little savings, I’ve been thinking about starting my Social Security benefits early to help me get by. But my question is, if I find a new job can I stop my Social Security benefits and restart them at a later date so they can continue to grow?

    Almost 63 

    Dear Almost,

    Yes, there are actually two ways you can stop your Social Security retirement benefits (once you’ve started collecting them) and restart them at a later date, which would boost your benefits. But in order to do this certain rules and conditions must be met. Here are your options.

  • LGBTSR,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Can I Stop Social Security if I Go Back to Work?


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    I lost my job last month because of the coronavirus crisis. With little savings, I’ve been thinking about starting my Social Security benefits early to help me get by. But my question is, if I find a new job can I stop my Social Security benefits and restart them at a later date so they can continue to grow?

    Almost 63 

    Dear Almost,

    Yes, there are actually two ways you can stop your Social Security retirement benefits (once you’ve started collecting them) and restart them at a later date, which would boost your benefits. But in order to do this certain rules and conditions must be met. Here are your options.

  • Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Simple Gadgets That Can Help Older Drivers

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Are there any specific auto gadgets you can recommend that can help senior drivers? Both of my parents are in there eighties and still pretty good drivers, but due to arthritis and age they’re very stiff, which causes them some driving problems.

    Researching Daughter

    Dear Researching,

    To help keep senior drivers safe and prolong their driving years, there’s a plethora of inexpensive, aftermarket vehicle adaptions you can purchase that can easily be added to your parent’s vehicles to help with many different needs. Here are some good options.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: What to Know About Advance Care Planning in the Age of Coronavirus

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    All this horrible coronavirus carnage got me thinking about my own end-of-life decisions if I were to get sick. Can you recommend some good resources that can help me create a living will or advance directive, or other pertinent documents? I’ve put it off long enough.

    Almost 70 

    Dear Almost,

    Creating a living will (also known as an advance directive) is one of those things most people plan to do, but rarely get around to actually doing. Only about one-third of Americans currently have one. But the cold hard reality of the novel coronavirus may be changing that. Here’s what you should know along with some resources to help you create an advance directive.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How to Make the Most of Your Telehealth Appointment


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    I manage a large doctor’s clinic that treats hundreds of seniors each month. We are moving to more telehealth visits to help keep our patients safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic, but this new way of seeing a doctor is befuddling to many of our elder patients. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for a telehealth appointment?

    Regular Reader

    Dear Reader,

    I’d be happy to help! To help keep patients safe and at home during the coronavirus crisis more and more doctors and other health care providers are turning to telehealth (a.k.a. telemedicine) appointments, which are remote e-visits using a digital communication device like a smartphone, tablet or computer.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How the Coronavirus Relief Law Helps Retirement Savers and Retirees

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    What can you tell me about the retirement account changes that Congress recently passed in response to the coronavirus crisis?

    Seeking Answers

    Dear Seeking,

    Tucked into the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, that President Trump signed into law in late March were a series of changes that can help retirement savers in need of cash, as well as help preserve the retirement savings accounts of current retirees while the stock market is down. Here’s a rundown to how three provisions in the CARES Act might help you, or someone you know.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Social Security Offers Lump Sum Payouts to Retirees


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    In light of the stock market crashing, I’ve heard that Social Security offers a lump-sum payment to new retirees who need some extra cash. I have not yet filed for my retirement benefits and would like to investigate this option. What can you tell me?

    Seeking Cash

    Dear Seeking,

    There is indeed a little-known Social Security claiming strategy that’s been around for many years that can provide retirees a lump-sum benefit, but you need to be past your full retirement age to be eligible, and there are financial drawbacks you need to be aware of too.

  • Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Beware of Coronavirus Scams


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Amid all the troubling coronavirus news, I’ve also read that there are various coronavirus scams going around right now taking advantage of innocent people who are afraid of getting sick or are worried about those that have. What can you tell me about coronavirus scams and what can I do to protect myself?

    Scared Senior

    Dear Scared,

    Unfortunately, coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself, and seniors are often the most vulnerable.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: Medicare Expands Telehealth Services to Help Keep Seniors Safe at Home

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Does Medicare cover telehealth services? My 71-year-old mother has chronic type 2 diabetes but is very concerned about going to the doctor for fear of exposing herself to coronavirus. What can you tell us?

    Avoiding the Doctor

    Dear Avoiding,

    Yes! Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Medicare recently announced that it will be expanding coverage for telehealth services to help keep vulnerable seniors safe at home. Here’s what you and your mom should know.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How to Get Help from Social Security During the Coronavirus Pandemic

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    I’ve heard that the Social Security Administration has closed all their offices because of the coronavirus pandemic. How are they accommodating people while they’re closed down?

    Recently Retired

    Dear Recently,

    Yes, that’s correct. The Social Security Administration has closed its 1,200 field offices throughout the country to protect benefit recipients and workers from the coronavirus pandemic. Their offices have been closed since March 17. How long they will be closed is unclear. It will depend on the course of the pandemic.

  • Columns,  Savvy Senior

    The Savvy Senior: How to Protect Your Elderly Parents from Coronavirus


    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    I’m concerned about my 80-year-old mother who’s at high risk for coronavirus. She lives on her own about 100 miles from me, and I’ve been keeping close tabs on her since this whole pandemic started. What tips can you offer long-distance family members?

    Concerned Daughter

    Dear Concerned,

    Because the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are the most vulnerable to the new coronavirus, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline of social distancing and staying home is critically important.

    Here are some additional tips and recommendations from the CDC and public health specialists that can help keep your elderly mother safe and healthy while she’s hunkering down at home until the pandemic passes.