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Today’s Twilight Zone

In 1964, I was 10 years old. One of my favorite TV shows was the “Twilight Zone.” Some of those shows put the fear of God in me with an occasional nightmare. A few episodes were so outlandish, but to a 10-year-old they also put a new twist on being scared silly. There was one episode in particular which we pretty much laughed at because of its storyline. That same episode and a few others with a similar theme could be relevant today. The episode was titled “From Agnes, With Love.” The storyline was simple and also disturbing. It involved a computer, something very modern for ...

Medicare and Moving: What You Need to Know

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m planning to move later this year to be closer to my youngest son and his family. I’ve lived in the same state for decades, so I’m a little nervous about how this might affect my Medicare coverage. Will I need to change plans or take any special steps to avoid gaps? – Relocating Rita Dear Rita, Great question. A move like this is exciting, but it’s smart to think ahead about how it could affect your coverage. Whether your Medicare is impacted – and what you’ll need to do – depends on the type of plan you have. Here’s what to expect and ...

He Made History Interesting

There are days when my head is spinning as I read the news or see a TV broadcast about all the turmoil in the world. For that matter, right here in our own backyards. There was a time when I was a high school student that I was truly interested in the study of history. Learning about events and people who shaped our world actually kept my attention for 40 minutes a day in a classroom at Wheeling Central Catholic High.  I can’t say the topics were always very compelling but the man who stood at the front of class tried to make them understandable. His name was Charles “Chuck” ...

Flu Shots for Seniors: What’s New This Fall

Dear Savvy Senior, I always get my annual flu shot, but I never know whether I’m getting the right one. Can you explain which flu vaccine is best for seniors this fall and whether there are any other recommended vaccines I should get? – Trying to Stay Healthy Dear Trying, If you’re 65 or older, getting your annual flu shot is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself during flu season. But with new vaccines and changing recommendations, many older adults aren’t sure which shots they need. The good news is that this fall’s advice for seniors is ...

Rain, Rain … Go Away

Enough, already! I don’t know about you, but I have had just about all I can take of these late summer storms. It’s bad enough we can’t get just a gentle rain to water the lawn and gardens. The rain comes in sideways and pelts the ground with machine gun force. The middle-of-the-night thunderstorms are enough to make anyone queasy. The last few have jolted us out of bed.  I don’t mean to pick on our local weather forecasters, yet they tend to put us in panic mode more times than not. I get it. They are only trying to prepare us for what might happen. Unfortunately, there ...

Simple Ways to Soothe Bunion Pain

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m a 62-year-old woman and have had a bunion on my big toe for years, but lately it’s become more painful and is making it hard to find comfortable shoes. I’d like to avoid surgery if possible. What can I do to ease the discomfort and keep it from getting worse? – Sore Toe Susan Dear Susan, You’re not alone. Bunions are very common, especially among women, and they often become more painful with age as the joint shifts out of alignment and inflammation sets in. What may have started as a minor nuisance can turn into ongoing discomfort, making it ...