Aging Advisors NC

Over the last three years, I've written almost 360 posts for WRAL's Aging Well. It's now time to start a new chapter. Before leaving, I'd like to share some wisdoms gained through the work of accompanying families during the last year of a loved one's life and writing about it. Cheers. May you find sweetness in 2022 to savor!

Beginnings and Endings: 10 Lessons Before I Step Down :: WRAL.com As Kate Bowler says, "Life is beautiful. Life is hard." Here are some lessons I've learned over the last three years about savoring the beauty and weathering the hard.

An Orientation Towards Gratitude on Thanksgiving :: WRAL.com Thanksgiving 2020 headlines were marked by loss, loneliness and deaths due to COVID. This is a different year with much to be grateful for.

If you have been in the ER recently and been asked to verify a list of your or your loved one's current meds, you know it can be discombobulating -- particularly if the list is long and you have a number of different providers who might not be in the Electronic Medical System of the hospital you are in. It can be useful for more fragile seniors to keep a one-page summary of the first information they want when being admitted to the Emergency Room.

Emergency One-page Summary :: WRAL.com In the event of a trip to the emergency room alone, it can be helpful--even life-saving--to have a single sheet summary with your primary health conditions, meds, allergies and phone number of a family member or friend.

With the FDA unanimous recommendation that those 65 and older receive boosters, naturally many questions arise. Dr. Kansagra, Acting Senior Deputy Director of NCDHHS's Division of Public Health, answers them. , -19

Should I get a booster Who can get boosters :: WRAL.com Dr. Kansagra, Acting Senior Deputy Director of NCDHHS' Division of Public Health, answers readers' questions about boosters for those 65 and older.

Many folks are asking where North Carolina stands in terms of outbreaks. Dr. Susan Kansagra, Section Chief for the Chronic Disease and Injury Section and Acting Senior Deputy Director for NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health, answers the most pressing questions.

Understanding Outbreaks in Congregate Care Settings :: WRAL.com While the number of outbreaks in North Carolina Nursing Homes and Residential Care Facilities at the moment can seem alarming, it's important to look more deeply at the details.

Before moving into Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing, confirm that your Medicare plan works well with their providers and pharmacy. If not, know that you are able to change plans outside the Open Enrollment Period.

Changing One's Medicare Plan Before a Move :: WRAL.com Changing one's Medicare plan before a move can be daunting. Here is what you need to know.

There have been a lot of questions about Boosters of late: Why do we need them? When will they become available? Where do we get them. Here are some answers for Wake County.

Understanding Boosters :: WRAL.com Booster shots are now available in Wake County for immunocompromised individuals meeting CDC criteria.

Hospitalizations have increased nearly sevenfold since the beginning of July, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services data show. Here is what you need to know about the Delta variant:

The Delta Variant: What you need to know :: WRAL.com Hospitalizations have increased 128% in the last two weeks. The average age of patients hospitalized is 44. Over 90% of patients are not vaccinated.

When is the right time to move a loved one with dementia, and what should I be looking for when we make that hard choice? These are some of the questions I tackled in today's presentation for the Duke Family Support Program, which can be viewed here:

July 2021 Caregiver Connections: Leaving Home Vs. Staying Home Presenter: Liisa OgburnThis Caregiver' Connections will offer information on making the complex and difficult decision of making a move during the journey of...