Taking too many prescription drugs can be very risky for older people
21 pills when only 8 were needed: when doctors pile on the meds, bad interactions can happen including confusion, unsteadiness and blood pressure problems
NY Times – Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right
Newer formulations are even more effective at preventing illnesses that commonly afflict seniors — perhaps even dementia.
Read More on New York Times with Gifted Article
Maryland Matters – Fraud schemes against older Marylanders continue sharp rise, advocates say
Warnings come as part of annual AARP effort to combat financial abuses against older Americans
NYTimes – The Big Secret About Medicaid: It’s a Middle-Class Benefit
If you have a parent short on savings, a disabled adult child or a minor with special needs, Medicaid may be your backstop. Plenty of people are unaware.
“I never thought that Medicaid would become an issue in my family, but it has.”
That was the first line of a note I received this week from a retired investment industry veteran whose autistic son receives coverage from the program. A similar email arrived from one of the most affluent towns in California.
Yes, Medicaid primarily serves Americans with the lowest incomes, and you may not count yourself among them.
But now that the program is potentially on the chopping block, as Republicans in Congress seek to make up to $2 trillion in spending cuts, it’s a good time to consider others who qualify.
It could be an aging parent who needs nursing home care, whose significant nest egg has been drained after 20 years of retirement. Or it could be a 26-year-old adult child who can’t be covered on your health insurance anymore but is not yet making much money. Or perhaps it’s a severely disabled child.
Make Your Voice Heard: Frederick County Budget Priorities Survey
The Frederick County FY2026 Budget Priorities page is designed to engage residents in the budget planning process by gathering their input on funding allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has organized a series of public hearings and town hall meetings across various districts to ensure community voices are heard.
Advocates’ Assistive Devices Program Helps Seniors Age In Place
Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has purchased and installed
more than 2,100 assistive devices in the homes of area older and disabled
adults over the past three years thanks to an ARPA grant through Frederick
County government.
From grab bars in bathrooms to outdoor ramps and a wide variety of
equipment to help individuals get around safely, these assistive devices are
improving the quality of life for those over 62 years old in 897 households
throughout the county as of December 31, 2024. “We know that fewer falls
mean fewer injuries, fewer EMS calls and emergency room trips, and a
higher quality of life for anyone aging in place in our community,” explained
Melanie Cox, president of the Advocates Board of Directors. “And at a time
when Frederick County has limited affordable housing for low-income
seniors, it is extremely important that seniors are able to stay in their
homes and apartments.”
Click here to read our newest blog post for more background on this story.
In addition to a $300,000 ARPA grant from Frederick County, the City of
Frederick, and local foundations, including the Delaplaine and Community
Foundations, have made these direct and often life-saving devices and
equipment available to Frederick County seniors.
Advocates continues to assist low-income seniors needing help. For more
information, please email grabbarsproject@gmail.com or call Sherry Fulton
at 240-741-9853.