Savvy Senior

Dear Savvy Senior, What is the safest way to dispose of unwanted medications? My husband and I have drawers full of unused and expired drugs that we’d like to get rid of, and get them out of sight of our curious grandkids. What can you tell me? Concerned Grandmother Dear Concerned, The safest and most responsible way to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired, medications is to take it to a medicine take-back event. And the next prime opportunity to do this is on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which is slated for 10 … [Read more...] about How to safely dispose of unused medicines

Dear Savvy Senior, I understand that there are a number of different flu vaccines being offered to adults this flu season. What can you tell me about them? Seeking Protection Dear Seeking, Depending on your age, health and personal preference, there are six different ways to get immunized against influenza this year. Just as they do every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a seasonal flu shot to almost everyone over the age of 6 months because it’s still the best protection against the … [Read more...] about Flu shot options available to older adults

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in tracking down some old friends I’ve lost touch with over the years but could use some help. What tips or resources can you recommend to help me find them? Searching Senior Dear Searching, It you have access to the Internet, tracking down long-lost friends from many years ago is relatively easy to do, and in most cases it won’t cost you a cent. Here are some tips and tools to help you get started. Gather Details Before you begin your search, a good first step is to jot down any … [Read more...] about How to track down long-lost friends

Dear Savvy Senior, At age 62, I will be retiring at the end of the year and plan to enroll in Obamacare until my Medicare kicks in. Can you offer me any advice on choosing a plan? Almost Retired Dear Almost, The new health insurance exchanges – also known as Obamacare – that begin in 2014 will have a significant impact on millions of Americans who need health insurance, especially pre-Medicare retirees and uninsured baby boomers who often have a difficult time finding affordable coverage. To help ensure you get the … [Read more...] about Health exchange shopping tips for uninsured boomers and early retirees

Dear Savvy Senior, I’ll be 65 in a few months – Medicare enrollment age – and am thinking about getting a Medicare supplemental policy to help cover things outside of Medicare. Can you give me some advice on choosing a plan? Shopping Sam Dear Sam, If you’re planning to choose original Medicare for your health coverage, getting a supplemental policy too (also known as Medigap insurance) is a good idea if you can afford it, because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and … [Read more...] about How to Choose a Medigap Supplemental Policy

Dear Savvy Senior, When my father passed away we thought he had a life insurance policy, but we haven’t been able to track it down. Do you know of any resources that might help? Searching Family Dear Searching, Lost or forgotten life-insurance policies are actually quite common in the U.S. In fact, it’s estimated that around $1 billion in benefits from unclaimed life-insurance policies are waiting to be claimed by their rightful beneficiaries. While unfortunately, there isn’t a national database for tracking down these … [Read more...] about How to find lost life-insurance policies

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some easy-to-use television remote controls for seniors? I got my 74-year-old mother a new HDTV for her birthday, but the remote control is very confusing for her to operate. Shopping Son Dear Shopping, It seems like most television remote controls today come with dozens of unnecessary buttons that make them very confusing to operate. Add in the fact that many people use two or three remotes to operate their home entertainment equipment (TV, cable box, VCR and DVD player, etc.) it compounds … [Read more...] about Simple television remotes designed for seniors