Fifty Plus Advocate

Mechanical objects aren’t necessarily terrifying; it’s just that some of us might have been more comfortable in a slightly less technological century. For me, the anxiety about mechanical things started long before 8-year-olds were taking selfies with their iPhones. I blame the phone company. I grew up before dial phones, in a small country town. When you lifted the handset to...

By Micha Shalev Like any form of bias, ageism has led many of us to make false assumptions about seniors. Many of these myths may be easily disputed based on data from the U.S. Census and other studies. Myth: Most older adults do not have enough money and end up becoming destitute. Fact: As of 2009, only 8.9 percent of Americans 65...

By Alain Valles, CRMP, CSA, MS, MBA, Nonprofit Charitable Managing Director Should I stay, or should I go? To move or age in place? If you move, what does that really mean? How will you get your home ready to sell, list your home, find new housing, and back your belongings and memories? If you stay, how will you ensure adequate...

By Mike Festa, State Director, AARP Massachusetts Results of a recent AARP survey found that caregivers of loved ones with dementia put in longer hours and find themselves having to make more adjustments in their lives than caregivers of people with other health conditions. The national survey looked at the demands of about 700 caregivers of individuals with dementia or other...

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Culture Editor Brookline – Clinical psychologist, vocalist and lung cancer survivor Hildy Grossman of Brookline got her diagnosis while caring for another health concern. Grateful for early detection, she drew upon her experience as a professional entertainer and founded Upstage Lung Cancer (ULC). The nonprofit organization produces concerts to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer...

By Kristen Alberino, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist, Boston   Every year on Veterans Day, we honor the people who risk their lives to protect our freedom. Social Security honors veterans and active duty members of the military every day by giving them the respect they deserve. Social Security’s disability program is an important part of our obligation to wounded...

By Jane Keller Gordon, Assistant Editor Taunton - In 2004, three years into her son’s opioid addiction, Joanne Peterson decided to let the world know about it. Learn To Cope (LTC) is the result, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of parents and family members deal with loved ones who are addicted to opiates and other drugs. Now funded by the...

U.S. Virgin Islands  - Our regular travel writer Victor Block is in the U.S. Virgin Islands gathering information for a future story about that inviting destination.  In the meantime, he sent this report about the recovery from the two strong hurricanes that pounded St Thomas, St. Croix and St. John during the fall of 2017.  Victor says that while...

By Marianne Delorey A Scottish writer, Alexander Chalmers, is attributed as saying that the three components of happiness are “Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for." I believe that this quote may provide some insight, but it is not complete. Especially as you age, while you can remain forward thinking and continue to hope, you become more accustomed...

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