The Bask Blog

The important thing to consider in planning for independent living is to make sure that your financial house is in order. This is, of course, easier said than done. But a degree of planning can help you to avoid unpleasant surprises.

One problem that has been with Americans for decades is the problem of huge medical debt overwhelming our ability to repay. With Americans losing jobs (and health insurance coverage) from the bad economy, the ability to meet significant medical debt can be daunting.

It should come as no surprise, then, that many people are forced to consider bankruptcy as a means of getting out from under the debt. Consider this item from The New York Times’s Money & Policy section….

…continue reading Catastrophic Health Care Costs Result in Bankruptcy for Many

Here is an interesting item from Robert Preidt, writing in Medicine Net, about the benefits of vigorous exercise for senior men.

The study, which followed seniors for about nine years, found a significant reduction in stroke risks for men who did vigorous exercise, while there were no significant such benefits for women.

…continue reading Vigorous Exercise Reduces Stroke Risk for Senior Men

One thing we have to learn to deal with in seeking an independent lifestyle in our senior years is the inevitable conflict that comes when our children don’t meet our expectations or we experience one of the difficulties associated with the diseases of advancing age.

Joy Loverde, writing in the Eldercare ABC Blog, has some good advice for how to defuse the difficult situations that bring on the angry conflicts.

…continue reading How to Deal With Anger of Children / Parents

You may have run into this problem in the past — your doctor won’t accept Medicare or Medicaid. I know I’ve found this to be the case at least once. With the increase of patients loading the system that will come if national health care passes, and the increase of regulations on doctors (and their income) that will come with it, this is going to be an increasing problem in the future.

According to Bryan Burbank at the Eldercare ABC Blog, finding a doctor who accepts Medicare or Medicaid is easy, but it does at least require checking. If you don’t check, you might find yourself facing a hefty fee for health treatment that you weren’t expecting and won’t be covered.

…continue reading Some Doctors Refuse Medicare / Medicaid

For seniors who are striving to maintain their own households, rather than moving in with the kids, or going to a retirement community or other independent living community, one of the primary concerns is avoiding a fall.

According to Disabled World, chronic pain can actually increase the likelihood of a fall.

…continue reading Chronic Pain Can Lead to More Falls

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If you’re looking for senior housing, now might be a really good time to be looking. According to the Wall Street Journal, there are good deals available.

…continue reading Good Time to Invest in a Senior Living Community

For seniors who are striving to maintain their own households, rather than moving in with the kids, or going to a retirement community or other independent living community, one of the primary concerns is avoiding a fall.

According to Disabled World, chronic pain can actually increase the likelihood of a fall.

…continue reading Chronic Pain Can Lead to More Falls

Drug companies have been taking a lot of hits in the news lately. This is obviously of great concern to senior citizens, as the cost of drugs often makes up a big part of seniors’ budgets. Less expensive choices for prescription medications makes maintaining independence much more manageable.

It is discouraging to find out, that in addition to hiking prices as a tactic for surviving pending health care legislation, drug companies charge government programs for advertising costs.

Christopher Weaver, writing in NPR’s health blog “Shots,” indicates that a recent study indicates that drug companies are passing on advertising costs to taxpayer-funded health programs, such as Medicaid.

…continue reading Drug Companies Passing Advertising Costs to Medicaid

One of the struggles with advanced age is the problem of broken bones as a result of a fall.

Confirming what we already know by experience, Medicine Net reports that women’s chances of suffering a hip fracture increase dramatically with age.

This is obviously of great interest to seniors who are striving to maintain independent living. Good health can never be a guarantee against traumatic injury, and a fall can lead to extreme consequences. Some common-sense precautions, such as obtaining and using a personal emergency response system, can reduce the risks associated with elderly people living independently.

…continue reading Odds of Suffering Hip Fracture Increases With Age