Will telehealth visits outlive pandemic?
Telehealth is a bit of American ingenuity that seems to have paid off in the coronavirus pandemic. Medicare temporarily waived restrictions predating the smartphone era, and now there’s a push to make telemedicine widely available in the future. Consultations via tablets, laptops and phones linked patients and doctors when society shut down in early spring. Telehealth visits dropped... READ MORE
How to spot fake news and propaganda
Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any resources you know of that can help people detect fake news? My 75-year-old mother shares a lot of misinformation she sees on Facebook with her family and friends. I’ve talked to her about it, but for some reason she has a difficult time deciphering real news from fake news and propaganda. —Frustrated Daughter Dear Frustrated, Unfortunately, ... READ MORE
Special masks can help hard of hearing adults
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), masks can make communication difficult for the approximately 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Masks muffle sound and take away a person’s ability to read lips and see facial expressions, which help people better understand what they’re hearing. “Widespread mask use at this critical juncture in the pandemic ... READ MORE
Online dating: a guide for people over 50
When I was younger and in a different era, it was easy meeting single men, striking up a conversation and dating. Well, sorry to say, older single people today have a tough time meeting the right partner, someone who shares similar likes and dislikes and really wants a meaningful, long-term relationship where both feel mutual chemistry. Having been married twice, my hope was to find... READ MORE
Without tech, some ‘phone it in’ to the doc
Video telemedicine took off earlier this year as the coronavirus paused in-person doctor visits. Earl Egner missed that trend. The 84-year-old diabetic and cancer survivor has no computer or cellphone. Instead, he relies on a form of communication older than himself — the telephone — to talk to doctors as he stays hunkered down in his home in Somerset, Virginia. “We don’t even... READ MORE
Students develop virtual reality hikes
Take a trek to Skeleton Point on the South Kaibab Trail along the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Head to California and make your way to the Bridge to Nowhere or Potato Chip Rock. Find yourself atop Mother Miguel Mountain in Ohio or in the caves of Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia. All are possibilities from the comfort of your home due in large part to the work of two recent high school... READ MORE
Video call options for the tech-challenged
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some simple devices that can help tech-challenged seniors with video calls? My 80-year-old mother has been isolating herself for months now in fear of the coronavirus, and I haven’t been able to see her face-to-face in quite a while. —Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Video chatting is a great way to stay connected and keep tabs on a parent... READ MORE
Kindness spreads with volunteer links
It started with a simple spreadsheet created by a group of college students who wanted to help during the pandemic. In just two months, that spreadsheet has grown into an online platform that has connected do-gooders with nearly 3,000 opportunities to volunteer across the United States. Corona Connects (coronaconnects.org) includes 170 volunteer categories — from food delivery and... READ MORE
How to have an effective telehealth visit
Dear Savvy Senior, I manage a large doctor’s clinic that treats hundreds of seniors each month. We are moving to more telehealth visits to help keep our patients safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic, but this new way of seeing a doctor is befuddling to many of our older patients. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for a telehealth... READ MORE
Teach English online for extra money
The timing is right today for turning native English skills into an online income, according to a new report from International Living. Retirees (and others) looking for a flexible, fun, portable way to earn from home should consider teaching English online — no office, no cubicle, no experience necessary. Qualified people need not have a teaching degree or any specialized... READ MORE
