1. Health
2. Other Concerns

Prescriptions

• Article - Saving Money on Prescription Drugs When Your Parent's Not Covered by a Medicare Part D Plan

  Information to help you save money on prescription drugs when your parent is in the doughnut hole or just not enrolled in Medicare Part D.

• Article - Medigap: A Beginner's Guide

  Medigap: A Beginner's Guide. What is medigap? What are the medigap insurance plans and what do they cover? Are my parents eligible for medigap?

• Article - 15 Essential Diabetes Drug Tips

  15 tips for people with type 2 diabetes, and their caregivers, about taking oral medications

• Article - Medicaid: A Beginner's Guide

  Medicaid: A Beginner's Guide. What is Medicaid? Who qualifies for Medicaid? What does Medicaid cover?

• Checklist - 9 Things to Automate When a Forgetful Parent Wants to Continue Living at Home

  Tasks and chores you can take off your parent's hands so that they can stay independent longer.

• Article - Medicare: A Beginner's Guide

  Medicare: A Beginner's Guide. What is Medicare? Who's eligible for Medicare? What's covered by Medicare? How much does Medicare cost?

• Checklist - Choosing a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

  These eight questions will help you figure out which Medicare Part D prescription drug plan is right for your parent.

• Article - Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes: A Beginner's Guide

  A guide to the oral medications available to people with type 2 diabetes.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 4: One Family's Story

  Prescription medication causes a senior to become addicted.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 3: No Magic Pill

  Prescription drug abuse and addiction by the elderly, and how to help them avoid it.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction: Are Your Parents at Risk?

  Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a growing problem among the elderly.

• Blog Post - Millions Falling Into the Doughnut Hole

  Medicare Part D has a coverage gap, the doughnut hole, that forces millions of people to give up taking needed medications, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation study.

• Blog Post - Weighty Matters: Diabetes Drugs Can Pack on the Pounds

  Some prescription drugs, it turns out, have an unintended side effect: They lead to weight gain.

• Blog Post - Over-The-Counter Driving Hazards

  Even simple cold medications can undermine the driving abilities of elderly people.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part II: (Grand)Mother’s Little Helpers

  Prescription and other drugs are commonly abused by seniors.

Questions & Answers

• Question - What help is available to pay for prescription drugs?

  Can your parent get financial help to pay for prescription drugs? Does Medicare cover drugs, or are there other ways to get help paying for prescriptions?

• Question - Do I Need Medicare Part D If I Have Blue Cross/Blue Shield from work?

  You may not need a Medicare Part D drug plan, and won't be penalized for not signing up, if you have employer-sponsored drug coverage.

• Question - Do you need a prescription for a walker?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help my father decide which Medigap plan is right for him?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does Medicare cover prescription eyeglasses?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does Medicare cover prescription eyeglasses?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can you help explain Medicare Part D?

  For a small monthly premium, a Medicare Part D plan can help pay prescription drug costs for someone on Medicare through long-term disability.

• Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

  Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

• Question - Where do I get financial help for my 88 year old mother?

  A senior with low income and assets can qualify for SSI benefits of $600 to $800 per month, Medicaid and a very low-cost prescription drug plan.

• Question - Could herbal supplements affect my mother's ability to drive?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a medication I can take for my arthritis that won't cause a skin rash?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

  Medicare Part D drug coverage is very inexpensive for people eligible for Medicaid and in nursing homes.

• Question - How can I help my father get up from a fall without causing injury to him or me?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How much will Medicare cost me?

  How much will Medicare cost? Medicare part A probably won't cost you anything, whereas the cost of part B will be based on your income.

• Question - Can vitamin supplements and herbals slow memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease?

  Alzheimer's memory loss may be slowed by vitamins. Supplements can't improve memory, but they might be able to slow memory loss down slightly.

• Question - Will my grandmother lose Medicare benefits if she is checked out of a rehab center without a doctor's approval?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could my father's loud snoring be caused by a medical problem?

  Loud snoring may indicate a medical problem like sleep apnea. Loud snoring could also be caused by obesity, alcohol, smoking, and medications.

• Question - How can I get my parent to eat without nagging?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Where can I get financial assistance for monthly expenses we...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I resolve a family conflict so I can visit my mother?

  My sister lives with my mother, and is making it hard to visit Mom and make sure she is okay.

• Question - Can my grandmother pay me directly with her Medicaid "spend down" for services I provide?

  Can my grandmother pay me for some of her caregiving costs to spend down for Medicaid? Yes, some caregiving costs apply to Medicaid spend down.

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I handle my dad's denial about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I be held responsible for my mother's medical bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Medicine Dispensers: The Right Pills at the Right Time

  If your parent has trouble keeping track of medications...

• Tip - Medicare Coverage for Your Parent With Diabetes

  Find out what diabetes services and supplies are covered under Medicare.

• Tip - Fall Drug-Coverage Checkup

  About 55 percent of people with Medicare have signed...

News

• News - High Co-Pays Cause Seniors to Go Without Meds

  WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors enrolled...

• News - Medicare Spending Caps Cause Seniors to Stop Meds

  TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Some American...

• News - FDA Struggles to Keep Pace With Requests for Generics

  THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Despite improved...

• News - FDA Mulls Direct Pharmacist-to-Patient Drug Sales

  TUESDAY, Nov. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Experts at the U...

• News - Medicare Drug Plan Fuels Health-Care Spending

  TUESDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The new Medicare...

• News - Geriatrician Care Guards Against Risk of Inappropriate Meds

  FRIDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly Americans...

• News - Blood Pressure Drugs Might Prevent Parkinson's

  WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- People taking...

• News - Taking Multiple Pain Relievers May Cause Complications

  THURSDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- People who take...

• News - Many Patients Fail to Take Drugs After Heart Attack

  MONDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A quarter of the...

• News - Non-Medical Use of Prescriptions Linked to Drug Abuse Risk

  MONDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- Among college...