Historically, when older adults and disabled persons in the U.S. needed care, they relied on family members who became informal caregivers. When skilled care was required, the only option was to live in a nursing facility. More options became available with public programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, but each has limited funding for long-term care. Consumers needed help to identify and apply for these benefits.

This newspaper column gives me the opportunity to address important issues related to long-term care planning, including financial, housing and legal matters. Conversations on these topics are often difficult within families, but they are important if we want to control our future and maintain our lifestyle.

Long before cell phones and sophisticated pagers, physicians relied on beepers for mobile communications. Now, with cellular phones, wireless Internet technology, and remote sensing devices, doctors have the potential to monitor patients and access their health care records from most places around the world.

I was 31 years old when I joined the staff of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and over all these 28 years, I’ve known the role of diet and exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

During the Christmas holidays, a team of GM employees and retirees zip in and out of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, picking up greeting cards for the Holiday Meals on Wheels campaign and then dropping off the proceeds of their sales.

As this edition of the Michigan Chronicle rolls off the presses, I’m in Washington, D.C., to make a presentation to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging (AoA) about health disparities in the African American community. This forum is part of AoA’s recognition of African American History Month. The program will draw an audience of interested stakeholders from various government agencies.

There’s nothing new about grandparents helping to raise and care for their grandchildren.  In the past, several generations would live under one roof and the grandparents filled many roles, including full-time care when needed.

Special events in and around Detroit draw interested audiences to everything from weight loss challenges to music festivals, and it’s exciting to see activities that draw individuals of all ages.