Living Well After 60: Questions We All Have

There are so many questions that come with getting older, and most of us are figuring them out as we go. 

When should I sign up for Medicare? What does it really cover? What happens when I don’t want to drive anymore, especially at night? How do I find someone I can trust to help me at home? What happens after I lose my spouse and suddenly everything is different? How do I protect myself from scams? 

And then there is one question people don’t always like to talk about: What do I do when I’m lonely? 

That’s one of the reasons for this new column. I hope to take one question at a time and talk about some of the issues we face as we get older. Sometimes it may be Medicare or healthcare. Other times it might be transportation, food, finances, caregiving, safety, housing, or simply where to turn when you need a little help. 

For our first column, I wanted to talk about loneliness because I hear about it so often. 

Loneliness doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how nice your home is, how financially secure you are, or whether you have a loving family. Your children may live in another state. Friends move away or pass away. You may lose your spouse. You may not be as comfortable driving at night as you once were. 

Retirement can change things, too. We sometimes forget how many everyday conversations came from going to work. You saw the same people, talked about your weekend, complained about something silly, and asked what everyone was doing for lunch. Then one day those little daily connections aren't there anymore. 

And sometimes, as we get older, people simply stop asking us to do things. 

One of the best ways I know to change that is to volunteer. 

I’m not talking about taking on another job. You don't have to work eight hours or make a huge commitment. Give two hours a month if that's what works for you. 

Answer a phone. Greet people at an event. Read to a child. Help at your church or synagogue. Serve a meal. Stuff envelopes. Visit someone who is homebound. Help with a community event. Or share a skill you spent 30 or 40 years learning. 

There are organizations all over our community that would be thrilled to have you. 

Something else happens when you volunteer that you may not expect. You start getting to know people. Someone remembers your name. Someone asks if you're coming next week. Someone saves you a seat. And if you don't show up, somebody notices. 

Before long, you aren't going because you need something to do. You're going because you're part of something. 

Maybe the better question isn't always, “Who can help me?” Maybe sometimes it's, “Who could use my help?” 

Now I would like to hear from you. 

What questions do you have about getting older? 

Maybe you're confused about Medicare. Maybe you've recently lost your spouse and aren't sure where to begin. Maybe you have questions about transportation, prescription costs, finding reliable help at home, meeting people, insurance, or what services are available right here in our community. 

Send me your questions at allysonrichards@me.com. You don't have to include your name. I have a feeling that if you're wondering about something, quite a few other people are wondering about it too. 

We'll tackle them one at a time. 

None of us has all the answers about getting older. But perhaps we can do a better job of helping one another find them.