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Savvy Senior®

How to find financial assistance for elderly parents Dear Savvy Senior Where can I go to locate financial assistance programs for seniors? I have been helping support my 70-year-old mother the past couple years and really can’t afford to do it any longer. Feeling Overwhelmed Dear Overwhelmed, There are actually a wide variety of financial

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The truth about Alzheimer’s: early detection makes a difference

It’s the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, affects more than 5 million Americans and one out of every three seniors will die from it. Yet misconceptions surround Alzheimer’s disease. Contrary to what many people think about Alzheimer’s, it’s not a normal part of growing older. And while there’s not yet a way

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Why you need to do more than just turn up the volume

Approximately 20 percent of Americans live with hearing loss, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. If you’re among them, you may think all you need to do in order to hear better is to turn up the volume. But many factors make up hearing, including sound quality, clarity, the ability to identify where

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Rare squirrel sparks wonder for Hannibal boy and caretaker

By Trevor McDonald Hannibal Courier-Post reporter Just outside the window, a furry surprise appeared for a Hannibal boy who loves to watch wildlife with his caretaker. Patty Lawrence said she takes care of a boy who loves to watch the various creatures who fly and scurry through his yard. Recently, Lawrence snapped photos of an

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Snakes on a flood plain

Floods and severe storms can leave more than just people homeless. Displaced snakes, rodents and other nuisance wildlife often will seek shelter and food in areas close to people, said Bob Pierce, MU Extension fisheries and wildlife specialist. Heavily damaged structures are particularly attractive to displaced animals because they offer a number of accessible entrances,

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Big three: Well plugging, radon and mold

Q: I read a past article about plugging wells and really needed to talk with someone to better understand available options. R.W., Miller, Mo. A: After talking on the phone I now understand that you have several concerns including radon testing, mold under the house AND well plugging. We talked by phone and I hope

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Don’t punish people for trying to protect seniors from fraud

by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill At some point in our lives, nearly all of us will worry that a crook or scammer is taking financial advantage of an elderly family member, friend or loved one. What’s even scarier is that many people on the front lines of this fight against these fraudsters—bank employees and other

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Savvy Senior®

How to track down things you routinely misplace Dear Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any products or devices to help seniors track down lost or misplaced items, like car keys, wallet, cell phone, etc. My husband has become forgetful in his old age, so we spend a lot of wasted time looking

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