Last Wednesday we held a webinar on 7 Strategies to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday. Thank you to everyone who attended. We are thrilled with your interest and participation.We received a lot of great questions and, due to time limits, we were not able to answer all of them. So as we promised, here are some of your questions and the answers:
1. Do you have to go through your employer to get a Health Savings Account?
ANSWER: No, anyone can set up a Health Savings Account. To qualify, you must be under 65 years old and have high-deductible health insurance.
2. When should I get my flu shot?
ANSWER: Flu season runs from October to May, so the best time to get your flu shot is early fall.
3. What should I do if I think one of my relatives is depressed during the holidays?
ANSWER: Encourage them to see a therapist. Depression is a serious disease that should be handled by medical professionals. If you think your relative just has a case of the “holiday blues,” let them know you are there for them if they want to talk. Encourage them to exercise and get enough sleep. If they are stressed, offer to help in the kitchen, or help watch their kids, run last minute errands, and so on.
4. How can I help my loved one in an assisted living facility celebrate the holiday?
ANSWER: There are many ways to celebrate with your loved ones in assisted living facilities. If they are unable to come to your celebration, bring some holiday cheer to them. Bring family photos and mementos, decorate Christmas cookies, watch their favorite Christmas movie with them. For my father, I had a special “small” Christmas tree decorated for his room. If the facility they live in is too far away, try Skyping or FaceTiming them and don’t forget to send a thoughtful Christmas card!
5. How do I enroll in Medicare?
ANSWER: You may be automatically enrolled. If you are, you will get your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. You will need to sign up if you are not getting Social Security or RRB benefits or if you live in Puerto Rico. Apply online at https://www.socialsecurity.
Please continue to send us your questions. We will be scheduling more webinars soon. I’d love to hear from you!
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