JCA Blog

Online Scams Targeting Older Adults

JCA Blog / By JCA / August 28, 2024

woman looks at cell phone suspiciously

Older people are especially vulnerable to online scams. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), roughly $3.4 billion in total fraud losses were reported by Americans over age 60 in 2023, up 11% from 2022. The average loss per case was nearly $34,000. Why are seniors at higher risk for scams? Although many are barely …

Continue Reading


Six Ways a Simple Eye Exam Could Save Your Life

JCA Blog / By JCA / August 9, 2024

older man has an eye exam

from the National Council on Aging Did you know that an ophthalmologist can help you keep an eye on your overall health? In fact, an ophthalmologist—a physician who specializes in medical and surgical eye care—may be the first to detect if you’re at risk for a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions. That’s because …

Continue Reading


Beware The Hype About That Alzheimer’s Blood Test

JCA Blog / By JCA / August 7, 2024

gloved hand holding a vial of blood

by Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute and former JCA President The idea that a simple blood can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is getting an enormous amount of attention. And someday, these tests may have important benefits. But before you run to your doctor demanding a blood draw, keep in mind that this test has …

Continue Reading


Shingles Vaccines May Reduce Dementia Risk

JCA Blog, KC Blog / By JCA / August 6, 2024

syringe and vaccine check sheet

Shingles vaccines may reduce dementia risk, two large new studies suggest by Brenda Goodman, CNN Two new studies suggest that getting a vaccine to protect against a painful case of shingles may be beneficial for memory, too. An estimated 98% of US adults have had chickenpox and are at risk for shingles; both are caused by the …

Continue Reading


August ’24 Senior Resources Guide: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

JCA Blog / By JCA / August 5, 2024

older couple embracing

by Suzanne Pollak, senior writer for JCA, for the Washington Jewish Week Staying Safe from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Older Americans are being diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases in numbers higher than ever. The real increases are even higher as not everyone knows they are infected or is ever tested. In the Jewish Council for the …

Continue Reading


The Added Burden of LGBTQ+ Caregivers

JCA Blog, KC Blog / By JCA / July 30, 2024

two older men viewed from the back

by Joel G. Anderson for Fortune LGBTQ+ caregivers carry an added burden of isolation, stigma, and lack of support that can harm their physical and mental health. Caring for someone living with dementia can be a stressful experience that harms the physical and mental health of caregivers. Many caregivers experience depression and lower quality of life. LGBTQ+ caregivers …

Continue Reading


Why You Most Likely Need a Digital Will

JCA Blog / By JCA / July 30, 2024

couple looking at a laptop

By Jim Miller for the Beacon If you spend much time online, adding to your estate plan a separate digital will — which provides a list of your digital assets — would be extremely helpful to your loved ones when you die. It will also help protect your privacy.   The term “digital assets” refers …

Continue Reading


Not Everyone Can Afford to Age in Place

JCA Blog / By JCA / July 24, 2024

senior couple on their porch

by Anne D’Innocenzio for the Beacon A vast majority of adults over age 50 prefer the idea of remaining in their own residences as long as possible, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.   But staying put is becoming less of a choice. Some baby boomers and older members of Generation X are locked into …

Continue Reading


Why I Don’t Like Individual Stocks

JCA Blog / By JCA / July 23, 2024

graph of stock prices

Why I Don’t Like Individual Stocks by Sally Pessin, Esq., CRPC® When I was 15 or 16 years old, the hot pick in the stock market was Polaroid, makers of the instant camera.  Each day, I watched my mother and stepfather follow the value of their shares in the newspaper.  One day I asked if …

Continue Reading


10 Tips for Senior Summer Safety

JCA Blog / By JCA / July 17, 2024

mature woman in a pool with sunglasses and a sun hat

by Carol Phipps for Creative Home Therapy Summer months are great for increasing exercise and activity. Warm, dry weather tends to be gentler on bones and joints of seniors. Longer daylight makes it safer to enjoy outdoor activities. Many seniors enjoy walking and hiking, and the summer months are great for that. There are many …

Continue Reading