Aging Untold: How to preserve dignity and respect when helping aging loved ones
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we explore how caregivers and seniors can work together to protect dignity through shared decision-making.
Plus, we break down what to do if Social Security claims a deceased loved one was overpaid and demands repayment.
Then, we look at dizziness as a threat to independence, including common causes, simple checks and when to get help.
And we share a Louisiana story of hope as one woman’s musical gift transforms her community.
How to preserve dignity and respect when helping aging loved ones
Dignity and respect should run from birth until death, Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said.
However, they can slip away for older adults through small decisions and everyday interactions.
“Treat people the way you want to be treated,” Cradduck said. “That golden rule should be running forever.”
She gave an example in which people talk about aging adults rather than to them.
Maintaining dignity gives older adults more ability to ask for help, according to the Aging Untold experts.
The experts are providing examples of actions that strip away dignity and offering advice on how caregivers and older adults can speak to each other and be involved in decisions together.
Social Security overpayment collections could target families after beneficiary’s death
David Morgan, a retired MARTA bus driver from Georgia, started receiving letters demanding that he pay back $20,000 in Social Security overpayments made to his deceased brother, Dennis.
And the agency threatened to cut David’s own benefits if he did not pay.
David Morgan had served as his brother’s representative payee for nine months.
When his brother died at 58, David said he notified the agency and thought his responsibilities over his brother’s benefits were done.
Social Security records show the overpayments had occurred since 2022, spanning years before Morgan took responsibility for his brother’s benefits.
Understanding dizziness: Why it matters and how to stay safe
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor, according to Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician.
But dizziness means different things to different people, and understanding how to describe what you are feeling helps doctors identify the underlying cause.
“Dizziness is not a diagnosis. It’s a symptom,” Rogers said. “So, you have to find that why.”
Woman defies expectations and brings joy through music
When Hope Abel was 6, a professional told her grandmother to prepare to institutionalize her by age 12.
Abel is now 26 and she is sharing a hidden gift with her community – the gift of music.
Abel revealed her musical gift during an open mic night at church nearly a decade ago when she ran to the stage before her grandmother could stop her.
Abel left the audience speechless when she played the full score of “The Sound of Music” by ear.
Now she performs at nursing homes where they welcome her performances.
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