I am the caregiver for my 81-year-old mother, who recently fell and broke her hip. I have a lot of questions about how original Medicare works and what it covers. Where can I get some help understanding this program?

Having a working knowledge of Medicare can help you take full advantage of the coverage and services it provides to ensure your mom receives the best care possible. Here is what you should know.

Medicare Assistance

A good starting point to get familiar with Medicare is the official "Medicare & You" handbook that overviews the program. It is mailed to all beneficiaries every fall and provides an up-to-date description of all services and benefits. You can also see it online at Medicare.gov/medicare-and-you.

If you have a particular question, you can call and visit with a Medicare customer service representative at 800-633-4227. Medicare also works closely with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) to provide free health insurance counseling. To find a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675.

Caregivers may also find Medicare's secure website – MyMedicare.gov – especially useful. After setting up a personal account for your mom, you can view the details of her coverage, track recent health care claims and keep up to date on preventive services.

Compare Tools

Medicare can also help you locate the right health care providers for your mother. At Medicare.gov/care-compare. you can find and compare doctors, hospitals, home health agencies, dialysis facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in your mom's area.

What Medicare Covers

Medicare can reduce many out-of-pocket medical expenses your mom incurs, but it does not cover everything. Understanding what Medicare covers can save you time and spare you frustration when navigating the caregiving maze. Here are some key points for caregivers:

Medicare covers basic hospital and physician services (which includes telehealth services), home health care and optional prescription drug benefits. To qualify, your mom must be homebound, under a physician's care and in need of part-time skilled nursing care or rehabilitative services, such as physical therapy.

Medicare also helps pay for oxygen, catheters and other medical supplies that doctors prescribe for home use. The same is true for medically necessary equipment, including oxygen machines, wheelchairs and walkers.

In addition, Medicare covers skilled care in a nursing home for limited periods – up to 100 days following hospital stays. It does not cover long-term stays. Patients who need custodial care (room and board) must pay out of pocket unless they are eligible for Medicaid or have private long-term care insurance.

Medicare also pays for hospice care for someone with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. The hospice benefit also includes brief periods of respite care at a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home to give the patient's caregivers an occasional rest.

Besides long-term nursing home stays, original Medicare typically does not cover regular dental care or dentures, regular eye exams or eyeglasses and hearing exams or hearing aids. Likewise, it does not cover nonemergency ambulance trips unless a doctor certifies they are medically necessary.

To find out what Medicare covers, visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in the test, item or service you have questions about, or download the Medicare "What's Covered" application on your mobile device.

Financial Assistance

If your mom lives on a limited income, you should check whether she qualifies for help with prescription drug costs or with other Medicare-related premiums, deductibles and copayments.

For help with prescription drug costs, visit SSA.gov/prescriptionhelp or contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 and ask about the "Extra Help Program." For help with other Medicare costs, go to Medicare.gov or call 800-633-4227 and ask about the "Medicare Savings Programs."

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I know there will be a small cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits next year but what about Medicare? What will the Medicare Part B monthly premiums be in 2021, and when do the surcharges kick in for higher income beneficiaries?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for 2021 and the increases for premiums and out-of-pocket costs for most beneficiaries will be modest. But if you are a high earner, you will pay more. Here is what you can expect starting in January.

Medicare Part B

While Medicare Part A, which pays for hospital care, is premium-free for most beneficiaries, Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient services does have a monthly premium. Starting in 2021, the standard monthly Part B premium will be $148.50, up from $144.60 in 2020. That $3.90 bump represents a 2.7% increase, which is more than double the most recent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment of 1.3%.

But if you are a high earning beneficiary, which makes up about 7% of all Medicare recipients, you will have to pay more. Medicare surcharges for high earners are based on adjusted gross income from two years earlier, which means that 2021 Part B premiums are determined by 2019 annual income.

So, if your 2019 income was above $88,000 up to $111,000 ($176,000 up to $222,000 for married couples filing jointly), your 2021 Part B monthly premium will be $207.90, up from $202.40 in 2020.

Monthly premiums for singles with an income between $111,000 and $138,000 ($222,000 and $276,000 for joint filers) will rise from $289.20 to $297. Individuals earning above $138,000 up to $165,000 ($276,000 to $330,000 for joint filers) will see their monthly premium increase from $376 to $386.10.

Those with incomes above $165,000 up to $500,000 ($320,000 to $750,000 for joint filers), will pay $475.20 per month in 2021. Single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $504.90 per month next year.

Medicare Part D

For Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans, the average premium in 2021 will be about $30 per month for most beneficiaries. But, again for a high earner with annual incomes above $88,000 ($176,000 for joint filers), there is a monthly surcharge between $12.30 and $77.10 on top of the regular Part D premiums.

How to Contest Income

Beneficiaries that fall into any of the high-income categories and have experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced their income since 2019, such as retirement, divorce or the death of a spouse, can contest the surcharge. For more information on how to do this, see "Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries" at SSA.gov/benefits/medicare/medicare-premiums.html.

Other Medicare Increases

In addition to the Part B and Part D premium increases, there are other cost increases. For example, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B will see a bump from $198 to $203 in 2021. The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase from $1,408 in 2020 to $1,484 in 2021. There are no surcharges on Medicare deductibles for high earners.

For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2021 visit Medicare.gov and click on "2021 Medicare Costs," or call 800-633-4227.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I manage a large health clinic that treats thousands of patients each year. We have found that the patients who come in prepared are much more satisfied with the care they receive. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for doctor's appointments?

Studies have shown that patients who provide important health information and prepare for doctor's appointments tend to receive better care than patients who do not. Here are some simple things we can all do to help maximize the benefits of our next visit to the doctor.

Before Appointments

Gathering your health information and getting organized before your appointment are key to ensuring a productive meeting with your doctor. This is especially important if you are seeing multiple doctors or meeting with a new physician. Here is what you need to do before your next appointment:

1. Get your test results: If you are seeing a new doctor, make sure he or she has copies of your latest X-ray, MRI or any other tests or recent lab results, including reports from other doctors. In most cases, you will need to do the leg work yourself. This may be as simple as a phone call to your previous doctor or you may need to pick it up yourself.

2. List your medications: Make a list of all the medications and dosages you are taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. Alternatively, put all your pill bottles in a bag and take them with you to your appointment.

3. Know your health history: Being able to talk to your doctor about any previous medical problems and procedures, even if they are not the reason you are going to the doctor this time, can make an office visit much more efficient. If your health history is complicated, it would be best to write it down. Genetics matter too, so knowing your family's health history may also be helpful.

4. Prepare a list of questions: Make a written list of the top three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor. Since most appointments last around 15 to 20 minutes, this can help you stay on track and ensure you address your most pressing concerns first. If you are in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms.

During Appointments

When you meet with your doctor, it is important to speak up and get to the point. Right away, concisely explain why you are there. Do not wait to be asked. Be direct, honest and specific when recounting your symptoms or expressing your concerns. Many patients are reluctant or embarrassed to talk about their symptoms, which makes the doctor's job much more difficult. You may want to ask if you are able to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment, rules may vary with your doctor's office. They can help you ask questions, listen to what the doctor is telling you and give you support.

Consider taking notes or asking the doctor if you can record the session for later review. If you do not understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it in simple terms so you can understand. If you run out of time and do not get your questions answered, ask if you can follow up by phone or email, make another appointment or seek help from a nurse.

For more information, the National Institute on Aging offers an excellent booklet called "Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People" that can help you prepare for an appointment and become a more informed patient. To get a free copy mailed to you, call 800-222-2225 or visit order.nia.nih.gov.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

My mom is 76 and I have noticed her becoming more forgetful lately. I am worried she may be getting Alzheimer's disease. What resources can you recommend to help us?

Many seniors worry about memory lapses as they get older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer's disease or some other type of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness of your mom's problem, here are some key warning signs to be vigilant of and some resources you can turn to for help.

Warning Signs

As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as trouble remembering names of people or places or forgetting where you put your glasses or car keys – are associated with normal aging. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are much more than simple memory lapses.

Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between typical age-related memory loss and a more serious problem. To help you evaluate your mom's condition, here is a checklist of some common early symptoms of Alzheimer's to watch for:

• Asking the same questions repeatedly.
• Getting lost in familiar areas.
• Failing to recognize familiar people.
• Having difficulty following directions.
• Misplaces items in inappropriate places. For example, putting her keys in the microwave.
• Having difficulty completing familiar tasks like cooking a meal or paying a bill.
• Having trouble remembering common words when speaking or mixing up words.

A good tool to help you evaluate your mom is the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE test) that was developed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This free test helps identify mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. The SAGE test can be taken at home in about 10 to 15 minutes and can be found online.

Get Help

If you would rather have professional assistance, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (see alzfdn.org) is another good resource. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday they provide free, confidential virtual memory screenings done via video chat in real time. Your mother will need a phone, tablet or computer with a webcam and internet capability to complete the screening.

The screenings are given by healthcare professionals and take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Once the screening is complete, the screener will review the results with her and let her know if she should see a doctor for further evaluation. To set up a memory screening for your mom, call 866-232-8484 to make an appointment.

If your mom needs further evaluation, make an appointment with her primary care doctor for a cognitive checkup and medical examination. Depending on the results, she may be referred to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer's disease.

Keep in mind that even if your mom is experiencing some memory problems, it does not necessarily mean she has early-stage Alzheimer's. Many memory problems are caused by other factors like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies and other medical conditions. By treating these conditions, she can reduce or eliminate the problem.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I recently read an article about robotic pets being a great substitute for pet-loving seniors who cannot have or take care of a pet any longer. What do you think of this? My mother, who has dementia, is living in an assisted living facility that does not allow pets. Because of COVID, we have not been allowed inside the facility to visit her since March. I have been thinking about getting her a robot pet to help cheer her up but would like to know if they are worth buying.

There have actually been several studies on this topic that have shown that robotic pets – which are lifelike interactive pets – can have a positive impact on many lonely, socially isolated seniors, especially those who have dementia. This is particularly important now as the pandemic has caused millions of high-risk, vulnerable seniors to isolate as a means to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Here is what you should know.

Robotic Pet Studies

In 2018, the New York State Office for the Aging was the first state in the U.S. to test the robotic pets with isolated seniors. Results showed that using pets to lower social isolation was highly successful, with 70% of pilot participants reporting a decrease in isolation after one year. Subsequent programs completed by aging agencies in Alabama, Florida and Pennsylvania have also shown positive results.

Other clinical studies conducted by AARP, UnitedHealthcare and other clinicians have found similar outcomes. The studies have also found that robotic pets can help to enhance the well-being and quality of life of lonely or isolated individuals and those living with dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. The studies showed the robotic pets provided a level of interaction and comfort similar to a lifelike companion.

Where to Look

If you are interested in getting your mom a robotic pet, look for options targeted for seniors, rather than marketed as children's toys. Some of the targeted robot pet companies offer cats and dogs that look, feel and sound like the real thing – minus the feeding, watering, litter box or backyard cleanup, and the vet bills. With prices ranging between $65 and $130. Some of the options include soft, plush animals with built-in sensors that allow for purring and barking. They also may have brushable fur, making them surprisingly realistic.

They may be found in different shades to mimic real breeds. Some of the robotic pets can open and close their eyes, lift their paws, and move their head and body. If you pet them in the right spot – like on their belly or back– they will let out a purr.

If your mom is more of a dog person, you can also find stuffed puppies that will bark if it is feeling happy, sad or needy. The robotic pets are relatively light in comparison to a live pet. The stuffed pup is easy to play with and will not weigh down even the most fragile frame.


Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

What tips can you recommend for finding affordable prescription eyeglasses? I used to have vision insurance through my work but lost it when I turned 65 and signed up for Medicare.

Unfortunately, in 2020 original Medicare does not cover vision services. Routine eye exams and prescriptions are not included, unless you have just had cataract surgery. While there is no single solution to this common need, here are a few tips that can help you save.

Medicare Advantage

While original Medicare does not cover vision services, there are Medicare Advantage plans that do. Medicare Advantage plans are sold through private insurance companies. They cover all the same medical and hospital services included in original Medicare coverage. Many of the plans also provide vision, dental, hearing and prescription drugs coverage.

To locate Advantage plans in your area that provide vision coverage, go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 800-633-4227. Before enrolling in a plan, check the benefit details to ensure the plan's vision coverage includes routine eye exams, eyeglass frames and lenses.

If you are currently enrolled in original Medicare you can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan during the open enrollment period, which is between October 15 and December 7. If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan that does not provide adequate vision coverage, you can swap to another plan between January 1 and March 31.

If you do not want to change your Medicare plan, you can get coverage by purchasing a vision insurance policy. Basic vision policies typically start at approximately $10 per month for an individual. Before signing up, make sure your savings potential is worth the cost of the monthly premiums and required copays.

Discount Stores

Purchasing eyeglasses from discount retailers is another way to save. Big box discount stores may offer quality eyewear and low prices. Eyeglasses may cost less, but you may be required to pay an annual membership fee.

You should ask if you are eligible for any discounts. Some retailers provide discounts to membership groups. For example, with an AARP membership, you may receive 30% off a pair of glasses (frames and lenses) at certain retailers. AARP offers its members $55 comprehensive eye exams (dilation included) at participating eye doctors.

Buy Online

Buying eyeglasses online can also offer huge savings. Online only retailers may sell prescription eyeglasses at very minimal cost. These sites may allow you to upload a photo of your face, so you can see what you would look like in different frames. Some retailers allow you to request up to five pairs to try on at home for five days.

To purchase glasses online, you will need a valid prescription, typically no more than a year old, from an eye doctor. The prescription must include your pupillary distance number, which is the distance, measured in millimeters, between the centers of your pupils in each eye.

Low-Income Assistance

If your income is low, there may be local clinics that provide free or discounted eye exams and eyeglasses. You may also be able to get free eyeglasses through nonprofits in your area.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

At any given time, the average American maintains between 30 and 50 online accounts. These may be with banks, financial institutions, utility companies, email providers, social media outlets, commercial shopping or travel sites and accounts unique to technology such as an account to purchase apps for a smartphone.

Modern estate plans should include an "ePlan" to manage online accounts and online data. There are four specific steps to creating an effective ePlan. These include compiling a list of each account along with an explanation of how each is used; developing a plan for storing electronic information; naming an executor to manage the accounts; and providing appropriate direction to your executor.

1. Compile a List of Accounts and How to Access Them

The first part of an effective ePlan is to gather information and to compile a list of your accounts together with information about the accounts. Your list should specify the username, password account number and a description of what is included in each account. Because passwords frequently change, you should be sure to keep this list up to date.

There are four major types of online accounts: personal, financial, business and social media. Examples of personal accounts include email accounts and those used in conjunction with photos, videos, music and apps for smartphones or tablets. The information associated with these accounts is typically backed up on a computer hard drive, a backup drive or cloud account.

Financial accounts might include savings and checking accounts, retirement accounts, utility accounts, and accounts related to travel and shopping. Increasingly, people are using electronic devices to bank online, including linking accounts for automatic payments, to manage retirement and investment accounts, and to shop online at sites such as Amazon, eBay, airlines and other companies. Online financial accounts also allow for the management of digital currency such as Bitcoin. In many cases, the estate executor will need the account holder's username, password and account number to identify and access any online financial accounts and to ensure that they can be left to family.

Business related accounts could include intellectual property that is part of a website or blog, including written work, photos, videos and musical compositions and software. If you own business assets like these, be sure to discuss these specific assets with your attorney.

Examples of social media accounts are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These accounts may be valuable or sufficiently sentimental because they contain photos and comments that should be passed on to family. A good ePlan will instruct the executor how to dispose of these assets, such as whether the executor should copy the data from these accounts to share with family and whether to wind down and close these accounts.

2. Store and Protect Your Information

The second part of an effective ePlan is the development of a plan for storing information. This will involve saving the list that you compiled as well as backing up important data files and account information.

Because an ePlan account list contains sensitive information such as usernames and passwords, it is essential to maintain the security and confidentiality of this list. There are three basic options for securing an ePlan account list. First, this list could be handwritten and stored in a safe place. Second, it could be in electronic format such as a spreadsheet saved to a thumb drive. Extra security measures can be taken to password protect or encrypt the file or drive. Third, there are programs that manage, save and encrypt passwords. These programs allow people to connect multiple devices to a password management program and the program will keep the passwords up to date on each device. If you password protect a file, encrypt a drive or use a password management program, be sure to provide your executor or a loved one with the file password or encryption key or with access to one of your devices so your executor can access the password program.

For purposes of security, and in order to keep the list up to date, maintain a single list. Avoid saving the list on a computer in case of data loss or a data breach. Do not include this list in a will or living trust; these documents may become public. Save the list in a secure location such as in a locked, fireproof home safe or safety deposit box. Some states require that a safety deposit box cannot be opened after the owner passes away without the approval of the probate court. Ask your attorney if you live in one of these states. If you do, consider storing your list in a home safe.

There are several options for maintaining a backup of important electronic information such as pictures, videos, music and archived email. You can back up this information on your personal computer, in a cloud account or on an external backup drive, thumb drive or DVD, which can then be stored in a home safe or safety deposit box.

3. Select Your Digital Executor

After compiling a list and selecting a storage method, the third part of an ePlan will be the selection of a digital executor. Many states have passed laws that give access to online accounts to the executor of an estate. In some cases, however, state law may limit access if the executor does not have the password or an estate plan does not clearly grant powers to the executor to access these accounts. Accordingly, your estate plan should be explicit in the granting of authority with respect to online accounts, and the ePlan should provide the necessary passwords to the executor. Institutions that provide online account access may give the executor access upon a showing of appropriate authorization in the estate plan or, in some cases, may require an order from the probate court. For some accounts such as Bitcoin, the executor will need the password to access the account.

4. Provide Your Executor with "Digital Directions"

The fourth and final part of an ePlan includes a letter of instruction to the digital executor. This letter will tell the executor how to manage your online accounts and digital assets. It may also provide recommendations for the distribution of various accounts, assets, files and information to family. Information in personal accounts, such as photos and videos, can easily be duplicated. Accordingly, the letter may instruct the executor to produce copies of those files to share broadly with family. Assets in any financial accounts will be transferred to your chosen heirs according to your will, trust or beneficiary designation form, after which the financial institutions will close your accounts. A letter can also tell the executor how to manage social media accounts. Options for dealing with social media accounts include transferring account management to a loved one so that the account can remain active and serve as a memorial to the original account holder, or the account can simply be closed down.

Account Specific Information

Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and other companies have adopted policies to address the situation when an account holder has passed away. These policies may allow an account holder to designate a "Legacy Contact" to manage the account; require specific documentation before a deceased person's account can be closed, such as a copy of a death certificate, court order, notarized letter or obituary; or automatically close an account after an extended period of inactivity, such as three to twelve months. These policies are subject to change, so a digital executor should familiarize themselves with the policies of each account provider and may need to act quickly to preserve important and sentimental information for family and loved ones.

Protect Your Digital Assets

Digital estate planning is a new and rapidly changing field. By incorporating an ePlan into your estate plan, you can ensure that your executor will take the right steps to preserve and protect these accounts and that valuable and sentimental data can be passed on to family and loved ones.

What can you recommend that will make a kitchen safer and easier to use? My wife, who loves to cook, has had several kitchen-related accidents over the past year. We would like to modify the space to make it safer and more practical.

There are a number of simple modifications and inexpensive add-ons that can transform your kitchen into a safer environment. Depending on your needs, here are some suggestions for each aspect of the kitchen.

Floors: Replace kitchen throw rugs with non-skid or gel floor mats to reduce tripping or slipping. Gel mats are comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.

Lights: Replace dim lighting with bright new ceiling lights. Also, consider adding under-cabinet task lighting to brighten up kitchen countertops.

Cabinets and Drawers: Reduce bending or reaching by organizing your kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items you use most frequently are within comfortable reach. In addition, you can make your cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or Lazy Susans. Finally, consider installing D-shaped pull-handles on cabinets and drawers. These handles are more comfortable for arthritic hands than traditional knobs.

Faucet: If you have a twist-handle kitchen faucet, replace it with an ADA compliant single handle faucet. They are easier to use, especially for people with arthritis or limited hand strength. There are also kitchen faucets on the market today that will turn themselves on and off by simply touching the base or moving your hand over a motion sensor. For safety purposes, set your hot water tank to 120 degrees to prevent possible water burns.

Microwave and Stove: If your microwave is mounted above the stove, consider moving it to a countertop. This makes it safer and easier to reach. If you are concerned about remembering to turn the stove off, there are automatic stove shut-off devices you can purchase and install to prevent a fire.

If you are looking to upgrade some of your appliances, here are some different features you should look for when shopping.

Refrigerator and Freezer: Side-by-side doors are convenient because frequently used items can be placed at mid-shelf range for easy access. Also, look for refrigerators that feature pullout adjustable height shelves and water/ice dispensers on the outside of the refrigerator door for added convenience.

Stove or Cooktop: Look for a stove that features controls in the front of the stove so that you will not have to reach over hot burners to turn it off. Also, ask about automatic shut-off burners. Make sure the controls on the stove are easy to see. Flat surface electric or induction burners are great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next. For gas stoves, continuous grates are good for this purpose as well.

Oven: For an oven that is easier to maintain, consider purchasing a self-cleaning oven. Ovens that feature a side-swing door are easier to use because you do not have to lean over a hot swing-down door. Also consider a wall-mounted oven, installed at your preferred height so bending over it is not required.

Dishwasher: Consider a dishwasher drawer that slides in and out and is installed on a 6- 10-inch raised platform. These require less bending to load and unload.

Washer and Dryer: Front-load washers and dryers with pedestals that raise the height 10 to 15 inches are also back-savers and easy to access. You can consider installing pedestals if you already own front load washers and dryers.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I am interested in tracking down some old friends I have lost touch with over the years. What can you recommend that can help me find them?

Thanks to the internet, tracking down long-lost friends from many years ago is relatively easy to do. In most cases, it will not cost you a cent. Here are some tips and online tools to help you get started.

Remembering the Details

Before you begin your search, a good first step is to jot down any information you know about the people you are trying to locate. Note details such as their full name (maiden and married), age or birth date, last known address or phone number, email address, names of family members, etc. Knowing these details can help you turn up clues while you search.

Social Media and Search Engines

After you compile your information, a good place to start your search is at social media sites. Search engines are helpful tools as well.

When using search engines, type in the name of the person you are searching for in quotation marks, for example, "John Smith." You can narrow your search by adding other criteria like their nickname or middle name, the city or state they may live in or even their occupation.

People Search Sites

If your initial search comes up empty, you can also use people search websites or "people finder" search engines. These sites will provide a list of potential matches from across the U.S.

Because many people share the same name, these sites will also supply details to help identify the right person. This may include age, prior hometowns, names of relatives, colleges attended or employer. While these sites are free to use at a basic level, they may charge a small fee for providing certain details like the person's contact information. You may not find who you are looking for if any of your acquaintances have opted out due to privacy concerns.

Niche Finding Sites

Here are a few other niche people-finding websites to help you with your search. To look for old high school classmates, check your high school alumni website. Not every school has its own site, but some do. You can look for it by going to any search engine and typing in the name of the school with the city and state it is located in. You can also search social media platforms for alumni groups. You may not find the classmate you are looking for, but it may connect you with information with another classmate who remains in touch with your friend.

If you are looking for old college friends, look for an alumni directory on the school's website. You might be able to access your friend's contact info by completing an online registration. You can also call or email your alumni relations department and ask them to pass on your contact info to your friend. If you are looking for someone you served with in the military, there are websites that offer free searches through large databases of records.

If you cannot find any current information about the person you are searching for, it could be that he or she has passed away. To find out if that is the case, use obituary databases, which may incorporate newspaper obituary search tools from hundreds of U.S. newspapers.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.