Cities are reopening. Lockdowns are lifting. And some people are starting to feel they can glimpse a return, however slow and partial, to “normal.”
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However, the surprise is that many of us have realized there are some things about quarantine life that may be worth preserving. Many are questioning the very fundamentals of the “normal” we knew and accepted — and many are realizing they don’t want to go back to the way it was before the pandemic rocked our world.

In February President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who'd had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation in 1964. Since then, February has been declared American Heart Month.
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This year, awareness is even more important due to the impact of the coronavirus on the public's heart health, including potential harmful effects on the heart and vascular system, according to recent research.

Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Check on Property Tax and Rent Rebates for Older Adults and Residents With Disabilities on Medicaid.

For most of us, the prospect of money appearing in our bank account is a welcome gift. However, if our loved one is on Medicaid could be cause for concern. How can this money be used? Will it result in our parent losing benefits? Should I you give the money to the nursing home? With the first stimulus, there were many questions regarding how this money could be used, but we now have a clearer picture. First, facilities have no right to this money. It is not considered income for public benefit purposes and will not be treated as a resource if it is spent within one year of receipt. So here are five ideas for how to use the stimulus check received by your loved one on Medicaid.

Can we commit to being alone together yet?
How soon can we safely meet as a small group of family members or close friends, commonly known during the pandemic as a “pod?”
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As you wait for your turn to get vaccinated, you may be wondering if it's worth creating a pod to ride out the lonely days of winter.

​Should I Consent to My Ward/Loved One Getting Vaccinated?
Keep in mind that you are obligated to consult your ward and apply the substituted judgment standard; that means making the decision based on their previously expressed wishes and values, not what you or their physician thinks is best for them. If your ward is capable of being involved in the decision-making process, then you must consult with them and give them a simple explanation regarding the risks and benefits. If you are not aware of your ward’s wishes regarding vaccines, you should consider their values and thoughts on medical intervention in general and weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination in light of your ward’s values and their personal situation.

​Social Security Benefits
If you receive Social Security or SSI, you likely have already noticed that your check is slightly larger this year. The Social Security Administration provided a 1.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefit payments, which brings the federal SSI payment to $794. In addition, the amount that workers can earn before losing their eligibility for disability based on their work has increased to $1,310 for non-blind individuals.