Opinions

Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good golf gadgets that can help older golfers? I like to walk the course when I play but I have some back problems that make stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball difficult, and some hand arthritis that make gripping the club painful. Fragile Golfer Dear Fragile, There are actually a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with arthritis, injuries or mobility problems.

Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, What do I need to do to get disability benefits from Social Security? I’m 60 years old and have a medical condition that doesn’t allow me to work at my job anymore, but I’ve read that getting disability benefits is very difficult. Need Help Dear Need, Getting Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI) when you’re unable to work can indeed be challenging.

The final edition of the Symphony in the Flint Hills took place last month in Chase County, bringing to an end a two-decade celebration of the best things in Kansas. I was not there this year; I spent that weekend in Kansas City with my family, including my family members from California who were in Kansas for a weeklong visit.

Insight Good friends can have a good time no matter what they are doing together. That is how I ended up helping with a Yoga on the Farm event at Hildebrand Dairy near Junction City recently.

Insight June is the month that tests my schedule and patience as we await the start of wheat harvest. For years my replies to a variety of invitations and requests have always defaulted to something to the effect of, “That’s June, so if we’re harvesting wheat we won’t be able to.” June is the one month out of the entire year where I fully exercise being noncommittal.

Random Thoughts Last week while hanging out with my family in the Kansas City area, I had my advancing age turned against me. My 13-year-old niece, Juliette, was visiting from California with her dad and stepmom.

Paul Rhodes | Publisher & Editor Kim and I recently enjoyed a four-day getaway to Tulsa, Okla. I had experienced some of Tulsa years ago, but Kim had never been before.

Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about spousal IRAs? My spouse and I are in our 50s and are looking for ways to boost our retirement savings. My wife is a homemaker and caregiver, and works parttime too, but her income is very small.

The ubiquitous image of a farm includes a red barn, which historically took that shade because iron oxide, or rust, was added to the linseed oil to prevent mold and fungus. It also added the red hue that became synonymous with barns. Despite a wide variety of pigments to choose from today, tradition still means there’s plenty of red barns across the countryside.

Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover annual physical exams? I’ve gotten a physical every year since I turned 50 and would like to find out what Medicare covers when I sign up in a few months. Almost 65 Dear Almost, No, Medicare does not pay for annual physical exams, but it does cover a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” checkup during your first year after enrolling in Part B.