Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 11, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller A Caregiver’s Guide to Medicare Dear Savvy Senior, I’m taking care of my elderly father who recently had a stroke and have a lot of questions about how Medicare works and what it covers. He’s enrolled in original Medicare. Can you help me? --Caregiving Connie Dear Connie, Taking care of a parent after a stroke is hard enough without having to figure out Medicare too. The good news is that understanding the program can make life a lot easier. Knowing what’s covered – and what isn't – can help you plan ahead, avoid costly surprises and make sure your father gets the care he needs. Here’s a practical guide to get you started. Medicare basics One of the best places to start is the official “Medicare & You” handbook. It explains benefits and services in plain language. Medicare mails an updated copy every fall, but you can also view it online at medicare.gov/medicare-and-you. For questions, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 to speak with a representative. They can clarify coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, home health care, and more. Your state’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is another great resource. SHIP counselors provide free, one-on-one counseling to help you understand your coverage, identify cost-saving programs, and answer questions about Medicare. Find a counselor near you at shiphelp.org or 877-839-2675. Caregivers should also create a secure Medicare account at medicare. gov/account/login. Once your father’s account is set up, you can review his coverage, track claims, check the status of medical services and prescriptions, and see which preventive benefits he’s eligible for. It’s an easy way to stay organized and keep all of your father’s Medicare information in one place. Choosing providers Medicare also lets you compare providers online at medicare.gov/ care-compare. You can search for doctors, hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, hospice providers, and medical equipment suppliers in your area. This is especially useful after a stroke, when your father may need rehabilitation or specialized care at home. Covered services Original Medicare covers many services your father may need, including hospital care, doctor visits, lab tests, and outpatient treatments. It also covers home health care if your father is homebound, under a doctor’s care, and needs part-time skilled nursing or rehabilitation therapy, such as physical, occupational or speech therapy. Medicare also covers medically necessary durable medical equipment and supplies prescribed by a doctor, including oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers and catheters. Shortterm skilled nursing care in a facility may also be covered for up to 100 days after a qualifying hospital stay. Prescription medications are generally covered through a separate Medicare Part D plan, which helps pay for many outpatient drugs your father may need. Hospice care is covered for patients with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, as certified by a doctor. It includes nursing care, medications for comfort and short-term respite care to give caregivers a break. However, Medicare generally doesn’t pay for long-term custodial care at home, in an assisted living facility or in a nursing home. That means it generally won’t cover ongoing help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom or supervision for someone with dementia. Routine dental care, dentures, eye exams for glasses and hearing aids are also not covered. Cost help If your father has limited income and resources, check programs that help reduce Medicare costs. Extra Help assists with prescription drug expenses, and Medicare Savings Programs can help pay premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Visit medicare.gov/basics/costs/ help or call 800-633-4227 to learn more or check eligibility. Taking time to understand Medicare can make caregiving a little less stressful. It helps you stay on top of appointments, treatments and equipment needs, while giving you greater confidence that your father is receiving the care and benefits he’s entitled to. Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. Malden Soccer rolls in season opener, 4-1 win over Malden Catholic The Malden High Boys Soccer Team celebrated a big win over Malden Catholic on Tuesday. (Advocate Photo) Caballero Valencia (2 goals), Kalefa and Varges Concha score for Tornados By Steve Freker S enior co-captains Juan Caballero Valencia and Abdul Kalefa led the way with three goals between them, and Malden High School displayed some effective passing and defense on Tuesday afternoon as well. It all added up to a 4-1 season-opening victory over visiting nonleaguer Malden Catholic at Pine Barks Park. The win started the season right for Malden (1-0-0), which was right back in action yesterday, September 10, in its Greater Boston League (GBL) opener versus Lynn English. Head Coach Jeremiah Smith’s Golden Tornado squad stays quite busy with a third game, Saturday on the road at Woburn High with a 1:30 p.m. start. Caballero Valencia got Malden off to a fast start when he got pulled down in the penalty area 12 minutes into the first half and was awarded a penalty kick, connecting on the PK for a 1-0 Malden lead. Next up on the scoring list was fellow co-captain Kalefa, who scored his first goal of the year for a 2-0 Malden lead, drilling it right inside the right pole. That’s how it stood at halftime, despite some spirited offense by Malden Catholic at the end of the half and several solid shots on goal, defended by Malden High junior goaltender Wender De Abreu Moura. De Abreu Moura was solid on the day overall with 10 saves, just missing the shutout when Malden Catholic broke through nine minutes into the second half. That goal cut the Malden lead to 2-1, signaling a timeout shortly afterward by Coach Smith. “We had better scoring opportunities in the first half and were a bit sluggish to start the second half. We needed a spark,” Coach Smith said. That spark did appear 15 minutes into the second half when Malden junior Giuseppe Varges Concha scored his first career varsity goal to make it 3-1 Malden, giving the Tornados some breathing room. Two minutes later, Caballero Valencia struck again, scoring his second goal of the game to make it 4-1 Malden. For Caballero Valencia, it was his first-ever two-goal game for the third-year varsity player. Coach Smith called it “a very good start, lots of energy and some timely scoring, for sure. We have a lot of new, first-time varsity players, only a couple of guys with a lot of experience.” “The best part about the game was the way we shared the ball. The passing was great and it was consistent the whole game, something we have really been working on,” Coach Smith said. “Wender played really well in goal and we defended well in front of him.”
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