Allies in Aging Blog

December 2025 - June 2026 | Funded by United Way of Yellowstone County Yellowstone County seniors overwhelmingly want to remain where they are. Yet rising housing costs, accessibility needs, transportation barriers, and social isolation are creating mounting challenges. Over six months, Allies in Aging gathered input through surveys, focus groups, and interviews to understand what older adults need to live safely and independently. 263 Seniors Surveyed 210 Urban | 53 Rural 71

By: Dr. Daniel J. Koltz, Gerontology Specialist, Montana State University Extension. July is Social Wellness Month, a time to focus on the importance of friendships, family, and staying connected with others. Spending time with people we care about can help us feel happier, healthier, and less stressed. Good relationships are important at every age and can improve both mental and physical health. Social wellness means building healthy and positive relationships with others. T

Across our region, there are older adults who no longer have the ability to safely make their own medical or financial decisions and who have no family members or trusted friends able to step into that role. For these vulnerable seniors, the work of the Yellowstone County Guardianship Council provides critical protection, advocacy, and dignity. The Yellowstone County Guardianship Council, a program of Allies in Aging, is the only organized volunteer response of its kind servi

Energy Share is a private non-profit working in partnership with the ten HRDC’s across the state. HRDC-7 distributes Energy Share applications and assist in the reviewing process. The Energy Share Committee meets every Friday morning to determine eligibly of each case. Unlike LIHEAP, Energy Share is a year-round, situation-based emergency assistance program for eligible low-income households facing an energy crisis (furnace repair/replacement, low on propane utility disconnec

Twice a week, in an unassuming community center in Billings, a group of women gather to rehearse. They stretch, count, laugh, remember steps, and help one another through the routines. They are the Golden Dancers, and since 1988 they have been challenging what many people assume aging is supposed to look like. Their story began with friendship, loss, and the desire to stay connected. In 1985, Gayle Larson and Elaine Schulz met in a YMCA Gentle Gym class. Both were recent wido

By: Tyler Amundson, Director of Mission and Development, Allies in Aging I have come to think of aging a little bit like a cross-country road trip. Social wellness is the map, the snack stash, and the favorite playlist that help keep the journey moving. Without it, we can find ourselves guessing directions and maybe even talking to a tumbleweed. But when we have a caravan of connections, the journey gets a whole lot better. Science backs this up too. Strong social ties can lo

Medicare's Extra Help program can lower what you pay for prescription drugs with Medicare drug coverage — including $0 premiums, $0 deductibles, and lower out-of-pocket costs. That's real savings that can add up fast. You may qualify if your 2026 yearly income is below $23,940 for an individual or $32,460 for a married couple. Not sure you qualify? It’s free to apply, and it could pay. Income limits are updated each year, and your situation may have changed, too. Even a past

By: Erika Purington, Chief Executive Officer at Allies in Aging My favorite season is here, friends! Happy Summer! I like to read about impactful things and tend to go down a rabbit hole when I find a topic particularly interesting. Recently, my reading obsession has been about the critical benefits that come from blending people from different generations for social, civic and business opportunities. A growing body of research in public health, psychology, and aging studies

By Becky Meisenheimer, CDP® CMDCP®, Dementia Education Coordinator As summer rolls in with its sunshine, longer days and barbeques, memories of pastime adventures like camping come to mind, and more importantly, the favorite campfire treat known as the s’more. Almost everyone has done a campout sometime in their life and made the unique camping dessert at least once or twice in their lifetime. In reflecting on those times and this delicious treat, it should inspire those of y

Learn how Meals on Wheels helps reduce senior isolation through nutritious meals, regular check-ins, and dedicated volunteers.

By: Kristen Rose, Director of Human Resources at Allies in Aging Social wellness is often described as staying connected or spending time with others, but at its heart, it’s really about belonging. It’s about feeling seen, valued, needed, and connected to the world around us. Here in Montana, we’re fortunate to live in communities where relationships still matter. A wave to a neighbor, a conversation over coffee, or checking in on a friend may seem small, but those moments ca

By Tyler Amundson, Director of Mission and Development Imagine receiving a call that says you must pay a fine or fix a problem with your account immediately. The caller sounds official and tells you the fastest way to solve the problem is to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM and send the funds right away. Situations like this are becoming a common tactic used by scammers, and these machines—now appearing in grocery stores, convenience stores, and smoke shops throughout o

Dr. Chris Baumert is the medical director of Montana Family Residency and a family medicine physician at RiverStone Health. If you have Medicare, a yearly Wellness Visit can help you stay healthy. This visit gives you time to talk with your healthcare provider about your health and plan for the future. Many older adults find this visit helpful because it focuses on prevention and staying well. A Medicare Wellness Visit is not the same as a regular checkup. During this visit,

A security freeze is one of the most effective ways to prevent identity theft. By putting a security freeze on their credit files, Montanans can prevent those files from being shared with potential creditors. See MCA §§ 30-14-1726 to 1736. A security freeze allows consumers to proactively “lock up” their credit information so no one can access it without their permission. This prevents a thief from falsely using someone else’s identity to take out a new mortgage, apply for a

In honor of Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, occurring June 1-5, we are spotlighting our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program. This program helps older adults detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse, keeping their benefits safe and empowering them to make informed healthcare decisions. What the SMP Program Does Educates Seniors – SMP provides presentations, and resources that teach seniors how to recognize scams, billing errors, and identity theft. Suppor

The weather is getting warmer, and we are heading into summer! I have a teenager who is going to Helena this summer to work for a relative and get some “life experience.” He is my youngest, and I’m having a hard time with the thought of him being gone all summer! He is so determined to be an adult! Honestly, I tell him adulting isn’t that great, don’t be in such a hurry to grow up! I am proud of his work ethic and determination, but I will miss him this summer! On the p

The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a group of state-administered programs that help individuals with limited income and resources pay for certain Medicare costs. These programs are designed to make Medicare more affordable and to ensure that eligible beneficiaries can access needed healthcare services. How does it work? MSPs work by paying some or all of a beneficiary’s Medicare-related expenses, depending on the program for which they qualify. To see if you qualify for MS

Everything we do is grounded in our Allies in Aging core values. Our core values guide the everyday choices we make in how we care for others and support one another. Last summer, Allies in Aging became a new organization. As a new team and board of directors, we have done the critical and fun work over the last several months to develop our Allies in Aging core values. We are really proud of them and excited to share them with the communities we serve. For you all, our

Volunteer Walkers Marge and Annie's kisses Maggie rolling in a field We’re excited to share that Allies in Aging is partnering with Pooch’z B&B Pet Pantry to help provide dog food to seniors and their beloved companions. Pooch’z B&B is a nonprofit devoted to giving senior dogs a safe, loving forever home in their final years. For the past six years, they’ve provided nutritious food, medical care, exercise, and plenty of love to the dogs in their care. Currently, Pooch’z suppo

Sue Bevins; photo courtesy of AARP, Photography by Sara Morris Photography For many older adults, retirement is meant to be a time of enjoying the life they’ve worked so hard to build. For Montana resident Sue Bevins, that dream was suddenly disrupted by a scam that cost her nearly everything. Sue, a retired nurse, had settled into a new chapter of her life, moving to Montana to be closer to family and enjoy her retirement. But what began as a seemingly routine issue, quickly