Allies in Aging Blog

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

A Montana Medical Care Savings Account (MSA) allows Montanans to save money for medical expenses and long-term health care, and reduce their state income taxes at the same time. Any Montana resident taxpayer can designate any Montana bank or credit union account as a Medical Care Savings Account. An MSA account must be separate from other accounts, and only the account holder has access to the funds. In 2026, each taxpayer can place up to $4800 in the account annually. This a

Evelyn Dempsey, Director of Community Services Financial wellness looks different for everyone, and it evolves throughout our lives. In our younger years, conversations about financial health often focused on saving, building credit, and investing for the future. As people move through their careers, financial wellness may mean diversifying investments, preparing for retirement, or growing long-term assets. Once someone reaches retirement and begins living on a fixed income,

By Becky Meisenheimer, CDP® CMDCP®, Dementia Education Coordinator Many families find themselves in the situation of providing care for grandparents, parents, a spouse, and even a close friend. Often, these selfless individuals do this work as a “labor of love”, but we must recognize there are personal costs of caregiving. It is reported that about 24% of our fellow Montanans provide care for a family or friend, most often at no monetary compensation. Many people cut back on

At Allies in Aging, our work is made possible through a thoughtful blend of community generosity, earned revenue, and public investment. This balanced funding model allows us to serve older adults across Yellowstone County with stability, flexibility, and accountability. We are deeply grateful for the shared commitment behind both private and public dollars that sustain this work. Donations from Supporters — 12% Gifts from individual donors, families, businesses, and communit

Many people reach a stage in life when they ask a simple, but powerful question: what’s next? For some, retirement brings more time, deeper perspective, and a desire to give back. In Yellowstone County, one organization is showing that meaningful volunteer work has no age limit – and that older adults can play a life-changing role in their community. Louise Johnston CASA of Yellowstone County has been serving the community since 2003, recruiting and training community volunte

For years, researchers have shown potential benefits from investing time in participating in community events and seeking ways to stimulate your mind. Their results show a direct correlation for both positive physical and emotional health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, increasing your mood, giving a sense of purpose, and better overall well-being. When a significant amount of your time is spent caring for a friend or loved one, it takes a conscious effort to purpo

Dr. Daniel Koltz, Montana State University – Extension, Gerontology Specialist March and April are special months for two important reasons. National Nutrition Month is in March, which reminds us to take care of our bodies, and Volunteer Appreciation Month in April, which thanks the many people who help make our communities stronger. These two ideas—taking care of ourselves and helping others—also connect to something just as important: keeping our minds healthy and active,