Preventing, treating agerelated macular degeneration

Dear Savvy Senior, Is macular degeneration hereditary? My mother lost much of her vision from it before she died and now at age 65, I’m concerned I may get it too. What can you tell me?

Ask the Motor Medics®

The Under the Hood Show Dear Motor Medics, I have a 1999 Ram 1500 truck with a V8 engine. The truck started to make a squealing noise after I would start the engine and let it run for about 30 seconds. The noise is always there and sounds more like a whistle than a squeal.

Hiring an in-home caregiver

Dear Savvy Senior, I need to hire a good in- home caregiver to help my elderly father who lives alone. What’s the best way to do this? Searching Sarah Dear Sarah, Finding a good in-home caregiver for an elderly parent is not always easy.

Ask the Motor Medics

The Under the Hood Show Dear Motor Medics, The water has been coming and coming around here lately and I have been trying to detour around the flooded areas.

Do you need a digital will?

Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I had our estate plan — including a will, power of attorney and advance directive — drawn up about 10 years ago but have recently read that our plan should include a digital will too. What can you tell us about this?

Ask the Motor Medics

The Under the Hood Show Dear Motor Medics, I’m addicted to my seat heaters. Every car I have ever purchased has had them and it has even been a deal-breaker for me when shopping for a car if it did not have them. I use my heaters year-round unless it is too warm out.

Stopping, restarting Social Security benefits

Dear Savvy Senior, Can I stop my Social Security retirement benefi ts and restart them later to get a bigger payment? I recently got a nice unexpected inheritance, so don’t need the money from Social Security right now. If possible, I would like to suspend my benefi ts and restart them at age 70.

Ask the Motor Medics®

Show Dear Motor Medics, My name is Clarence I live in Entiat, WA, and I listen to your “Under The Hood” show on podcast. I am rebuilding a 2.0 Liter engine out of a 1976 VW bus.

Colonoscopy alternatives

Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any easier alternatives to a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer? I just turned 60 and my wife keeps nagging me to get tested, but I hate the idea of drinking that laxative solution and being sedated for the procedure.

Ask the Motor Medics®

The Under the Hood Show Dear Motor Medics, I took my 2012 GMC Yukon into my local mechanic because the brake pedal had become lower to the floor over a week’s time. Eventually it ended up on the floor and the red brake warning light came on and the ABS warning light.