If you’ve never had a New Zealand-style meat pie or sausage roll, you have no idea what you’re missing. Aunty Devi and Uncle Nate as they are so affectionately known around Escondido California, hand prepares and bakes the pies from a decades-old family meat pie recipe.
After visiting their bakery 8 years ago, I’ve since moved away but I still crave their meat pies to get delivered in bulk.
Nate and Devi – Founders
They freeze very well and come shipped overnight and semi-frozen, if you decide to freeze them, we’ve found that even after months they taste amazing after a quick round in the toaster oven.
You will probably like every flavor you try, you can’t go wrong if you desire a flaky crust pastry with savory meat and gravy that is very filling and rich.
The New Zealanders compare their meat pies to American hotdogs or hamburgers, or comfort food. They even put ketchup on the top, You should try it, you might love it! The traditional is the Mincemeat pie but the chicken and sausage rolls are delicious and make for a great meal or snack.
Medicare plan options and costs can change each year.
Medicare and Medicaid are two U.S. government programs that provide access to healthcare.
Medicare covers you when you turn 65 and over and also if you have certain conditions or disabilities.
Medicaid is usually available to those with a lower income that helps provide healthcare services at little or no cost.
It’s easy to confuse the terms Medicaid and Medicare or use them interchangeably. They sound similar, but the two programs are very different.
They are each regulated by their own set of laws and policies aimed at different groups of people, but it is possible to be eligible for both programs.
So you choose the right program, this Senior Affair article will help you understand the differences between Medicare and Medicaid.
What is Medicare?
This program supports you when you need financial support for your medical needs. For example, Medicare is an insurance policy for U.S. citizens aged 65 and over that covers their treatments and medicare care.
You can also qualify for Medicare if you have a qualifying condition under 65. For example, if you are in the final stage of some kidney diseases, you may apply for Medicare.
You can choose between the two main branches of Medicare – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Original Medicare
A government-funded medical insurance policy, Original Medicare, is designed for older Americans and covers:
Inpatient hospital services– (Medicare Part A) These benefits include: covering you when you are admitted to the hospital, need hospice care, limited skilled nursing facility care, and at-home healthcare.
Outpatient medical services(Medicare Part B) The benefits include covering you for preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services for health conditions.
Medicare Advantage
If you want more coverage than the Original Medicare provides, you might choose Medicare Advantage insurance (Part C). Private insurance companies offer these policies. Most of these plans cover services like prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing care that you don’t get in Original Medicare.
What is Medicaid?
This program is more broad-focused; it provides services for children, adults, and people with disabilities. It’s based on your income and funded by the U.S. state and federal governments, designed to assist low-income families and households. There are more than 72 million people signed up with Medicaid in 2020
What is the Cost of Medicare vs. Medicaid?
Medicare costs – You have to pay deductibles for significant services like hospital stays and sometimes out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions. Still, you’ll have to pay a small monthly premium for a doctor’s visit and preventative care. Read here for an overview of original Medicare and Medicare Advantage costs.
Medicaid Costs
Usually, when you receive Medicaid, you aren’t responsible for paying for covered expenses, but sometimes you will make a copayment.
Your state could charge premiums or enrollment fees as a form of cost-sharing; this applies to specific Medicaid recipients:
Qualified disabled and working people with an income above 150 percent of the federal poverty level. (FPL)
pregnant women and infants with an income at or above 150 percent of the FPL.
Medically needy people and disabled children are eligible under the Family Opportunity Act
Disabled working people eligible under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.
Medicare and Medicaid Eligibility
To qualify for each program, you have to meet the criteria.
Medicare Eligibility
In most cases, to be eligible for Medicare, it’s based on your age; you also must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and 65 years old or older to qualify.
Your eligibility and premiums depend on how many years of Medicare taxes you paid. For example, you may qualify for the exception if you have a documented disability and are younger than 65.
Generally, if you receive Medicare, you probably receive some Social Security benefits. Medicare benefits are also extended if you are eligible for Social Security disability and a widow or widower age 50 and older.
Medicaid Eligibility
Your income and family size determine if you’re eligible for Medicaid. They designed the Affordable Care Act to provide coverage for low-income people. To find out if you qualify in your state, visit Healthcare.gov.
For most adults under 65, your income must be below 133 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify. According to Healthcare.gov, this amount for 2021 is approximately $12,880 for an individual and $26,500 for a family of four. You could also be eligible if you have a pressing medical need.
medicare vs medicaid differences
Medicare and Medicaid coverage
Medicare Coverage
Several parts of the Medicare program offer coverage for different aspects of healthcare.
Medicare Part A – Provides most inpatient medical care coverage like hospital stays, hospice services, limited skilled nursing care, and home healthcare.
Medicare Part B – For all outpatient medical needs like specific medical equipment, hospital care, doctor visits, and preventative care.
Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage is provided by private companies approved to offer plans that include all the benefits of Medicare Part A and B and have additional benefits like dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage for an extra cost.
Medicare Part D – Approved plans to provide coverage for prescription drugs.
Medicaid coverage
The Medicaid benefits vary by state, but each plan includes these benefits.
lab and X-ray services
inpatient and outpatient hospital services
nursing facility services for adults
surgical, dental services for adults
Because the benefits vary, you may want to connect with your caseworker in your state to discuss your situation and get help applying.
Can You Have Both?
You can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid simultaneously and be considered dual-eligible. You can get your coverage from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), and Medicare will cover your prescription drugs under Part D.
Medicaid may also cover care and drugs that Medicare doesn’t, so having both will probably cover most of your healthcare needs.
Conclusion
Get a FREE No Obligation Medicare Quote Today
Medicare and Medicaid are two U.S. government programs designed to provide access to healthcare solutions. Medicare typically covers seniors over 65 and older or those with certain chronic conditions or disabilities, with Medicaid eligibility based on income and need.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medicare vs Medicaid
There is no age limit for love. There will always be someone, somewhere for you, who will accept and understand you and give you the necessary support. However, things drastically change with age, and you cannot appear to be that street smart guy you were in your younger days.
So, guys, now that you are over 50 and have made up your mind to have fun and flirt with younger girls, there are a few guidelines that you’ll have to bear in mind. First, read on to discover new flirting tactics.
·Ladies try subtly to overt: The flirting tools that you applied in your 20s may prove to be unproductive at this age. You can certainly be sexy at 50, but trying too hard won’t be in your favor. Cut the sex jokes and flaunting of the cleavage and try being more mature and gentle.
Use formal etiquettes: Old–school etiquettes such as putting your arm around a woman if you are a man or taking a man’s arm if you are a woman are considered charming and can be an instant turn-on. However, senior dating still needs some passions like younger people.
Opt for a more honest approach: Cheesy pick-up lines certainly don’t work at this age. If you try to entice someone with a joke that you heard in an old romantic flick, the result will not go in your favor. Instead, passing a compliment on your interest’s looks can be a good opener.
Be open to speaking with anyone and anywhere: Be ready to initiate a conversation with people at any place. It really doesn’t matter where you are. It can either be while standing in a queue at the ticket counter or simply waiting for your bus at the bus stop. You can start off with open-ended questions or comments asking for their opinion.
You now have the liberty to flirt for fun: People over 50 aren’t really desperate to find a companion for having sex with or raising a family. They are just looking for some fun. You can enjoy being appreciated or admired for being witty, charming, and playful. In fact, flirting is an excellent way of reminding yourself that you’ve still got those skills.
Give work a break and focus on building a relationship and getting to know your love interest. Phone calls, text messages, and in-person time are crucial to finding someone for profound love.
Smile and “the look” Irrespective of how old you are, these two traits can impress almost anyone. These little actions can speak louder than words and set the conversation’s tone for later. Catch the eyes of the person you are interested in and look no more than 5 seconds. You can later repeat that with a generous smile.
Now that you know some tips for flirting over 50, all you have to do is implement those at the right place and time.
Following a vegan diet can be time-consuming with prep and cooking, and going out to the restaurant usually has the same dishes every time. The vegan diet sounds like a bland diet filled with tofu and stir-fry dishes, but today’s meal delivery services and meal kits can help you stick to a plant-based vegan diet.
You can get prepared meals that you can quickly heat when you order from a meal-kit delivery service. Vegans who struggle with getting the proper amount of protein can try vegan protein powders and meal kits.
Besides the obvious benefits of having your meals delivered to you and saving you time, gas, and convenience, they prepare the meals for taste and nutrition.
Senior Affair has rounded up the top 8 vegan diet meal services.
Our editors independently select all products featured on Senior Affair. However, we may earn an affiliate commission when you buy something through our retail links.
How We Choose The Companies
Senior Affair has curated this list of the best vegan meal delivery services based on these criteria:
Cost – What is the cost per serving? How much is shipping?
Ingredient quality – How does the company source ingredients?
Customization – Are there optional add-ons or other personalization options?
Customer Reviews – What are past customers saying about the product?
Subscription – Is a subscription mandatory?
1.) Sunbasket
Ethiopian red lentil stew with berbere, tomato salad, and toasted naan
Sunbasket has a great variety of options, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. You can choose from oven-ready heat-and-serve meals to step-by-step recipes and dishes that you or someone can prepare for you.
You can choose meals to fit your dietary needs, with all the meals being organic and responsibly sourced like the Ethiopian red lentil stew with berbere, tomato salad, and toasted naan. This meal is dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan serves 2.
Cost: Dinners start at $9 per serving
Customer Review: “We have been using sunbasket for two years. It has helped us eat healthier, and we love the variety of meals offered. We have tried vegetables we never would have tried if not for these meals! We have had only a few issues over the two years and customer service is always very responsive if we need them. We are SO happy to have found sunbasket!”
Are you looking for a vegan diet meal delivery service? Diet-to-go is an option for you. They include everything needed for nutritionally balanced meals. Diet-to-Go is an easy diet program with USDA and FDA approved prepared meals. They rotate to new meals every five weeks so you don’t get bored, the company also offers option coaching and diet analysis. Choose from four meal plans, including vegetarian, diabetic and low-carb, and keto diets.
You should try the Vegetarian Portobello Lasagna, White Bean Salad
They send the meals based on your gender with women getting 1,200 calories a day and 1,600 for men.
Cost: $121.99 to $204.99 per week plus $9.99 for local shipping and $19.98 for FedEx shipping.
Customer Review – “I have been using this delivery service for about 2 months and have already lost 15 pounds! The food is delivered fresh to my door twice per week and most options are really tasty. I am on the pre-diabetes plan and the variety of food is great. I get much more than just chicken and vegetables! Tonight I had turkey chili with a corn bread muffin and plantain flan – delicious! Customer service is great and very helpful when our food was delivered to the wrong house and they didn’t charge us for it.”
Veestro believes that we reap the benefits when we fill our diets with more plant-based meals, which doesn’t necessarily mean going hardcore vegan.
Seniors can incorporate more plants into their diet by choosing these meal plans, which helps them develop healthier eating habits while saving them time in the kitchen.
The plans at Veestro are flexible; since you aren’t locked in, you can choose a one-off order or sign up for a subscription-like Chef’s Choice biweekly plan to choose 10, 20, or 30 of Veestro’s most popular meals at that time. You’ll get delicious dishes like Kale and Quinoa Salad you won’t even miss the meat.
Cost: Price starts at $117 for a biweekly delivery of 10 meals.
Availability: Nationwide
Customer Review: “This place is just superb! We have been eating Veestro for more than 6 months now and I adore everything about it. The convenience (no need to cook!), the affordability (their prices are very competitive compared to what you find out there for vegan food. Especially with all their coupons and discounts ), and the taste! I think the only thing I didn’t like much from all the things they have on the menu was the pizza, that’s it. I eat better, I feel better, and that makes me happier 🙂 Love it! ”
When you want fresh fully-cooked meals ready to heat and eat delivered to your door from a top chef in the industry, you choose CookUnity. They offer meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs across New York City, the first chef-to-consumer subscription service based in Illinois, and currently services the Northeast and just expanded to Los Angeles.
You won’t get bored since CookUnity has 37 chefs to choose from, and you can filter the meals based on your dietary needs; they have vegan, keto, gluten-free, and paleo selections.
Try the Roasted Eggplant Parmesan from Chef Chris Ratel or Creole Braised Vegetables with Black Mushroom Rice from Chef Nahika Hillery.
You can customize your subscription options to choose the number of meals from 4 to 12 per week and plan for two weeks in advance.
Cost: Prices start at $10 per meal
Availability: CookUnity ships to most of the United States. You can check to see if you’re in the delivery zone here.
Customer Review: “I can’t tell you how thankful and happy I am for Cook Unity’s meal plans. It has been such a blessing to get back on track with healthy eating after having my mind in the gutter last week! I am a Fulltime caregiver for my mom who is dying of Alzheimer’s. Some days I am fine but last week I had some tough days. Cook Unity’s meals helped me to realize that there was nothing wrong with stepping out of my feelings and treating myself — especially in a healthy way. Since starting this new routine of self care with Cook Unity’s delicious meals rather than staying in my feelings and eating junk all day long; I’ve noticed some major differences already: more energy throughout each day + mood improvement. So thank you for being there — a constant source of self care during tough times 😉 Nikki (she/her)~”
Sourcing Locally grown organic produce, without the processed and artificial ingredients, are affordable and prepared, so all you have to do is heat and eat. Fresh n’ Lean has a stand-alone vegan meal plan and a low-carb vegan meal plan, and you can choose snacks and various entrees a-la-carte if you prefer. You can choose which ingredients you want or exclude if you have food allergies. Dishes like rice with cauliflower and Beyond Burger® Patty are the kinds of protein-filled meals to keep you active and feeling good throughout the week.
Cost: Vegan meals at Fresh N’ Lean start at $8 per meal.
Availability: Nationwide
Customer Review: Through all my research this was the simplest vegan meal delivery I could find. I liked it because there was no meal preparation, just microwave for 3 minutes. Super simple and the meals are delicious. After hitting a plateau in my weight loss, once I switched to the vegan meal plan, I lost another 20 pounds. I recommend this meal service to everyone I know.
One of the best vegan meal services for nutrition, fitness, and weight loss. They offer chef-curated recipes with organic produce and plant-based protein-rich meals, and gluten-free, vegan diets.
You can build up your meal plan and choose breakfast, lunch, dinner, a 3rd entree, and 5 or 7 days per week, choosing to exclude mushrooms, eggplant, soy, or nuts.
The average meal is 440 calories with only 50 carbs and 15 grams of fat.
Try the service guilt-free with a money-back guarantee and free shipping.
Try the Beyond Beef® with sauteed seasonal vegetables. Seasoned with oil, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and garlic.
Cost: 7 meals cost $99.99 per week
Customer Review – “Not only is their food the best from any meal prep service I have had, but their customer service RULES!”
One of the best-known meal delivery services, and one of the first to get in the industry, Freshly doesn’t claim to be the healthiest meal delivery in the category. They don’t focus on upscale menus or recipes tailored to niche diets. Freshly’s meals are designed to be crowd-pleasers. So you get prepared meals that you can freeze (not all meals will freeze well).
With plenty of lunch and dinner choices for special diets like gluten-free, keto or low-carb and low-calorie and some plant-based options, choose from 4 to 12 meals per week. Try the Middle Eastern Falafel with Garlicky Tahini Sauce & Whole Grain
Availability: Freshly ships to every state in the lower 48, not Hawaii or Alaska.
Cost: Between $9 and $11.79 per meal, the shipping costs are under $10 per box.
Customer Review – “Freshly has been terrific over the last several years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and for the elderly (us).”
Plant-based Meals for weight loss and health is the motto for the vegan meal-delivery service Mamasezz. You get fresh vegan meals delivered to your door; heat and serve. You can choose your meals off the a la carte menu or one of their curated bundle that fits your goals. The guaranteed weight loss bundle includes nine plant-based meal staples with heat and eat instructions that you can combine to create your custom meals day and night. Ships weekly for a total of four weeks with free shipping; cancel at any time.
They have staples like veggies, burgers, cookies, rice pudding.
Customer Review – Great selection! They make it easy to ‘ reset’ and adhere to this lifestyle of healthy eating! Customer service has been PHENOMENAL…..VERY HELPFUL over the past few years….from dealing with damaged sauces, food intolerances….I’m a Registered Dietitian who knows how & what to cook…. But everyone falls into a RUTT and needs a break! Thank you MamaSezz!!
Conclusion
After doing the research and reading customer reviews on popular plant-based meal delivery and vegan meal delivery services like Purple Carrot and Green Chef didn’t get good reviews, who complained of bland food, bad service, and high-priced meal plans. We recommend doing your research and trying a couple of services before committing to one.
Following a vegan diet can be time-consuming with prep and cooking, and going out to the restaurant usually has the same dishes every time. The vegan diet sounds like a bland diet filled with tofu and stir-fry dishes, but today’s meal delivery services and meal kits can help you stick to a plant-based vegan diet.
You can get prepared meals that you can quickly heat when you order from a meal-kit delivery service. Vegans who struggle with getting the proper amount of protein can try vegan protein powders and meal kits.
Besides the obvious benefits of having your meals delivered to you and saving you time, gas, and convenience, they prepare the meals for taste and nutrition.
Senior Affair has rounded up the top 8 vegan diet meal services.
Our editors independently select all products featured on Senior Affair. However, we may earn an affiliate commission when you buy something through our retail links.
How We Choose The Companies
Senior Affair has curated this list of the best vegan meal delivery services based on these criteria:
Cost – What is the cost per serving? How much is shipping?
Ingredient quality – How does the company source ingredients?
Customization – Are there optional add-ons or other personalization options?
Customer Reviews – What are past customers saying about the product?
Subscription – Is a subscription mandatory?
1.) Sunbasket
Ethiopian red lentil stew with berbere, tomato salad, and toasted naan
Sunbasket has a great variety of options, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. You can choose from oven-ready heat-and-serve meals to step-by-step recipes and dishes that you or someone can prepare for you.
You can choose meals to fit your dietary needs, with all the meals being organic and responsibly sourced like the Ethiopian red lentil stew with berbere, tomato salad, and toasted naan. This meal is dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan serves 2.
Cost: Dinners start at $9 per serving
Customer Review: “We have been using sunbasket for two years. It has helped us eat healthier, and we love the variety of meals offered. We have tried vegetables we never would have tried if not for these meals! We have had only a few issues over the two years and customer service is always very responsive if we need them. We are SO happy to have found sunbasket!”
Are you looking for a vegan diet meal delivery service? Diet-to-go is an option for you. They include everything needed for nutritionally balanced meals. Diet-to-Go is an easy diet program with USDA and FDA approved prepared meals. They rotate to new meals every five weeks so you don’t get bored, the company also offers option coaching and diet analysis. Choose from four meal plans, including vegetarian, diabetic and low-carb, and keto diets.
You should try the Vegetarian Portobello Lasagna, White Bean Salad
They send the meals based on your gender with women getting 1,200 calories a day and 1,600 for men.
Cost: $121.99 to $204.99 per week plus $9.99 for local shipping and $19.98 for FedEx shipping.
Customer Review – “I have been using this delivery service for about 2 months and have already lost 15 pounds! The food is delivered fresh to my door twice per week and most options are really tasty. I am on the pre-diabetes plan and the variety of food is great. I get much more than just chicken and vegetables! Tonight I had turkey chili with a corn bread muffin and plantain flan – delicious! Customer service is great and very helpful when our food was delivered to the wrong house and they didn’t charge us for it.”
Veestro believes that we reap the benefits when we fill our diets with more plant-based meals, which doesn’t necessarily mean going hardcore vegan.
Seniors can incorporate more plants into their diet by choosing these meal plans, which helps them develop healthier eating habits while saving them time in the kitchen.
The plans at Veestro are flexible; since you aren’t locked in, you can choose a one-off order or sign up for a subscription-like Chef’s Choice biweekly plan to choose 10, 20, or 30 of Veestro’s most popular meals at that time. You’ll get delicious dishes like Kale and Quinoa Salad you won’t even miss the meat.
Cost: Price starts at $117 for a biweekly delivery of 10 meals.
Availability: Nationwide
Customer Review: “This place is just superb! We have been eating Veestro for more than 6 months now and I adore everything about it. The convenience (no need to cook!), the affordability (their prices are very competitive compared to what you find out there for vegan food. Especially with all their coupons and discounts ), and the taste! I think the only thing I didn’t like much from all the things they have on the menu was the pizza, that’s it. I eat better, I feel better, and that makes me happier 🙂 Love it! ”
When you want fresh fully-cooked meals ready to heat and eat delivered to your door from a top chef in the industry, you choose CookUnity. They offer meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs across New York City, the first chef-to-consumer subscription service based in Illinois, and currently services the Northeast and just expanded to Los Angeles.
You won’t get bored since CookUnity has 37 chefs to choose from, and you can filter the meals based on your dietary needs; they have vegan, keto, gluten-free, and paleo selections.
Try the Roasted Eggplant Parmesan from Chef Chris Ratel or Creole Braised Vegetables with Black Mushroom Rice from Chef Nahika Hillery.
You can customize your subscription options to choose the number of meals from 4 to 12 per week and plan for two weeks in advance.
Cost: Prices start at $10 per meal
Availability: CookUnity ships to most of the United States. You can check to see if you’re in the delivery zone here.
Customer Review: “I can’t tell you how thankful and happy I am for Cook Unity’s meal plans. It has been such a blessing to get back on track with healthy eating after having my mind in the gutter last week! I am a Fulltime caregiver for my mom who is dying of Alzheimer’s. Some days I am fine but last week I had some tough days. Cook Unity’s meals helped me to realize that there was nothing wrong with stepping out of my feelings and treating myself — especially in a healthy way. Since starting this new routine of self care with Cook Unity’s delicious meals rather than staying in my feelings and eating junk all day long; I’ve noticed some major differences already: more energy throughout each day + mood improvement. So thank you for being there — a constant source of self care during tough times 😉 Nikki (she/her)~”
Sourcing Locally grown organic produce, without the processed and artificial ingredients, are affordable and prepared, so all you have to do is heat and eat. Fresh n’ Lean has a stand-alone vegan meal plan and a low-carb vegan meal plan, and you can choose snacks and various entrees a-la-carte if you prefer. You can choose which ingredients you want or exclude if you have food allergies. Dishes like rice with cauliflower and Beyond Burger® Patty are the kinds of protein-filled meals to keep you active and feeling good throughout the week.
Cost: Vegan meals at Fresh N’ Lean start at $8 per meal.
Availability: Nationwide
Customer Review: Through all my research this was the simplest vegan meal delivery I could find. I liked it because there was no meal preparation, just microwave for 3 minutes. Super simple and the meals are delicious. After hitting a plateau in my weight loss, once I switched to the vegan meal plan, I lost another 20 pounds. I recommend this meal service to everyone I know.
One of the best vegan meal services for nutrition, fitness, and weight loss. They offer chef-curated recipes with organic produce and plant-based protein-rich meals, and gluten-free, vegan diets.
You can build up your meal plan and choose breakfast, lunch, dinner, a 3rd entree, and 5 or 7 days per week, choosing to exclude mushrooms, eggplant, soy, or nuts.
The average meal is 440 calories with only 50 carbs and 15 grams of fat.
Try the service guilt-free with a money-back guarantee and free shipping.
Try the Beyond Beef® with sauteed seasonal vegetables. Seasoned with oil, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and garlic.
Cost: 7 meals cost $99.99 per week
Customer Review – “Not only is their food the best from any meal prep service I have had, but their customer service RULES!”
One of the best-known meal delivery services, and one of the first to get in the industry, Freshly doesn’t claim to be the healthiest meal delivery in the category. They don’t focus on upscale menus or recipes tailored to niche diets. Freshly’s meals are designed to be crowd-pleasers. So you get prepared meals that you can freeze (not all meals will freeze well).
With plenty of lunch and dinner choices for special diets like gluten-free, keto or low-carb and low-calorie and some plant-based options, choose from 4 to 12 meals per week. Try the Middle Eastern Falafel with Garlicky Tahini Sauce & Whole Grain
Availability: Freshly ships to every state in the lower 48, not Hawaii or Alaska.
Cost: Between $9 and $11.79 per meal, the shipping costs are under $10 per box.
Customer Review – “Freshly has been terrific over the last several years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and for the elderly (us).”
Plant-based Meals for weight loss and health is the motto for the vegan meal-delivery service Mamasezz. You get fresh vegan meals delivered to your door; heat and serve. You can choose your meals off the a la carte menu or one of their curated bundle that fits your goals. The guaranteed weight loss bundle includes nine plant-based meal staples with heat and eat instructions that you can combine to create your custom meals day and night. Ships weekly for a total of four weeks with free shipping; cancel at any time.
They have staples like veggies, burgers, cookies, rice pudding.
Customer Review – Great selection! They make it easy to ‘ reset’ and adhere to this lifestyle of healthy eating! Customer service has been PHENOMENAL…..VERY HELPFUL over the past few years….from dealing with damaged sauces, food intolerances….I’m a Registered Dietitian who knows how & what to cook…. But everyone falls into a RUTT and needs a break! Thank you MamaSezz!!
Conclusion
After doing the research and reading customer reviews on popular plant-based meal delivery and vegan meal delivery services like Purple Carrot and Green Chef didn’t get good reviews, who complained of bland food, bad service, and high-priced meal plans. We recommend doing your research and trying a couple of services before committing to one.
We all remember what it felt like when we started dating and found that world very exciting. The thrill of meeting someone new and finding out if that person felt the same way you felt was always something that made most people feel very much alive. The memory of these experiences most people will always remember fondly, even after they have finally found someone to settle down with.
Life can take unexpected turns, and there are situations when you can end up alone in your senior years, which could happen for many reasons. When in this situation, the vital thing to keep in mind is that your life should not be over. There will probably be a healing time depending on why you find yourself alone as a senior. Some people might experience the death of their significant other, which can be a painful and challenging stage in their lives. Others get divorced or separated due to infidelity or simply because they no longer feel in love or happy around each other.
All of those situations require different periods of healing, and in some cases, they take longer to heal than others, depending on the way people see things. In any case, once that period is over, there is a good chance that a person will feel the need to be in love again and share their time with someone that they might find to be a good match for them. The problem is that once you reach a certain age, you are no longer interested in going to clubs and meeting new random people to see if you might have something in common with them. So you no longer feel interested in this kind of dating scene, and you are looking for something a little more formal.
Dating Sites for Seniors Over 50
There is a reason why online dating sites have become such a blessing for many people worldwide, and you can become one of those people right now. Take a chance and sign up for a reputable online dating site for seniors and create a dating profile that provides enough details about you so someone else can determine if you are the kind of person that they would want to date to see how things develop.
When you first get back to dating and using an online dating site, you start to feel those butterflies in your stomach again, and you will feel like life has regained some of the essential fun that you used to have. The feeling of meeting someone new is always exciting, and it can make it easy for you to feel happy again and open to sharing your love with someone compatible with you.
As long as you keep this in mind, you should have no problem being in a relationship with someone again. Romantic life is not supposed to be something only available to people in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s, and there isn’t an age limit to meeting someone that you could spend the rest of your life with. Remember this and shoot your shot because you never know when you might meet the right person for you.
ResponseNow is an experienced company with 30+ years in the life safety industry.
It started in Portland, Oregon, in 2001 and is dedicated to providing its customers with top-of-the-line equipment, superb monitering services, and very competitive pricing.
What is Belle Medical Alert?
Belle is a lightweight and shower-safe mobile help device with a button you can press for any emergency, big or small; you can use it around the house and take it on the go with you.
It uses no long-term contracts the AT&T cellular network, and you have access to a 24-hour monitering service to serve you anywhere you need them
How does it work?
Press the Call Button: Activate Belle for any emergency, big or small, by pressing the call button.
Speak to an Operator: Operators are standing by 24/7, ready to assist you with any situation you are experiencing. You’ll communicate with the monitering center directly through Belle’s powerful two-way speaker and microphone.
Help is on the way: After you discuss the options with the operator, you will recieve the appropriate level of repose regardless of whether you are at home or on the road. Help could even include emergency medical services or simply a friend or family member.
Unfortunately, emergencies don’t follow a schedule and seem to happen when you’re the least prepared.
How much does Belle cost?
They have no equipment to buy; you pay for monitering only. They have a few models to choose from, Belle (most popular), Belle+, and the In The Home model.
You can check pricing discounts depending on if you choose Annual, Quarterly, and Annual options. In addition, they provide free lockboxes to make it easier for first responders to get to you without knocking your door down.
ResponseNow’s Plans
In the Home
In the Home
In the Home is a landline-based system; it has no option for cellular connection, so you must have a landline in your Home. The system comes with a base station with a 24-hour backup battery, a 500-foot range, and a waterproof wearable help button. You can choose to wear the help button as a pendant or a wristband.
In the Home costs $29.95 a month when paid monthly, you can also choose. To pay quarterly, which costs $27.95 a month, or annually for $24.95. The annual and quarterly plans include shipping, but the monthly plan does not. Other than shipping, there are no one-time fees. Fall detection is available for an additional $11.95 per month.
Belle
Belle
Belle is a device designed for active seniors. This device uses AT&T’s cellular network to connect to its monitoring center; it will work anywhere that has cellular service, both inside and outside of the Home. You can wear it as a pendant around the neck, even in the shower, but avoid submerging it in the bathtub. It only takes 3 hours to charge Belle with 30-day battery life.
The monthly cost for Belle is $39.95 per month. If you choose to pay quarterly or annually, you’ll receive a discount and get free shipping or pay a one-time $35 activation fee. However, they don’t include fall detection with this device.
Belle+
Belle+
Belle+ is the upgraded version of Belle; it is also waterproof and has a complete system that can connect to a monitoring center via AT&T cellular network. This system has GPS location tracking; this allows your loved ones or caregiver to keep track of the device’s location. Belle+ has features fall detection, which isn’t available with the standard Belle. The battery life is five days with a charge time of 3 hours.
Starting Costs and Contracts
You may have to pay some one-time fees; if you use the discount code Senior, you’ll get the 1st month of service for free. Remember that the quarterly and annual plans include free ground shipping, and the monthly plan does not; you may have to pay $14.95 for ground shipping. Also, both Belle devices have a $35 activation fee, but there is no activation fee for the In-Home device. There are no other device or installation costs.
Don’t worry about long-term contracts or cancellation fees, and you automatically get a 30-day money-back guarantee; if you are unhappy with the device or service, send it back for a full refund.
Monitering
According to the ResponseNow website, it takes an average time of 30-60 seconds for an operator to come on the line after you press the button. The monitoring services are 100% U.S.-based and UL-listed.
When you sign up for service with ResponseNow, you’ll provide details and information for emergency contacts. If you call the monitoring service, they will ask if you want them to contact your emergency contacts or contact first responders.
This option can make you feel more comfortable knowing you can call for help not necessarily emergency medical services.
Caregiver Tools and Extra Features
Device Tracking
It may relieve some anxiety for caregivers knowing that they don’t need to worry about getting hurt or getting lost when you leave the Home. Caregivers and family members of Belle+ users can locate your device by sending a text message “Find [your name] to your number, which is only for the Belle+ device.
Optional Devices
You can choose to add these additional services to your service plan:
Care(+) Protection Plan: This protection plan covers the cost of device replacement or repair if the device is broken or lost for any reason. It costs an additional $3.95 per month, but if something happens you won’t have to pay to get it replaced or repaired.
Lockbox: You can add a lockbox to your account for $3.95 per month with a key to a door that emergency services can use to get to you if you’ve fallen and can’t get up. They include the lockbox free of charge when you sign up for the annual plan.
Need Help? Call Belle to the Rescue
Simply waking up at night to use the bathroom and stumbling over your dog could easily cause a fall, or possibly you hear someone outside of your Home at night, and you feel uneasy; having access to someone you can speak to anytime provides peace of mind.
Regardless of the emergency or perceived situation, Belle is always there to provide comfort and assistance when you need it the most. Our friend @SandySenior was feeling anxious so we let her try the Belle from ResponseNow.
See our friend Sandy try out the Belle from ResponseNow.
Operators are available 24/7
Connecting to the operators is easy; when you press the button, you’ll hear a brief connection, and shortly, an operator is available for you within 30-60 seconds through a powerful two-way speaker and microphone; timing may vary depending on the connection coverage.
Once connected, the operators can offer all kinds of assistance depending on your situation. For example, do you need an ambulance or an emergency responder? Another operator will dispatch to your location immediately. They can even reach out to a pre-approved list of contacts (family, friends, or neighbors) to come to check in on you.
Whatever the scenario, these highly trained professionals are available 24 hours a day, all year long.
After a few questions from the operator, they will figure out the appropriate level of response for your situation. Now, wait until help arrives; for emergencies, ResponseNow operators will stay on the line with you until your help arrives on the scene. Not every company provides this level of service; some will disconnect as soon as help is dispatched. In addition, in a range from nerve-wracking to life-threatening, having a calming presence connected to you via the scene can go a long way.
Why choose the Belle Medical Alert Device?
You can cancel anytime; you can use it safely in the shower, with a fast 3-hour charge time.
Belle is stylish looking and easy to use right out of the box; you get a 30-day battery life with notifications, so you or your loved one is always prepared for that emergency or fall.
Seniors are more likely to break or lose their device
Even if you are at fault and break or lose the device, the Care(+) Protection plan covers your repair or replacement free of charge, perfect for the senior with a history of being clumsy or breaking technology.
Active Seniors
If you’re active, both Belle and Belle+ are great options if you spend a lot of time on the go; The Belle is perfect if you plan to travel; with the 30-day battery life, you won’t have to worry bout charging your device.
Seniors have a fixed income
All ResponseNow plans have a lifetime price-lock meaning the price you pay on your first billing cycle will be the same price if you use ResponseNow; this is reassuring for seniors on a fixed income; they will always know what they will pay for monitoring services.
My aging mother called ResponseNow and spoke with a very friendly and helpful agent, who took the time to listen to her (and all of her stories) and offered her the right amount of information for her to make a decision as to whether this was going to be right for her. She didn’t feel pressured or rushed into making a decision. The agent even called me while my mother was on the phone and conferenced us all together so we could discuss details of her plan and requirements. All I can say is …. wow – who does THAT? Thank you ResponseNow I know my mother is in very safe care with you.L.B. – FRIENDLY STAFF
The unit is very easy to use, and discreet if you wanted to hide it from view, that wouldn’t be a problem. The fact that you can take it anywhere and everywhere is appealing because the bathroom and shower or outside messing around in the yard seems to be when you’d have an accident and would need emergency services to help out.
The lockbox is forward thinking, I wouldn’t have thought about how the emergency personnel would access the house if they needed to.
Finally, since they are providing the device at no cost, you won’t have to worry about getting stuck with something you don’t want.
If you are over 50 and active in the dating scene, you might find this article interesting.
While researching sites for my mom about dating, I stumbled upon these facts about at-home STD testing kits for adults and the stigma behind getting an infection and getting treatment for it.
This information made me call my mother – single and ready to mingle, and not yet 60, she’s a beautiful, vibrant woman. I’m her oldest, and we’ve struck a new level in our relationship that includes sharing some details about her dating life, which led me to share this with her.
Like some of her girlfriends, my mom is trying to find love, she’s mentioned signing up for Silver Singles with no luck, and even Christian Mingle, but lately has been finding potential guys on Match.com.
As a culture, we reserve our thoughts of romance and sexual relationships for the youth, but in reality, the desires don’t simply go away as we get older; they evolve, and as the world embraces the digital era, dating has followed this lead.
15% of baby boomers believe that dating sites are the best places to meet someone to date. 57% are comfortable using dating sites, According to Pew Research, 85% of boomers use the internet, and 11% of those primarily use their phone for access.
50% of the U.S. population will get an STD in their lifetime. However, less than half of U.S. adults have never completed a comprehensive STD screen other than HIV, which leaves more common infections undetected and at epidemic rising infection rates.
This study was fascinating because it answered some questions about other age groups’ sex lives and mentioned that adults over the age of 40 have the lowest rates of condom use. Condom use is higher among black and Hispanic Americans than white Americans and other age groups, which has caused a spike in STDs among older adults. However, since the mature age group isn’t worried about pregnancy, they have a similar attitude about sexual relationships. Like the 20-year-old age group, they lack proper education about STD risks and prevention.
About 3 million Americans have hepatitis C, contracted from infected blood, leading to liver cancer. Baby Boomers (born from 1945-1965) are five times more likely to have hepatitis C, and most don’t know they have it and aren’t currently getting the necessary medical care. So the CDC is recommending that ALL baby boomers screen for Hep C.
Keep in mind that Hep C symptoms in females may be faint and is sometimes referred to as a “silent” infection until the virus damages your liver enough to cause symptoms of liver disease, which includes:
Bleeding easily
Bruising easily
Fatigue
Poor appetite
Jaundice in the skin and eyes
dark-colored urine
Itchy skin
Fluid buildup in your abdomen
Swelling in your legs
Weight loss
Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech
Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin
Culturally, since the baby boomers came of age, sex has undergone many transformations, both pharmaceutically and technologically.
According to the CDC, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases have increased every year since 2016, with last year being the highest ever. In the 65 years and older group, syphilis saw roughly a 60% increase between 2014 and 2018, and gonorrhea has more than doubled.
They recommend expedited partner therapy (EPT) to prevent your partner from reinfecting you after treatment, which is the medical practice of providing medicine and instruction for treatment of STDs if your partner lacks access to timely help by themselves.
Where To Get An At-Home STD Test?
myLab Box is the first and only nationwide at-home testing and treatment service. They have comprehensive STD panels with 14 tests, Hepatitis C, cervical cancer screening, women’s health, and more. All the kits come with confidential doctor consultation and counseling if you get positive results.
California became the first state to require health insurance plans to cover at-home tests for sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, chlamydia, and syphilis. They say it has raged nearly unchecked since the public health departments have focused on Covid 19.
The rule is part of a broader law addressing the STI epidemic, taking effect this January 1 for people with state-regulated private insurance and will start later this year for millions of low-income Californians enrolled in the State’s Medicaid program.
This make’s it easier and cheaper to self-administer tests in the privacy of your own home. With this being the first of its kind, the state’s program – Medi-Cal, isn’t ready yet.
If you’re a Florida resident, you can visit one of the confidential STD field offices for free regardless of your citizenship status or age. They provide STD assessment and testing, including HIV testing. If you have an STD, you’ll recieve treatment during the visit and be given a prescription to purchase medicine for treatment. You’ll probably have to speak to some counselors about reducing sexual risk and STDs, but it is worth it if you suspect you have an infection.
With the New Year just around the corner, I’m sure you have your resolutions lined up. If they include transitioning to a more plant-based diet, or if you are currently vegetarian, these five light soups on Splendid Spoon’s new Reset Program’s menu are tasty, hardy, and low in calories.
At times we fall off the wellness journey and consume too many high-calorie and nutrient-depleted foods. The reset soups are low in calories but still contain the vitamins and minerals we need.
Splendid Spoon offers ready-to-eat, nourishing, plant-based smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodles, and shots. They’ve designed the plans to create healthy routines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so that you can reach your health goals. Each meal contains fresh plant-based, gluten-free and GMO-free ingredients – all clean ingredients.
I wanted to try the Reset Program because I was looking for something clean to eat in the middle of the day that wouldn’t upset my stomach. For the past couple of years, I’ve been actively changing my eating habits. Also, it was a simple meal to heat and serve.
A reset could be for a day or a single meal; when you give your gut some TLC, you could try eating one reset meal for lunch or dinner, 2-3 times a week, allowing your body to wind down after a long, busy day or help start your weight management plan and get you on the road to healthy eating. After you’ve adjusted to the diet, you can try resetting for the whole day, one day a day.
Stick to the Reset program plan and enjoy the 100% plant-based smoothies, soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls. Their philosophy is that plant-based eating is the single most effective tool to feel our very best.
Our Favorite Light Soups
Lentil and Kale
Cauliflower Potato Chowder
Available Plans:
Lunch
Breakfast + lunch
Breakfast, Lunch + Reset
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Reset – the best value – 20 meals
How Does It Work?
Choose from over 50 meals each week; it’s straightforward to edit them in your account every week. Also, you can note ingredients that you’d like to avoid in future orders.
Shipping is always FREE, and you get the box delivered to your door. Choose between Wednesday or Friday delivery days. You can also skip the delivery and choose when you want to receive the following package.
None of the meals take more than 4 minutes to heat up! All the meals arrive ready-made.
Cauliflower Potato Chowder
What Are Some Pros?
We tried a few of their light soups with different flavors and textures; two of my favorites were the Lentil and Kale Soup and the Cauliflower Potato Chowder; both were easy to heat up and were delicious!
If you decide to try Splendid Spoon, you get:
Fully prepared meals
Over 50 flavors to choose from
Clean ingredients: no added sugar, gluten-free, non-GMO
Sustainable packaging
Convenient
Free shipping
Great taste
Easy to customize
Lentil and Kale Soup
What Are Some Cons?
Just be warned, if you currently have an unhealthy diet with lots of fats in it, Splendid Spoon meals can be quite a shock in the beginning. But give it some time and allow your body to adjust; soon, you will feel better after switching to Splendid Spoon. The portions can feel smaller for some people; if you want, you can add extra ingredients to satisfy your appetite and maybe share with a partner.
Conclusion
The Reset Program at Splendid Spoon is light on the tummy and still nourishing and tasty, and for the older adult could be a great way to kickstart healthy eating habits. A lovely variety of flavors and ingredients (50+) are sure to satisfy most preferences. It can be an easy way to ensure that you get your daily quota of veggies and fruits every day.
With the New Year just around the corner, I’m sure you have your resolutions lined up. If they include transitioning to a more plant-based diet, or if you are currently vegetarian, these five light soups on Splendid Spoon’s new Reset Program’s menu are tasty, hardy, and low in calories.
At times we fall off the wellness journey and consume too many high-calorie and nutrient-depleted foods. The reset soups are low in calories but still contain the vitamins and minerals we need.
Splendid Spoon offers ready-to-eat, nourishing, plant-based smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodles, and shots. They’ve designed the plans to create healthy routines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so that you can reach your health goals. Each meal contains fresh plant-based, gluten-free and GMO-free ingredients – all clean ingredients.
I wanted to try the Reset Program because I was looking for something clean to eat in the middle of the day that wouldn’t upset my stomach. For the past couple of years, I’ve been actively changing my eating habits. Also, it was a simple meal to heat and serve.
A reset could be for a day or a single meal; when you give your gut some TLC, you could try eating one reset meal for lunch or dinner, 2-3 times a week, allowing your body to wind down after a long, busy day or help start your weight management plan and get you on the road to healthy eating. After you’ve adjusted to the diet, you can try resetting for the whole day, one day a day.
Stick to the Reset program plan and enjoy the 100% plant-based smoothies, soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls. Their philosophy is that plant-based eating is the single most effective tool to feel our very best.
Our Favorite Light Soups
Lentil and Kale
Cauliflower Potato Chowder
Available Plans:
Lunch
Breakfast + lunch
Breakfast, Lunch + Reset
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Reset – the best value – 20 meals
How Does It Work?
Choose from over 50 meals each week; it’s straightforward to edit them in your account every week. Also, you can note ingredients that you’d like to avoid in future orders.
Shipping is always FREE, and you get the box delivered to your door. Choose between Wednesday or Friday delivery days. You can also skip the delivery and choose when you want to receive the following package.
None of the meals take more than 4 minutes to heat up! All the meals arrive ready-made.
Cauliflower Potato Chowder
What Are Some Pros?
We tried a few of their light soups with different flavors and textures; two of my favorites were the Lentil and Kale Soup and the Cauliflower Potato Chowder; both were easy to heat up and were delicious!
If you decide to try Splendid Spoon, you get:
Fully prepared meals
Over 50 flavors to choose from
Clean ingredients: no added sugar, gluten-free, non-GMO
Sustainable packaging
Convenient
Free shipping
Great taste
Easy to customize
Lentil and Kale Soup
What Are Some Cons?
Just be warned, if you currently have an unhealthy diet with lots of fats in it, Splendid Spoon meals can be quite a shock in the beginning. But give it some time and allow your body to adjust; soon, you will feel better after switching to Splendid Spoon. The portions can feel smaller for some people; if you want, you can add extra ingredients to satisfy your appetite and maybe share with a partner.
Conclusion
The Reset Program at Splendid Spoon is light on the tummy and still nourishing and tasty, and for the older adult could be a great way to kickstart healthy eating habits. A lovely variety of flavors and ingredients (50+) are sure to satisfy most preferences. It can be an easy way to ensure that you get your daily quota of veggies and fruits every day.
