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The Bay Area's Trusted Resource For Healthy Living After 50
Issue 135 June 2026
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Are Self-Driving Cars The Answer For Older Adults?
I was impressed when I rode with a friend who was using Tesla's self-driving features. The next step was actually experiencing the technology from the driver's seat. At first, I felt some trepidation since it was my first time in a vehicle operating with this level of automation.
Worried About Falling?
One of the most popular topics at this year's ActiveOver50 Resource Fair wasn't surprising at all: staying steady on your feet. That's why many attendees stopped by the Neursantys exhibit to learn about a new therapy aimed at helping older adults improve balance, mobility and confidence.
Discover Free California Historical Parks
Until July 6, California is giving away free unlimited access to more than 30 of its premier state historic parks and museums through December 31, 2026.
Why Is a Good Night Sleep So Hard To Get?--Preston Houston
If you're a certain age, chances are you've had this conversation with a friend: "I don't remember the last time I slept through the night."
Hard Facts of Life. Satisfaction Not Guaranteed--Evelyn Preston
So many of us feel we’re just getting by. However, the more we complain about rising costs, unaffordability and our economic malaise, the less we understand the reality of the recent past.
ASK LARRY: "What's Your Secret Playing USTA tennis at 86?"
First, there is no secret. Being on the front page of The Mercury News was certainly an honor but why are so many people surprised when an older adult is still active, competing and enjoying life?
Need Help! Start Here
Access the free ActiveOver50 Resource Guides for Bay Area adults 50+. Discover helpful information on Caregiving, Senior Housing and Home Improvement.
P.S. Feel free to forward The Scoop to anyone who may be interested. It's free with information and stories on how to enjoy a longer, healthier life. If not already a subscriber, Subscribe Here.
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From Skeptic To Believer: My First Experience With a Self-Driving Car
By Larry Hayes, ActiveOver50 publisher
I was impressed when I rode with a friend who was using Tesla's self-driving features. At first, I felt some trepidation since it was my first time in a vehicle operating with this level of automation.
However, as the SUV carefully navigated through traffic and onto the freeway, my fears gradually faded. It automatically changed lanes, slowed in heavy traffic and successfully parked at the restaurant where we planned to eat.
The next step was actually experiencing the technology from the driver's seat. After receiving some basic instructions from the owner, who seemed more nervous than I was, we set off. The SUV backed out of the parking lot on its own, stopped at a traffic sign, activated its turn signals and proceeded toward the destination I had given it verbally.
READ MORE
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Steady Grip Home Safety
Helps Older Adults Stay Safe, Independent And Confident In Their Homes
Owned and operated by a licensed contractor, Steady Grip Home Safety specializes in the installation of grab bars, handrails, ramps and other aging-in-place solutions designed to reduce the risk of falls.
Every home is different, which is why we provide personalized
recommendations and professional installations that blend safety with your home's style. Whether you're planning ahead or helping a loved one remain at home longer, Steady Grip is here to make your home safer, one project at a time.
Reach out today 408-393-8443 or email steadygriphomesafety@gmail.com
| | | Worried About Falling?
Neursantys Showcases a New
Approach To Better Balance
By Larry Hayes, ActiveOver50 publisher
One of the most popular topics at this year's ActiveOver50 Resource Fair wasn't surprising at all: staying steady on
your feet.
As we age, balance can become a challenge. A stumble that would have been nothing at 40 can become a serious concern at 70 or 80. That's why many attendees stopped by the Neursantys exhibit to learn about a new therapy aimed at helping older adults improve balance, mobility and confidence.
What caught my attention wasn't just the technology itself. It was the hope it offers to people who may have begun limiting activities because they're worried about falling.
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Your Reverse Mortgage Questions Answered By
a Local Expert With 15+ Years' Experience
Q: Will the bank own my home?
The bank does not take ownership of your home; they simply extend loan to you. You continue to own and live in your home and are responsible for payment of property taxes, required insurance and if applicable, HOA fees.
Q: Do my children/family members lose their inheritance?
No, a borrower may designate an heir of their choosing. The heir(s) will inherit the home after the last surviving borrower passes away and may then choose to keep (by paying off the amount of reverse mortgage balance) or sell the home. Should they choose to sell, any remaining equity after paying off the loan (minus interest and fees) would be theirs.
Q: What is the lending limit of the HECM reverse mortgage?
As of January 1, 2026, it increased to $1,249,125 which means it's very likely you can qualify for more money.
To learn more about reverse mortgages, call me today. 408.722.0010.
Email: marilyn.ross@goodlifehomeloans.com
Marilyn Brown Ross
Reverse mortgage specialist
NMLS #453436/1221981
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Learn Smarter. Stay Safer. Enjoy Technology with Confidence
AI and Online Safety for Seniors is a practical 30-day step-by-step guided workbook that helps you confidently use today's AI tools while protecting yourself from scams, fraud, and online threats.
Designed specifically for older adults, you'll learn how to recognize warning signs, use AI safely, protect your personal information, build confidence with easy, step-by-step exercises, and even get help if you click a wrong link.
Whether you're new to AI or just want to stay safe online, this workbook gives you the knowledge and peace of mind to enjoy technology with confidence.
Currently available in eBook. The audiobook and large print paperback are coming soon.
Click here to access: Books by Dawn O'Neal or enter into your browser https://bit.ly/4vKLBKZ. Join her Newsletter or email her
at DLOPublishingLLC@DawnOneal.com.
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Why Is a Good Night’s Sleep
So Hard To Get?
By Preston Houston, Common Sense Health
If you're a certain age, chances are you've had this conversation with a friend:
"I was awake at 3am again."
"I fell asleep in my chair, then couldn't sleep in bed."
"I don't remember the last time I slept through the night."
Sleep problems are one of the most common complaints among older adults. Many people who once slept soundly for eight hours now find themselves waking up several times a night, staring at the ceiling, or greeting the sunrise much earlier than they'd like.
The first thing to know is that some changes in sleep are a normal part of aging. As we get older, our sleep tends to become lighter. We may wake more easily from noises, aches and pains, or simply because our body's internal clock has shifted.
That's why many older adults get sleepy earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. But "normal" doesn't mean you have to settle for poor sleep.
READ MORE
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Come Experience Life At
Palo Alto Commons
A warm, welcoming senior community offering exceptional Assisted Living and Memory Care right in the heart of Palo Alto.
Enjoy private apartments, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and scheduled transportation, all supported by a caring long-term team that knows you by name. Whether you need a little help with daily activities or just want a vibrant, social lifestyle, our 24/7 trained staff and on-site licensed nurses ensure comfort, safety, and peace of mind. Discover why we’re ranked #1 in Assisted Living & Memory Care in Palo Alto.
Call 650-494-0760 to schedule your tour today! To learn more, visit: Palo Alto Commons
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“Anybody who thinks money will make them happy, doesn’t have money"
--Clive Davis
Hard Facts of Life. Satisfaction Not Guaranteed
By Evelyn Preston, Money Lady
What a different world we live in and how far a majority of the American public has moved beyond the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter that I was taught in school.
So many of us feel we’re just getting by. However, the more we complain about rising costs, unaffordability and our economic malaise, the less we understand the reality of the recent past.
It’s a worthy exercise every now and then to stop and take a long look at how far we’ve come personally. And it’s definitely time to consider a different view about the endless rounds of increasing taxes sent to our government, purportedly for the greater good.
Yet the homeless—the #1 example of so many needs—have not been well served by the billions poured into goverment and the NGO’s that serve them.
When we tone down the rhetoric and tune up the statistics, numbers tell a much more positive story.
READ MORE
| | Discover California's Premier State Historic Parks. FREE! | | |
California is giving away free unlimited access to more than 30 of its premier state historic parks and museums through December 31, 2026.
By downloading the special edition digital Historian Passport before July 6, 2026, travelers can completely bypass the standard $50 annual fee. The zero-dollar digital pass covers entry for up to four people per vehicle, unlocking free access to iconic redwood trails, historic gold rush ghost towns and coastal landmarks.
The California State Parks Historian Passport covers admission to a specific network of more than 30 state historic parks and museums. It's 100% free to download through July 6, 2026 and remains entirely free to use until December 31, 2026. It provides free entry for up to four people per pass.
READ MORE
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Discover Chateau-Cupertino
Senior Independent Living Community With a Flair
Senior living doesn't get any better than living at
Chateau-Cupertino whether you're in retirement or just ready for the next great phase of your life. Enjoy a home-life environment in your own senior apartment with three fresh served home-style meals daily.
Housekeeping and laundry services, all basic utilities, great activity programs, game rooms and transportation--all included starting at $3,400 per month.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cupertino is one of the best places to live in the San Francisco Bay Area--home to world famous Apple. Come and see for yourself. Chateau-Cupertino.
Call 408.446.4300. Or email: MarieLouise@chateau-cupertino.com.
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"Larry, I saw that you were recently featured on the front page of the San Jose Mercury News.
And that you're still playing USTA tennis at age 86. What's your secret?"
First, there is no secret.
The newspaper story was certainly an honor but what interested me most was not the publicity. It was the question behind it. Why are so many people surprised when an older adult is still active, competing and enjoying life?
I don't play tennis because I'm 86. I play tennis because I enjoy the challenge, the friendships, the exercise and the opportunity to keep learning. Some days I play well. Some days I don't. That's true at any age.
As we grow older, it's easy to focus on what we can no longer do.
A better approach may be to focus on what we can still do. For me, that's tennis. For someone else, it might be walking, gardening, volunteering, painting or learning a new skill.
The goal isn't to outrun the calendar. None of us can do that. The
goal is to stay engaged, curious and involved for as long as possible.
If there is a lesson from the newspaper article, that's probably it: Age may influence what we do but it doesn't have to define what we can still become.
"Ask Larry" welcomes your questions and comments. Send your questions for future “Ask Larry” columns to larry@activeover50.com. Feel free to forward this free, monthly newsletter to family and friends who may be interested. If not already a subscriber, Subscribe Here.
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Need Help? Start Here
Free ActiveOver50 Resource Guides For Bay Area Adults 50+
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Today's Chuckle!
Under Cardiac Arrest is a comic series starring a quirky couple loosely based on John Donaghue's parents. Besides thousands of followers online, UCA has been translated into greeting cards, shirts, mugs and a book.
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