Exercise programs offered by health insurers and visiting nurse agencies.

Support groups for caregivers and sufferers of chronic disease.

The menu of options for elders in the nation’s second-oldest state continues to expand.

The 2023 Silver Linings Senior Healthy Living Expo held Saturday at Manchester Community College, with 41 organizations in attendance, was a symposium of resources for New Hampshire residents 60 and older and the family members who care for them. It was a chance to find out what’s local and new.

Not just Meals on Wheels

Hillsborough County Meals on Wheels (HCMOW) provides free, microwave-ready balanced meals at your doorstep if you are 60 or older, live in Hillsborough County, and have trouble preparing your own food, regardless of your personal income.

“It’s more than just that meal, it’s a well-being check,” said Brittany Bogart, a marketing specialist at HCMOW. The heatable meals delivered around noontime Monday through Friday provide a boost of social interaction, especially for people who are elderly, frail, homebound or living alone after the death of a spouse — who may have done all of the cooking.

You don’t have to live in Hillsborough County or even New Hampshire to sign up for HCMOW's Dine-Out Club. Up to eight times a month, each registered member age 60 and older, regardless of income level, can eat for free at the Village Eatery in Merrimack, White Birch Eatery in Goffstown and Francoeur’s Cafe in Manchester. Free meals occur at certain times and there’s a menu of nutritionally-balanced choices.

"This program has gotten people out," said Bogart. People who can't drive can link up with a group and go on a weekly basis.

Since July 2022, more than 2600 people 60 and older have signed up.

Combating isolation

In May, the U.S. Surgeon general issued a health advisory on the epidemic of loneliness, a widespread challenge for seniors, which undermines mental and physical health.

One in three older adults reported feeling isolated and alone during and after the pandemic. Isolation and loneliness exacerbate mental and physical problems from depression to heart disease, said Melinda Balinsky, a benefits manager at the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, which has served 1,565 adults over 60 this year.

Older adults can stay healthy, physically, and mentally by staying engaged in activities that bring them happiness, she said. "Really focusing on enjoying everything retirement has to offer. Being engaged in their community, volunteering, participating in groups with like like-minded adults - all help to encourage connection and go a long way in repelling isolation and loneliness.”

Activities at libraries and senior centers are hot spots for connecting with others.

Storytelling groups “get older adults together to talk about things that happened in their life,” said Rik Cornell, a social worker and community relations specialist at MHCGM.

Insurance: Ask for help

Audrey Sefakis, a nurse and vice president for Harvard Pilgrim Stride, a Medicare Advantage plan, said, “Most members may not realize their health plan has a team of clinicians who provide additional support” — whether for gaining access, case management, tips on preventative care, advice on chronic medical conditions, support for caregivers or assistance with behavioral health. “You need to be plugged into the resources where you are, and not be afraid to ask for help.”

To get connected to the appropriate source, call the member services number listed on the back of your Medicare insurance card, regardless of your plan or insurer.

Robin Chouiniere, a sales executive at Harvard Pilgrim, said misconceptions linger when it comes to Medicare. One is that you have to enroll in Part A and Part B (coverage for hospitalization) when you turn 65. In fact, you can waive enrollment until you retire as long as you have employer-sponsored health care through a subscriber — you or maybe your spouse. To avoid tax complications, you should stop contributing to a health savings account six months before you switch to Medicare. If you stop work, enroll in Medicare, then take a job with health insurance, you can suspend your Part B benefit, which currently costs about $165 a month. As of 2024, Medicare will cover 100% of the cost of expensive medications, Chouiniere added.

Downsizing? Not so fast

Demand exceeds supply in New Hampshire when it comes to assisted living and scaled-down homes for older adults. There are currently 73 55-plus communities statewide, and waitlists are common. Cash is king and competitions between bidders are expected, real estate agents say.

Kathy Baldridge, a Coldwell Banker Realtor in Nashua who specializes in downsizing and transitions to assisted living, said 55-plus communities are currently hard to find, and “They’re not building enough.” The state’s complex regulations for this housing make it harder for developers to create more, she said

The best plan, according to Baldridge, is to move to the place you like, get everything relocated that you will use, then hold an estate sale if needed and sell your original home.

If you must sell before you buy, make sure your house isn’t cluttered. It’s a turn-off to buyers, who will have trouble envisioning the space as somewhere they can live.

When it comes to assisted living, “Clients wait too long to make that decision,” she said. “Make your decision when you can make it, before someone else has to make it for you.”

The event was sponsored by WellSense, Easterseals, The Elliot, Bedford Falls/Arbors of Bedford, Langdon Place of Nashua, AARP NH, Visiting Angels, United Healthcare, BEMER/ Health Solutions, Dr. Woods Hearing Center, Gateway Retirement Solutions, Silverstone Living, Encompass and Trend Acupuncture.