Here at AgingOptions, we run across articles from time to time that make us want to shout “Amen!” in heartfelt agreement. That was our reaction when we read this Judith Graham article on the Kaiser Health News website. Her premise: the American medical system, Graham asserts, provides poor service to seniors, because it is rife…
The traditional to-do list for couples approaching retirement includes several familiar elements: signing up for Medicare, deciding when to take Social Security, figuring out what to do about the 401(k), and so on. But what about selling the big family home and downsizing to the smaller house with lower costs and less maintenance? A significant…
Generosity is a wonderful thing. If you’re at a stage in your life where you feel you have plenty of resources, and you’re motivated by a desire to give some of your money or possessions to those you love, that’s an admirable impulse – but beware. Your generous spirit can end up causing more trouble…
If you’re not doing it, you probably know someone who is. Over the past few decades, millions of people have bought into the idea that the key to better health is walking at least 10,000 steps per day. That’s a worthwhile goal, but is it valid? New medical research has revealed that, while there’s probably…
Big numbers have a way of getting our attention, especially when those big numbers are intended to scare us. One of the “big numbers” that often scares retirees is the projected cost of medical care: usually it’s presented as a huge lump-sum dollar amount, as in, “The average retired couple will need at least $280,000…
The late American psychologist Wayne Dyer once said, “If you are what you do, then when you don’t – you aren’t.” This little aphorism accurately describes the plight of many retirees. Their identity is so wedded to their work that, once they quit their jobs, that sense of identity disappears. In short, they’ve lost their…
Do you have any financial regrets as you approach retirement? If we’re honest, every one of us would have to answer “yes.” We look back over debts we incurred, foolish purchases we made, investments that went sideways or money we misspent and we can’t help experiencing a little second-guessing. The good news is that we’re…
All through our adult lives we’re continually reminded of the importance of paying our bills on time. One of the chief benefits: a high credit score, the Holy Grail of good money management. With a high credit score, we’re told, credit card companies, mortgage companies and car loan companies will be tying themselves in proverbial…
Memorial Day is our annual reminder that we in the U.S. owe a debt of gratitude to our armed forces veterans that we can never adequately repay. One of the ways we seek to show that gratitude to the millions of men and women who have served in our nation’s military branches is to provide…
For several years families looking for nursing home care for a loved one have relied on Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website. This site provides quality ratings for more than 15,000 facilities nationwide, awarding grades of one to five stars in three evaluation categories – health inspections, staffing levels, and clinical data – plus an “Overall”…