What’s the ideal retirement age? For many of us growing up the answer used to be 65. That’s when many of our dads finally hung up their briefcases or tool belts and decided it was time to start enjoying that well-earned pension. These days for most Baby Boomers the answer is 66 (and those pensions…
The idea supposedly started with a Methodist minister in Virginia. After visiting a parishioner distraught over being forced into a nursing home, he decided America could do a better job helping seniors find alternative housing solutions. He consulted with a research center at Virginia Tech, and voila: the MEDCottage, also called the Granny Pod, was…
Since retirement planning is our specialty here at AgingOptions, we’re always intrigued by articles with titles like “5 Things to Do Now to Get Ready for Retirement.” Often these articles offer advice that smacks of “too little, too late.” But this article from a recent issue of the Washington Post with that very same title…
In past generations it was generally considered unthinkable to question one’s doctor. Physicians possessed unchallenged authority, and their words carried nearly divine weight. Ironically, even in today’s skeptical age, some patients – especially older ones – still feel reluctant to challenge their doctor about anything he or she says. (If you want to read more…
Age discrimination in the job market may be illegal, but it remains prevalent. That’s the unsettling conclusion found in this recent article from the Reuters news service analyzing the plight of older workers in today’s slow-growth economy. The article by Reuters columnist Mark Miller has a stark title: “Older and jobless – the US recovery’s…
A recent two-part series of articles in USA Today provided a very honest treatment of a very difficult question: if aging parents need financial help, how should their adult children respond? The answer can affect the relationship between parents and children for the rest of Mom and Dad’s life – not to mention the impact…
Here’s a question: if you’ve made it clear in your will which one of your heirs should inherit money from your estate, how it is possible those funds will end up going to someone else? The answer is simple: if you’ve forgotten to update the beneficiary information on a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or…
The opening line in a very recent article on the popular financial website Bankrate.com caught our eye. It read, “Some 50 years ago, fans were rocking to ‘Twist and Shout.’ These days, the same crowd is rolling on over to orthopedic surgeons for hip and knee replacements.” Ouch! We can certainly relate, and we’ll bet…
Medicare open enrollment starts next month, on October 15. If you’re like most new enrollees, you have more questions than answers. That’s why we recommend this timely article from the financial website Kiplinger that sheds important light on the pros and cons of the popular plans called Medicare Advantage. (Before we highlight some of the…
It’s a painful sight to see someone you love slip into mental decline. Sometimes along with their growing confusion, these people experience signs of depression and often a declining will to live. The downward spiral seems irreversible. Or is it? A growing body of research is starting to show more and more conclusively that some…
We send out email newsletters and announcements monthly about planning for Health, Housing, Finance, and Legal needs for retirement. Would you like to sign up?