It’s the illness people say they fear the most: Alzheimer’s disease. That fear is well-founded, since today over 5 million Americans – and many times more family members and loved ones – are wrestling with the devastation caused by this insidious, unpredictable ailment. Caregivers agree that of all the afflictions they have to deal with,…
So you think you’re ready for retirement? You have your financial plan in place and you’re pretty certain you know what you need to know about Medicare and Social Security? That’s a good start, but it’s not enough. This recent article on the financial website Kiplinger tells us that no one is really ready to…
You’ve read the articles and heard the discussions about how difficult it is these days for family caregivers – those spouses and adult children who are responsible for the daily care of a loved one in declining physical or mental health. Most of those discussions seem to assume that most caregivers are wives and daughters.…
It’s no secret that healthcare costs in America are on the rise – so much so that the price tag for health-related expenses now makes up 17 percent of the entire U.S. gross domestic product. With so much money on the line, managing our own healthcare expense is critical, especially for the 58 million Americans…
If someone you love is a senior with a weight problem, your loved one is facing a dilemma – and it’s probably making your role as a caregiver more difficult. Your loved one needs to lose weight, but dieting can have the adverse effect of making them even more frail. But now there’s a new…
You’re 65 or older and still going to work every day? Congratulations – you’re part of a growing club. According to this article just published in USA Today, more Americans in your age group are working today than at any time since John F. Kennedy was President more than 55 years ago. As USA Today…
How knowledgeable are you about retirement-related finances? Odds are you aren’t as well-informed as you think. That’s the message in this recent article from Time Magazine’s “Money” website. Written by retirement expert Walter Updegrave, the article suggests that even people who think they know their stuff when it comes to money questions in retirement don’t…
Has this ever happened to you? You’re walking down the supermarket aisle and you pick up a product labeled “Healthy.” But as you read the list of ingredients, something doesn’t quite add up. Or you’ve done some reading about healthy eating and you decide on a food regimen that seems right for you, only to…
There is a long list of benefits to being a volunteer as we age. Volunteers stay more active. They derive great satisfaction from giving back to the organizations they care about. Volunteers generally report having a deeper sense of purpose in life. And now here’s another reason you may have never expected: regular volunteering can…
By Kirk Larson, Social Security Washington State Public Affairs Specialist On Memorial Day, we honor the soldiers and service members who have given their lives for our nation. Social Security respects the heroism and courage of our military service members, and we remember those who have given their lives in defense of freedom. Part of…
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