A little over a year ago, The New York Times published an interesting article about a trend in home design that we found encouraging when we encountered it: new homes specifically designed for multi-generational living. While this kind of lifestyle isn’t for everyone, the appeal definitely appears to be on the rise. We thought we…
Because we at AgingOptions work in the arena of retirement every day, we sometimes assume that there are certain basic facts about retirement that everybody knows. But the truth is that millions of people approach retirement woefully uninformed, and for that reason they tend to make costly mistakes that can play havoc with their finances.…
Helping out your grandchildren with costs of higher education may be a worthwhile thing to do – if you can afford it, that is, without damaging your own retirement security. But if you do decide to offer financial aid, you need to be strategic, or your generosity could end up making matters worse. That’s the…
The Great Recession that plunged the nation into economic uncertainty in 2008 supposedly ended several years ago, yet many older workers have never recovered the employment status they once enjoyed. It’s no secret that older workers find it tougher to land well-paying jobs these days. In fact, in a recent study conducted by the Federal…
It seems like something we’ve heard before: some news report cites evidence that suggests a strategy that can delay or even prevent the onset of cognitive decline. But this article that recently appeared on the website of Kaiser Health News may be the real thing. “In a landmark report,” the article asserts, “scientists have endorsed…
There are plenty of categories in which Americans can proudly wave the flag and say, “We’re number one!” Unfortunately, retirement may not be one of them. In fact, in a global survey encompassing 43 nations worldwide, the U.S.A. doesn’t even make the Top Ten in happiness and quality of life among retirees. That’s the conclusion…
From time to time here at AgingOptions we think it’s important to remind people of a hidden danger that could be affecting both the physical and emotional health of an aging loved one. That hidden threat is isolation. “Social isolation is rampant among older adults who lose mobility, lack transportation options or live alone or…
Here in the Pacific Northwest where AgingOptions is located, the real estate market is white hot. While many prospective buyers are young families needing more space or millennials trying to qualify for a first home, a significant number are empty nesters or newly-retired couples. Many of these older buyers are eager to sell their bigger…
First, let’s consider the good news about a Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2018: it looks like there’s going to be one, and it could be the most generous in years. But the bad news is it may not amount to much in actual purchasing power for the typical senior. That’s the…
Here at AgingOptions we’re always advising people to remember as they plan for retirement that feelings matter. In other words, it’s all well and good to make careful plans for your retirement future, but you need to take your emotions into account as well, because how you feel about retirement and what you worry about…
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