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…
Anyone who has cared for an aging, infirm parent knows how incredibly difficult it can be. Caregiving takes a huge toll, physically, financially and emotionally. We’ve talked with hundreds of AgingOptions clients and radio listeners and have heard many tearful stories. That’s why we wanted to share this powerful article from The Atlantic magazine, published…
It’s a question we hear from our clients frequently. As they approach retirement, some seniors have always assumed that their Social Security benefits will be tax-free – but will they be? The answer depends on several factors, but odds are – if you’re approaching the time when you will begin drawing benefits – you will…
Everybody knows – or assumes – that worker productivity tends to decline as we get older, and by the time we hit so-called “retirement age” we’re pretty much spent as far as our work life is concerned. That’s the conventional wisdom, right? Well, as it turns out, this particular conventional wisdom is false. With Labor…
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?