Many seniors envision their retirement years looking like a dream vacation, with nothing but golf carts and beach umbrellas. But the reality for most seniors is different. The great majority tend to stay put when they retire – and a recent article on the USNews “Money” website gives at least six good reasons why. (You…
He was one of the funniest people in a generation. On stage and on screen, Robin Williams’ unique brand of rapid-fire comedy entertained the world for four decades. So the death by suicide of this treasured comedian and actor in August 2014 shocked and saddened us all. At the time, depression was blamed for Williams’…
It’s a strategy used by thousands of married Social Security recipients over the years as a means of maximizing spousal benefits. But new budget rules just signed into law mark the end of this often-employed tactic. The strategy is called “File and Suspend.” Under the new budget rules signed into law on November 2, 2015…
With a new generation of retirees poised to make long-term living decisions, marketers say it’s time for a new name to describe retirement communities. So say good-bye to the time-honored term, “Continuing Care Retirement Community.” That’s what the familiar acronym “CCRC” stands for, and it’s a term that has described a wide range of retirement…
If you’re like most of us, your house is the most important asset you own. Deciding whether, and when, to enter into a reverse mortgage to tap into the equity in your home is one of the most important and possibly the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make. If you’re a homeowner 62 years…
A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation sheds some light on the importance of Medicare – a timely consideration during an election year as many politicians float their proposals for cuts in benefits. The research shows that most Medicare beneficiaries are people of very modest means, and their reliance on Medicare is a vital…
If you’re one of the 40% of American adults over 65 who take statins to control cholesterol, a new study reveals an unexpected health concern: statin use appears to reduce the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. That could put millions of seniors at greater risk from the effects of this common but sometimes deadly illness…
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…
We’ve said it many times, in our printed materials and on the radio: few conflicts can become more contentious than family conflicts. Tragically, this is especially true when it comes to issues relating to elder care. We think that’s because, in conflicts over how to care for Mom or Dad (and how to divide the…
A new study has shown a dramatic new benefit from what is commonly called the “Mediterranean Diet” – it can actually improve the health of your brain. For years the advantages of the Mediterranean Diet have been touted as a way to improve physical health. This eating pattern, emphasizing high concentration of seafood and plant-based…
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