Updated May 2025 The stereotype that older people lose their mental sharpness is pervasive. Like all stereotypes, it invites judgment based on group membership rather than individual accomplishment. Nola Ochs [earned a masters degree at the age of 98. Peter Roget was 73 when he created the first thesaurus. Grandma Moses started painting when she […]
Updated May 2025 Americans are drivers. Cars are associated with freedom and independence. For people who don’t live in cities with reliable public transportation, cars may be a necessity. In 2023, more than 51 million licensed drivers in the United States were age 65 or older. More than one in five licensed drivers fell within […]
Updated April 2025 When they can, seniors typically choose to live independently. Some remain in a family home while others downsize or enjoy the comfort of a retirement community. Seniors who need assistance coping with health conditions may depend on family members for help. They may instead opt to reside in an assisted living facility. […]
The virus that causes COVID-19 may be with us for the foreseeable future. Pandemics often become endemic, “meaning the infection is still present in a region or population but its behavior is predictable and the numbers of cases and deaths no longer spike.” Infectious-disease specialists broadly agree that while COVID-19 has not been extinguished, it […]
Updated April 2025 Until recently, a pervasive stereotype in the business world defined older employees as lacking the mental agility or physical stamina to meet the demands of a competitive work environment. Employers also viewed older workers as “out of step” with current trends, making it difficult for older workers to find jobs in industries […]
Seniors who depend on Social Security benefits will soon receive the largest cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the last 40 years. The 8.7% increase in Social Security payments will take effect in January 2023. The COLA is tied to the consumer price index. A poor economy resulted in no Social Security benefit increase in […]
Updated May 2022 In 2022, the United Nations commemorated the October 1 International Day of Older Persons by asking the world to recognize the value of senior women. Having turned 76 in 2025, the UN’s Secretary-General is proof that older people can make significant contributions to worldwide efforts to solve problems that affect people of all […]
Updated June 2025 Recent reports issued by the Census Bureau reflect a depressing reality for older Americans. A 2022 report found that, between 2020 and 2021, the official poverty rate increased for people who were 65 or older. That increase contrasts with a decrease in the official poverty rate for people younger than 18. The […]
Updated May 2025 To avoid late enrollment penalties, seniors who are eligible for Medicare usually sign up at their earliest opportunity. Seniors rarely have a reason not to enroll. Retirees earned Medicare’s hospitalization benefits by paying FICA taxes during their working lives. They are not required to pay a monthly premium to receive those benefits. […]