While retirement communities and assisted living facilities are the right choice for many seniors, surveys show that most older Americans hope to age in place. In some cases, aging in place means downsizing but staying in a beloved neighborhood. Other seniors choose to remain in their family home. Unfortunately, a home that was perfect for […]
It never hurts to have a bit of extra retirement income. Social Security benefits are modest, savings accounts dwindle over time, and most people worry that they did not invest enough money in their retirement accounts to assure a comfortable lifestyle after they stop working. The Rewards of Side Hustles Before retirement, many people earn […]
When he was running for president in 2020, Joe Biden promised to reduce the soaring cost of prescription medications. While President Trump signed executive orders in 2018 that were purportedly designed to accomplish that task, federal courts blocked the orders and drug prices continued to rise. The Congressional Budget Office determined that the orders, had […]
Older adults are too often stereotyped as being incapable of learning to use new technologies. Studies suggest that seniors may resist new technology because they worry that failing to use it properly would contribute to negative stereotypes about their age group. Research confirms that older adults, when given a chance, “are just as capable as […]
Medical science has not identified a clear cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. While changes in an aging brain seem to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors all play a role. Age itself does not cause dementia. About a third of people who are 85 or older are living with Alzheimer’s, but […]
Each year, about 14 million older adults in the United States report that they have fallen. Unreported falls are estimated to bring the total number of falls by seniors to about 36 million. About 37% of reported falls cause an injury that requires medical treatment or that causes a senior to restrict her activities for […]
The number of Americans who are working two jobs to support their families has been growing steadily. In October 2023, 8.4 million Americans had multiple jobs. By January 2024, that number increased to 8.7 million. The trend to hold multiple jobs does not appear to be abating. About 5.1% of American workers held more than […]
Seniors are often concerned about the security of their retirement savings. A plummeting stock market can destroy the value of retirement investments. Most 401K programs make safe investments, but companies like Enron that invest in their own businesses can cause employees to lose their pensions if the business fails. While bank failures are not common, […]
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. The adult children of aging parents should make vigilant efforts all year to detect signs of abuse. Raising awareness includes learning how to identify those signs. Older adults are often unwilling to share their concerns about abuse. If they have fallen for a financial scam, they might be ashamed […]
“Successful aging” is an umbrella term that describes a process of growing older while maintaining a high level of physical, psychological, and social functioning without major diseases. Similar concepts are embodied in such terms as “aging well,” “healthy aging,” and “active aging.” While people can take steps that maximize the opportunity for successful aging, chronic […]