Few changes have been made to Social Security in 2026. Despite dire clickbait headlines warning that the Social Security Trust Fund is in imminent danger of collapse, Social Security payments are projected to be fully funded through the last quarter of 2032. Until this year, the Trust Fund was not expected to be depleted until […]
The woes that bedevil family caregivers are well documented. Unpaid caregivers make enormous sacrifices to care for their parents and other relatives who suffer from dementia. Because they work part time or forego outside employment entirely while providing care, family caregivers may sacrifice their careers. Unpaid caregivers incur an average of $12,388 in out-of-pocket costs […]
The death of a loved one is a stressful time. As relatives cope with grief, they may also be under financial pressure. The death of a spouse who managed family finances might leave the surviving spouse without access to necessary funds. While the survivor can easily withdraw funds from joint bank accounts, she will need […]
“Aging well” means growing older while maintaining independence, good health, and financial security. Everyone would like to age well, but some seem to age more gracefully than others. Seniors might wonder whether aging well is a matter of luck. Some suspect that their healthier peers simply won the genetic lottery and were predestined to avoid […]
Aging is a normal part of life. No fountain of youth prevents it. At the same time, few people want to age more quickly than nature intends. A new study suggests that “accelerated aging” may be a byproduct of living in extreme heat. Medical researchers have established that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can harm […]
Older screenwriters have long complained that Hollywood favors youth. People of all ages watch movies and television shows, but many advertisers target younger viewers. They theorize that older audiences have already developed brand loyalty and are less likely to be influenced by pitches for new products. Advertisers also believe that older consumers are less likely […]
Retirement is often a time for downsizing. Maintaining a large home with empty bedrooms requires time and money that might be more productively devoted to enhancing a retirement lifestyle. Retirement can also be a time of reduced income. While more retirees than ever are finding new ways to supplement their retirement income, many find that […]
The oft-repeated adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is an unfair generalization. Some older dogs that are capable of learning new tricks might not see the point of doing so. Some might be willing to learn but lack the energy to perform. Some might have vision or hearing problems that impair […]
Families have always been the primary source of care for older adults who can no longer live independently. In medieval times, older adults who had no surviving family were relegated to residences in “poorhouses” or “almshouses.” Even in more recent centuries, poorhouses paid scant attention to safety and sanitation. Neither were they designed to give […]
Most seniors are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they turn 65 if they apply for or are already receiving Social Security benefits. Medicare Part A provides coverage for treatment after hospitalization. Seniors need to take the initiative to enroll in Medicare Part B. That coverage pays a large chunk of most medical treatment […]