For decades, retirement followed a familiar script: work until 65, then stop. Collect a pension, putter around the garden, and enjoy a well-earned rest. That picture — always somewhat idealized — no longer reflects the reality for most Americans. Today, we are living longer and staying healthier, which has fundamentally changed the math of aging. […]
A large majority of older adults hope to age in place. Other seniors prefer the comfort of an independent-living retirement community. Either living situation allows older adults to preserve their independence. Living independently can become more challenging as we age. Technology increasingly offers useful responses to those challenges. While aversion to technology is a stereotype […]
Einstein’s theory of relativity is complex, but at its core, the theory expresses a truth that people grasp intuitively: time is not a universal constant, but a subjective experience. As a physicist might explain, the faster you move through space, the slower you move through time. While time is a subjective experience, two people who […]
Retirement should bring welcome relief from a lifetime of work. Ideally, the freedom to spend your time pursuing activities that give you pleasure. But, sadly, the reality doesn’t always match the ideal. Without careful planning and a clear understanding of the financial and emotional challenges that retirement can bring, the golden years can become unexpectedly […]
Grief doesn’t just break your heart—it temporarily changes how your brain works. Researchers call this “Grief Brain“—a natural physiological response to trauma that clouds your judgment and makes it difficult to weigh long-term consequences. This is why the months following a loss are a “danger zone” for making life-altering decisions. You might feel a frantic […]
A fine red wine, an Italian leather couch, and denim jeans all get better with age. Do people? The prevailing stereotype of age holds that mental and physical abilities begin to deteriorate before we enter our 60s and are substantially diminished by the time we reach our 70s. Stereotypes are harmful because they imagine all […]
Long-distance caregiving is stressful — but with the right plan, it is entirely manageable. Mom and dad are now in their early seventies. I make it a point to see them regularly, but traveling from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is no quick trip — especially when you have a demanding career, a spouse, and […]
Retirement communities offer appealing housing options for older adults who are ready to downsize. After years of mowing the lawn and repairing leaky roofs, many retirees are happy to be relieved of the responsibility of home maintenance. Retirement communities give seniors the opportunity to relax as they make new friends of similar age while enjoying […]
Don’t Let Those “Great Deals” End Up Costing You More Than You Save Remember when buying something big—a new refrigerator, a computer, a camera, or a comfortable sofa—meant chatting with a helpful salesperson at the store? These days, most of us do our homework online first. We compare prices, look for those amazing deals, and […]
Do you trust your spouse? If you’ve been married for decades, the answer is probably “yes” or you wouldn’t still be married. Still, there are different levels of trust. Even in a strong marriage, individuals value their privacy. They might not want a spouse to access a bank account and discover that they fibbed about […]