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 […]
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, […]
Hospice care provides services that increase the comfort of people who are dying from an untreatable health condition. Hospice care is intended to manage the patient’s pain while promoting a peaceful death. Adult children of a dying parent often turn to hospice care when the parent wants to die at home. Hospice care also be […]
The demand for caregivers will continue to grow as the American population continues to age. Baby boomers have been entering their senior years at a time when medical advances have extended lifespans. The expanding population of older adults who are coping with chronic disabling conditions has increased demand for certified nursing assistants in assisted-living facilities […]
Social Security benefits are the only source of income for about 20% of Americans who are 65 or older. Retirees struggle when they must live on their Social Security benefit alone. The average benefit is less than $1,800 per month. About half of all Americans who are 65 or older receive 50% or more of […]
Long-term care can be critical to the health and emotional well-being of older adults. The adult children of aging parents are often called upon to provide that care, but they do so at a cost to their own quality of life. Family caregivers who work long hours without compensation may be sacrificing careers, incurring expenses, […]
One of the most difficult decisions an older couple can make is whether to remain in the home they own or to sell the home and move to a retirement community. Aging in place allows the couple to continue relationships with neighbors and local friends, to participate in community activities they enjoy, and to feel […]
Older adults are frequent targets of schemes to swindle people out of their money. The FBI reports that 92,371 older adults were victimized by fraud in 2021. They lost $1.7 billion, a 74% increase from 2020. Many older adults have accumulated substantial savings that attract financial scammers. Regardless of their wealth, older adults are seen […]
President Biden took office in 2021 with an ambitious plan to improve the post-pandemic economy and to reduce the level of poverty among older adults. His proposals included increasing Social Security benefits, updating cost-of-living adjustments, reducing drug costs, and expanding Medicare coverage. Unfortunately for seniors, presidential authority to improve their Social Security and Medicare benefits […]
Updated March 2026 Most older Americans receive Social Security and participate in Medicare. Those programs help people meet their financial needs while assuring that they receive affordable healthcare. Yet those programs, combined with private retirement plans, are not always sufficient. The Census Bureau reports that, prior to the pandemic, one in six seniors relied on […]