Carol MarakFind Senior Care on Limited Budget
Recently, a reader asked, "If you can't afford to live in a senior care facility, or have family to take care of you what other options does a person have when they can't take care of yourself?" For many seniors, they survive on Social Security from month to month. The retirement years is challenging and enjoying the golden years and living comfortably is only a dream. And once they retire, they struggle. They are in survival mode. Others, like the 10,000 Americans who turn 65 every day, are just now facing the reality. When seeking care on the limited income
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Guest BloggerTop Reasons Why Seniors Need A Medical Alert System
Medical alert systems allow seniors to summon help, literally at the press of a button. This means that they are even easier to use than phones and also easier to carry. There are many reasons why seniors benefit from them. Most of these reasons hinge on three key points. The elderly are at higher risk of medical emergencies As the body ages, it slows down. Even the fittest seniors do not have the same reflexes as younger people. It becomes more fragile. In particular, bones become easily damaged. The immune system becomes less robust so even minor ailments like colds
Continue readingHow Aging with Friends Fills the Void of Being Alone
The concept of growing older without household support can be a shocking wake up call. That’s what happened to me after providing home care help for my older parents. The needs they had were extremely challenging for my sister and I, and when they died, it forced me to question, who will do all that for me? You see, I’m single, and have no children. How Aging with Friends Fills the Void of Being Alone The care I provided for mom and dad included daily living tasks like house cleaning, cooking, shopping, transportation to medical appointments and treatments, and even
Continue readingMaking Friends Later in Life
Having friends makes life a lot more fun, enjoyable, and easier to deal with challenges. But as one grows older, research shows it's harder to hang on to established connections and companions because we retire and leave the workforce. And a big part of our relationships develops with people on the job. Making Friends Later in Life When retired, seniors enjoy their free time and travel more, taking time away from developing new relationships. Some seniors move to another city, perhaps be closer to their children and grandchildren. When doing so, the move puts an end to establish long-term friendships and
Continue readingMilitary Veterans Age 55+ on Retirement, Financial Security and More
SeniorLiving.org Report on Military Veterans More than half of all veterans are over the age of 551 and will soon be making decisions about retirement if they have not already. So, how do our nation’s service members plan on living their senior years? We asked military veterans ages 55+ more than 30 questions on topics from retirement to financial security to leisure. Respondents of this survey were almost evenly split between those who had retired and those who had not. Of those not yet retired, more than 60 percent planned to retire within 10 years. We asked questions about retirement
Continue readingOptions Needed to Pay for Long Term Care
Are you looking for ways to pay for long-term care? The national average cost per month for senior housing starts at $4,000. At home personal care costs $23 an hour. There is no way to avoid the expenses, but there are ways you can put a home's equity to work. The most valuable asset a senior has is a home. And today, the most common option to pay for long-term care is using the home's equity through a Reverse Mortgage where the lender makes payments to the borrower. The borrower does not pay back the loan until the house is
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Kendall VanBlarcomHealth Benefits of Social Media for Seniors
When you think of social media, I doubt you picture grandma tapping away on her smartphone.You would be surprised by the benefits of social media for seniors. Just three years ago the number of social media users over the age of 65 was thought to be under 10%. Now, that number seems to be on the rise according to recent studies. The reasons for the recent rise in the popularity of social media with this generation is still up for debate. Some people speculate that it could be due to the unexpected health benefits older social media users are experiencing. With this in
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Richard BitnerHow to Notice Signs of Functional Decline in Seniors
After a certain age, some level of decline should be expected year after year. In our forties and fifties, this decline is incremental. It happens slowly, and while it can affect our physical and mental performance, most of us are still able to live our lives comfortably. But in our sixties and beyond, decline begins to speed up. Eventually, seniors reach a point of functional decline. This is the point where elderly care is required for seniors to live comfortably and safely. Unfortunately, it can be hard to spot functional decline. While decline accelerates in seniors, it still happens gradually
Continue readingHow Dangerous is Social Media to Seniors’ Well-Being?
Ten years ago, few people would have predicted that seniors would become some of social media’s most passionate users. But a study last year by Pew Research Center found that 62% of online seniors are on Facebook. Other studies show that social media use among seniors is rising at a rapid rate. How Dangerous is Social Media to Seniors’ Well-Being? As more and more seniors use social media, there are growing concerns. Most research indicates that social media improves quality of life for elderly adults. But some senior care professionals are increasingly worried about the dangers that social media could pose
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