With older people, there’s often a stigma that they’re homebodies who are attached to their home for a lifetime, but many seniors actually dream of escaping their Boston homes for a different kind of lifestyle in an international destination. If this is a move that you’re considering for your senior years, consider these tips:

1. Consider the cost of living – the cost of living varies from country to country and city to city, so make sure you do your research and choose one that has a cost of living that is lower and well-suited to your retirement budget

2. Find out the regulations for living in a country where you’re not a citizen – in countries like Mexico, retired seniors can receive residency permits that can be renewed annually; or for those with their own homes there, with a monthly pension of $1000 a permanent residency status can be granted

3. Think about your health – the climate and environment of various places abroad can have an impact on your health. Also look at the type of health care system in the countries you’re considering retiring to; some developing countries do not have the same standards as those we’re used to in the US while others have even more comprehensive health care systems

4. Choose your lifestyle – depending on what you’re looking for from your retirement, different destinations can meet your requirements. If you dream of senior years on a beach, Mexico, Spain or Italy might be a good choice; but if you want a historical experience look at Greece or England

Via: Retirement Story

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Not all seniors are finding that they can live out their retirement dreams as they had once hoped. Some seniors are finding that they are pushing out retirement past 65, if they even have the opportunity to retire at all, like 92 year old Erma Paliani who finally had the opportunity to retire for the first time since she began her working career. Here’s why seniors are retiring later on then they ever hoped:

• While the average age to claim Social Security Benefits is 63.9, many need additional income on top of it to be able to afford basic aspects of daily living, like housing and food

• Many seniors would love to retire and just focus on their family and relaxing, but based on the numbers of seniors aged 65 and older which are rising higher than ever before, this isn’t a reality for everyone. The number of older works, aged 80+ has had the most substantial increase at 67% to 500,000 Americans

• With people living longer, money doesn’t go as far as it used to, and as time goes on this might increase even more, keeping more and more seniors in the workforce longer than planned

• Government benefits, which were initially defined in 1940 certainly weren’t designed to support 30 or more years of retirement, which means seniors need a fairly substantial nest egg to make it through

Via: AARP

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Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Today’s seniors are constantly on the go, between activities, appointments and family responsibilities it’s hard to remember to stop and smell the roses. For the sake of their health, and their overall well-being, seniors need to remember to take a minute to be mindful; focusing on the moment.

4 Ways to Practice Mindfulness:

1. Breathe – to push away worrying thoughts or to stop your mind from wandering, simply stop and take a few deep breaths and focus only on your breathing and the environment around you. Take a few minutes to do this in situations where your mind tends to start running away on you, like in the car when stopped at a traffic light, or when you’re taking a shower

2. Focus in the morning and at night – before you fall asleep, your mind is likely to wander about your expectations for the next day, and the same thoughts might plague your mind when you wake up in the morning. Take a few minutes just to breathe

3. Turn off the autopilot – with tasks that you tend to do impatiently, like brushing your teeth or cleaning, take yourself out of autopilot mode and focus on the motions of what you’re doing, no matter how mundane the task is

4. Remind yourself to focus – a normal daily occurrence can act as a reminder that it’s time to tune back into the present. When the phone rings, or you go to put on your seatbelt, stop and focus

Via: About.com

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Boston seniors who receive Social Security benefits will find that their checks will suddenly get smaller over the next couple of years. As of next year, there will no longer be a cost of living adjustment, and for seniors who pay premiums for the Medicare Prescription Drug program, the lack of adjustment will not offset this cost resulting in decreased check amounts. With this being implemented over the next 2 years, seniors on Social Security will need to be more budget conscious than ever before, and can save money with these tips:

1. Set a budget: know how much money you have available to spend on a weekly basis, and keep a record of your spending so you ensure that you’re never overspending. Pay in cash, and then deposit any remaining money at the end of the week into a savings account

2. Smart shopping – create a shopping list and buy only what you need. Plan meals around items that are in season, and try out generic brand products over name brands for the savings

3. Think all unnecessary purchases over – instead of buying things you don’t need impulsively, wait 24 hours and think it over. More often than not, you will find that the temptation passes

4. Discounts – clip coupons or shop at stores that offer more discounts. Also be aware of places that offer discounts to senior citizens, like movie theaters, museums, and even grocery and retail stores

Sources:

1. MSNBC

2. Associated Content

Image: jupiterimages.com

We’ve all been there, rolling our eyes when our dentist tells us we’re not brushing or flossing well enough despite our best efforts. It may seem like no matter how impeccable we think our oral hygiene is, we can never do our dentist proud; but research shows there might be a good reason that our dentists harp at us. Oral hygiene can affect more than just our teeth, it can actually help us to live longer. It seems that inflamed gums from improper cleaning can release bacteria in the bloodstream that can increase our risk of heart attack and stroke. Don’t let poor oral hygiene cut your life short, follow these steps and do your dentist proud!

Brushing

1. Brush at least 2 times daily to prevent tooth decay and decrease periodontal disease through the removal of plaque from the teeth and gums

2. Use a soft bristled toothbrush

3. Make sure you brush the top (biting) teeth and the tongue

4. Use a soft massaging motion, paying special attention to the teeth that touch the tongue

Flossing

1. Floss at least once daily to remove plaque and food from between the teeth

2. Use waxed floss, and take a stand of at least 18 inches long when ready to start

3. Use your thumbs and forefingers to control the floss

4. Move the floss back and forth between the teeth

5. Rub the floss up and down along the outside surface of the teeth; from the gums downward

Sources:

1. Colgate

2. Living to 100

Image Source: drchetan.com

It’s hard to maintain a positive outlook when it feels like the walls are caving in around you, and it can feel like that is happening as you enter into older adulthood and begin to lose your health and even some of the people that you love. It may seem like an impossible time for Boston seniors to remain positive, but according to a recent study, simply thinking positive can improve overall happiness, since what we do with our brains can have an impact on happiness by up to 40%. Despite how hard it may be, seniors can make an effort to be positive in older adulthood with these 5 steps:

1. Make the time – even spending only a half an hour a day thinking about kindness and compassion can improve your overall level of happiness

2. Use verbal affirmations everyday – a verbal affirmation is simply voicing a positive thought or statement out loud. Seniors who are feeling lonely can say “I have a family who loves me and that I love more than everyone”, or that “better health will come my way”. Thinking about these things positively rather than negatively can help make them come true or change your feelings about them in any case!

3. Use positive language – just using positive words can make us happier, whether or not we actually believe them

4. Create positive images – surround yourself with positive images, of pictures of family and friends, post inspirational messages around your home or other images that keep you thinking positively

5. Be thankful – focus on being thankful for the things that you have; saying it out loud 50 times a day can make you feel grateful and it will help you start everyday out on the right foot

Sources:

1. Cognifit

We the Change

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