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With the New Year, most of the older generations want to stay healthy, hoping to live longer lives because of it. Losing weight can be one of the best things a senior can do towards living a longer, more enjoyable life. However, losing weight is easier said than done for seniors. The process can be much more uncomplicated with these simple tips towards a new senior physique in 2010.

• Change Old Eating Habits—Two may be better than one in this instance. Try and eat with your senior, switching out high calorie foods for healthier dinner staples such as salads with vegetables and lean proteins.

• Record What You Eat—Sometimes writing it all down will give seniors or their caregivers some perspective on their eating habits. By recording what you eat, a senior can easily reduce calories just by visualizing those foods causing the most damage to a slim trim.

• Exercise Together—While reducing calories can help lose weight, seniors must go one step farther and exercise to see results. Take long walks daily with your senior, working together to reach fitness goals. If a senior goes it alone, they may be less likely to stick to that daily walk.

• Meditate—As strange as it may seem, negative thoughts about your body and weight can ruin any fitness efforts. Find a quiet place in your home for 5 minutes a day, and just focus on breathing. This simple act will help clear the mind from critical thoughts about your body, allowing for a greater appreciation of the physical self.

Source: aarp.org

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Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

With the on-set of age, naivety and vulnerability become ever increasing among seniors, making them perfect targets for investment scams. According to Metlife Mature Market Institute, senior financial abuse costs American seniors $2.6 billion dollars annually. However, you or your senior does not need to become another victim.

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is— One of the best questions a senior can ask is simply about the investment itself, questioning if the broker or product is registered with the state or national regulatory authorities. Be cautious of broker claims that their certificates of deposit (CDs) earn above average interest rates. Many companies trying to scam seniors will say the pay will yield much higher rates of return than normal.

• Be extremely skeptical of salespeople—Scammers target seniors by going door-to-door or pestering them with phone calls.

• Research, research, research—Check the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s list found at www.sec.gov/investor/oiepauselist.htm of unregistered entities with consumer complaints. Also, make sure you do not agree to an investment without consulting family and friends.

• If you have been scammed, all is not lost—Financial crimes against seniors often go under reported, with seniors feeling ashamed or they do not know where to report the company. To file a complaint against a broker or firm, visit www.finra.org/complaint. Read about a seller’s background, at www.SaveandInvest.org or call 888-295-7422. For more on brokers or firms, call 800-289-9999 or log onto www.finra.org/brokercheck.

Source: ConsumerAffairs.com

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Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

In the past, AARP’s financial services got a bit of a bad rap, however, over the past few years they have redeemed themselves by offering great services which include mutual funds. Anyone approaching retirement age or who is already retired, should establish a mutual fund to help earn some return of investment on their savings. AARP offers a number of different types of RRSPs from the very conservative, to the most aggressive, and they all offer the following benefits:

1. Costs are low – high investment costs are not something that seniors are looking for, particularly when living on fixed incomes. With that in mind, the AARP creates RRSPs that have low costs.

2. They are lower risk – all of the AARP’s mutual funds are index funds, which means that they are a lower risk, which is great for seniors!

3. Seniors can discuss needs with financial planners – like many financial institutions, the AARP provides financial planners to help seniors make investment decisions that are right for them. Though, it is important to keep in mind that they are paid staff of the AARP, so it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion from an involved party!

4. Low minimums – some RRSPs require seniors to make large deposits and have a big lump sum of money to invest initially. All of the AARP’s RRSP plans require only $100 to open an account and deposits of at least $25 at a time

Via: MoneyWatch

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Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

No one wants to talk finances, no matter what the situation, but when moving in an elderly parent into your home, it’s a necessary conversation to have. Without standards set regarding how the financial affairs of the household will be handled, tension and resentment can develop and lead to a greater problem. Take the attitude that “it will all work itself out” and you’ll quickly find yourself regretting the decision to move in mom.  To keep the peace, here are some guidelines for financial management when living with a senior:

1. Bridge the topic gently – ensure that finances are discussed before the move happens, but don’t approach it like finances might change your motivations or your ability to care for your loved one

2. Set the standards – discuss what percentage of the household bills your senior will be responsible for. It might not be fair to ask an elderly parent to pay half of the mortgage and utility bills if there are 4 people in your immediate family, and they are just one; but you can ask them to pay one-fifth, or another number that is agreeable to everyone

3. Keep separate bank accounts, but create a common fund – don’t expect that a senior living with you is going to merge their bank account; having their own finances maintains their sense of independence and purpose. However, you can create a joint fund that all contributors can add to in order to make monthly bill payments easier

Via: Guide for Seniors and Boomers Who Live With Them

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

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.

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

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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

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You don’t have to be a caregiver to worry about how your loved ones are going to fare in retirement. But you do want to have an idea about what their plans are, and what role you will need to play to help them do more than just survive their senior years. Start talking early, and keep these tips in mind:

1. Start early – talk to your parents about their retirement plans by the time they are 50…earlier is okay too, but don’t wait too long! However, if your parents are already retired, it’s not too late to have this conversation
2. Know their retirement goals – where do your parents want to live when they retire? Do they want to remain in Boston? Do they want to travel? Do they want to take on any new hobbies or continue with old ones? This will help determine their financial needs for retirement
3. How much? – you might not feel comfortable asking your parents about their finances, but it’s important to know if they have saved enough to get them through their retirement, while still meeting their goals. Ensure you let them know that they can’t live on their Social Security Benefits alone; according to studies, these only cover about 40% of retirement living expenses
4. Check Social Security Benefits – although seniors can’t live on their Social Security Benefit alone, requesting to know how much they will receive can help with financial planning for retirement
5. Let them know early retirement might be a possibility – whether or not they hope to retire early, with the economy today, many people are forced to retire at an earlier age. Take a look at the industry that your parents work in; if they are in an industry that’s really being effected, it might result in early retirement
6. Discuss health care – knowing what your parents would want with regards to their health care is perhaps the most important so you know what to do if they are not able to speak for themselves. You can also encourage them to draft a living will, but make sure you know what they’d want with regards to senior services as well as health care

Via: Senior.com

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