I have an iPhone. I hesitated about buying it last year, wondering if I “really needed it.” Even though I’m not sure if anyone really needs one, I have really enjoyed mine and found some great uses for it. It’s not just for business use.

I use it to remember and keep track of a lot of things that would otherwise be scraps of paper in my wallet, or more likely, down in my purse. There are so many great applications for most anything you’d want to do, so I thought I’d see if there were any iPhone applications geared toward  caregivers, and I found several.

CareConnector – This app from Johnson and Johnson helps you keep track of personal medical information for multiple people all in one place. It’s free and one thing I really like is that you can access a network of caregivers right within the app on Message Board where you can join in on discussions and get advice from people in similar situations.

Elder 411 – This $1.99 application from Presto and Marion Somers, Ph.D (Doctor Marian) is a resource for accessing on-the-spot caregiving information, covering the full spectrum of caregiving issues: talking about tough subjects, keeping the home safe, managing financial and legal needs, considering housing options, and more.

iPills – This app tracks pills you need to take regularly and it shows you what you need to take, and what you’ve taken.

Polka – Polka tracks yours or your loved ones’ personal health. You can track information such as diet, fitness regimens, blood pressure or progress of a health condition.

Also from Polka is the Emergency Card iPhone app that stores users’ important health and contact information securely and makes it accessible anytime, anywhere, and when they need it most during the critical moments of an emergency. You’d be surprised what you can’t remember during an emergency, I speak from experience.

Are there any must-have apps that make your life easier? Share them in the comments.

-Elizabeth Thielke

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers with advice on everything from investment planning to top vacation packages. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Alzheimer’s Assisted Living directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their advice about a key financial decision facing boomers:  whether to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

Question: Is it true I can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA to save paying income tax on the earnings?  I’m planning to retire in a few years, but with the economy the way it is should I even still contribute to my IRA?  I was thinking of investing in gold – it seems safer.

Reply #1 – In 2010 people with adjusted gross incomes of more than $100,000 have the opportunity to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and spread the tax bill over two years.  The variables to consider before converting include:

• What tax bracket are you in now versus your anticipated tax bracket at retirement?
• Can you afford to pay the tax bill on the conversion?
• What is the investment performance? (The more an investment gains after the Roth conversion, the better to have already paid the tax bill on a smaller dollar amount.)

As for the investment of gold, for simplicity, I prefer gold and gold mining exchange traded funds. While owning physical gold can be very attractive, you do have to keep it in a safety deposit box. Purchasing and selling gold are fraught with difficulties, time delays, large commissions, and the opportunity to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous hucksters.

Reply #2- Other variables would include your age, attitude toward risk, and participation in other retirement plans. Whether or not gold has already had a substantial run to the upside, you’ll need to consider how it “fits” among your other personal and retirement assets, and if it reduces or increases your total asset (portfolio) risk. There are no” rules of thumb” that can be relied upon.

A competent financial planner should be involved to discuss the risks, your investment timeline/horizon, tax situation now and in the future, and alternatives that are more likely to accomplish your own unique objectives.

Reply #3- Converting from a traditional to a Roth IRA can be a great financial decision, but a word of caution before you rush into this.  The key advantages to the Roth IRA are:

1) you pay taxes up front so your disbursements when you retire are tax free – a big plus if you expect your income, and therefore your tax rate, will increase, and

2) with a Roth IRA you are not required to take minimum distributions, whereas with a traditional IRA you must start distributions after age 70 ½. and pay taxes on those distributions.

3) You can spread the income tax on your conversions in 2010 over two years, paying half in 2010 and half in 2011.

So what’s the downside?

1) Converting can bump you into a higher tax bracket, so calculate the tax you will pay to determine if the conversion is worth it

2) Don’t convert if you think your tax bracket will fall, not rise.  Why pay higher taxes now than you will have to pay in the future?  Two other tips:  Don’t put all of your traditional IRA eggs into one existing Roth IRA basket, spreading your money is a safer bet.   And, after you convert be sure to watch what’s happening.  If the value of your converted Roth IRA drops significantly you can undo the conversion, reverting back to a traditional IRA.  This is a valuable tactic you should not overlook.  Unless you will very diligently keep an eye on your investments, you will be safer having your financial planner advise you.

Find out what others had to say and give us your advice about converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA on Boomerater.com.

Caregiving is about as unpredictable a journey as life itself. You need someone on your side! Let these Twitter-ers and their tweets serve as guideposts – maybe even virtual caregivers – to help you maintain your sanity, find new directions, and make the most of this difficult process.

http://twitter.com/caring – The folks at Caring.com strive for simplicity in eldercare, a worthy goal considering how complicated eldercare can be!

http://twitter.com/GilbertGuide – Jill Gilbert, founder of GilbertGuide.com, wants nothing more than for elders to get the best care possible.

http://twitter.com/SeniorHomeCare – Denver-based Adeste (Latin for “to be there, attend to, help, give support”) In Home Care provides in-home care and is an active advocate for caregiving. Even if you don’t live in Denver, the attractive website and its regular tweets offer a wealth of resources for caregivers nationwide.

http://twitter.com/daccarte – An avid traveler, entrepreneur, and self-professed “relationship-building guru,” Dale Carter applies these skills and interests to her work: helping those with aging parents navigate perhaps the most difficult journey of their lifetimes.

http://twitter.com/icarevillage – This new one-stop shop for caregivers of spouses or aging parents boasts that “no topic is left unturned.”

http://twitter.com/mike_gamble – Mike Gamble is a family man fueled by a passion for improving quality of life for aging seniors and family caregivers.

http://www.twitter.com/carebuzz - Carol Marak has a heart for seniors and provides engaging information, resources, and heartfelt advice to caregivers on a daily basis.

http://twitter.com/PattyGrace - Aging With Grace, Patty’s company, is dedicated to easing caregiver stress by providing encouragement, resources, and services dedicated to providing loving care to elders. Her Tweets are informative, helpful, and always honestly insightful.

http://twitter.com/SrHelpersNatl - Senior Helpers is all about connecting seniors to a variety of in-home health care services and information on topics of concern to elders.

http://twitter.com/PT_Advocate - Need someone on your side to help you navigate the care giving labyrinth? Kim Bunker is your woman: she’s a professional geriatric care manager and patient advocate who also provides mediation and conflict management services.

http://twitter.com/FloridaSeniors – Whether you’re a Florida snowbird or a year-round resident, this comprehensive database lays out all your options for senior living in the Sunshine State.

http://twitter.com/caregvr – Knowing the financial and emotional toll that caregiving takes on individuals and families, Virginia-based Tim Griswold’s Foundation for Caregivers stands ready to ease the burden.

http://twitter.com/SternNursing – As a patient advocate, LPN, and geriatric care manager, Lisa Ann Stern is more than qualified to arrange the care and support you need, from pet care services to care plan development.

http://twitter.com/Caregiving – Denise Brown loves biking, sports, travel … and helping family caregivers. As a certified eldercare coach and the founder of Caregiving.com, this author/speaker is truly a caregiving guru.

http://twitter.com/ElderCareRN – Registered nurse Shelley Webb is focused on the three “e’s” – education, encouragement, and empowerment to caregivers.

http://twitter.com/JaneNation – While it might not be focused on caregiver issues, Jane Nation is a community for women of all ages … and we know that women make up the great majority of family caregivers.

http://twitter.com/scvillas – Want to spend your golden years by the sea? San Clemente Villas in San Clemente, Calif., makes it possible. Don’t want to relocate that far? Aileen Brazeau offers some helpful tweets for caregivers at her site.

http://twitter.com/RAHSCWI - Maintaining independence and preserving quality of life are the tenets of this Midwestern organization.

http://www.twitter.com/SandwichINK- Kaye Swain shares daily affirmations, resources, and real-life experiences to inform and encourage those within the Sandwich Generation. Better yet — all her Tweets embody a caregiver’s selflessness. Kudos!

http://twitter.com/ForCaregivers- As co-caregiver to his wife’s mother, Jake Travers Tweets daily with information to empower caregivers.

http://twitter.com/AgeWiseLiving - Barbara Friesner speaks from experience: after caring for her grandmother and then her mother, who had advanced dementia, this New-York based author is ready to tackle even the toughest caregiver issues.

http://twitter.com/MelHaikenhealth – Caregivers often neglect their own health and well-being as they are consumed by the needs of their loved one. Check out helpful tweets from Melanie Haiken, a health writer and senior editor for Caring.com.

http://twitter.com/Inhome_Insights – Want to know more about compassionate caregiving and tips for independent living? Laura Legendary’s tweets will educate you accordingly.

http://twitter.com/IndigoLakeMT – Talk about well-rounded: Joanne Berry is a tech writer, assisted living/hospice/nursing home companion, and a geriatric massage therapist.

http://twitter.com/PaulaRobinsonRN – “Lovin’ life, family and friends” in Marco Island, Florida, Paula Robinson uses her background as an RN to inform her work as a senior/elder care advocate and senior health expert.

http://twitter.com/seniorlivingexp – If you live in “Chicagoland” and need to know your senior living options, look up Lisa Sneddon’s Senior Living Experts for free advice.

http://twitter.com/AmiePeeleCarter – Are you a Sandwich Generation caregiver? Amie Peele Carter blogs and tweets for you!

http://twitter.com/RickGrimes - Rick Grimes is the President and CEO of the Assisted Living Federation of America, so you can be sure he knows a thing or two about caregiving.

http://twitter.com/DrDavidBallard – Caregiving can definitely do some damage to your psychological health. Dr. David Ballard tweets on this and other related topics.

http://twitter.com/nanonavi - How cool (or Big Brother) is this? Get the latest nano-device and keep track, virtually, of the ones you love (pets included)!

http://twitter.com/CaregiversJourn – Want to share your insights on caregiving with others on the journey? Valerie Johnson in Atlanta provides the forum to do so at her Caregiver’s Journal site.

http://twitter.com/agingfamilies – Keeping the peace is not always easy in certain caregiving situations. Beverly Parsons offers creative ways to help aging parents without stepping on their toes.

http://twitter.com/steveeldercare – Canadian Steve Joyce is credited with the creation of this online community for caregivers of aging parents.

http://twitter.com/RetireLife – After Megan Shea’s involvement with her grandparent’s care, she wanted to help others find the resources they need … and RetireLife was born.

http://twitter.com/FamCareGiversU – Joining forces with Internet talk radio’s Voice America, Family Caregivers Unite hosts a virtual gathering on Tuesdays to promote the honorable cause of family caregiving.

http://twitter.com/CaregiverRebate - Here’s one that all caregivers should check out: Caregivers Marketplace offers a free cash back service that provides rebates on a number of caregiving products, ranging from incontinence care to foot health. Find out what products are eligible and put some cash back in your pocket!

http://twitter.com/stancohen – Stan Cohen and the folks at www.maturitymatters.net want to help older adults find passion in aging – and the right senior living setting to foster that passion.

http://twitter.com/seniorsos – No need to resort to smoke signals – contact Senior Care Organizational Systems (SOS) for your senior care advocacy and advisory needs.

http://twitter.com/boomerandbabe – Share your stories about grandparenting, leaving a legacy, fitness, and “all things boomer” on The Boomer and the Babe Show.

http://twitter.com/topazinteriors – Joyce Joneschiet knows the importance of the physical environment as a key factor in successful caregiving. Her tweets will help you create spaces that are inviting, comfortable, and enable the senior in your life to live as independently as possible.

http://twitter.com/connect4craig – What an excellent service for long-distance (and local) caregivers of seniors living at home or in senior care facilities: receive regular wellness notifications via text or email from Connect for Healthcare.

http://twitter.com/caringtrans – Sometimes a change in a caregiving situation means a change of location. The experts at Caring Transitions will help move things forward, literally.

http://twitter.com/lifebio – Take a break in your 36-hour day and jot down those stories you want your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to hear. Beth Sanders is happy to be your “personal trainer for personal history.”

http://twitter.com/ageinplacepros – This one-stop-shop is for those offering and seeking goods and services to help seniors successfully age in place.

http://twitter.com/karensadler – Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a wordologist, but it sounds pretty cool, and it’s just one of the many hats Karen Sadler wears. Also an “age communication specialist,” Sadler helps bridge the generation gaps between boomers and seniors trying to keep pace in the ever-changing communications world.

http://twitter.com/caregiverlist – If you need senior care or want a caregiving job, consult the free referral service at Caregiver List.

http://twitter.com/nslgames – Maybe you’re a caregiver in a senior living community and need an outlet. Then check out the Atlanta-based National Senior League, which is dedicated to senior living residents with a competitive side…that is, when it comes to Wii sports.

http://twitter.com/YourParentsToo – Sibling rivalry can rear its ugly head when the responsibilities of caring for Mom and Dad fall on the adult children. Francine Russo offers advice on keeping the peace.

http://twitter.com/CaregiversCafe – Incontinence is a huge challenge for caregivers, and one that is not easy to discuss. Check out TENA’s Caregiver Café for resources and advice on this sensitive topic.

http://twitter.com/keepingussafe – Driving is another hot button issue for caregivers of seniors. Get tweets on driver safety tips and presentations.

http://twitter.com/TabSafe – Medication management is a HUGE piece of the caregiving puzzle. Keep tabs with this simple device.

And don’t forget us — Here at SeniorsforLiving, we utilize our Twitter feed to share news and resources about many aspects of senior care, and caregiving is a very big part of that. Follow us now, and let us know in the comments section below any other caregiving resources you find helpful on Twitter!

Housing is a huge concern for seniors today, especially given that this year will be the first since 1975 without a COLA (cost of living adjustment) increase in their Social Security checks. But a recent article in The New York Times highlights a few bright spots on the housing front.

In the fall, Congress approved an 8% increase for the Section 202 program in FY 2010, the first increase since 2004. The funding will help address the many eligible seniors on waiting lists for Section 202 housing. These extra dollars will furnish the construction of new Section 202 units and provide training for more service coordinators.

Being green to save some green will help homeowners both young and old; thanks to several initiatives backed by the Obama Administration for energy efficient improvements made in 2010. There are a number of programs to this end; seniors who want to know more should contact their local Area Agency on Aging, their utility company, or check the following website: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/.

Are visions of downsizing dancing in your head? Check out the $6,500 homebuyer tax credit, created by Congress this past November. To qualify, buyers should have owned/lived in their home for at least five years (out of the past eight) and have a considerable amount of equity. The window of opportunity is shrinking – a purchase agreement must be signed by April 30 and buyers must close before the end of June. The credit can be used toward the purchase of a new home, coverage of moving costs, or for home improvements. Baby boomers that are retired and are looking for a scaled down, two-bedroom condo instead of their high-maintenance ten-bedroom domain should take advantage of this credit while it’s still on the table.

Seniors for Living followers, what does your retirement dream home look like?  Are you dreaming of downsizing, or do you prefer a sprawling countryside or ocean-front home to accommodate your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren?

-Michelle Seitzer

Back in November, 60 Minutes tackled a controversial and timely topic: “The Cost of Dying,” and the topic has stuck with me. That’s because end-of-life issues are taking a more prominent place in discussions about health care.

As per the report, Medicare paid $50 billion for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patient’s lives – an amount that surpasses the budgets for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education. About 20 to 30 percent of these expenses have no meaningful impact; most bills are paid by the federal government – no questions asked.

Few issues are as undeniably bipartisan as death/dying, yet the way we go about the process (i.e. hospice & palliative care, ventilators, feeding tubes, etc.) and paying for care at the end of life has become highly politicized. Everyone will ultimately face death, albeit in different ways and at different times. So how can the federal government rein in costs like the aforementioned $50 billion? Check out the article for deeper analysis of this thorny topic.

Dr. Ira Byock, who treats and counsels patients with advanced illnesses, puts it plainly in the 60 Minutes report:

“Families cannot imagine there could be anything worse than their loved one dying. But in fact, there are things worse. Most generally, it’s having someone you love die badly.”

Sort of changes your whole perspective on death/dying, doesn’t it?

Although it’s an uncomfortable subject, family members should definitely hash out these action plans, especially when they are gathered together, before they find themselves facing a tough situation. So when the Sunday dinner plates have been packed away, call the family members back to your home to talk about it. It may be difficult to get the dialogue rolling – who wants to break the ice on that subject? – but these conversations are absolutely crucial. If you ever find yourself pacing through the ER or the ICU while a loved one is in limbo, you won’t feel quite as helpless if you know your loved one’s wishes.

Ever heard of Five Wishes? Check out http://www.agingwithdignity.org/five-wishes.php for an excellent tool that makes discussing your wishes for the end-of-life much more palatable.  Five Wishes lets your family and doctors know:

• Who you want to make health care decisions for you when you can’t make them.
• The kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want.
• How comfortable you want to be.
• How you want people to treat you.
• What you want your loved ones to know.

Also, revisit last year’s Seniors for Living post on “The D-Word: Discussing Death” for more ideas on starting this complicated yet critical conversation in your home.

-Michelle Seitzer

Everyone enjoys being remembered during holidays — whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s or Father’s day. While nothing can take the place of the gift of your time, when a loved one is in a nursing home, they may appreciate the following tokens of your appreciation at holiday times:

Stamps, pens, stationery and cards – A supply of stationery, greeting cards and special occasion cards will let your loved one keep in touch with friends and remember their special occasions. Be sure to include stamps, they are expensive and may be hard to get while living in a nursing home.

Gift cards – Gift cards come in handy for residents who are able to go on outings outside the nursing home. They also allow your loved one to treat a guest to lunch or dinner.

Music – Music is great for anyone, especially those who have physical or cognitive limitations. Consider a radio or a CD player with some favorite CDs. Another gift idea is an mp3 player pre-loaded with favorite music. Ear buds type head phones can be hard to manage, so a standard set of ear phones might work better for an older person.

Calendar – Mark birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions on a nice calendar for the new year so your loved one can keep track of special days.

Digital photo frame – A digital photo frame with family pictures makes a great gift. You can scan old family photos and include them as well as current photos. Bring a computer or other digital storage to update the frame on visits.

Cell phone – Not all nursing home rooms have phone service and many people keep in touch with family and friends by phone. Consider a simple cell phone like the Jitterbug to make it easier to use.

Use your judgment in gift giving. Certain items may not be allowed in some facilities and other items might not be useful to someone with cognitive or physical impairments. Gifts of food may not be a good idea for nursing home residents who are on restricted diets.

As you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot to make a special senior in your life smile. Take a moment and remember someone you love this Valentine’s Day.

-Elizabeth Thielke

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Nursing Homes directory.

A new Boomerater post appears here each Friday.  For this week’s post, we asked Boomerater featured financial advisors, John Stohlman and Laura Stohlman, owners of Medallion Financial Group, to give us their expert tips for survival when facing a loss of income. If you have experienced a reduction of income through the loss of a job or a downturn in your investments, their practical advice can help you stretch the income you do have.  This posting includes the first two of John and Laura’s 1o survival tips.

1) Determine where you are financially.

This involves listing all of your available resources and expenses. You need to know how much money you have to get you through the transition (your next job). Do you have two weeks, two months, or two years of expenses saved?

Resources include: Savings, investments, retirement accounts, cash value life insurance and lines of credit.

Expenses include: Rent or Mortgage payments, insurance, food, utilities, loans, and car notes etc.

Writing down your cash flow on paper can be calming. You will find out what you are spending or what the “burn rate” is of your assets. This will help you to know how quickly you need to get back to work.  Finding any job ASAP, just to have paycheck coming in; or can you wait until you find your “career job”.  Once you complete the analysis, you can determine how long you have before you must take “any job.”

2) Next, work on improving cash flow.

Look at where your money is going. In light of your new circumstances, you may need to re-do your budget. (I know I just used the “b” word.) No one likes budgets. However, you need to get over it. “Financial Survival” is not for sissies.

Here is a short list of ideas to reduce your expenses or increase income:

• Eat out less
• Have a yard sale
• Sublet a room in your home or apartment.
• Shop for bargains, clip coupons
• Lower your thermostat and wear sweaters more often
• Restructure your credit card balances to the lowest rate.
• Increase deductibles on auto and home insurance. (But only if you have   enough cash saved to cover those deductibles)
• Cable TV costs and gym memberships should be examined for reduction or elimination depending on cash flow, even if only temporarily.
• Take a part-time job on weekends if possible.
• Sell that extra car
• Take mass transit (you will need to do a cost comparison first)
• Call your utility company and ask for someone to come out and do an “Energy Check-up” on your house.

John and Lisa Stohlman’s comprehensive article includes eight Money Tmore tactics to consider to significantly reduce your expenses while maximizing your income, including tips on health insurance, taxes, credit cards, loans and analyzing the risks of company stocks.  To read the entire article, go to 10 Money Tips for Unemployment Survival.

Until we find the fountain of youth, this blog post on Silver Buzz Café will have to do. Thomas Perls from the Boston University School of Medicine cites the top 10 things that may make you live longer, based on his research with people over the age of 100. As Perls states, “There’s nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s.”  (I’ve mentioned my love of the Willard Scott segment in other blog posts, and it comes to mind again as I think of the many people living a long, full life as affirmed by researchers like Perls).

To some extent, we can’t fully avoid disaster, disease or other dangers that affect our longevity, but as far as what we can control, here are the things that Perls suggests for the lengthening of life. Drumroll, please…

1. Don’t retire – it’s all about staying active. If you don’t want to work, consider a volunteer position. Perls writes about the Chianti region of Italy, where many centenarians reside and work on the vineyard in some capacity even after they’ve retired.
2. Floss every day – as per a 2008 NYU study, daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth, which correlates with arterial health. If the bacteria stays out of your mouth, it can’t get into your bloodstream. It’s all connected!
3. Move around – exercise, exercise, exercise. Enough said.
4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast – it doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic athlete in training or not, you should still eat your Wheaties, thereby reducing your risk for diabetes.
5. Get at least six hours of sleep each night – nobody likes a grump anyway. Get your z’s for good health.
6. Consume whole foods, not supplements – add more color to your diet with fruits, whole grains and veggies and cut back on the “white stuff” (breads, flour, sugar).
7. Be less neurotic – here’s one I could work on in 2010…don’t sweat the small stuff or dwell on things beyond your control. Translation – try yoga or meditation, not downing a bag of chips or a gallon of Ben & Jerry’s when you’re feeling low.
8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist – They’re focused on family and community, and, believing that their bodies are on loan from God, they take very seriously the care of their bodies (i.e. no alcohol abuse, no smoking, no excessive intake of sweets, etc.). You may not agree with their religious tenets, but their health habits are effective: Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89 (which is about a decade more than the average American).
9. Be a creature of habit – the good kind of habits, of course. Getting up at the same time each day, exercising daily, and following a healthy diet will pay off.
10. Stay connected – social relationships are so important. Stave off life-draining illnesses like depression by getting on Facebook or going out with friends as often as you can.

Here’s to good health and good habits in 2010 – and cheers to long, full life to all our SFL followers!

-Michelle Seitzer

There’s no doubt that the American workforce is “graying.” People are working longer, not only in order to maintain an income, particularly during this time of recession, but for many reasons, while younger adults are delaying their entry into the working world to go to college.

As a matter of fact, a study by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project found that a whopping 93 percent of the growth in the US labor force from 2006 to 2016 will be among workers ages 55+.

Though current economic conditions and an aging Baby Boom generation play a big role in the graying of America’s already older workforce, Pew’s survey found that healthy seniors want to stay active well into the later years and they remain working for a variety of reasons:

A new nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project finds that a majority (54%) of workers ages 65 and older say the main reason they work is that they want to. Just 17% say the main reason is that they need the paycheck. An additional 27% say they’re motivated by a mix of desire and need.

When asked to identify specific reasons for working, older workers emphasize psychological and social factors: “to feel useful”; “to give myself something to do”; “to be with other people.” Younger and middle-aged workers are much more inclined to cite classic pocketbook considerations: “to support myself and my family”; “to live independently”; “to qualify for retirement benefits”; “to receive health care benefits.”

My dad is 77 and still teaches high school full-time. While he needs the income and benefits, he is also someone who needs to work. It’s what he’s always done and I think it keeps him active and healthy. He’s not really a “joiner,” so he’s not someone who would be active in groups and clubs by nature, and he’s not really a hobbyist, either. In other words, work is his social outlet and he would be bored and perhaps lonely without it.

While I won’t be near retirement age for a while, I have a hard time imagining myself not working since it’s what I’ve always done. However, since I’m married to a teacher and I’ll have a child in his 20s when I’m 65, working probably won’t be optional, anyway.

-Elizabeth Thielke

Some good news for coffee drinking men: Researchers have found a strong association between coffee consumption and a lowered risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancers:

The initial findings of the present study carried out by researchers from the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health have established a connection between coffee and prostate cancer, which mostly affects men who are 60 or older.

Researchers analyzed coffee intake of 50,000 men once in every four years from 1986 to 2006. It was observed that those who drank six or more cups of regular or decaffeinated coffee per day had 60 percent lesser chances of developing advanced prostate cancer, and 19 percent lesser chances of developing any kind of prostate cancer than those who did not drink coffee.

In what may be some even better news for others, beer may even have a role in prostate cancer prevention, too:

Tests showed that the ingredient, xanthohumol, blocked a biological pathway that allows prostate cancer to be fuelled by the male hormone testosterone.

These studies are definitely worth following, but be sure to follow your health care provider’s advice. And remember that maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is key to aid in disease prevention. For the record, the greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is age, as about two-thirds of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 65 and older.

-Elizabeth Thielke