This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find top financial advisors, evaluate different retirement locations and more. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Assisted Living directory.A new article from Boomerater appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, Boomerater explores investing in gold.  It seems you can’t turn on the radio these days without hearing pitches for gold investment.  What are the risks? Boomerater asked Certified Financial Planner® Ben Boettcher.

Is it wise to invest in gold? Here’s Ben’s advice, pointing out the pros and cons of gold investment:

If you tune into conservative talk radio or financial television programming, undoubtedly you have been inundated with advertising to buy gold.  With the continued uncertain economic picture, many view gold as a “safe-haven” for their money.  Fears about inflation, the strength of the US dollar, and national security provide additional concerns.  Certainly with gold still trading at near record highs, the interest in this commodity continues to grow.

To properly analyze if you should hold gold in your investment portfolio, you should consider some additional facts.  If the price of gold has risen to record highs, who has been buying gold?  The vast majority of buyers have been central banks around the globe.  They certainly have incentive to buy gold since it allows them to diversify away from the US dollar and provides an inflationary hedge.  In addition to central banks, exchange traded funds and hedge funds have been buying gold as well.  This purchasing has inflated the price of gold and caught the attention of most investors.

From an investment perspective, other facts must be considered.  Gold does not pay a dividend or provide any cash flow.  Profits are based solely on price appreciation driven by supply and demand.  Currently demand is very high, and some analysts already believe that production has already peaked.

With gold sitting at record prices, is it a prudent move to buy gold at nearly three times the price it costs to produce?  It currently costs about $400 an ounce to produce.  If you are not holding gold today, buying gold at record high prices may not be a prudent move.

Prudence aside, the key question is “could gold go higher?”  The short answer is “yes”.  From an economic perspective, triggers for a massive run-up that would see gold prices rise by hundreds of dollars per ounce include anything from a double dip recession, to escalating deficits or purchases by the Chinese government.  This reason alone is enough reason for some investors.  They view owning gold as an “insurance policy” for their investments.  They assume gold will rise while other asset classes fall and will provide a hedge against their losses.  It should be noted however, that while gold serves as a currency hedge for nations, most domestic investors are buying and selling goods in their own currencies so the devaluation of the US dollar has little meaning.

So let’s say you decide to invest in gold, how do you go about it?  Find out different ways to purchase gold, how much of your portfolio should be held in gold, and resources that offer a gold mine of information about the pros and cons of gold investing.

Ben Boettcher is a Certified Financial Planner® and Chartered Financial Consultant®. He is also a partner and investment advisor in The Helmstar Group and may be reached at ben@helmstargroup.com. Investment advisory services offered through The Helmstar Group® is a Registered Investment Advisory firm in the State of Idaho.

Residents and staff at The Heritage of Green Hills in Reading, Pennsylvania, are wondering if their Happy Hour celebration on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day will be enough to lure the little green man that has been lurking around their community out for a beer and a chat. So far, he’s been spotted in a number of places around campus; accounts have been recorded in the video montage below:

Leprechauns (from the Old Irish lurchopan, meaning “little body”) have been a part of Irish folklore for centuries. Encyclopedia Britannica defines him as a “fairy in the form of a tiny old man often with a cocked hat and leather apron.” Known to make shoes and brogues, he feeds his need for solitude by living in remote places; the only way to track him down is to listen for the sound of his hammer. When threatened by captors seeking his famed pot of gold, the old fairy just might reveal his hiding place, but more than likely, the tricky little man will cause the thief to glance the other way… and promptly vanish.

Opening just in time for St. Patrick’s Day is the National Leprechaun Museum, in the heart of Dublin, Ireland.  The first of its kind in the world, the one-story 16,000 square foot museum is set up like a fairy tale, with 12 “chapters” dedicated to different parts of Irish mythology and folklore, with many adventures and surprises in between to captivate the minds and hearts of young and old visitors alike.

According to the museum’s director and creator, Tom O’Rahilly, “Irish culture is famous the world over,” but there are many fascinating stories behind the cultural traditions that are perhaps lesser known. The museum shares these stories in an interactive and charming setting that O’Rahilly hopes will join the ranks of other famous Dublin sites, like the The Book of Kells and the Dublin Writers Museum.

Leprechaun or not, what a fabulous idea by The Heritage of Green Hills for showing off what appears to be a stunning, well-appointed full-service 55+ community in a fresh, creative, and funny way!  Bonus points to the marketing team there.

SFL readers, how do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Ever seen a leprechaun?

-Michelle Seitzer

I’m not sure how many of our readers are familiar with Weird Al Yankovic, but his parody of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, called “Couch Potato” is absolutely appropriate comic relief for this frightening WebMD article on the deadly toll of too much TV.

A new study from researchers down under “found that each hour spent watching television on a daily basis is associated with an 18 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association).” Other substantial risks from just one hour of TV per day included an 11% increased risk of death from all causes and a 9 percent increased risk of cancer death. Yikes!

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks watching lots of television actually improves your health. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of people who are addicted to the boob tube, because we all know there are, but the general understanding is that being a couch potato is not exactly a healthy state of being.

So maybe you don’t consider yourself a couch potato. Well, this report seems to indicate that even just an hour in front of the TV – whether for Grey’s Anatomy, Antiques Roadshow, the Weather Channel, or even Jeopardy! – increases the risk of death. Those are some serious, serious statistics, folks.

Our modern-day sedentary lifestyles are just not natural, and our health suffers for it, say the researchers. Even though many of us feel like we’re always on the go, we’re moving from sitting position A to sitting position B to sitting position C…  from the car, to the office, to the couch when you finally “crash” at home after a long day on your butt.  Maybe you can’t change your one-hour commute or quit your desk job, but you can certainly change how often you get up and move during the work day – and you can most definitely change what you do when you get home.

If you absolutely have to know who gets the final rose or what medical oddity House will uncover tonight, move some furniture, grab a jump rope, and stay on your feet/off your duff while you partake.  And when the show is over, turn off the TV and do something else.

-Michelle Seitzer

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 Elder Living directory.

A new Boomerater post appears here each Friday.  This week Boomerater interviewed the guest relations folks at Disney World and added insights from Boomerater members about: how to get the most out of your Disney World family vacation.

Are you thinking of visiting Disney World in Orlando with your grandchildren, or maybe taking the whole family? Keeping a promise to give them a magical vacation, while keeping the cost down, can be quite a challenge.  We spoke with the folks at Disney World about their 2010 promotions and also got great advice from Boomerater members about how to make the most out of your trip to Disney World.

“Give a Day, Get a Disney Day”
This 2010 promotion is one of the best deals around for a number of reasons.  Everyone who volunteers to work at a charity listed on the official Disney site will get a free pass to a Disney Park for use on a specific date before December 15, 2010.  Just go to this link and type in your zip code to find out all of the available volunteer opportunities.  What a great way to teach the importance of volunteering to members of your family.  And in some cases, children as young as 6 can participate, so you can get your grandkids involved in helping their community.  There are lots of different charities, depending on where you live.  Everything from helping seniors to building houses to tutoring children to working at a wildlife center.  There is a limit of 1 million passes and 600,000 have already been issued, so sign up soon.  Also, if your plans change and you can’t make it to Disney, your volunteer efforts will still be rewarded.  Not only will you be helping others, but you may also donate your free pass to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Florida, as detailed on the site.

Other Discounts…

• There are two promotional deals currently available if you book by March 31^st and travel by August 14^th.  You can receive a gift card when you check in at the resort (of escalating value depending on the resort and duration of your stay), or you can receive a discount of 25 – 45% off the price of your room.  Black out travel dates for this promotion are 3/28 – 4/10.  If you book by calling Disney make sure you ask for the special offers… the phone operators are not permitted to suggest them to you.

• New offers typically are announced on the site http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ mid April to early May for the rest of the year.  Definitely check the site before booking a summer, fall or winter trip.  Historically these deals have been great money-savers.  And remember if you book over the phone that you must specifically mention the offer you are interested in at time of booking.

• If you have other questions, you can always call 1-407-W-DISNEY and talk to a rep. They are very helpful with giving information and pricing.

Tips from Boomerater members who are frequent Disney visitors:

• If you want to go ala carte and book things separately, the best place I’ve found to get park tickets is undercovertourist.com.
• For great Disney hotel deals, check out Travelzoo.com.
  • One great benefit of staying at Disney is the free shuttle from Orlando Airport, “Disney’s Magical Express.”
  • Take advantage of “Extra Magic Hours” where each day a different park either opens an hour early or stays open three hours late for on-site guests.
  • We love “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World” and its associated website Touringplans.com. Using their advice we never waited more than 15 minutes for anything, and saw everything we wanted to see.
  • We have been to Disney in Orlando 4 times and each time we rented a house within 10 minutes of the parks. Each came with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen and a private pool. The price for the whole house was less per night than the cost of one room at a Disney resort. Two sites I use are VRBO.com (vacation rental by owner) and Rentalo.com.
• Though it is tempting to buy souvenirs for your grandchildren at the parks, you can get Disney character keepsakes at all of the area drugstores, grocery stores and discount stores.  You will save a lot of money, AND you won’t have to tote them around the park all day.

This is just a small selection of tips available in the article on Boomerater about making the most of your Disney vacation. Go to the article to learn about:

• A special perk for AAA members (in addition to the 15% discount)
• The best time to visit the parks
• How to keep kids safe in the parks
• What are the best “unofficial” sites to get the scoop on discounts and attractions
• A phone number to call to make sure your group is booked in the same area of the resort.  Without this info you could be located on different floors, in different weeks.
• Tips on types of rooms, character breakfasts, celebrating special occasions at the parks, etc.

We also hope you will add your own Disney tips at Boomerater.com.

While the economy seems to be recovering somewhat, it’s plain that things are nowhere near back to normal. Many people are still without jobs and are searching day after day.

There’s a lot out there about younger workers being hired over ones with experience and you would think that the hiring news for Boomers would be bleak, but it seem the jobless trends aren’t equal for all age groups, and things may be looking up for them:

In October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced the jobless rate had increased to 10.2 percent, but it turns out joblessness is not equal for all age groups. In fact, workers from the baby boom generation and above are the only age group whose job prospects improved during the past few months. And that’s not the only good news.

For people over 45, the jobless rate was 6.8 percent in October, down from 7.3 percent in July. Compare that to 25- to 34-year-old workers, who jobless rate rose from 10 percent in July to 10.8 percent in October. Workers in the 35-to-44 age range saw joblessness rise to 8.5 percent in October, up from 7.9 percent in July.

However, much of the job growth is in temporary positions that many older people, skilled people are taking to survive. Though not ideal, these jobs may, in turn, lead to permanent employment as employers see the value of older workers.

Another reason things are improving for Boomer-age workers, is that they are persistent; at this age, they don’t have the choice to withdraw from the workforce:

Tory Johnson, owner of Women for Hire, which for the last decade has run job fairs in America’s 10 largest cities, has been struck by the toughness of the boomer work force. “With the 20- and 30-somethings, the attitude is, ‘No one is hiring, what’s the point of going to a job fair?’ ” Ms. Johnson said. “With the boomers, it’s, ‘Even if there’s one job, I’ll try.’ ” At her 16 job fairs so far in 2009, she said, attendance is up 10 percent over all, and it’s because of boomers; every other age group has declined.

My own salary is paid by a grant that will end soon. I hope I’m not destined to become a Boomer job seekers, but it’s still good to know that the news is getting better.

-Elizabeth Thielke

Poetry can change a person from the inside out. Frances Kakugawa believes this, just as she also believes in the transforming power of poetry writing as an essential release and recharge for persons caring for a loved one with long-term disabilities, particularly Alzheimer’s/dementia.

Like many who lead support groups for Alzheimer caregivers, Kakugawa was the primary caregiver for her mother after she was diagnosed. Kakugawa discovered that journaling and poetry writing helped immensely, bringing “dignity and insight to her caregiving experience.”  Thus inspired, she started her first poetry writing support group in partnership with the Hawaii Alzheimer’s Association.

Participants in the group share the challenges and occasional triumphs of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s; the group provides a safe haven to expose these deep feelings and find comfort in knowing others understand the pain of such a distressing disease. But in Kakugawa’s group, it’s more than just sharing your stories with others. It’s about your own story. It’s about bringing those troubling emotions forth – emotions like fear, resentment, or bitterness – and allowing the healing process to begin, both on the page and eventually in the deepest part of the person.

Says Kakugawa:

“Writing poetry allows each of us to find our true voice; often this voice is one of compassion and love. It’s wonderful to have people attend the workshops who feel helpless, scared and impossibly burdened and hear them say at the end of the session, ‘I can hardly wait to get home, so I can be a different kind of person.’ ”

By sorting through the icky feelings of denial, hopelessness, and frustration in a poem or a journal entry, participants can more easily find those noble qualities like courage, perseverance, and hope. It’s a beautiful thing.

Writing has always been a source of emotional release and creative expression for me. I’m far more comfortable behind a pen or keyboard than in front of an audience or microphone, especially when it comes to talking about that which most deeply troubles me, or even that which most deeply inspires me. And yet, when I went through the pain of dealing with my dear grandfather’s dementia, I couldn’t put pen to paper. Paralyzed by such a feeling of helplessness, I couldn’t find the words to make sense of my feelings. I couldn’t even find the energy to release those feelings even on a journal page, without the pressure of creating a polished, completed poem. Suddenly, the thing which had always been such a comfort to me – my writing – was just as insurmountable as the challenge of losing Grandpa in this agonizing way.

Now, a year later, I would say that the healing process happened in a much different way for me… although I’m sure the story I’ve been carrying for the past four years will eventually find its way to the pages of a journal.

Readers, do you think writing can help you heal? Let us know what you think!

-Michelle Seitzer

Even in the new technology reality of Twitter, LinkedIn, and “there’s an app for that,” many seniors (or boomers like my darling mother-in-law, God bless her) are still trying to figure out email. If you find yourself in that category, and your children and grandchildren have been pestering you for months to email them, check out PawPaw Mail.

This modestly priced service (an annual subscription sets you back a mere $50), designed for seniors or anyone unfamiliar with email, breaks things down to five simple functions: read mail, view photos, send mail, give feedback, and quit PawPaw Mail. With a clutter-free, streamlined interface, users simply click on the icon of choice and are immediately directed to the function desired.

PawPaw Mail was named after “Paw Paw” – grandfather of the program’s designer, Jackson Hughes. Hughes’ story was featured in a May 2009 New York Times article, published one month after Paw Paw passed away. Hughes, a Georgia-based software developer, wanted his grandparents to connect with their 4 children and 11 grandchildren (who were scattered across the country) more regularly. When he learned that Paw Paw was using his computer keyboard to file his incoming mail and bills, Hughes decided to take action.

Hughes designed the program with two users in mind – the caregiver and the older adult. This distinguishing feature allows the caregiver to screen incoming messages for scams or  viruses and help the user build and expand their address book, tasks that could easily discourage inexperienced users from continuing with “that dang email contraption.”  Brilliant, Mr. Hughes, brilliant!

If you want to send Grandma an email (or the latest photos of her adorable grandkids) but don’t have the patience to explain how it works (“It’s like the Pony Express… minus the three-week cross-country travel time and the pony?”), sign her up for PawPaw Mail. Even if she’s got the oldest computer on the block, the program will still run. KIT, Granny-style!

-Michelle Seitzer

Tom Brokaw’s back to interview a new generation: boomers. The children – all 78 million of them – of his defined “greatest generation” are shaping our world today in ways that their parents, or maybe even themselves, would never have imagined.

Through a series of interviews, premiering this Thursday, March 4^th at 9pm (ET/PT) on CNBC, Brokaw takes us back – to meet the couple in that famous Woodstock photo,

to revel with alumni during the University of Michigan’s homecoming weekend about then vs. now,

and, as CNBC states, to “chronicle an age that took us from hula hoops to healthcare.”

Brokaw was thrilled to receive the assignment, stating that he’s always been fascinated by the boomers’ “enormous presence in our lives.” He’s also “curious about how they see their lives, and what is left for them to do.” With the challenges of the 60s and 70s behind them, and the looming obstacles of 2010 and beyond ahead, it’s sure to be a wild ride.

I’ve always found it bizarre – and very entertaining-  to look at photos of my parents from the 60s and 70s, decked out in their bell bottoms, velour jumpsuits, and mini-skirts (well, only Mom on that one). And since my grandmother is from that Depression-era/WWII generation, she has, of course, saved just about every piece of my mother’s greatest-hits-from-the-70s wardrobe, which her five daughters have thoroughly enjoyed, either for school plays, Halloween costumes, or everyday wear.

Consequently, as the child of boomers, I’m interested in tuning in, but perhaps for different reasons than our boomer or senior followers. In fact, I’d love to hear from our followers on this one: why are you planning to watch the series, and from what vantage point will you be viewing?  Maybe you’re just a Tom Brokaw fan, or maybe you love anything and everything about Woodstock.Whatever it is, share it here.

“Go inside the mind of a generation,” Brokaw invites. Watch Boomers! with your friends and family this week for a fresh look at this influential generation – the road behind, and the road ahead.

-Michelle Seitzer

I am in love with Baby Boomer Girl’s recent blog post on “Echo Living.”

I’ve always sought simplicity in everyday living, but have found that it’s no small feat. Baby Boomer Girl offers 13 tips for achieving a more simplified lifestyle, and these principles surely apply to people of all ages who need a little more balance in their topsy-turvy worlds. Definitely check out the full article – but I’ll highlight a few of my favorite tips here:

Declutter
I recently took a carload of bags and boxes to the Salvation Army, filled with clothes, shoes, accessories, sheets, towels, pillowcases, hair gel, vases, and more miscellaneous items that did little more than collect dust and clog up my closet and drawers. I know that I could take dozens more trips like this one (and plan to do so in the coming year), because it feels so good to let go of items that really serve no purpose to me…but could be useful to others. I don’t miss any of those items – honestly, I can barely remember what I gave away!

Not sure where or how to begin? Baby Boomer Girl suggests the following: “To discover what you don’t need, take an extended vacation in a small cabin or caravan; no lounge, dining room, family room, computer room, bedrooms, guest rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, en-suites, dressing rooms, games rooms or any other rooms, and the clutter in them. You realise that, apart from what you need for work, the possessions you left at home are superfluous, and your big house was a time-consuming slave-driver. So, with a huge smile, you de-clutter, sell up and move into a smaller place – to hell with the Joneses!”

To that I say a hearty “Preach it, sister!”  In an age of McMansions and storage units, decluttering and downsizing are not the norm, but probably should be.

Focus on Friendship
When you’re not bogged down with what’s on TV, dusting knick-knacks, or packing away summer clothes, you have more time – and more presence – to give to the friends and family that you love. I can relate. How many readers out there agree that if your significant other is watching the tube, they’re not really listening to what you say?  How many people silence Mom’s phone call while they’re watching (insert show of choice)?

Baby Boomer Girl says it best: “With no TV in the background, nothing distracts you from being genuinely human, fully present and aware. You’re even content with a bit of silence, not feeling obliged to fill every musical rest with awkward chatter.  Since silence is so refreshing, energy builds for a sing-song, ditty recital, or a good old-fashioned board game. No one’s bored as you echo the delightfully sane socilaising of your grand-parents’ era.”

Better Food, Better Health
Here’s a great one for a no-nonsense cook like myself. For someone who spends more time in the kitchen washing dishes and stocking the fridge, I’d be more than happy to scale back the products in the cabinets and replace them with fresh produce that’s easy to grab or prepare. Says Baby Boomer Girl, “Cooking is a melody with your whistling kettle and your two-burner gas hob. No oven, no microwave, no food processor, cake mixer … You’re shedding extra pounds not doing any baking – who needs cakes anyway? -no complicated meals are expected.” Shedding pounds sounds good to me, and the elimination of complicated meals sounds even better!

Embrace echo living today. Thanks, Baby Boomer Girl, for the inspiring advice!

-Michelle Seitzer

It’s not often you hear people say, “Man, I can’t wait to grow old.” But heck, if my husband looks as good as Clint Eastwood when he’s 79, I say bring it on!

Increasing age hasn’t slowed down guys like Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis. In fact, things are really heating up for these and other male action flick faves who are kicking ass, taking names, and shredding ageist stereotypes for good, says msn.com’s “Golden Years for Aging Action Stars.”

• Yo Adrian!  Still sexy at 63, Sylvester Stallone rocks “Rambo V: The Savage Hunt.” Look for a cameo appearance by the Governor of California, also looking sexy at 62, in another Stallone film out this year: “The Expendables.”
• Clint Eastwood burns in “Gran Torino” –  if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re really missing out on an amazing story, superb acting, and the best-looking 79-year-old biceps I’ve ever seen. Be sure to check out his directing chops in “Invictus” and “Hereafter,” too.
• The film Extraordinary Measures, currently on the big screen, stars the smokin’ Harrison Ford, who will have a banner year in 2012: he’ll turn 70 and do a 5^th run of “Indiana Jones.” Then, get your Bruce Willis fix in February when he stars alongside Tracy Morgan in the action-packed “Cop Out.”
• I have to add one more to the list — my favorite — the always handsome, 55-year-old Denzel Washington in “The Book of Eli.” Washington trained for six months in martial arts and sword-and-knife training to fit the part of his fierce character. No matter who he’s playing, he’s a fiercely fine fifty-something, if you ask me!

Want to read about more 50+ dudes who are still rock solid?  Check out Seniors for Living’s “Old Men Who Can Still Kick Your Ass” .

Check out your favorite rock and rollers who are still rockin’ and rollin’ even after blowing out 50 candles at Seniors for Living’s “Long Live Rock & Roll.” Speaking of, did you catch The Who rocking out at the Superbowl halftime show? Amazing!

Don’t forget the fiercely foxy females who are blowing their 20-something counterparts out of the water at “Still Sexy After 50: 10 Senior Celeb Sirens”, also on Seniors for Living.

Be sure to add your faves to each of these lists, and remember, age ain’t nothin’ but a number!

-Michelle Seitzer