Earlier this month, thousands of people of all ages and spanning 43 countries, stood up for the rights of older persons. HelpAge International sponsored the event as part of their “Age Demands Action” campaign, and visitors to their website showed their support by signing a petition or uploading a photo to their Flickr gallery.

According to HelpAge International’s website, “Increased life expectancy and declining fertility are changing the global make-up of populations. By 2050, people over 60 will outnumber those under 14 for the first time.”  These are striking statistics and undoubtedly stir the call to action for support of elder’s rights.

HelpAge International is a global organization that tackles such difficult issues as age discrimination (both in roles and society), elder poverty, work, pensions, and access to health/other needed services. It is important work, to be sure. While elders are a rapidly growing population, I believe that we are still very far behind in terms of our respect for elders and our understanding of their place in society. Sure, we might see a few more older faces in advertising campaigns and print media, but that doesn’t mean we know how to treat an older person or know how to approach a complex spectrum of care needs as they age.

Many people are afraid to visit nursing homes for any number of reasons. The excuse I’ve heard from most?  Visitors don’t know what to say or know how to talk to an older person. This is a tragedy, in my opinion, because really it’s not all that different from talking to someone your age or even younger. Besides, imagine living 80, 90, or 100 years — think of all the stories they have to share!  Yes, Alzheimer’s can complicate conversations with an older person, and resulting behaviors can be very frightening. However, the person still deserves the respect and admiration that should naturally come from having walked for decades on this earth.

There is a great need for more dialogue on these issues among cultures across the globe, and I applaud HelpAge International for creating the spark.

I also strongly recommend checking out the photo gallery in the Rights section of the website – you’ll find stunning photos of older persons, and each photo carries with it the story of that elder in their corner of the world.

For more on the “Age Demands Action” campaign or the broader work of HelpAge International, visit http://www.helpage.org/Home.

-Michelle Seitzer

As winter draws near, people with respiratory problems are waiting with bated breath. The winter months often cause an exacerbation or acute worsening of COPD symptoms, often leading to other illnesses and even hospitalizations. When I worked in the emergency room, I saw firsthand that a large percentage of hospital admissions this time of year are COPD patients.  Even my mother suffered from COPD.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It’s believed that by 2010, COPD will move up to third place.

COPD refers to a group of lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema that interfere with breathing. These diseases cause lung damage and decrease the lung’s ability to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, resulting in severe breathing difficulties. COPD is progressive, meaning that it grows worse over time. It’s nearly always caused by smoking.

COPD can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Chronic, persistent cough
• Increased mucus
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, but can occur at rest
• Wheezing
• A tight feeling in the chest

While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated. The most important thing to do is to stop smoking. There are several medicines that make breathing easier, including steroids or inhalers. Many people with COPD will eventually need to use supplemental oxygen.

It is important to diagnose COPD as early as possible. Sometimes the subtle symptoms can be dismissed as signs of aging, leaving it undiagnosed until quality of life has rapidly deteriorated and more than 50 percent of lung function has been lost. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they’re at risk, further delaying diagnosis and treatment.

If you or anyone you know is at risk for COPD, see your doctor and learn more about about symptoms and treatment options at the American Lung Association.

–Elizabeth Thielke

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from wealth advisors to relocation ideas. Seniors for Living contributes its properties to Boomerater’s senior living directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their advice for the recently widowed.

Question: My dear husband recently passed away. For 40 years, he handled our finances and I’m lost without him.  I want to make sure our savings last so that I have financial security. My husband was a wonderful handyman who could fix anything, and he did most of the yard work. I am considering selling the house and moving to a retirement community. Also, I work full time, but am thinking of retiring or changing to a less demanding job.  There are so many decisions to make, where do I start?

Reply #1:
I’m sorry for your loss. It may seem impossible to consider a normal future right now, but you will be amazed at how much strength you have. Please do not make any too many changes right away. Learn what you can about your finances and keep the bills up to date. But don’t rush into major life changes like retiring or moving. A great place to start to put things in perspective is www.wiserwomen.org. This site is run by the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement. They have a retirement calculator to help you know how much you will need to live, resources for estate and retirement planning, details about types of survivor benefits and social security, pensions, etc. Another good site is www.wife.org, a non-profit that focuses on women’s financial independence. Just having a place to start was a big help for me when my husband died.

Reply #2:
Beware of scams! Shortly after my dad died, my mother was the target of a terrible scam by a con artist that preyed on widows. He called her, identifying himself as on officer of the court, and told her she had missed her assigned jury duty. When she said she didn’t know anything about it, he treated her horribly, saying she was obviously trying to get out of her civic duty. When she became upset, he told her he would try to have the warrant for her arrest cancelled but would need her full legal name, date of birth and social security number. She gave it to him and now is a victim of identity theft. What a mess! Don’t take advice or give money to anyone.

Reply #3:
Count on your family to care for your emotions, not your finances. It is a big mistake to let your kids take over your finances. My sister turned all financial decisions over to her son, who had no expertise. He made unwise investments and she also ended up paying more in taxes than she would have with a qualified financial adviser. If you don’t have one, ask your lawyer or accountant for a recommendation of someone they know is an expert in life planning. The goal is to maximize your income while minimizing your taxes. Also you want to be sure your assets are protected and you may want to plan how you want your estate handled. Also, if you do decide to make a change, like selling your house, they can offer valuable advice and connect you with a network of other qualified professionals.

Find out what others had to say, or offer your own help for recent widows on Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers providing information on everything from reverse mortgages to tips to maximize your social security benefits. Seniors for Living contributes its senior housing properties to Boomerater’s local directories including Maryland Alzheimer’s Care, Michigan assisted living, and more.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their tips for getting senior discounts.

Question: I’m looking for websites that identify stores and restaurants that offer discounts to boomers in their late 50s.

Reply # 1: There are lots of sites that can link you to senior discount sites. One of the simplest is About.com’s “Frugal Living” site, http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalseniors/a/Senior_Discount.htm. It has an alphabetical listing of national companies that offer senior discounts. Another one I just discovered is seniordiscounts.com. They have a free weekly newsletter with member-submitted discounts. I was surprised by some of the companies that offer discounts to the 55+ crowd. They also have a premium service that lets you search for discounters in your area.

Reply # 2: There’s a list of websites at the bottom of this article: http://www.ehow.com/how_4669376_senior-discounts-save-money.html. This is a very good article submitted by a member of the ehow.com website. It gives tips that include who qualifies as a senior, identifying companies that offer discounts (but may not advertise that they do.) Also it talks about the value of speaking with the groups you belong to for discounts they may support. For example AARP has partnered with hundreds of different companies to offer discounts. Links are given for AARP, SeniorJournal.com, The Seasoned Spender, Bargains4Seniors.com, Eldercare Federal Resources, Senior Pass – US Parks, Rite Aid Pharmacy Living More Program, Hyatt Hotels Senior Discounts, and KB Toys Grandparents Club.

Find out what others had to say about senior discounts on Boomerater.com.

Vice President Joe Biden chairs a task force called A Strong Middle Class that is targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America. One of their initiatives is more stable and secure health care for seniors.

The middle class task force recently held a health care reform discussion in Alexandria, VA with the goals of lowering costs, cutting waste, creating stability, and improving quality for seniors. Sounds pretty promising, right?

It couldn’t come at a better time, either, as seniors face rising health care cost increases on a fixed income. And there’s another group that is also profoundly affected by the increase — early retirees (aged 50-64). They are all too familiar with the rising costs of health care and stand to benefit from this reform:

Americans aged 50-64 are often the most at vulnerable and at risk in the current health care system. Too young for Medicare, they experience sky high insurance premiums and costs because of their age. Premiums for 50-64 year olds buying coverage on the open market were three times that of their peers who were lucky enough to have employer coverage. And that’s for people who aren’t automatically excluded because of a pre-existing condition.

Health care reform will lower costs for 50-64-year-old Americans by providing assistance to employer health plans to encourage them to cover recent retirees and by giving individuals access to an insurance exchange where participants will be able to compare prices of health plans ” including a public plan – and decide which option is right for them. Individuals will be eligible for help paying for insurance in the exchange based on their income. And in order to market a plan in the Exchange, insurance companies will have to comply with its rules: no denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions; no discrimination based on age; and fair prices, for good benefits.

While no one can predict what will and won’t work, I think it’s an important step for the government to look at those affected most by increasing costs, and make the effort to provide some stability in the system as Americans age.

–Elizabeth Thielke

What are your thoughts?

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a Seattle financial adviser to great vacation ideas. Seniors for Living contributes its senior housing properties to Boomerater’s local directories including retirement living in New York,  Arizona Alzheimer’s care, and more.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, we discuss ways to maximize your social security income.

Boomerater Question:
“My wife was a stay-at-home mom, but did work for about 12 years. Is she entitled to Social Security benefits? If so, what’s the best age to begin taking benefits? She and I are both 60 years old and would like to learn of any tips that can help us maximize income from Social Security.”

Responses:
Most people can elect to begin taking Social Security when they turn 62, but benefits increase each year they are not taken until age 70. The level of your benefits are determined by your lifetime earnings history. Outside earnings may reduce your Social Security benefits until you’ve reached what’s known as your Full Retirement Age (FRA) — 65 for those born before 1938, and increasing to 67 for those born in 1960 and later. You can go to this link and use the Retirement Estimator to determine your benefit amount.

To qualify for retirement benefits you will have needed to work for at least 10 years or 40 quarters of credit. You can delay receiving your benefits until age 70 and will receive Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) for doing so. Depending upon your age, your eventual monthly benefit will be increased by 6.5 percent to 8 percent per year for each year benefits are deferred up to age 70.

Most recipients receive benefits tax free. However, those with higher incomes must include up to 85 percent of their Social Security benefits in their taxable incomes.

Lesser known, but very important Social Security “factoids”:

1) If you are married and your spouse has not earned any Social Security credits, your spouse can collect a spousal benefit once you’ve reached your FRA and are collecting benefits yourself. You can then “suspend” your own benefits and earn more DRC’s up until age 70. That way, your spouse gets benefits now and your benefits continue to increase both for yourself and your spouse (widow/widower benefit).

2) If you are married and both spouses have earned Social Security credits, the higher earner should consider delaying benefits, and the lower earner should consider starting benefits early at age 62. The reason behind this is that the lower-earning spouse receives his/her benefits now and would also be eligible for increased benefits should their spouse die. Actuarially, this usually makes good financial sense (based on the net present value of total benefits received). However, if there is a family history of poor health or longevity, a different approach should be considered (if in poor health, both spouses should consider taking Social Security early; if in good health, both should consider delaying until age 70).

This information was contributed by certified financial planner Paul C. Bennett, a featured advisor in Boomerater’s financial advisor directory.

To read responses from Boomerater members and to share your own experiences, go to the Boomerater post: Maximizing Social Security Benefits.

Many people put a great deal of effort into saving and planning for retirement in order to be sure their needs are met. My parents dutifully saved and paid their long-term care premiums in order not to be a burden on me (as an only child) in their later years. Yes, I’m lucky!

I have also recently spoken to a financial planner about not only our retirement plan, but also starting our own long-term care plans even though we’re not really in a financial position to do so right now. One thing’s for sure, though — retirement, and especially long term care, costs a great deal of money. and many seniors are spending their life savings on the latter as Medicare and Social Security don’t cover long nursing home stays:

Over 20 years, Paggi, a senior care coordinator), has seen many seniors spend almost their last dollar on personal care at home or an assisted-living community before turning to a nursing home and ultimately relying on Medicaid, the health care program for the poor.

Long-term care often involves many tasks that are imperative to someone’s well-being such as bathing, dressing, feeding, etc. yet these types of tasks don’t require a “skilled” (licensed) professional to perform them for the chronically ill. Therefore, our current insurance system, including Medicare, doesn’t pay for it. People must either pay out of pocket, quickly depleting their resources, or most often, this care is provided by unpaid family members.

We found this out when my mother was ill and dying. My dad worked and he couldn’t take care of her alone full-time for several reasons, but she couldn’t be alone. She had no skilled needs, she mostly needed what’s called “companion” or “custodial” care when she was at home, but she was not ready for hospice. They ended up having to pay a sitter many thousands of dollars out of pocket.

The government is struggling with long term care issues as the number of aging Boomers rises. People are exhausting their savings in order to be covered by a Medicaid system that is already struggling to pay for the millions of uninsured Americans.

Most agree that some sort of long term care reform is needed as many people can’t afford the expensive long term care insurance premiums. Reform ideas include more federal money for home and community-based care, as well as better health coverage for preventing chronic conditions to protect seniors from financial devastation.

When I first became aware of the concept of retirement, I imagined it to be something everyone did when they turned 65, and I didn’t give much thought to how the financial part of that worked. As I got older, I gained a better understanding of it, but my example for working was different than that model. My father is 76 years old and still teaches high school full-time. While I’m sure the money is a big factor, he’s also just one of those people who works — that’s just what he does. It’s a bonus that keeps him active and healthy.

When it comes time for him to retire, he’s planned well, so I think he will mostly have what he needs, but many people are not as fortunate. My mother-in-law recently retired from working at 83 because she had no financial way to retire before that, and especially in this economy, she’s not alone:

Amid the economic downturn, shrinking retirement accounts, increasing costs for food and medicine, and stiff competition for even entry-level jobs, evidence is building that the dream of a comfortable retirement is dying for many Americans.

The ranks of the elderly looking for work has swelled more than 120 percent to more than 1.8 million in the last year. Among that group, those who were 75 and older increased by 80 percent, according to data from the National Council on Aging.

Many seniors are returning to work in order to make ends meet, and there are several resources for assistance with improving skills, training and finding a job:

RetirementJobs.com -Full- and part-time jobs from age-friendly employers
AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
Retired Brains – full-time, part-time, and temporary retirement jobs for older workers
Wiser Worker – job listings for older workers by keyword or location, career articles, resources and listings of local job fairs across the country
National Council on Aging – has a jobs and resumes site.

Unemployment is high and seniors often face an extra hurdle in the job market because of their age, and these programs can help give them a fair chance to compete.

With many state governments in fiscal crisis mode, seniors and their advocates are also in a state of panic. Funding cuts across the board could significantly impact vital programs and services for seniors. Often among the cuts are senior centers — for many, that means losing their “lifeline.” As a hub of senior services in the local community, seniors, particularly those isolated and alone, rely on these centers for nutritious meals, exercise, flu shots, activities and social contact.

Tami Luhby, a senior writer for CNN Money.com, explores the impact that slashed government funding would have on the seniors who come to the Fox Point Senior Center in Providence, Rhode Island. She states that Rhode Island isn’t alone: at least 45 states are projecting budget deficits for the current and future fiscal years, and are forced to cut funding for many programs and services that seniors and other vulnerable populations need desperately.

Senior center directors across Rhode Island are “scrambling to maintain services in the face of funding cuts,” and they are doing so in a number of ways (i.e. reducing hours, eliminating activities, letting go of staff). This “doing more with less” is not the ideal way of managing the centers, but Corinne Calise Russo, director of the state Department of Elderly Affairs, affirmed the necessity of these difficult cuts: they had to be done to maintain other critical services such as adult day care and home care. Russo says, “No seniors will be left without meals or assistance.” Enter the big “but”: they might have to seek those services elsewhere. Russo maintains, “There was no other place to go for this funding. There were no other options.”

While some centers may be able to go on with limited services, some may have to shut their doors altogether. This worries Lori Silvia, Fox Point’s executive director. “People become isolated when they don’t have services like this,” Silvia said. “They just sit in their apartments. We don’t want to see that happen.”

Senior centers are indeed a vital part of every local community, and not just for the seniors who frequent them. Lawmakers and other elected officials need to know just how vital these centers are, despite the daunting financial challenges presented in their ledgers. Reach out to your local state representatives and senators and let them know what the senior center means to you and your community. No matter what happens, they need to hear from their constituents. And you never know: your voice could make the difference.

What’s happening in your state/community?  Are senior centers nearby in danger of closing? Reducing services?  How has it impacted your community?

- Michelle Seitzer

It might be hard to believe, but we’re halfway through 2009 already.

The mid-year is always a good time to evaluate then and now, so let’s take a look at an article on www.seniorhousingnews.com, which posted in January. The article listed 10 senior housing issues predicted to be hot topics; the list included (to name a few) reverse mortgages, senior housing entities filing for bankruptcy, and the emergence of innovative housing models (remember the March blog on GrandParent Family Apartments?).

An item that I found interesting was issue #4, which predicted that 2009 would reveal “more children moving back home with their senior parents or moving parents into the children’s home.  The unemployed are more likely to care for elderly parents at home, instead of putting them in more expensive retirement homes or assisted living communities. They also might pull parents out of facilities and move them back home to cut costs.”

I wouldn’t doubt that this trend is on the rise, and in her article “When Mom Moves In: Statistics, Trends and Benefits” posted on March 5^th of this year, Linda Lowen affirms its truth. The article states that, according to US Census Bureau statistics released in September 2008, “The number of parents, siblings and other relatives who live with adult heads of households grew 42% from 2000 to 2007.”

Intergenerational households aren’t a new phenomenon, but the numbers clearly show a sharp rise in the percentage of family members moving in, whether it’s to save dollars, provide care & support, or both. In some cases, grandparents move in to help take care of their grandchildren. Whatever the reasons, these arrangements may save dollars that would be spent on residential care, but sometimes, especially in difficult caregiving situations, the costs are often beyond what dollars can measure.

Item #7, which proposed the emergence of innovative senior housing models, also caught my eye because of the examples suggested: “[will we see]…small bands of seniors bonding in 4 flats?  Privately held small apartment buildings self managed by seniors that live there?  More co-ops?  College dormitory style living?  The return of the travel trailer?  So many choices…”

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? With the exploding senior and baby boom generation (it is projected that the 60+ crowd will represent 25.1% of the population in 2030), it will take more than just nursing homes and retirement communities to fill the need, so I wouldn’t be surprised if these and other innovative models emerge on the scene.

Seniors for Living followers, I want to hear from you! What do you think about these innovative housing models (or have ideas to add)? Have you noticed an increase in the number of intergenerational households? What other senior housing industry trends have you observed?

-Michelle Seitzer