Archived Newswires

June 15 – 21, 2009

Health:

Mind:

  • DIY Alzheimer's test is fast and accurate: Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is important and the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) is the standard way of detecting the condition. But a new study from Cambridge, UK, suggests that there might be a better way, with a simpler test. Health and Age, June 19.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • What Your Spouse Must Know about Investing: Even if you're fit as a fiddle, make sure that your spouse would know how to handle the following issues if something were to happen to you. Morningstar, June 18,
  • Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You? Since the credit and housing meltdown largely removed private reverse mortgages from the market, home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs) - federally insured reverse mortgages - have been growing steadily. U.S. News and World Report, June 17.

Retirement:

Housing:

  • 5 ways to cover assisted living expenses: If the time comes when you can no longer manage daily living in your own home or with family members, an apartment in an assisted living facility could be the next best thing. Bankrate.com, June 17.

Caregiving:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



June 8 – 15, 2009

Health:

Mind:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • A Retirement Timeline: There are variety of retirement rights of passage you should take advantage of at different ages. Here’s a retirement timeline. U.S. News and World Report, June 12.
  • New times call for new tools: Retirement-planning software needs an overhaul. MarketWatch, June 10.
  • Honey, we need to talk: Since start of financial crisis, more couples disagree over their retirement plans. MarketWatch, June 10.
  • The safety of your pension: Can you count on those monthly pension checks from your former employer? Five things you need to know. Money, June 8.
  • Will Your Retirement Be Worse Than Your Parent’s Was? It’s nice to think that there were good old days when grandma and grandpa retired to Florida with enough income to pay all their bills and even travel. But that idyllic retirement only existed for a minority of Americans. US News and World Report, June 8.

Social Security:

Scams:

Caregiving:

End of Life:

  • Dying With Dignity: End-of-life care is stuck where it was a dozen years ago -- with untreated physical and emotional stress. Smart Money, June 11.

Xtra!

  • Life expectancy could be topic in health care debate: Despite spending more money than any other country on health care, the United States does not lead the world in life expectancy, a long-known fact that some experts say could raise more questions in the health-care reform debate. CNN, June 11.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



June 1 – 7, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Mortgage crisis robbing seniors of golden years: The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has slashed home values and triggered an unprecedented surge in foreclosures across the nation. It's also taking an especially harsh toll on an often overlooked demographic: seniors who are retired or nearly so. USA Today, June 5.
  • Should Saving for Retirement be Required? It’s no surprise that it is difficult for Americans to save for retirement. Only roughly half the population even has any sort of retirement plan. U.S. News and World Report, June 5.
  • Look who's stalking your retirement: If creditors are on your back, your money may be safer in a 401(k). MarketWatch, June 4.

Social Security:

  • Banks can tap Social Security to cover bounced-check fees: In a verdict that could have far-reaching implications for elderly and disabled bank customers, the California Supreme Court ruled this week that banks can tap Social Security benefits in bank accounts to cover bounced-check fees. USA Today, June 5.

Grandparenting:

  • They love being grandparents, but call them something else: As the youth-obsessed baby boomers advance, albeit reluctantly, into the next phase of their lives, they are embracing grandparenthood with the same gusto they have expressed for everything else, be it exercise or adventure travel. Boston Globe, June 2.

Insurance:

  • Obama Open to a Mandate on Health Insurance: President Obama said Wednesday that he was receptive to Congressional proposals that would require Americans to have health insurance and oblige employers to share in the cost. But he said there should be exemptions for people who cannot afford insurance and for small businesses in general. The New York Times, June 3.

Caregiving:

Work:

Xtra!

  • Suicide After Age 70? Not As Rare As You Think: Unfortunately, no. Medical data indicates that seniors, especially men, aged 75 and above have the highest suicide rates of all age groups in most industrialized countries. The San Francisco Chronicle, June 4.
  • Wait times to see doctor are getting longer: They say patience is a virtue, but for those who need health care, it's a necessity. And if you live in an urban area, you could be waiting several months to get an appointment with specialist or family doctor. USA Today, June 3.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



May 25 – 31, 2009

Health:

Mind:

  • Puzzling Out 10 Alzheimer's Myths: Experts Try to Remove Foggy Information From a Confusing Illness. ABC News, June 1.
  • Playing catch-up with Alzheimer's: When Pete Townshend of The Who wrote "My Generation," the 1965 Baby Boomer anthem containing the memorable lyric "I hope I die before I get old," he'd probably never heard of Alois Alzheimer, the German physician who described Alzheimer's disease in 1906. Chicago Tribune, May 27.
  • The Alzheimer's Project a Must See: If you missed The Alzheimer's Project -- the multi-part HBO special on Alzheimer's disease and caregiving, you can still watch it for free online. About.com, May 27.
  • Why Chimps, Monkeys Don't Develop Alzheimer's: Study shows the plaques in non-human primates differ from those in humans. HealthDay, May 25.

Medicare:

  • Medicare benefits slated to change: Big changes are coming to Medicare benefits received through some private plans, so experts urge participants not to wait for enrollment season this fall to learn what they'll need to do. LA Times, May 25.
  • Fix is hard for Medicare, Social Security finances: Medicare and Social Security will go broke sooner rather than later because of the recession. With millions of baby boomers beginning to leave the work force, the cost of these popular benefit programs threatens to swamp the government in debt in the coming years if nothing is done. Associated Press, May 25.

Personal Finance:

  • 10 ways to rate your financial adviser: In the wake of such big losses, many investors are looking for someone to hold accountable. That has placed financial advisers under the microscope. Bankrate.com, May 26.

Retirement:

  • Retire debt-free: Four things to consider about your retirement and your debt. MarketWatch, May 28.
  • Most Middle-Aged Adults Are Rethinking Retirement Plans: In the midst of a recession that has taken a heavy toll on many nest eggs, just over half of all working adults ages 50 to 64 say they may delay their retirement -- and another 16% say they never expect to stop working, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project. Pew Research Center, May 28.

Social Security:

Housing:

  • Where To Live As We Age: A new model of eldercare may soon change the way our nation cares for its older citizens. Parade, May 31.

End of Life:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



May 18 – 24, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Personal Finance:

  • Do You Have The Skills to Manage Your Money? As the economy struggles to regain its footing, cutting costs has become a national pastime. If you've been paying a financial adviser to manage your money, you might be tempted to do it yourself. TheStreet.com, May 22.
  • Direct yourself to a regular IRA: Many investors are probably better off avoiding self-directed IRAs. MarketWatch, May 21.
  • 4 ways retirees can battle inflation: Inflation erodes buying power faster for older Americans, but there are ways for those entering their retirement years to push back against the squeeze. MSN Money, May 21.
  • Rethinking your estate plan: A smaller net worth and bigger worries about your kids' finances (not to mention uncertainty about taxes) have major implications for your estate plan. Money Magazine, May 18.

Retirement:

Social Security:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



May 11 – 17, 2009

Health:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Social Security:

Caregiving:

Technology:

  • Easier E-Mail for the Older Generation: Jackson Hughes, a scientific software developer in Georgia, decided nearly 10 years ago it was time his grandparents learned to use e-mail to keep in touch with their 4 children and 11 grandchildren scattered about the country. The New York Times, May 15.

End of Life:

Xtra!

  • Not a Good Time to Be Middle-Aged: In this recession, it is better to be old. Being young has some advantages, too. But being in the middle of the spectrum — in your 30s or 40s — seems to be the worst place to be. The New York Times, May 15.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



May 4 – 10, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Scams:

  • Scammers Target Social Security: With the federal government set to dole out some $13 billion in economic-stimulus funds to Social Security recipients this month, various state and federal agencies are warning retirees to be on their guard against scams. WSJ, May 10.

Housing:

Caregiving:

Volunteering:

Work:

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



April 27 – May 3, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

  • HBO Puts Alzheimer’s Under the Microscope: “The Alzheimer’s Project” is a curious hybrid of science and emotional stories about patients, their families and caretakers. The New York Times, May 1.
  • Drink Away Dementia? Study shows one to two drinks daily may lower risk of cognitive decline in older adults. HealthDay, May 1.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Cash on hand: Strategies for tapping your assets in the most tax-efficient way. MarketWatch, April 29.
  • 50 million retirees to get $250 checks in May: More than 50 million retirees can expect to receive $250 payments from the government in the next few weeks as their share of the economic stimulus package enacted in February. Associated Press, April 29.
  • Variable Annuities' Warning List Grows: Variable annuities can offer tremendous benefits -- a long as investors heed the warnings. TheStreet.com, April 28.

Social Security:

  • Social Security Is Not Expected to Rise: For the first time in more than three decades, Social Security recipients will not get any increase in their benefits next year, federal forecasts show. The New York Times, May 2.

Housing:

  • Family matters: When older Americans move, family is big reason why. MarketWatch, April 30.

Insurance:

  • Is Longevity Insurance Right for You? With life expectancies on the rise, millions of people are now facing the challenge of how to support themselves into their 80s, 90s, and even beyond. U.S. News and World Report, May 1.
  • How Much Long-Term-Care Coverage Do You Need? Everyone who has enough money to afford the premiums should at least consider buying long-term-care insurance, no matter how much savings you have. Kiplinger's, April 30.
  • Make Sure Your Insurer Pays Up: Long-term-care paperwork can be overwhelming. Here's how to cut through the red tape. Kiplinger's, May 2009.

Work:

Xtra!

  • Looking for Heroes? Many of Them Are in the AARP Generation: Perhaps 100 years ago, when life expectancy was about 50, there weren't so many older people around, and they didn't have much of a future. But today, as people live longer, healthier lives, the 50-plus generation has a future. The Washington Post, April 21.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



April 20 – 26, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Statins Guard Against Prostate Cancer: Other studies found they also reduced chances of erectile dysfunction. HealthDay, April 26.
  • Drug Deals Tie Prices to How Well Patients Do: Think of it as product guarantees by the drug industry. Pressed by insurance companies, some drug makers are beginning to adjust what they charge for their drugs, based on how well the medicines improve patients’ health. The New York Times, April 22.

Mind:

Personal Finance:

  • You can count on it: Annuities with guarantees can be useful retirement products -- but heed the risks: MarketWatch, April 22.
  • Wise Moves for a Year With No RMDs: The chance to skip a required minimum distribution in 2009 may open up other opportunities. Kiplinger's, April 22.

Retirement:

  • 8 tips on paying for health care in retirement: Workers who retire before they qualify for Medicare at age 65 often face the steepest health care costs. The average cost of premiums for employer-provided coverage for retirees under 65 is $13,308 a year, according to a Towers Perrin survey. Chicago Tribune, April 22.
  • Strategizing a retirement rebound: So you've lost a lot of your savings. You're not alone. Now you need to pick an asset allocation strategy that will help you recoup those losses. CNNMoney.com, April 21.
  • 5 Big Financial Changes for Retirees in 2010: Retirees should start getting ready now for major changes next year that will affect their income and health expenses. USNews.com, April 21.
  • 10 Sources of Retirement Income: Most working Americans have only one source of steady income: their job. In retirement you are likely to have a patchwork quilt of several income streams. US News and World Report, April 20.

Insurance:

  • People shut out of COBRA have few insurance options: The federal COBRA law only covers companies with 20 or more workers. Thirty-nine states and Washington, D.C., have "mini COBRA" laws that require small companies to allow departing employees to continue their group coverage. USA Today, April 23.
  • Dealing without health insurance: The reality of losing a job and the health insurance that went with it is daunting for people accustomed to employer-sponsored plans. Bankrate.com, April 22.

Caregiving:

  • Caring for the Caregiver: Caregiving is an important and stressful job. Most folks enter into it from an emotionally fragile place where their worst fears can be, and often are, realized. If you are caregiver and want to survive this life stage, you must surrender your uncertainty about what to do and commit yourself to acting on a well thought out plan. HealthNewsDigest.com, April 26.

Work:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



April 13 – 20, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

  • Type 2 diabetics more susceptible to dementia: People with diabetes who have low-blood sugar episodes serious enough to land them in the hospital have a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia later in life, new research suggests. USA Today, April 14.

Personal Finance:

  • New reverse mortgage limits give seniors lifeline: More homeowners to benefit from $625K loan ceiling. Boston Globe, April 15.
  • Time to Convert to a Roth IRA? Has your traditional IRA dropped in value? Do you expect to pay higher federal income tax rates on your withdrawals in future years? If you answered yes to both questions, you have a golden opportunity to convert all or part of your IRA balance into a Roth IRA. Smart Money, April 15.
  • Rethinking Your 401(k) Plan: The recession and market meltdown that has whacked all types of investments has added fuel to the debate about the need to fix the current 401(k) system. Smart Money April 14.

Retirement:

  • Retirement confidence plummets: Feeling insecure about retirement? You’re not alone. Americans’ confidence in being able to enjoy a financially comfortable retirement has hit an all-time low. CNNMoney.com, April 14.
  • 10 Ways to Lower Retirement Costs: You won’t need to defer retirement dreams with these frugal strategies. U.S. News and World Report, April 13.

Technology:

  • All in the Facebook family - older generations join social networks: While online social networks like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are known hang-outs for younger adults and teenagers, older generations in recent months have been taking to the medium at a faster rate than any other age group, according to industry reports. CNN, April 13.

End of Life:

Xtra!

  • Just Say No to Aging? A provocative new book from a Harvard psychologist suggests that changing how we think about our age and health can have dramatic physical benefits. Newsweek, April 14.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



April 6 – 12, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

  • U.S. Reduces Subsidies for Private Medicare: The federal government made good on its plan to cut 2010 payments for private Medicare plans, whittling the subsidies to health insurers sooner than the industry originally expected. WSJ, April 7.

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Social Security:

Scams:

Insurance:

Caregiving:

Work:

Xtra!

  • 'You're going to die the way you live': The idea that dying well is as important as living well gained cultural currency last year when Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, delivered a final lecture a month after learning that his pancreatic cancer had spread and was inoperable. LifeWIre, April 7.
  • World's oldest person celebrates 115th in LA: The world's oldest known living person celebrated her 115th birthday Monday. Associated Press, April 6.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



March 30 – April 5, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Drugs cause confusion in elderly: Commonly used medications could be a culprit in some older peoples' memory problems, a new report. USA Today, April 1.
  • Plavix plus aspirin helps patients with irregular heartbeat: Taking the blood thinner Plavix along with aspirin helped prevent strokes and heart attacks in people with a common heartbeat abnormality that puts them at high risk of these problems, doctors reported Tuesday. Associated Press, March 31.
  • 'Polypill' slashes heart attack and stroke risk: A once-a-day polypill that combines aspirin, blood-pressure and cholesterol drugs sharply reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, potentially offering an inexpensive way to save millions of lives, researchers reported Monday. USA Today, March 30.
  • Sleeping pill use grows as economy keeps people up at night: More Americans are turning to such medications, but they're not without risks, such as dependence, next-day drowsiness, memory loss and sleep-walking. Los Angeles Times, March 30.
  • Statin Crestor lowers risk of deep-vein clots without bleeding: Researchers have shown for the first time that a potent cholesterol-lowering drug, Crestor, reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis, or "economy-class syndrome," caused by potentially lethal blood clots that start in the veins and migrate to the lungs, sometimes after long flights. USA Today, March 30.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • The Pitfalls of Reverse Mortgages: For years, reverse mortgages have been sold as a way for cash-strapped seniors to get some extra cash. But falling home prices, lending rules and growing instances of fraud could make these loans an incredibly risky proposition for some borrowers. SmartMoney, March 30.

Retirement:

  • The 20 Cities Where the Most Baby Boomers Will Retire: The graying of America won’t be spread evenly across the map. The numbers will grow the most rapidly in the intermountain west, the southeast, and especially in Texas, according to a new Brookings Institution analysis. U.S. News and World Report, April 1.
  • Tax credit now for savings made for retirement: The retirement savings tax credit, also called the saver's credit, appears on both the 1040 and 1040A tax returns as a way to reward lower-wage earners who sock away retirement money. Bankrate.com, March 30.

Investing:

  • The Final Four ... for 2019: There are no underdog stocks here. These seasoned competitors should perform magic over the next ten years. Kiplinger's, April 2.

Social Security:

Housing:

  • Trend toward smaller homes for thriftier seniors: Catering to baby boomers and seniors who've lost savings during the recession, retirement-housing designers and developers are shifting to smaller homes that are more energy efficient and maximize space. Associated Press, April 3.

Work:

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



March 23 – 29, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Cholesterol drug lowers blood clot risk: Statin drugs, taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, also can cut the risk of developing dangerous blood clots that can lodge in the legs or lungs, a major study suggests. Associated Press, March 29.

Mind:

  • 10 Things You Should Know About Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's disease and other dementias do a number on the mind and body of the individual with the disease and can also take a major toll on the health and finances of the individual's family. U.S. News and World Report, March 25.
  • Alzheimer's cost triple that of other elderly: The health care costs of Alzheimer's disease patients are more than triple those of other older people, and that doesn't even include the billions of hours of unpaid care from family members, a new report suggests. Associated Press, March 24.

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Social Security:

Caregiving:

  • Mom and Dad, Let's Talk: Discussing finances with an aging parent is never easy, but you have more reasons than ever to have that conversation. WSJ online, March 26.

Technology:

  • Boomers zero in on social networks: Whether it's congressmen Twittering during presidential speeches, parents connecting with high school flames on Facebook or empty-nesters planning group outings on grown-up sites such as Eons.com, Baby Boomers are speeding up the Web's ongoing metamorphosis from limitless void to global watering hole. USA Today, March 26.

Xtra!

  • Online Age Quiz Is a Window for Drug Makers: Americans yearn to be young. So it is little wonder that RealAge, which promises to help shave years off your age, has become one of the most popular tests on the Internet. The New York Times, March 25.
  • Having Trouble Reading the Small Print on Your Tax Forms? For people with age-related vision problems, there is often added anxiety around tax time since most receipts and paperwork come in small print that is difficult, if not impossible, for people with eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration to read. March 25.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



March 16 – 22, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Sink or swim: Following the typical retirement-planning advice could be a money-losing proposition. MarketWatch, March 18.
  • The 7 new rules of financial security: In a world turned upside down, you must re-examine some basic assumptions. A good place to start: understanding the true nature of risk. Money, March 17.
  • How Does Your 401(k) Stack Up? Having watched 401(k) account values drop precipitously, investors may fear that their savings in these defined-contribution plans will never get them through retirement. They may also wonder how their plans measure up against others. Business Week, March 17.
  • Savings Guarantees You Can Trust: Annuities and other products promise secure income. But only some deliver. Kiplinger’s, April, 2009.

Retirement:

Social Security:

  • A Free Loan From Social Security: A little-known law allows Social Security recipients who are already collecting benefits to change their mind and start over. U.S. News and World Report, March 18.

Scams:

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



March 9 – 15, 2009

Health:

  • Workouts on the Web: Leg lunges in front of a computer screen? Why not? Especially when the Internet offers many good exercise videos for free. Los Angeles Times, March 16.
  • Report: U.S. on Short End of Health Care ‘Value Gap’: If the global economy were a 100-yard dash, the U.S. would start 23 yards behind its closest competitors because of health care that costs too much and delivers too little, a business group says in a report to be released Thursday. Associated Press, March 12.
  • When Patients Feel Abandoned by Doctors: The final conversation between doctor and patient can bring a much needed sense of closure. The New York Times, March 13.
  • Some Elderly Heart Failure Patients Get Little Help From Meds, Study Finds: Experts say new drugs and guidelines are needed to treat diastolic dysfunction. HealthDay, March 12.
  • More Evidence Prostate Tests Overdiagnose Cancer: As many as two of every five men whose prostate cancer was caught through a PSA screening test have tumors too slow-growing to ever be a threat, says a new study that raises more questions about the controversial tests. Associated Press, March 10.
  • Screening Can Detect Early Ovarian Cancer: Ovarian cancer, usually detected too late, was discovered at earlier stages in postmenopausal women who underwent controversial screening. The New York Times, March 10.
  • 21% of Americans scramble to pay medical, drug bills: As the economy fell, the percentage who reported having trouble paying for needed health care or medicines during the previous 12 months rose from 18% in January 2008 to 21% in December. USA Today, March 10.
  • Vitamin C May Save Older Men the Extreme Pain Associated with Gout: This inflammatory arthritis usually attacks middle-aged men but about equal for sexes after age 60. Senior Journal, March 9.

Medicine:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Retirees can reap some tax savings in down year: Retirees reeling from the impact of the stock market's ruinous slide can take some solace from recent tax-law changes to help minimize their losses. Associated Press, March 11.
  • Roll misplaying: Seven costly mistakes workers make when they leave a job. MarketWatch, March 11.
  • Variable Annuity Questions Answered: The explosion of variable annuity sales in recent years has spurred plenty of debate over whether many consumers understood what they were buying. TheStreet.com, March 11.
  • Reconsidering the Roth IRA: With lower tax liabilities and favorable new rules, it's time to consider a Roth. MarketWatch, March 9.
  • Put Your 401(k) Back to Work: Your best bet is to keep on contributing, stick with stocks and try not to raid your account. Kiplinger's, April 2009.

Retirement:

Social Security:

Travel:

End of Life:

  • Hospice patients feel abandoned by doctors: Doctors spend years learning how to heal, but most are fairly ignorant about how to act toward patients when they run out of treatments, suggests a study today. USA Today, March 9.

Xtra!

  • Bargaining Down the Medical Bills: When money is tight, everything is negotiable — including your health care bills. The New York Times, March 13.
  • 5 things to know about naming beneficiaries: Don't want your intended heirs to have to chase after their money? Better make sure they're listed on your financial accounts. Money Magazine, March 12.
  • Unlocking the Secrets of Gray Hair: When we start getting gray hair, we tend to blame stress — a high-pressure job, an illness, even our unruly children. But the link between gray hair and psychological stress is little more than folk wisdom, unsupported by numerous scientific studies. The New York Times, March 9.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



March 2 – 8, 2009

Health:

  • Lower cholesterol, diminished joy of sex linked: The greater the drop in cholesterol from taking statin drugs, the more sexual pleasure is reduced, suggests a study due Friday at the American Psychosomatic Society meeting in Chicago. USA Today, March 5.
  • Men Who Get Active in Midlife Live Longer: Effect of adding exercise equals that of stopping smoking, experts say. HealthDay, March 5.
  • Doctors seek gag orders to stop patients' online reviews: Some medical professionals are concerned that online doctor reviews can be inaccurate for instance, a less thorough doctor with better bedside manner could get a glowing review while an the career of an excellent diagnostician who is less friendly could be ruined. Associated Press, March 5.
  • Older Americans May Lack Adequate Nutrition: But those taking supplements often exceed recommended levels, study finds. HealthDay, March 4.
  • Depression can break the heart: Depression almost doubles the risk of developing heart disease over 12 years, according to a long-term study of twins. USA Today, March 3.
  • A national healthcare reform primer: The many issues confronting President Obama as he tries to achieve insurance coverage for all Americans. Los Angeles Times, March 2.
  • Good or Useless, Medical Scans Cost the Same: Studies show that as many as 50 percent of scans should never have been done because their results did not help. New York Times, March 1.
  • Healthy subsidy: New federal law helps ease the burden for laid-off workers who must take on hefty COBRA payments. Baltimore Sun, March 1.
  • Gov. Sebelius sized up for health post: President Obama's candidate to head the Department of Health and Human Services, would bring expertise as a former state health insurance regulator but not deep ties to the members of Congress who will decide the fate of the president's health care proposals, experts say. USA Today, March 1.

Medicine:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Invest better? Sure, but savings are key: The tailwind of the bull market is gone, so your savings rate will be the engine that propels your 401(k). Money, March 4.
  • A Guide to Do-It-Yourself Pensions: Wondering if an annuity makes sense for you? In this new video, Kiplinger’s explain how an annuity works and how to choose one that might fit your needs. Kiplinger’s, March 3.

Retirement:

Housing:

Caregiving:

Technology:

End of Life:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Feb. 23 – March 1, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Drug used to treat baldness could prevent prostate cancer: Healthy men who get regular prostate cancer tests should consider taking a drug called finasteride, the first medication proven to help prevent the disease, experts said Tuesday. USA Today, Feb 24.
  • Cancer patients who do research get newest drugs: Cancer patients who research treatment options are three times more likely to get the newest drugs than patients who don't spend extra time learning about their condition, according to a study of 633 people with colorectal tumors. USA Today, Feb. 23.

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Retirement - Test your financial planning IQ: 10 questions to test your financial planning IQ on retirement issues. Associated Press, Feb. 27.
  • Retirement Guide for 60-Somethings: It may seem impossible, but a smooth retirement is still within reach. Smart Money, Feb. 26.
  • Tax Tips - Seniors Don't Forget April 1: Are you an IRA owner who turned 70 1/2 last year? If you haven't already started tapping your traditional IRA, then April 15 isn't the only IRS deadline you need to heed this year. You're also required to take your first minimum withdrawal no later than April 1. Smart Money, Feb. 26.
  • 4 Ways to Retire Sooner: On seemingly endless days at work, retirement seems so far away. But while nothing short of winning the lottery or getting a big inheritance is likely to let you quit tomorrow, there are many things you can do to reach your goals a little faster. Motley Fool, Feb. 24.
  • Is Your Pension Still Safe? Probably. But new rules could make it harder for you to get all of your money. Kiplinger's, March 2009.
  • 5 steps to rescue your retirement: You may be down, but you're certainly not out. These five strategies will help repair the cracks in your portfolio and make sure your money lasts as long as you do. Money, Feb. 23.
  • Saving for retirement in good times and bad: Deep concerns about the stock market downdraft, however, have led to a more urgent question: Will I be able to retire in this lifetime? Oprah, Feb. 2009.

Retirement:

  • Retirement ready: An eight-step plan for solving the nation's retirement-savings crisis. MarketWatch, Feb. 25.

Investing:

  • FDIC-backed bank bonds: Too safe? Fixed-income investors who insist on a government-backed guarantee, but want a better yield than Treasuries, may find certain bank bonds tempting. The caveat, as always, is whether the price for security is too steep. Bankrate.com, Feb. 27.
  • Target-Date Funds Under Scrutiny: Senate panel looks at risks in common retirement-fund approach. Smart Money, Feb. 27.
  • Compound your gains, not losses: Market sell-offs are bad enough. By fixing these common investing mistakes, you'll make sure difficult times aren't made worse. Money, Feb. 23.

Grandparenting:

Housing:

Work:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



February 16 – 22, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Housing:

Caregiving:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



February 9 – 15, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Bone Drugs May Help Fight Breast Cancer: A drug of a class commonly used to combat bone loss may reduce by a third the chance that some breast cancers will spread or recur, a large study has found. The New York Times, Feb. 11.

Mind:

  • Secondhand Smoke Linked to Dementia: Exposure may increase risk by 44%, researchers say. HealthDay, Feb. 12.
  • Diet could cut risk of dementia: A new study suggests a diet laden with fish, olive oil, veggies and other foods common in Mediterranean-style cuisine may help ward off mild cognitive impairment, sometimes called borderline dementia. USA Today, Feb. 9.
  • Early Alzheimer's can erode driving skills: People with early Alzheimer's disease, though often very functional in many areas of life, may not be as competent behind the wheel of a car as those without the memory-damaging disease. USA Today, Feb. 9.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • A Dozen Tips for Older Taxpayers: Topics include IRAs and 401(k)s, Social Security, Medicare drugs, estate taxes, long-term care insurance, home deductions, charitable contributions and divorce. U.S. News and World Report, Feb. 13.
  • A quick look at retirement accounts: Here's a compact way to check the pluses and minuses of some different types of retirement accounts. Bankrate.com, Feb. 9.

Retirement:

  • Would you relocate in retirement for better tax laws? Failing to evaluate total tax picture is a mistake, advisers say. Chicago Tribune, Feb. 15.
  • More people putting off retirement: Have you decided to postpone retirement because of the economy or a nest egg that's been hit hard of late? You have plenty of company. Baltimore Sun, Feb. 14.
  • Living it up in retirement: Dean and Marion Snyder moved to a place with a concierge, pool, putting green, fab food - and health care for life. What you should know about an increasingly popular way to retire. Money, Feb. 13.
  • Home sweet retirement home: With prices down by a third in many markets, it may be time to start shopping for the house you want to end up in. Money, Feb. 11.

Social Security:

Caregiving:

  • 5 Ways to Cut Elder-Care Costs: The so-called sandwich generation -- those caring for their children and their aging parents -- are being squeezed more than ever these days. Smart Money, Feb. 13.

Technology:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



February 2 – 8, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Target-date funds missed the target in 2008: Target-date retirement funds were supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then 2008 happened. And all of the 264 target-date funds sold by the 39 mutual fund firms that market them performed poorly and contrary to expectations. MarketWatch, Feb. 4.
  • 10 tax laws that could affect your 2008 return: Federal lawmakers simply cannot resist tinkering with the tax code. By one estimate, more than 500 tax law changes were made last year alone. Bankrate.com, Feb. 2.
  • As 401(k)s Crumble, Some Good News: Investors are furious about their 401(k)s. Account balances have shrunk. At Congressional hearings, experts complained that 401(k) costs are too high. Some witnesses called for substantial changes. TheStreet.com, Feb. 2.

Retirement:

  • Helping mom with retirement: If a parent isn't on the ball with their own retirement planning, it may be time for you to step in. Money, Feb. 3.

Investing:

  • Dividends you can count on: With the market bouncing around near its lows, we looked for stocks that will deliver regular payouts while you wait for a recovery. Fortune, Feb. 3.

Caregiving:

  • Family Finance - Elders may need help with finances: At first you might notice a pile of unopened mail. Your normally fastidious mother may be getting sloppy with her checkbook. Your elderly uncle may be behind on his electric bill. The signs are often subtle, but they may indicate that aging relatives are no longer able to handle their personal finances. Associated Press, Feb. 6.

Technology:

Work:

  • The Second Time Around for Retirees: Here’s a sign of the times: Enrollment at the American Bartending School in New York City has shot up, and some of its new students are in their 50s, from retired social workers and laid-off investment bankers to fashion designers looking for extra income. SmartMoney, Feb. 3.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Pension Battles Loom Across the U.S.: Unlike most of us with 401(k)s, state and municipal employees have been promised money, and they'll probably fight to get their returns. TheStreet.com, Jan. 26.

Grandparenting:

  • The 15-Minute Tip: Helping hands: Five great ways for grandparents to help families through tough times. MarketWatch, Jan. 28.

Caregiving:

  • How to Set Up a Caregiving Agreement: More than 50 million family members provide more than $300 billion a year in uncompensated care to family members. U.S. News and World Report, Jan. 30.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



January 19 – 25, 2009

Health:

  • Diabetes -- What's in a name? Understanding the disease could help you prevent it. USA Weekend, Jan. 25.
  • Oh-So-Cold Temperatures Plague Older People: Metabolism and other body changes exacerbate wintertime issues. HealthDay, Jan. 25.
  • Seeing Straight Without Breaking the Bank: A month’s rent just for eyeglasses? Taking care of your eyesight doesn’t have to cost so much. The New York Times, Jan 23.
  • Seniors - Drink to your health: A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that healthy seniors who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol reduce their odds of developing physical disabilities or dying in the next five years by 23 percent, compared with either heavy drinkers or those who abstain. CNN, Jan. 21.

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Who Has to Take An IRA Distribution in '09: The break for seniors whose retirement accounts have been battered by the market meltdown doesn't apply to people who have until April to make their 2008 required withdrawals. Kiplinger’s, Jan 22.
  • Keep track of your IRA: Don't miss many new rules for individual retirement accounts. MarketWatch, Jan. 21.
  • Let your retirement money grow: If you're over 70 ½, you might have to make withdrawals from your retirement accounts. Here's where to stash your cash. Money Magazine, Jan. 20.

Retirement:

Social Security:

Caregiving:

Technology:

Travel:

  • 20 Secrets to Save on Travel: Our insider's guide to snagging the deepest discounts on hotels, airfare, cruises and more. Kiplinger's, Jan. 23.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



January 12 – 18, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Personal Finance:

  • Where Retirees Should Park Their Money: Investment expert Bud Hebeler's strategies for the toughest of times include a plan for coping with hyperinflation. BusinessWeek, Jan. 15.
  • Six brutal facts to confront: You can be hopeful about your nest egg -- after you get real. MarketWatch, Jan. 14.
  • Protecting your investment portfolio: When people fall victim to a scam and lose their investments, 20/20 hindsight often has the rest of us scratching our heads and wondering, "How the heck did they fall for that?" Bankrate.com, Jan. 13.

Retirement:

  • Revive Your Retirement: You may have to save a little more and work a little longer. But you can still get there in good shape. Kiplinger's, Feb. 2009.
  • Older Americans postpone retirement as economy sags: Miriam Gorman wanted to retire more than a year ago, but steep financial losses in her retirement savings mean the 71-year-old bookkeeper now plans to work on indefinitely. Reuters, Jan 17.

Investing:

  • Retirement investing made simple: If you lack the time or the expertise to allocate and track your retirement savings yourself, sink your nest egg into a target-date retirement fund. Money Magazine, Jan. 13.

Social Security:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



January 5 – 11, 2009

Health:

Medicine:

  • Seniors Mixing Prescription and O.T.C. Drugs: Almost 70 percent of older adults who take prescription medications also use non-prescription drugs, dietary supplements or both, researchers have reported, and one in 25 older adults is at risk of suffering a bad reaction to a poor combination of drugs. The New York Times, Jan. 8.

Mind:

Personal Finance:

  • Assess, rebalance your 401(k) after 2008 losses: To get past some of last year's devastating financial losses, you'll need to make some adjustments. You'll need to work through the psychological effects of your losses. You'll need to make some adjustments to your portfolio. And you may even want to make a few speculative bets on the stock market's recovery. USA Today, Jan. 6.
  • Modest portfolio withdrawals the key for retirees: Last year was brutal for investors, but probably more so if you're a new retiree. Your nest egg could be significantly smaller today, just when you're starting to tap it. Baltimore Sun, Jan. 6.

Retirement:

Social Security:

Grandparenting:

Caregiving:

Technology:

Work:

End of Life:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Dec. 29 – Jan. 4, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Personal Finance:

  • Your money: What to do now: Expert advice on how to ride out the financial storm. Consumer Reports, Dec. 2008.
  • Alternatives to Target-Date Funds: With these 'no-fuss' funds struggling, there are better options. SmartMoney, December 29.

Retirement:

Social Security:

Housing:

  • New rules rev up reverse mortgages: A new federal housing law has raised the ceiling on the amount of money seniors can obtain from a reverse mortgage and lowered the fees charged for the loan. Bankrate.com, December 30.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Dec. 22 – 28, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Social Security:

Insurance:

Caregiving:

End of Life:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Dec. 15 – 21, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Social Security:

Insurance:

Caregiving:

End of Life:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Dec. 8 – 14, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Fixing the 401(k): Lawmakers are floating a number of ideas to protect your retirement savings. Here are a few possible changes. Money Magazine, December 12.
  • Seniors face grim choices amid market shock: Many are delaying retirement, and even returning to work to cope with falling home values and deteriorating investments. CNNMoney.com, December 9.

Social Security:

Housing:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Dec. 1 – 7, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Smaller Southern cities target retirees: Attention retirees, smaller cities throughout the South want you. Associated Press, December 5.
  • Ready to Retire: How the baby boom generation is changing the concept of retirement. Newsweek, December 4.
  • The Hidden Costs of Retiring Early: Almost everyone fantasizes about swapping the cubicle and BlackBerry for a life of permanent leisure while they’re young enough to enjoy it. And untold millions put in long hours to make the fantasy a reality. But increasingly, America’s patchwork health care system is making it harder to leave the rat race early. Smart Money, December 1.
  • Downsizing your way to retirement: With our nation's present financial crisis, now, more than ever, many of us are looking for new ways to downsize. But for many retirees, downsizing isn't merely an option -- it's a necessary survival strategy that could stretch savings and prevent a critical money crunch later on. All it takes is one or two unfortunate life events to throw one's retirement plans into a tailspin. Bankrate.com.

Insurance:

Work:

End of Life:

  • The end-of-life discussion can be made easier: At Alexandra Drane's house, those topics may have come up, but so did this: a discussion of how family members want their medical care handled if and when they are approaching death and cannot speak for themselves. USA Today, December 1.

Xtra!

  • Youthfulness an American obsession at what cost? It is a common sentiment in a society where many of us strive to look and feel decades younger — to prove to ourselves and the world that we are healthier and more vital than our parents were at our age. Associated Press, December 6.
  • Senior citizens can be lose life savings via power of attorney: Vulnerable senior citizens are increasingly losing their life savings to unscrupulous individuals who have power of attorney over their finances, the AARP says in a report set to be released Thursday. USA Today, December 3.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Nov. 24 – 30, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

  • The Minimal Impact of a Big Hypertension Study: The surprising news made headlines in December 2002. Generic pills for high blood pressure, which had been in use since the 1950s and cost only pennies a day, worked better than newer drugs that were up to 20 times as expensive. The New York Times, November 27.

Mind:

Medicare:

  • How to Sign Up for Medicare Part D: Here we go again. Senior citizens now have six weeks to sign up for another year of Medicare Part D -- the prescription drug benefit -- that goes along with Medicare Part A (hospitalization), Part B (outpatient and doctor costs) and Medigap (the supplement that covers other costs including co-payments and deductibles). TheStreet.com, November 28.
  • Studies Say Private Medicare Plans Have Added Costs, for Little Gain: Private health insurance plans, which serve nearly a fourth of all Medicare beneficiaries, have increased the cost and complexity of the program without any evidence of improving care, researchers say in studies to be published Monday. The New York Times, November 23.

Personal Finance:

  • Max Out Your Retirement Savings: For most people, the best way to cut your tax bill today is to maximize your retirement savings for tomorrow. Kiplinger’s, November 28.

Retirement:

  • How to Find a Low-Tax Place to Retire: Retiring in a town with low taxes can help retirees stretch their fixed income. U.S. News and World Report, November 25.
  • Retirement Rescue: Stay on the job. Defer spending. Grit your teeth and take a hard look at your portfolio. Forbes, December 8.

Investing:

Housing:

  • Economy Keeps Seniors from Retirement Homes; Others Must Pay Medical or Mortgage Bill: Unable to sell their homes in declining market, many elderly cannot afford to buy retirement homes. Senior Journal, November 25.
  • Debt Struggles and Elderly Living: The credit crisis is battering the two largest publicly traded operators of housing for the elderly. One of them, Sunrise Senior Living, is trying to stave off bankruptcy. The other, Brookdale Senior Living, is considered likely to resolve its short-term problems, but it faces a mountain of debt in the next few years. The New York Times, November 25.

Caregiving:

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Nov. 17 – 23, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

  • Exercise Keeps the Brain Young: Experiments in mice find running increases production of neural stem cells. HealthDay, November 21.
  • Five ways to keep Alzheimer's away: Blanche Danick may be 86 years old, but she's pretty hip. She keeps up with all the latest health news, and a while back, she called her daughter wanting to know whether she should start taking the herb ginkgo biloba. She'd heard it might stave off Alzheimer's disease. CNN, November 20.
  • Gingko biloba doesn't block Alzheimer's: Hopes have been dashed once and for all that the dietary supplement ginkgo biloba can protect against age-related dementia and the memory-destroying disease Alzheimer's, according to a large government-funded study out today. USA Today, November 19.
  • Fewer Brain 'Tangles' May Mean Smarter Old Age: Autopsies of quick-witted elderly hint at how they stayed that way. HealthDay, November 17.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Scrupulous savers want to safeguard their nest egg: A Chino Hills couple close to retirement spent a lifetime saving and investing. Now they feel threatened by the rough stock market. Los Angeles Times, November 23.
  • 401(k)s: Employer Contributions Get the Ax: Desperate to cut costs, more and more companies are eliminating their matching contributions to employee 401(k) plans. Business Week, November 24.
  • Target-date funds not a slam-dunk decision: Baby boomers who were smart enough to invest in target-date funds -- those no-brainer, one-size-fits-all vehicles that automatically shift to more conservative investments over time -- have escaped a lot of the tumult, right? Not exactly. Bankrate.com, November 20.
  • Happy New Year? Not for some: Come Jan. 1, more than 10 million American workers who save for retirement in 403(b) plans may not be so eager to hear the phrase "Happy New Year." MarketWatch, November 19.
  • Rebuilding Your Wealth: The nightmarish markets have taken their toll on consumers’ assets—and their confidence. But believe it or not, the crash has also created opportunities. Smart Money, November 18.

Retirement:

Scams:

Housing:

  • Unable to Sell Homes, Elderly Forgo Assisted Living: The housing crisis has kept thousands of older Americans who need support and care from moving into retirement communities or assisted-living centers, effectively stranding them in their own homes. The New York Times, November 21.

Insurance:

Caregiving:

  • Caring for Family, Caring for Yourself: Whether you choose to be a family caregiver or the job is thrust upon you by circumstances, your most important responsibility beyond caring for your ill or disabled relative is caring for yourself. The New York Times, November 17.

Technology:

Work:

  • 7 great paychecks for golden oldies: You may have planned to sip margaritas on the beach during your retirement, but if the recent stock market tumble has taken a good chunk of your savings with it, you may need to explore other options. Part-time work can help you pick up a few extra paychecks to cover basic expenses or perks such as travel and entertainment while your retirement portfolio rebounds. Bankrate.com, November 18.
  • Financial Woes Force Boomers to Work Longer. That's Good: According to a study in October by AARP, 65% of people over the age of 45 say they will delay retirement if the economic situation doesn't improve significantly. Time, November 18.

Xtra!

  • Baby Boomers Moving In With Adult Children: Both sides can cut housing costs and swap child and elder care. But tensions are likely, too. U.S. News and World Report. November 20.
  • AARP May Face Serious Challenges to Its Integrity, Non-Profit Status, Membership Claim: Crack opens with Senate Finance Committee’s ranking member demanding answers to questions about misleading marketing of insurance by AARP. Senior Journal, November 19.
  • The Baby Boomer Vote - Sandwiched Again: Age may have played a bigger role in the presidential campaign than race or sex. U.S. News and World Report, November 19.
  • Boomerang Parents: There’s talk that Michelle Obama’s 71-year-old mother, Marian Robinson, may take up residence in the White House, to lend a hand with the children as she did during the campaign. Joe Biden’s mom, 91-year-old Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, could be headed for a new home in the vice presidential residence at the Naval Observatory. The New York Times. November 18.
  • Exercises reveal what it's like to have Alzheimer's: Arden Courts, which specializes in the care of people with dementia, recently instituted the training exercise to raise its employees' understanding of the challenges that residents face. The Dallas Morning News, November 17.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Nov. 10 – 16, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

  • Mixing Plavix, heartburn drugs raises heart attack risk: Stent patients who take the blood thinner Plavix along with certain heartburn drugs may face a greater risk of heart attack, stroke and other dangerous events, according to a study released Tuesday. Associated Press, November 12.
  • Crestor would save lives at $500,000 each: Using Crestor to prevent heart attacks and save lives in apparently healthy people would add nearly $10 billion a year to the nation's medical bill, according to calculations released Monday. USA Today, November 11.

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Retirement annuities - Cash for life: A new breed of annuity can help smooth out the uncertainties of retirement. Fortune, November 14.
  • How to save your retirement: With the risk to your No. 1 goal growing, you may be wondering what to do now. CNNMoney.com, November 10.
  • Rightsizing your retirement: As the stock market sags, retirement savers must revisit their long-term options. Christian Science Monitor, November 10.
  • Best retirement moves this year: Whether you are just getting started or fine-tuning your retirement plan, there are several things you can do today to boost your chances of being financially secure in your retirement years. Bankrate.com, November 10.

Caregiving:

  • When Families Take Care of Their Own: Relatively little official attention has been paid to those people who provide the overwhelming bulk of services for those who are unable to care for themselves. The New York Times, November 10.

End of Life:

Xtra!

  • Older adults' sexual desires don't have to fade: New studies on the sex lives of 57- to 85-year-old Americans find that such activity doesn't have to fade with age, but it helps to stay healthy and positive. Los Angeles Times, November 17.
  • Florida Vision Test Law: Fewer Traffic Deaths Among Elderly: 2004 legislation appears responsible, but study finds reasons why are more complex. HealthDay, November 11.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Nov. 3 – 9, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Time to rescue America's retirement plans: Add to the list of things Barack Obama must do after he becomes president on Jan. 20: Fix the nation's retirement system and fast. And I'm not talking Social Security. That's the least of our worries. MarketWatch, November 6.
  • Obama proposals include retirement plan changes: Retirement initiatives among economic priorities in Obama administration. Associated Press, November 6.
  • Retirement, Race and the Next President: We need a national discussion about race and retirement, and here’s why: White households in the United States had a median net worth of $118,300 in 2004, the most recent year for which Federal Reserve data is available—10 times the median net worth of the typical black household, which was just $11,800. SmartMoney, November 3.

Insurance:

  • A No-Nonsense Look at Long-Term Care: Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance are partnering for the first time to offer two Long-Term Care Phone-In Days - Thursday, Nov. 13th and Friday, Nov. 21st from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Kiplinger’s, November 5.
  • AARP questioned on health plans: Some health plans offered by AARP, the older Americans advocacy group, mislead consumers into thinking they're protected from catastrophic health costs but leave them vulnerable to paying tens of thousands of dollars, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, says. USA Today, November 3.
  • AARP suspends sales of some health plans: AARP, the advocacy group for older Americans, said Friday it would voluntarily suspend sales of a type of health insurance plan critics say leaves policyholders vulnerable to tens of thousands of dollars in costs. USA Today, November 7.

Work:

End of Life:

  • Delicate Calculus at End of Life: Washington State joined Oregon in legalizing physician-assisted suicide, but for terminal patients and their doctors the questions are growing more difficult. The New York Times, November 6.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Oct. 27 - Nov. 2, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

  • Medicare drug plan spending drops $6B in 2008: In a rare bit of good news for taxpayers, the cost of the Medicare prescription drug program fell $6 billion this year — savings driven by the widespread use of low-cost generic drugs. USA Today, October 31.

Personal Finance:

  • Tax strategies for retirement savers: With many retirement accounts in the tank this year, presidential candidates and other lawmakers have called for all sorts of measures aimed at helping people pick up the pieces of their broken nest eggs. MarketWatch, October 29.
  • More companies may end 401(k) match: As the economic slump deepens, more companies are expected to join General Motors in suspending matches of contributions to their employees' 401(k) retirement accounts. USA Today, October 28.
  • The biggest raise you'll ever get: The upside to an empty nest. Much fuller pockets. Make sure you don't blow the windfall. Money Magazine, October 27.
  • 5 Questions to Ask Your Financial Planner: This is a great time to assess the help you've been getting from your financial planner. Everyone's been losing money, so you shouldn't be unnecessarily harsh on your planner just for having a negative return. Kiplinger’s, October 27.

Retirement:

  • How Not To Retire: After working as a general contractor for 25 years, Michael Spark has spent the last two years of retirement doing exactly what he loves: teaching kids how to sail near his home on the Jersey shore and being town council president. Forbes.com, November 1.
  • Ease Into Retirement: For some people, retirement is a long-awaited respite from a job they never liked. For others, it's the chance to do all those things they never seemed to have time for earlier in life. Motley Fool, October 30.
  • Reverse Mortgages Get Better: New rules allow seniors to borrow more and even buy a new home. Kiplinger's, October 29.

Caregiving:

End of Life:

Xtra!

  • Is 100 the New 80?: Centenarians Studied to Find the Secret of Longevity. Scientific American, October 28.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



October 20 - 26, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Investing:

  • Age-specific investment advice: Whether you are just starting out or already in retirement, you may not be comfortable with recent market swings. That means your risk tolerance likely is low. Bankrate.com, October 22.

Social Security:

  • You Can Have Your Benefits and Defer Them, Too: Under a little-known part of the law, retirees who start collecting Social Security benefits can change their minds and start over later, reaping higher payments. The New York Times, October 22.

Caregiving:

Volunteering:

  • Volunteers Go Into the Wild: Across the country, 50-, 60- and 70-somethings are increasingly opting to volunteer in state and national parks after careers often spent in hectic jobs. The New York Times, October 22.

Work:

  • U.S. financial crisis adds pressure to keep working: With stock portfolios shrinking in recent weeks, and house values sinking over the past year, many older Americans still on the job say they see no end in sight. Reuters, October 23.
  • Working Longer as Jobs Contract: As pensions shrink and layoffs loom, older employees are caught in the middle. Many must rethink or postpone their retirement. The New York Times, October 22.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



October 13 - 19, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • Middle-class Americans' retirement at risk: Traditional pension plans are disappearing in the private sector. Workers aren't saving enough in their voluntary 401(k) accounts. Longer life spans are stretching savings even thinner. Social Security remains under stress. Furthermore, all that was going on before retirement plans lost $2 trillion in the recent stock market dive. USA Today, October 18.
  • Retirement-Plan Reality Check: The ups and downs in the stock market have dealt a blow to most people's retirement accounts. But while short-term fluctuations may be stressful, they won't necessarily derail long-terms goals. TheStreet.com, October 16.
  • Will You Retire? New Economic Realities Keep More Americans In the Workforce Longer. The Washington Post, October 15.

Social Security:

Grandparenting:

Technology:

  • Robots and sensors to help elderly stay independent: Someday soon, older adults may not need to move into nursing homes because they'll have a household of technological wonders to keep an eye on them when they become frail. The Dallas Morning News, October 13.

Housing:

  • Delicate Debate Urged Over Withdrawal of Life Support: Gradual steps may benefit families but not the patient, and doctors need to communicate that more, study suggests. HealthDay, October 16.
  • Baby boomer deaths could fuel funeral industry: Beyond the convention center filled with glistening hearses, beyond the rows of perfectly arranged caskets and bottles of embalming fluid, funeral directors await perhaps their greatest windfall ever: The death of the baby boom generation. Associated Press, October 16.

Xtra!

  • Back to the future - living with your adult child: The kids are out of the house, your office building is a faded memory, and you've got lots of time and space all to yourself. Those are some of the purest joys of retirement. But a sudden change in circumstances could have you considering whether to live with one of your adult children once again. Bankrate.com, October 14.
  • Eons.com Loses Some of Its Baby Boomer Optimism: An Eons.com Member Survey Reflects a Suddenly Bleak Outlook. Associated Content, October 13.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



October 6 – 12, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Across the Country, Fear About Savings, the Job Market and Retirement: As the market continued its steep slide, many Americans say they are sensing losses beyond the short-term hits to their portfolios. The New York Times, Octoner 11.
  • Protecting Your Retirement Savings in Volatile Times: Wall Street's eight-day losing streak has wreaked further havoc on people's retirement accounts. Investors have lost a stunning $2 trillion in their retirement savings over the past 15 months, according to Congress's top budget analyst. SmartMoney, October 10.
  • The ins and outs of reverse mortgages: For homeowners 62 years and older, a reverse mortgage may seem like an excellent way to tap into home equity, generating much-needed retirement income. After all, the loan typically doesn't have to be repaid as long as the last surviving borrower lives in the home or until the home is sold. Bankrate.com, October 10.
  • Inflation brings bigger benefit, and higher expenses: Social Security recipients to get benefit hike soon, but steep costs eat up checks. MarketWatch, October 8.
  • Americans' retirement accounts lost $2 trillion in past 15 months: The upheaval that has engulfed the financial industry and sent the stock market plummeting is devastating workers' savings, forcing people to hold off on major purchases and consider delaying their retirement, said Peter Orszag, the head of the Congressional Budget Office. Associated Press, October 7.
  • How to Find a Financial Planner: 6 steps to help you avoid swindlers and find a qualified adviser. U.S. News and World Report, October.

Retirement:

  • Retirement Wreck: For many Americans, 401(k) plans were supposed to be their own little golden parachutes into retirement. Now, it seems, those parachutes may not open in time. Washington Post, October 12.
  • 10 Great Places to Retire for Democrats and Republicans: Some retirees want to live among members of their own political party. U.S. News and World Report, October 8.

Investing:

  • Panic Creates Sale of the Millennium: The markets have been hit by the financial equivalent of a neutron bomb. It has left the companies standing, but destroyed the value of the shares that represent their businesses. TheStreet.com, October 10.
  • As Market Falls, Start Making Plans: It's amazing how easily fear overcomes resolution, and how easily long-term investors turn into panicked sellers in a market decline. TheStreet.com, October 6.

Social Security:

Caregiving:

  • The honeymoon's over -- Mom and Dad need you: In 2004, the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP reported that over 44 million Americans care for an adult family member or friend. Almost 80 percent of these are caring for someone older than 50. CNN.com, October 9.

Technology:

End of Life:

Xtra!

  • For older voters, too, a call for change: Support among seniors appears evenly split in nationwide polls. Obama and McCain each garnered 47 percent support from likely voters 65 and older in an AP-Yahoo News poll conducted Sept. 5 to 15. Associated Press, October 10.
  • Seniors embrace green ways: Economizing is important to retirees living on fixed incomes — even those in more affluent areas — but so is preserving the planet for their grandkids. USA Today, October 8.
  • In ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Dear,’ a Hurt for the Elderly: Studies find that speaking to older people in the belittling style known as elderspeak can have health consequences. The New York Times, October 6.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, 2008

Health:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Retirement savings: Regroup or ride it out? Jitters about retirement savings have mushroomed as the Wall Street crisis has grown ever more ominous. During the first week of the meltdown last month, $411 million in 401(k) money was moved into fixed-income funds, including stable value, bonds and money market funds, according to Hewitt Associates. USA Today, October 3.
  • Stock losses take heavy toll on retirement savings: So close and yet so far. It's a frustration being felt by Americans who thought the finish line to their working life was almost in sight. Associated Press, October 1.
  • Retirees Scaling Back: Yes, retirees need to rein in their spending. But it's not as dire as the headlines might indicate. SmartMoney Magazine, September 30.

Retirement:

  • Hard Times Wreak Havoc On Retirements: Nation's Financial Crisis Making It Harder For Retirees To Ease Into Golden Years. CBS News, October 4.
  • Tapping a Portfolio in a Bear Market: New retirees should reduce withdrawals if they want their investments to last a lifetime. Kiplinger's, October 1.
  • Calculate Retirement With Confidence: An annual survey released shortly after the collapse of investment bank Bear Stearns earlier this year noted that fewer workers and retirees were confident about saving enough for a comfortable retirement. TheStreet.com, September 30.

Caregiving:

  • Choosing Long-Term Care: Advice From an Expert: For many of us, elderly parents and adult children alike, nothing is more complicated or consequential than understanding the differences between the many available permutations of long-term care, choosing which is most appropriate for our families and figuring out how to pay for it. New York Times, September 29.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



September 22 – 28, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

  • Stroke drug helps, even if given later: Stroke sufferers can still benefit from clot-busting medicine even if they receive it an hour or so beyond the current three-hour window after symptoms start, an important new study suggests. Associated Press, September 25.
  • Gene-targeted drug could help heart patients: A drug touted as the first gene-targeted heart therapy reduced hospitalizations and deaths when given to heart failure patients with a specific genetic profile, researchers said Monday. USA Today, September 23.
  • Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease Found to Slow Cognitive Decline: ‘The results of this study should change the way we treat patients with Alzheimer's disease’ - treatment might even protect brain cells from further damage. Senior Journal, September 22.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

  • To retire comfortably, it all boils down to time: Everyone knows that wannabe retirees are in a bind today as they consider whether they have the financial security to make the leap. Shrinking nest eggs, nagging inflation, stagnant wages, vanishing pensions, dubious advice and runaway health care costs are among the obstacles that can block a retiree's escape route. USA Today, September 22.
  • America's Best Healthy Places to Retire: U.S. News writers profile 10 healthy retirement spots around the country. September 18.

Social Security:

Grandparenting:

Caregiving:

Volunteering:

Work:

  • Retiring where the jobs are: With more people planning to work in their retirement years, choosing where to live increasingly means checking out the local job market. A new AARP job site can help. Fortune, September 22.

Xtra!

  • Who will inherit your retirement account? Financial planners say it happens all too frequently: a person dies unexpectedly leaving ex-spouses or relatives they haven't seen in years large chunks of money because they hadn't updated their retirement plans or life insurance policies. Associated Press, September 26.
  • More parents move in with kids: The number of parents, siblings and other relatives who live with adult heads of households grew 42% from 2000 to 2007, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. USA Today, September 23.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



September 15 – 21, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

  • Simple Blood Test Could Spot Alzheimer's Risk: Levels of amyloid beta peptide increase before, decrease after disease presents, study says. HealthDay, September 19.
  • Forgetting: Is It Aging or Alzheimer's? How do you know what's normal (like forgetting your keys) and when things are growing more serious? U.S. News and World Report, September 19.

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

Retirement:

Social Security:

Caregiving:

  • Medicare Reaches Out to Caregivers: Medicare's new site for caregivers.The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has launched a new site for caregivers. The New York Times, September 18.

Volunteering:

Work:

  • Here's a Plan: Work Longer: Boomers say that they're ready to retire later and work in retirement. Good thing. Forbes Magazine, September 29.

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



September 8 – 14, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • How much do you know about IRAs? Many people seem unaware how useful IRAs can be as savings vehicles. MarketWatch, September 10.
  • Retire without taxes: Only one savings plan gives you the chance to free yourself from taxes in retirement. Are you making the most of it? Money Magazine, September 9.
  • Need money? You could tap your 401(k): Breaking open the 401(k) plan piggy bank can be tempting if you're in a financial jam. And it appears that more Americans are giving in -- jeopardizing their futures to meet current financial needs. Bankrate.com, September 9.
  • Coping with a late-career bear market: The perfect plan. Hoping to retire in seven years, the Smiths wonder if they'll have time to recover from the market downturn. CNNMoney.com, September 9.

Retirement:

  • 6 terrific towns on the water: Many baby boomers dream of retiring somewhere by the water. These half-dozen places are on a lake, a river or an ocean - yet they won't sink your retirement budget. Money, September 10.
  • Study - Impact of housing bubble on retirement: A look at study on how the housing bubble affected retirement security. The Associated Press, September 9.
  • Danger - Bumpy retirement ahead: For decades you worked hard, earned a competitive salary, lived within your means and faithfully socked money away in your 401(k). Yet here you are in your fifties or sixties, and suddenly your retirement dream has turned into a nightmare. Money Magazine, September 9.
  • Early retirement? Why it pays to stay: Companies are dangling buyouts before older workers, but the packages are rarely enough to support their lifestyles. CNNMoney.com, September 8.
  • The Top 50 U.S. Cities for Seniors: Survey ranks U.S. cities for senior living and lifestyle benefits. About.com, September 8.

Social Security:

  • Marriage and Social Security Benefits: Millions of couples blissfully say "I do" each year with perhaps only a fleeting thought of eventually retiring with their beloved. But married couples should pause to consider the array of Social Security options they have that their single counterparts don't. USNews.com, September 11.

Grandparenting:

Housing:

  • New homes focus on senior-friendly features: States and cities worried about where the growing number of senior citizens will live when they're older are starting to ask that all new homes be built to accommodate the elderly. USA Today, September 10.

Technology:

Xtra!

NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



September 1 - 7, 2008

Health:

Medicine:

Mind:

Medicare:

Personal Finance:

  • Using Nest Eggs Before Maturity: Despite Penalties, More Workers Are Borrowing From 401(k) Plans. Washington Post, September 2.
  • Bankruptcies soar for senior citizens: While the bankruptcy filing rate for those under 55 has fallen, it has soared for older Americans, according to a new analysis from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, which examined a sampling of noncommercial bankruptcies filed between 1991 and 2007. USA Today, September 1.
  • Unlocking your home equity: More people are using reverse mortgages to finance retirement, but the costs are steep. Fortune.
  • Medical Bills You Shouldn't Pay: In a controversial practice known as "balance billing," health-care providers are going after patients for money they don't owe. Business Week, August 28.

Social Security:

  • McCain, Obama Split Over Social Security: Presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama offered very different visions for solving Social Security's financial problems Saturday in separate appearances before AARP, a Washington lobby that advocates for older Americans. Associated Press, September 7.

Fraud Alert:

Grandparenting:

Xtra!

  • 'Good News' on marriage: Couples improve with age: Married couples in their later years often show a great deal of affection,says best-selling author Maggie Scarf, 77, who has spent more than 30 years studying relationships. USA Today, September 3.
  • Animals add love, excitement at senior-living centers: The pitter-patter of little feet is an increasingly common sound at nursing homes and senior-living residences. USA Today, September 1.
  • Extreme Experience - Septuagenarian CEOs: Seniors who run the show aren't the norm in business. But quite a number do. Here are 25 who can teach boomer and Gen Y managers a thing or two. Business Week, August 28.
NOTE: Articles linked by Senior Newswire may not be published without consent from the publication or outlet from which they came.



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