Most Popular Retirement Stories of 2015

Each year I compile a list of the most popular retirement articles on this blog for that year.  These are the individual articles that were read by hundreds or even thousands of people.  By listing them here, it gives readers the opportunity to make sure they did not miss one that would be particularly helpful to them.

Whether you are looking for the most important stories on where to retire, serious health issues or financial planning, these are the articles that attracted the most interest in 2015.

Here is your opportunity to go back and re-read the ones that you might find useful.

Popular Articles from 2015 

How to Have a Happy Marriage After Retirement - We all want to have a happy marriage.  However, when both a husband and wife retire and go from leading independent lives to being together nearly 24 hours a day, a great deal of stress can be put on the relationship.  No wonder this was the most popular retirement story of 2015.

Senior Discounts You Will Love! - We all want to save money, especially when we are living on a fixed income.  Learn how to take advantage of senior discounts, no matter where you live.

Why Millennials Resent Baby Boomers - Many Baby Boomers wonder why they have an uncomfortable relationship with the young adults in their lives.  This article will be very eye-opening and could help you engage in productive conversations with them.

The Baby Boomer Body Maintenance Plan - Most Baby Boomers want to stay healthy as long as they can.  This maintenance plan contains some of the information you will need to take care of yourself.

Free Tax Preparation Help - Did you know that most low and middle income U.S. senior citizens are qualified to receive free tax preparation help?  This article explains how to access this service in your own community.

Where to Retire in the U.S. on Social Security Alone - It is no secret that some parts of the U.S. are much more affordable than others.  If you are going to live on the average amount of Social Security in the U.S., then you need to know the locations where you can afford to live the most comfortably.  This article will help you choose the right place for you.

TIA Mini Strokes - Transient Ischemic Attacks - A surprising number of people experience a TIA each year.  Unfortunately, they can also lead to more serious problems.  Learn how to recognize the symptoms so you can get treated as soon as possible.

How to Prevent Colon Cancer - Did you know that the vast majority of colon cancers could be prevented?  Sadly, far too many people do not take the simple preventive measures that could save their lives.  Once you read this, there will be no more excuses.

Affordable California Coastal Retirement Communities - Have you ever dreamed of retiring somewhere along the coast of California? While most of the well-know beach communities are far out of reach of the average person, there are small towns near the coast where people could rent or buy a place to live at prices that are comparable to other parts of the U.S.  Check out this list.  Perhaps one of them could work for you.

Health Benefits of Holiday - We all know that there are dangers from the holidays ... eating too much, gaining weight, money worries and stress.  However, did you also know there are also health benefits?  Sometimes it is good to focus on the positive.

How to Draw Down Retirement Assets - If you are about to retire, how much money can you afford to take from your retirement savings each year and still feel confident your assets will last the rest of your life?  This article will help you make those calculations.

Loneliness and Isolation During Retirement - One of the most serious problems for retirees is that a large percentage of them become lonely and isolated.  However, it doesn't have to be that way.  There are ways to stay active and involved all over the United States.  This article will help you find the help you need and activities you will enjoy.

Update on the UCI 90+ Study at Laguna Woods Village - For over 30 years, the University of California in Irvine has been studying a group of retirees who live in the nearby retirement community of Laguna Woods Village. Some of those people have lived to be in their 90s or even over 100 years old. Why did some people live longer than the others?  Which ones got dementia and which ones kept their memories?  Are there steps you can take to increase the changes that you will be able to live to your 90s and be free of dementia?  Learn more about their research in this article.



If you are interested in learning more about where to retire, financial planning, common medical issues and changing family relationships, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo courtesy of morguefile.com.

Health Benefits of Holidays

We have all heard about how the holidays can wreck our health ... overeating, gaining weight, drinking too much, forgetting to exercise, becoming exhausted or stressed and financial worry.  Knowing all this is enough to make us want to skip the holidays completely.

This is why I was delighted to learn that there are also some health benefits of holidays.  Perhaps we would enjoy this period of time more if we could just focus on the benefits and do what we can to minimize the risks.

Below are some ways you can fully enjoy the health benefits of holidays. 

Giving Really is Better Than Receiving

We all like to get presents.  Did you know that it also makes us feel just as good to give a present as it does to receive one?  In fact, many people feel better when they give someone a gift than when they receive one.  Of course, you do not want to overdo it and add to your financial worries.  However, when we focus on giving and helping others during the holidays, we really will feel better about ourselves.

Give the Gift of an Experience

Not all gifts need to be something that comes in a box or bag.  Why not give the gift of a trip, lessons, an evening at the theater or some other experience gift ... especially if it is something you can share with the recipient?  According to a 2014 Cornell study, people who anticipate an experience are happier than those who purchase an item.

Shopping Burns Calories

Is there any other time of the year when you find yourself walking through shops and malls more than you do during the weeks before Christmas and other gift giving holidays?  You burn between 200 and 300 calories every hour you spend mall walking.  Even if you do not do much shopping, it can help you to get out of the house and do some window shopping.  The holiday decorations and music will lift your spirits and you will burn calories at the same time!

Singing Holiday Songs is Calming

Did you know that singing can reduce your stress hormones and boost your natural oxytocin ... also known as the love hormone?  Singing also slows your breathing in a way similar to what happens when you practice yoga.  Even if you just softly sing along to the music in the grocery store or mall, you will feel good.

Some Holiday Treats are Healthy

As reported in other articles in this blog, one tablespoon of cocoa a day can lower your LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.  It also improves your cognitive function and contributes to a healthy blood flow.

Another treat that can help you is peppermint.  It reduces inflammation in the colon, although the amount in a candy cane may not be enough to accomplish this.  However, just sniffing a candy cane can reduce food cravings and cut the amount of calories you eat!

The Holidays Can Bring Out Feelings of Gratitude

Do you send out holiday notes or cards?  If so, consider mentioning the reasons you feel grateful for the year that has just passed.  People who jot down the reasons they are grateful tend to be more optimistic.  Some studies report that grateful people exercise more and see their doctors less.

Enjoy the Health Benefits of Holidays

Like many other health issues, your attitude can make all the difference.  Focus on the good aspects of the holidays, make sure you eat right, exercise and get plenty of rest.  Enjoy new experiences. Give fun gifts you can afford.  Sing.  Be grateful for anything good in your life.

Do these things and you truly will get the most out of the holidays.

Are you interested in learning more about improving your health as you age or other aspects of retirement planning?  If so, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles!

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  Photo of mall taken by author, Deborah-Diane.  All rights reserved.

Source:  "Why Holidays Are Healthier than You Think," Reader's Digest, Dec. 2014/Jan. 2015

How to Cope with Arthritis Pain

It seems that everyone I know in the Baby Boomer age group is dealing with sore knees, painful hands, irritated shoulders or other stiff joints.  Although arthritis may be a common part of the aging process, there is no reason to allow it to define who you are or to let it completely restrict your activities.  With a few modifications, most people can continue to enjoy everything they like to do.

Of course, if you suffer from arthritis and you are feeling stiff and sore, you may not feel like doing much of anything.  This is a poor decision.  Instead, if you want to continue to be active and busy, you need to learn how to cope with arthritis.

How to Cope with Arthritis Pain

While most people with arthritis may experience pain, stiffness and discomfort, there are several things they can do to ease that pain.

* Use the medications your doctor prescribes or suggests.  Your physician may recommend an over-the-counter medication such as a low dose of Tylenol or Aleve.  In more extreme cases, you may need to take a prescription medication.  You may have to try several different medications before you find the one that works best for you.  Don't give up until you find something that eases your discomfort so you can remain active.

*  Experiment with supplements that help some people with arthritis pain.  Among the supplements you may want to try, with your doctor's approval, are glucosamine combined with chondroitin or MSM.  Other people have been helped by taking fish oil, faxseed oil, and/or avocado/soybean oil.  Make sure your doctor knows what you are taking, so nothing you take conflicts with what they prescribe. With your physician's approval, however, you may find something that eases your stiffness.

*  Stay as active as possible.  You will become more flexible and have less pain if you participate in low-impact exercises such as yoga, walking, Tao Chi and water exercises.  Start gradually so you do not do too much too soon.  Make sure you do something for exercise every day.  It is also a good idea to break your exercise up into small pieces.  Strive to get a total of at least 40 minutes of exercise a day, but it can be broken into two or three sessions that are 15 to 20 minutes long.

*  Lose weight.  Each time you lose one pound, you will take four pounds of pressure off your hips, knees and ankles.  This will also help ease your pain.

*  When pain flares up, take time to rest your joints.  Alternating activity with relaxation is the ideal way to help your joints.  However, you do not want to remain inactive for too many days unless you are recovering from surgery or your doctor advises you to rest for a lengthy period of time. Otherwise, resume your activities as soon as possible.

*  Alternate heat and cold when your joints are inflamed.  In addition to taking medication and resting your joints, you may also want to use heating pads or cold packs on your painful joints.  It may also help to take a warm bath.

*  At times, you may want to apply a topical painkiller.  Many people have found temporary relief when they have used creams containing capsaicin on a sore, inflamed joint.

*  Practice relaxation techniques.  Your state-of-mind can have a tremendous effect on your level of pain.  Practice yoga, deep breathing, meditation, aromatherapy, guided imagery, hypnosis or other relaxation techniques to help you learn to be less sensitive to pain.

*  Consider natural treatments such as massage, acupuncture or acupressure. These alternative treatments may help you relax and reduce the pain you are experiencing.

*   See a chiropractor or osteopath if you think your arthritis pain has caused your body to get out of alignment.  Their adjustments can help you feel more comfortable and increase your range of motion.

*  Learn to listen to your body.  You need to recognize the signs of fatigue and be able to identify when you might be putting too much stress on a joint.  This will help you know when you should back off and modify your activity.  For example, if walking on land is too painful at first, you might want to try walking in a swimming pool.  Don't overdo it, though!

*  Modify your activities, as needed.  Finally, you may have to make some small changes to your lifestyle in order to accommodate your arthritis, especially if it is severe.  Depending on where you feel the most pain, you may need to do things such as purchase an electric jar opener, sit on a tall kitchen stool when cooking for any length of time, have your door knobs replaced by levers, or ask for other assistance devices.  You may benefit from a stair lift to help you get up to a second floor bedroom or a comfy chair lift that helps you get back on your feet after sitting.  Don't be embarrassed to ask for help when you need it!

You can also order products online that will help you adapt to your arthritis.  Use this Amazon link to see some of the different products that are available, whether you order them from Amazon or not.  Amazon has everything from special gloves, handy grips, topical medications and much more.  You may discover the perfect solution to a problem that has caused you to restrict your activities.

You can find more information about how to cope with your arthritis from the Arthritis Foundation at arthritis.org.

If you are looking for more health and retirement information, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles of use to Baby Boomers.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  morguefile.com

How to Avoid Poverty for Single Women Retirees

If you are a single women approaching retirement, you are at much higher risk of living in poverty as you age.  Approximately one out of three Baby Boomer women is either divorced or never married.  While they may have managed just fine on their salaries during their working years, the sad truth is that single women over the age of 65 who were never married, or who are divorced or widowed are three times more likely to be living in poverty. 

The statistics are even more dire for minority single women than they are for Caucasian women, although a significant number of single women of all races are impacted.

Poverty Rates for Retired Single Women Over Age 65

Caucasians - 1 out of 6
African-Americans - 1 in 3
Hispanics - 1 in 2

Reasons for High Rate of Poverty for Single Women Retirees

There are a variety of circumstances that contribute to the high poverty rates for single women over the age of 65.

*  Women who live with a spouse benefit from his Social Security benefits and pensions while he is alive.  In addition, they are eligible to receive their own payment that equals about one-half of their husband's Social Security, depending on the wife's age when she begins to collect.  If she becomes widowed, her Social Security benefits will usually be increased to close to what her husband was receiving before he died.  She may also have access to the proceeds of private pensions and investments.  Single women do not have the benefit of receiving as much income from a spouse.  Even if they are divorced and were married over ten years, at most they can only collect half of what their former spouse received in benefits, with no increase if he dies before her.

*  In general, women earn less than men, so the amount they have paid into Social Security and the amount they will collect based on their own earnings is often substantially less.  They are more likely to be in either lower paying or part-time jobs.  If they are unmarried at the time of retirement, their benefits are likely to be much lower than the benefits men receive.

*  Women often spend less time in the workforce because they are frequently expected to drop out periodically to act as caregivers ... either for their children, their parents or other members of their family.  On average, women caregivers take 12 years out of the workforce, which dramatically reduces their lifetime earnings and Social Security benefits.  This can have a devastating effect on retired women, since half of elderly women depend on Social Security as their only source of income.

*  In addition to qualifying for lower Social Security benefits, women also tend to have much less money saved in private retirement accounts and pensions.

*  Women tend to live about 3 to 4 years longer than men, on average, which means their meager savings must last longer.

*  The average man over 65 receives $27,657 a year in income from a combination of Social Security, pensions, dividends and other income; the average women over 65 receives only about $15,323 a year from all income sources.

*  Marriage rates continue to decline, which means the issue of poverty in retirement for single women is likely to continue for generations.  In fact, it is estimated that 25% of young adults will never marry.  When this is added to the number of women who will be divorced or widowed, many young women are likely to face the same situation as the women in the Baby Boomer generation.

Proposed Government Solutions to Reduce Poverty for Single Women Retirees

Currently, no one has come up with a solution to the issue of how to help single, elderly women retirees.  Here are some of the ideas that are being tossed around:

*  Expand Social Security benefits for people over the age of 80 or 85 ... an age group that is primarily female.

*  Change the way Social Security benefits are calculated so that women get credit for those periods of time when they are working as full-time, unpaid caregivers for their children, parents or other family members.

*  Giving everyone either a flat minimum payment or a means-tested minimum benefit, regardless of their marital status or how much they have earned during their working years.

What Women Can Do to Lower Their Own Poverty after Retirement

Many women who are struggling to make ends meet month after month may not be able to do very much to improve their situation.  However, until the government makes changes, there are a few things women should try to do, if possible:

*  Work full-time rather than part-time, for as many years as possible, to increase the amount of Social Security benefits they will receive in the future.

*  Look for jobs with the government or employers who provide a private pension or match contributions to a 401(k).

*  Contribute to an IRA or other pension plan.

*  Delay retirement until age 70 in order to maximize their Social Security benefits.

Other Help for Low Income Retirees

In addition, there are programs available to help low income retirees.  You may be interested in reading my article on this topic:

"Public Assistance for Low Income Retirees"

Source:

"The Next Social Security Crisis: Why American Women are Bearing the Brunt of the Retirement Crunch,"  Time Magazine, August 3, 2015, pg. 48.

If you are interested in more information about financial planning for retirement, where to retire, health issues, family challenges and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

Photo credit:  Morguefile.com