Websites to Help Protect Your Identity

If you are like most people, you probably feel as though your identity has been sold so many times that everyone in the world must have your name, address, Social Security number and other private information by now.  Identity theft is an ongoing problem and it seems to get worse every day.

However, there are still a few things you can do to protect yourself.  While no system is perfect, with the help of a few websites you can at least reduce the amount of information that can be used against you.

The first step you need to take is to limit the amount and kinds of information about yourself that is available.  Next, you need to know how to check your credit information to make sure it is correct and has not been contaminated by a company's carelessness or by someone who has been using your identity for their own purposes.  Then, learn how to keep your personal information private whenever you use social media.  Finally, consider using a credit tracking company to protect your identity in the future.  Below is the information you will need to do these things.

How to Get Yourself Off Phone and Mailing Lists

Everyone should contact the services below and have their name removed from as many lists as possible.  Start with these free services:

To Remove Your Name from Direct Mailing Lists:
www.dmachoice.org

or write:
DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY  10512

For Telemarketing Lists - Use the Government Do Not Call List:
www.donotcall.gov
1-888-382-1222

Remove the name of deceased individuals, whose identity is frequently stolen:
www.ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php

Opt out of pre-approved credit offers:
www.optoutprescreen.com
1-888-5 OPT OUT

Remove your email address from internet or email ads:
www.dmachoice.org

How to Check Your Credit Reports

Everyone is entitled to free copies of their credit reports.  It is important that you check yours several times a year to make sure no one is taking out credit cards or opening accounts in your name.  You can contact the credit bureaus directly or you can contact them all at once by using the single service listed below.  Do NOT pay to get your credit reports.  If anyone asks for your credit card information, you are on the wrong site.

www.annualcreditreport.com
1-877-322-8228

Another site that provides free credit reports and will help monitor credit applications in your name is CreditKarma.com. 

https://www.creditkarma.com/

A third site that allows you to check your credit scores is WalletHub.com.  They will also monitor your accounts and you can join for free.  They also update credit scores and credit reports every day, so your information is always as current as possible.

https://wallethub.com

Learn How to Keep Your Information Private on Social Media

Both the police and criminals have become adept at using social media.  The police use it to catch criminals; the criminals use it to find victims.  You do not want to make yourself an easy victim.

Read the privacy information on sites like Facebook.  Make sure you use the tightest privacy settings possible.

Do not become Facebook friends with people that you do not know very well.  Unfriend people who you suspect are sharing your posts with strangers.

Just to be extra careful, do not post detailed personal information on social media, especially your travel plans.  Wait to post photos of your trips until after you get back home.  You do not want strangers to know that you are out-of-town.

In addition, reset your passwords periodically, especially if you think your account has been hacked.

Services that Protect Your Credit

In addition, if you are still concerned that your private information might be stolen, use a service like LifeLock.  For a monthly fee, they will give you your credit rating or report to you any attempt to open an account or credit card in your name.  If you are the person who opened the account, then there is no problem.  If you weren't the person, then you will be alerted and take immediate action.

www.lifelock.com

A free service which will also give you free credit reports and monitor credit applications that are made in your name is Credit Karma.

https://www.creditkarma.com/ 

Take Action to Protect Your Identity

With so many hackers and other criminals, it is important for all of us to do everything we can to protect our identity.  While we would like to think that the government and corporations are doing it for us, the truth is that they are not doing a good job of protecting us.  We have to make sure we do everything we can on our own.

Another step you can take is to ask your bank and credit card companies to send you new cards that contain chip technology rather than the "old-fashioned" strips.  The chips are much harder to hack.

If you are looking for more information to help with your financial planning or other information of use to retirees, 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 credit:  morguefile.com

Senior Living Communities for Baby Boomers

Senior living communities have many activities, today.

Occasionally, I allow retirement experts in specific fields to write a guest post for this blog, if I believe it is on a topic that would be of interest to Baby Boomers … either those who have already retired or those who are planning to retire.

The guest post below was provided by Jacqueline Hatch of Seniorly and deals with the ways in which senior living communities are changing so they will be more attractive to Baby Boomers as we age.   Seniorly helps match retirees with senior housing in California, but the information Jacqueline provides in this post applies to similar communities throughout the United States.

Whether we like to think about it or not, most of us will eventually need to spend a portion of our lives in an independent living retirement community, an assisted living facility or a skilled nursing home.  Many of us may have preconceived opinions about these types of living arrangements, especially if our parents or grandparents have lived in one.  However, Baby Boomers will be pleased to know that many of these types of residences have improved dramatically over the past few years.  The guest post below discusses some of the improvements you might expect to see in one of today’s senior living communities.  It also explains how you can find more information about living options in California, if that is where you want to retire.

Senior Living Communities Change to Appeal to Baby Boomers

by Jacqueline Hatch

Baby boomers entering retirement age have a different set of expectations when it comes to considering residency at assisted living, independent living, and skilled nursing communities. To meet these specific needs and preferences, communities are now transforming to improve their offerings, making their homes more marketable to a younger demographic.

Senior housing providers are looking to rebrand in order to highlight their full continuum of care, going beyond basic needs such as health care to offer more to their residents. It’s not uncommon for these communities to offer art and music classes, film nights, community outreach options, lifelong learning programs and even happy hours for the enjoyment of community residents.

After all, one of the greatest benefits of living in a care community is the socialization aspect. In their effort to attract boomers, communities are working to highlight the aspects of their programs that support socialization. Communal dining options, fitness classes and philanthropy opportunities all appeal to younger folks who want to remain happy, active and engaged as they age.

Our friends at Seniorly.com share articles and blogposts on the topics of aging, health care and fitness for older adults.

Get more information ontopics that matter to you at Seniorly >>

Do you need to find senior housing for yourself or a loved one? Make the search process easier by signing up with Seniorly for free; you’ll get access to local community profiles, as well as a friendly customer support team and information on pricing and availability.

*****

Are you looking for additional information on where to retire in the U.S. or abroad, financial planning, common medical issues, Social Security, Medicare or more, 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 credit:  morguefile.com

New and Expanded Medicare Programs

Beginning in early 2016, Medicare has announced several new and expanded programs which could benefit millions of Americans.  This information is based on a longer article by Deb Jones, "Changes in Medicare for 2016 Include Expansion of Coordinated Care."  Readers can find links to the full article at the end of this post.

First, however, you will find an introduction to the 2016 changes.  If you need more information, you are encouraged to check out the full article which was originally published in The Daily Voice News.

The first change will be an increase in the number of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  Medicare has been experimenting with this approach for several years and discovered that it has improved outcomes and saves money ... certainly the direction we all want to see Medicare going.  This new type of coordinated care will be expanded to include over 20 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries.

In the second change, Medicare has agreed to pay doctors to discuss Advance Directives with their patients.  This will allow people to have an in-depth discussion with their physician about end-of-life decisions.  In my personal experience, my HMO has classes to help patients go through their Advance Directive so they can decide for themselves what type of care they want at the end of their life, should they not be able to communicate their wishes when they are near death.  Advance Directives take pressure off family members who do not want to be responsible for making these final decisions.  In addition, Advance Directives allow people to think about and convey their wishes long before the time comes.

The third Medicare change would allow more people to receive some types of curative treatments while they are in hospice care.  Currently, patients cannot be in hospice care and undergoing any curative treatments other than palliative care, which is only intended to keep the patient comfortable during the last weeks or months of their life. This trial program is still in an experimental stage and may not be available in all locations.

Finally, Medicare is initiating a trial of a 90-day comprehensive treatment program for people undergoing joint replacement surgeries. 


Below is the introduction to a more detailed article about these Medicare changes.  For more information about any of the programs mentioned above, click on the title of the article or use the link below the Table of Contents:

"Changes in Medicare for 2016 Include Expansion of Coordinated Care"

As Medicare in the United States begins its 51^st year, there are a number of changes of interest regarding Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), counseling regarding end-of-life decisions and trial changes in areas such as hospice care and joint replacements.

1. Coordinated Care Expands to Encompass More than 20 Percent of all Medicare Beneficiaries

2. Medicare to Pay for Annual Voluntary Advance Directive Consultations

3. Medicare Begins Evaluating Hospice Care that Includes Curative Services

4. Medicare to Evaluate Trial of 90-Day Care for Joint Replacement Surgeries

The above intro was re-printed by permission from the author.  Read the full article at:

http://thedailyvoicenews.com/2016/01/25/changes-in-medicare-in-2016-include-expansion-of-coordinated-care/

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

If you are interested in learning more about Social Security & Medicare, common medical issues, where to retire, financial planning and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page for links to hundreds of additional articles.

Photo credit courtesy of @MedicareGov (Medicare.gov Twitter account)

Guide For When Someone Dies

Whether it is a parent, spouse or another close family member, when someone close to you dies it can be a very overwhelming and confusing time for those who are left behind.  Because of that, it can be helpful to have a simple set of checklists that cover most of the things you will need to do to get through the first few days.

While nothing can make it easier to survive the trauma of a death, it can at least be reassuring to have a list of the specific tasks you need to complete.  The information in this post was provided by a local mortuary and, although the list is lengthy, I thought it was worth summarizing here.

Who You Should Notify When Someone Dies (Some Should be Notified Immediately; You Can Wait a Few Days for Others)

If it happens at home, call the deceased's doctor and/or the coroner
Contact the next of kin; try not to leave anyone out
Friends
Employer, if they are still working
Landlord, if they are renting
Utility companies
Attorney, accountant, banker
Executor of the estate
Tell Social Security to stop payments
Department of Veteran's Affairs, if appropriate
Insurance agents
Church or place of worship
Clubs and organizations

How to Make Funeral Arrangements

Contact funeral home or mortuary
Choose clothing for the deceased
Select clergy or officiates
Write obituary and submit to newspaper
Plan service - clergy, eulogy, music, etc.
Order death certificates - You will need several

Information Needed for Your Funeral Home Appointment

Birth date and birthplace of deceased
Citizenship status
Religious name (if any)
Social Security Number
Parent's names and birthplaces
Education
Occupation and Title
Marital Status
Veteran's discharge papers or claim number
Recent Photo
Pre-arrangement paperwork
Cemetery Lot information

Other Documents You Will Need

Will and Trust documents
Social Security card or number
Marriage license
Citizenship papers
Disability and pension claims
Veteran's discharge certificate (DD214)
Safe Deposit box information

Check On the Following Possible Benefits Heirs May Receive

Life and casualty insurance
Social Security
Benefits from unions, fraternities, military
Employee benefits including owed vacation pay, death benefits, retirement plans, and final wages
Debt cancellation on credit card balances
Refunds on insurance or cancelled subscriptions and services

Final Expenses to Anticipate

Funeral services
Casket, vault, burial plot, mausoleum or niche; or cremation
Florist, musician, clergy
Transportation for family and relatives to services
Reception food for guests
Debts or final bills of the deceased
Any additional fees

While this is a lengthy list, when the time comes and you are responsible for handling the death of a relative, it is a list you will want to have handy.  You may want to print out a few copies and keep them with your will and other documents.

Source:  This checklist is based on one provided by Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary in Orange County, California and published in the 2015 edition of "Answers," which is published by the Council on Aging.

If you are interested in additional helpful information about funeral planning, financial planning, medical issues, where to retire or 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 credit:  Morguefile.com

How to Overcome Resistance to Assisted Living and Find a Wonderful Living Arrangement

According to the estimates of experts, approximately 70% of people over the age of 65 will need to live in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility at some time in their life.  Your stay could be just a few weeks while you rehabilitate from an injury, or it could last for the last decade or longer of your life.

Many modern assisted living facilities are wonderful places to call home.  They offer chef prepared meals, usually with a variety of choices available.  They also provide transportation, entertainment, plenty of activities, friendships, and a comfortable, safe place to live.  Many of them offer private apartments or individual rooms which you can furnish with your own things and decorate as you wish. Even when the residents share a room, they can still bring in a few of their own favorite furnishings, photographs and artwork.  Each person receives whatever care they need and they are allowed to be as self-sufficient as they are able to be.

However, despite all the advantages of moving into one of these facilities, large numbers of people resist the idea of moving into assisted living, even when it is obvious to family members that their loved one desperately needs help.  Here are some of the objections often put forth by senior citizens, followed by some ways to get past them, whether you are discussing this issue with a spouse or an aging parent.

Objections to Assisted Living

*  Resistance to moving anywhere new ... away from friends, familiar places, your current doctors, place of worship, etc.

*  Fear that you will have to give up your "bad" habits ... smoking, drinking your favorite alcoholic beverages, sleeping late, gambling, eating candy or whatever else you like to do and don't want to give up.

*  Fear that you will have to give up your pet.

*  Fear of the unknown.

Overcoming the Objections to Assisted Living

*  In most parts of the country you can find assisted living facilities that are either in your current neighborhood or that are near family members who can check on you frequently and take you places.  The sooner you decide to move into one, the more input you will have in helping with the process of finding one that you will like, with the types of nearby activities that interest you.  In some cases, churches can arrange transportation that will make it possible for you to continue to attend their services.  In other situations, the assisted living facility can arrange the transportation to a nearby place of worship.

*  Many assisted living facilities have no problem if you want to have a cocktail, a bottle of beer or a glass of wine with your dinner.  While they may send someone to check on you if you unexpectedly miss a meal, most of them will allow you a lot of personal freedom in your own private room or apartment.  Many of them also plan outings to local casinos, shopping malls, etc., so you will still be able to enjoy many of the same types of treats and activities that you have always enjoyed. These are issues you can work out by asking a lot of questions before you move into one.  If you have a "bad" habit you do not want to give up at this point in your life, ask what the facility's policy is regarding that habit.  I have a friend who likes to drink champagne with her dinner.  The waiter at her assisted living facility opens a bottle for her every evening.  She said she never feels "judged."  Keep searching until you find a place where you feel confident you will be comfortable and happy.  This is one more reason why you want to take an active role in finding your own assisted living facility.  You do not want to wait until you are so ill that someone else has to choose the place for you.

*  While most skilled nursing facilities will not let you bring your pets, there are many assisted living facilities which are pet friendly. That is one difference between skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities. This fear can be quickly resolved with a few quick phone calls.  Some placement companies like A Place for Mom or Nursing Home Solutions (in California) can help you quickly narrow down your choices.

*  The best way to overcome a fear of the unknown is to take your time visiting a variety of assisted living facilities, long before the need becomes critical.   You or a family member should keep a notebook with details about each location ... the cost, the amenities, whether or not it is pet friendly, whether or not you can enjoy your favorite activities, whether you can get transportation to your church or other important events you wish to attend.  Visiting assisted living facilities is also a wonderful way to discover all the positive things they have to offer ... security, good food, friends and activities.  After seeing a few, you may find the one that is perfect for you!

*  You may also want to consider the risks of living alone, especially as your health fails.  When an elderly person falls, it frequently leads to death, especially if no one is around to get them help quickly.  In addition, people who live alone and eat their meals alone often become depressed and decline in health much more rapidly than people who live in more social settings. 

Learn More About Moving Into Assisted Living:

http://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/moving-elderly-parents

http://www.assistedseniorliving.net/caregiving/resistance-to-change/

http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/convincing-parent-assisted-living-142136.htm

If you are interested in learning more about aging and retirement, including where to retire, use the tabs at the top of this page.  They contain links to hundreds of additional, helpful articles.

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

Photo credit: morguefile.com