Life Alert Bracelets for Peace of Mind



Life Alert can help you worry less
about elderly family members.

Although Baby Boomers have begun to turn 65, most of us do not feel as though we need any help taking care of ourselves.  We travel, live in our homes, walk our dogs and often hold down jobs without any difficulty.  Many of us feel healthy and in the prime of our lives.

Why People Need Medical Alert Bracelets

However, some of us may have elderly parents, aunts and uncles or other relatives who are still alive and living alone.  If they are not in an assisted living facility where someone checks on them several times a day, they could fall, faint or have a heart attack and days could pass before anyone realizes there is a problem.  I have a friend whose elderly aunt fell and was injured.  It was several days before she was found on the floor of her bedroom, dehydrated and in pain.

Even Baby Boomers are not always in perfect health. By the time we have reached our 60's, there are many Boomers who are facing serious health problems, such as diabetes, that could cause us to need emergency medical care.

As someone who lives in a senior community, I often worry about some of my friends and neighbors who live here.  Many of them live alone.  Although most of them are active and busy, days could go by before I might realize that I hadn't seen them recently.  Since I don't go door to door in my neighborhood checking on people, there is no way that I would know if a neighbor was inside their home, sick or injured.

How Loved Ones Can Be Protected

Because of these common worries, the Life Alert company and several other manufacturers have come up with medical alert bracelets that seniors can wear.  They need only push a button in order to summon emergency help.   Another type of bracelet that is popular is the GreatCall medical alert system that can be ordered on Amazon or directly from the company.  You may want to do a little comparison shopping and see which system will work best for you.

I know it would bring me peace of mind to know that more of my neighbors used one of these services.

If you are interested in learning more about the different emergency services for seniors offered by the Life Alert company, you may also want to read this article, written by a friend whose grandmother actually uses the service: http://www.infobarrel.com/Life_Alert_Bracelets_for_Seniors

Hopefully, you can make sure the people who live alone in your family are safer because they use one of these services.

If you wish to stay in touch about other matters that could affect retiring Baby Boomers, including where to retire, financial planning, health concerns and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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


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A Bit of Good News About Social Security

Do you think Social Security is
doomed?

Many people have heard for so long that the Social Security Administration is broke, that a substantial number of people believe that no benefits will be paid in the near future.  However, according to AARP and government estimates, this is not actually true.  In fact, this is one of the common myths about Social Security that needs to be dispelled.

The Truth about Social Security

First, although changes do need to be made if Social Security is going to be able to fully pay all the promised benefits for the next 100 years, there are a number of proposals under consideration that would solve these issues and fully fund the Social Security trust funds for the future.  When people say that "there will be nothing left when I retire," they are actually misinformed.

The Social Security trust fund can continue to pay full benefits until 2037, and about 75% of promised benefits after that ... and this is true even if they do absolutely nothing to solve the projected Social Security deficit. In even this worst case scenario, there may not be as much money available as we have been promised, but there will certainly be benefits paid to everyone who has earned them.  In addition, with a few little tweeks, such as raising the cap on the wages that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax, the shortage could be avoided and there could be enough money to meet all the promised future obligations.  One way or another, Social Security will be there when you retire, although you may not receive as much as you hoped.  In truth, most people cannot live on Social Security alone anyway.  Everyone should be saving as a way to supplement what Social Security does provide.

Few People Could Produce Better a Higher Income Than Social Security

Second, many people believe they could invest the money better themselves.  There is nothing preventing these people from investing some of their income in a 401(k) or IRA and seeing if this is true.  The truth is that very few people have managed to invest their money in such a way that they can get the return that Social Security will provide them.  However, it is highly recommended that everyone put aside as much money as possible in their own retirement accounts so they can have a more comfortable retirement than they could manage on Social Security alone.

Social Security is meant to provide a base of income for everyone who has worked during their adult life.  They receive this money whether or not they are able to invest their own money well.  Currently, Social Security provides the majority of retirement income for at least 1/2 of Americans over the age of 65.  In fact, it provides 90% of the income for single senior citizens.  If the government stopped collecting Social Security taxes and eliminated Social Security benefits, most of these people would end up on other government programs, such as welfare, and general taxes would have to be raised to cover those services.  Social Security works, and works well, for people who have worked hard all their lives and deserve a secure pension.

The Future of Social Security

Personally, I was relieved to read this information that was provided by AARP and based on government estimates.  I know that Social Security will be important to me and to other family members when I retire, and I encourage the government to take steps to keep the program healthy and capable of providing all the promised benefits. 

However, even if the current Congress fails to act responsibly, I am relieved to know that the program can keep going on some level until we have some responsible legislators who will make sure the program is solvent.

Meanwhile, I encourage you to write your Congressman and make your feelings known.

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

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

Photo courtesy of http://www.morguefile.com/

Source of information about benefits: http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-05-2011/social-security-fears.2.html

New FDA Advice About Statin Risks

 

Statin drugs have been shown to be quite effective in lowering cholesterol levels. However, like nearly all drugs, there are some potential side effects that many people only vaguely know about.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration issued new guidelines about statin risks, and I felt it was important to let our readers know about these risks so they could watch for any symptoms.  Below are the new guidelines from the FDA.

Good News About Statins

First, the good news.  It is no longer necessary for your doctor to routinely monitor your liver enzymes.  Serious liver injury from statin use is considered very rare.

Statins have been shown to be one of the most effective ways we have to lower cholesterol levels.

Potential Risks While Taking Statins

Memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion have been reported by some statin users.  Researchers have said that, when this occurs, they have found that the confusion can be reversed within weeks after stopping the statin. This may be the result of getting cholesterol levels too low. The brain needs a certain amount of cholesterol in order to function properly. Make sure your doctor is not over-zealous about lowering your cholesterol to the point where it affects your thinking.

Some people on statins have experienced an increase in blood sugar levels, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes.  The number of people who experience this increased risk appears to be small.  However, it is good to be aware of the possibility.

Some medications interact with lovastatin and can increase the risk of muscle damage.  (Since I take lovastatin, I was particularly interested in this potential health risk.)  The new labels for lovastatin are going to list what drugs to avoid taking with lovastatin, and the maximum dose of lovastatin you should take if these other medications cannot be avoided.  Since these drugs were not listed in the FDA article that I read, everyone who is on lovastatin needs to read the insert on their next prescription refill very carefully.

Sore muscles are another possible side effect of statin use.  My doctor suggested that I take 200 mg. of CoQ10 with my statin every day in order to minimize the muscle problem. I have been using this combo for three years and the combination seems to be working.

If you are looking for more heath and retirement information of important to Baby Boomers and retirees, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page.  They contain links to hundreds of additional articles.

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

Photo of pills courtesy of photoxpress.com

Information about statin risks from the government website at: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm293330.htm?source=govdelivery

Foods That Lower Your Cholesterol

Steamed vegetables, like asparagus,
are a great way to lower your
cholesterol.

Many of us want to avoid going on statin drugs to lower our cholesterol as long as we possibly can.  High cholesterol is a serious health problem that contributes to heart disease, strokes and may even be linked to Alzheimers, although that connection is less clear.  In either case, all of us need to be aware of our cholesterol numbers and do whatever we can to keep in line.

As a result, we need to understand the importance of keeping our bad cholesterol as low as possible.  Fortunately, the website RealAge.com has identified a number of foods that appear to lower our bad cholesterol ... when they are eaten on a regular basis.

Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Almonds
Orange Juice that is sterol-fortified (or sterol fortified margarine, milk, soymilk, and other foods)
Olive Oil -- about 2 tablespoons a day
Steamed Asparagus, as well as beets, carrots, eggplant, okra, green beans or cauliflower
Oatmeal -- enough to get at least 5 grams of soluble fiber a day
Pinto Beans -- half a cup every day
Blueberries -- they can be fresh, frozen or freeze dried.
Tomatoes -- aim for about half a cup of tomato sauce a day.
Avocado
Dark Chocolate -- Only about 1 ounce a day, containing 70% cocoa. What a wonderful way to end a day's menu full of these other delicious foods!

When I read this list, I realized that I eat everything on it ... sometimes.  There wasn't a single food that I had chosen to eat consistently every day, not even the chocolate.  This is probably one reason why I have found it necessary to begin taking a low dose of a statin now that I am in my 60's.

Since learning this information, I have switched to eating oatmeal for breakfast, treating myself to a small bit of dark chocolate every day, and trying to make sure that I eat one or two other things from the list, as well.  At the very least, these choices may help keep my arteries clear and could help be stay on a low dose statin.

Fortunately, we have statins available to help make up for our sometimes unhealthy eating patterns or a hereditary tendency to manufacture too much cholesterol.  However, even if you are prescribed a statin, you should still try to include as many of these foods as possible in your diet, too.  You may be able to use a lower dosage of statins if you make an effort to lower your bad cholesterol naturally!

If you are looking for additional health and retirement information, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article.  They contain links to hundreds of additional articles on a variety of retirement and aging related topics.

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

Photo courtesy of photoxpress.com

Source for foods that lower cholesterol: http://www.realage.com/health-guides/foods-to-lower-cholesterol?src=edit&chan=health-guides&con=lm-article#fbIndex11

How to Increase Your Retirement Income

Interest and Dividend Income have
been discouraging in recent years.

If you are disappointed in your interest on savings, you are not alone.  Although many people love the low interest rates that are currently available for mortgages and auto loans, they hate the low rate of interest income they are getting on their savings.

For people who are retired, or near retirement age, this is an especially serious problem.  Until a few years ago, many people could get 6%, more or less, on a long term money market account or Certificate of Deposit.  However, today those rates of interest on savings are a thing of the past.  For retirees who were dependent on that income to meet their monthly expenses, this decrease in their retirement income has been devastating.  What are some steps you can take now to at least get the maximum interest rate possible?

Find Higher Interest on Savings from a Credit Union

Many people who have had a long relationship with a bank continue to keep their savings in that bank, without shopping around for a better deal.  However, if you have a bank savings account that is earning around 1% or less, you should be able to do much better by moving your money to a credit union.  Anyone living on a fixed income owes it to themselves to make sure they are getting the highest interest rate possible in order to avoid pulling money out of your principal in order to survive.

According to information about interest rates available to the public on DepositAccounts.com, you can earn as much as 1.40% on some CDs.  Although these rates are still low, they are higher than most banks are currently paying their account holders. 

You can find more out about credit unions that you can join in your area at aSmarterChoice.org.  You may also want to ask a friend or relative if they belong to a credit union.  All you need is an invitation from a current member in order to join many credit unions!

Be Careful When Purchasing Bonds and Bond Funds

According to an article entitled "The War on Savers" in the February/March 2012 AARP Magazine, current interest rates on shorter-term Treasury bonds are ridiculously low.  In addition, when you buy bonds, the value of the bonds will decrease when interest rates eventually increase.  Consequently, any income you currently earn from the bonds could be lost when interest rates rise and the bond price drops.  Junk bonds pay a higher rate than Treasuries or high quality corporate bonds, but are much riskier. These types of high risk investments are not a good idea for most retirees or people nearing retirement.

Put Some Assets in Dividend Paying Stocks

In addition to putting your savings in a credit union, another suggestion by the author of "The War on Savers" is to invest a portion of your savings in high quality dividend paying stocks.  You can either use the dividends for current income or, if you don't need the income yet, you can use a DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) to build up the size of your portfolio.

As you diversify and work to increase the income from your current assets, you may see your retirement savings begin to grow again.

The important issue here is to not just sit back and assume there is nothing you can do to increase the income from your savings.  There are actions you can take to assure yourself of a more comfortable income from the savings you have put aside.

If you are interested in other ways to improve the quality of your retirement, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page for links to hundreds of additional articles on affordable places to retire, medical issues to consider, changing family relationships, financial planning and more.

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

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