Second Careers for Baby Boomers

During the 2007 recession, many Baby Boomers were forced into retirement sooner than they had planned.  While the employment picture has improved substantially since that time, a significant number of newly retired Boomers are discovering that it is difficult to survive on Social Security alone. 

As a result, retirees of all ages are frequently open to second careers and new business opportunities.  Going back to work in a new occupation that excites and interests you may be the best way to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, even if you have had to downsize and cut back over the past few years.

Baby Boomers often have experience, training and a history of being responsible that makes us desirable employees in many of the fields where there is still job growth.  We have the ability to compete successfully with new college graduates.  If you are planning to retrain for a second career and need a few ideas, listed below are the areas where you might find good job opportunities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections:

Retail Sales

There is still a large demand for retail sales people working in businesses that range from department stores to auto dealerships.  In fact, one good item of economic news is that U.S. auto sales are continuing to be strong in 2015.  If you are interested in sales, this can be an excellent choice for experienced Baby Boomers and great job opportunities may be as close as your local mall or auto dealership.  Are you under 65 and need affordable health insurance through an employer that pays most of the cost?  Consider working for Starbucks.  They take pride in the fact that they offer health insurance to any employees that work at least 20 hours a week.

Health Care

You do not need to plan on becoming a doctor or registered nurse in order to benefit from the growth in the health care industry.  By attending a community college or vocational school for one or two years, you can complete a certificate program as a medical assistant, nursing aide, vocational nurse, medical technician or medical secretary.  Home health aides require only a few weeks of training, and many Baby Boomers already have had life experience caring for an elderly person in their home.  This makes them a more desirable employee in many cases than a young adult would be.

Childcare Workers

Because so many women need to work in order to help their families financially, there is a tremendous need for childcare workers.  Some older people have opened childcare services in their homes; others work for preschools; still others have become bonded babysitters, working through a babysitting service.

Accounting or Tax Preparation

A number of people who worked as accountants or bookkeepers before retirement may discover that there are opportunities for them to freelance in these same businesses during a period of semi-retirement. Check with job listings in your area, or approach local businesses and see if they have a need for a part-time bookkeeper or accountant.

If you would like to work part of the year, you can also be trained to be a tax preparer.  Contact H&R Block or other tax preparation companies in your area to find out about their training programs. 

Substitute Teachers

In some states, substitute teachers in public schools are required to have a college degree, but not necessarily in education.  You may have to pass a state examination to get an emergency credential or meet other requirements.  However, this can be a high paying part-time job.

If you are not qualified to work in the public school system in your state, check with private schools or pre-schools, both of which have more freedom in choosing their substitute teachers.

Other School Jobs

Many retirees who have worked in the past in other occupations have found that it is very rewarding to work as school bus drivers or crossing guards.  Others find part-time work as teacher's aides.  If you want to work with children and possibly earn credit towards a small state pension in the future, it could be very beneficial to work at a school in your community.

Pet Groomers and Trainers

Do you have a way with animals?  You might enjoy working part-time as a pet groomer.  Another possibility is to advertise your pet training services in your local newspaper.  Offer classes in pet behavior or provide private training.

Share Your Talent with Others

If you are an artist, enjoy making crafts, sewing or can work with wood, you may be able to make gift items and sell them at local fairs and festivals.  You might also give lessons to others.  In either case, it can be a fun way to earn a little extra money.  

Public Service

If you have spent years doing volunteer work in your community, you may want to check with Encore.org about job opportunities with non-profit organizations in your community and around the world.  Even people in their 70's can join the Peace Corp.  You may also want to work with Teach For America or a wide variety of non-profit organizations in your neighborhood.   The pay may be low when you work for a non-profit, but the emotional rewards can be great.

There are Opportunities all Around You

Although you may have retired sooner than you planned during the "Great Recession," it is possible that you may find a new career that will help you make your Golden Years a little more golden.  Any of these jobs can provide you with a little extra income and could even add to your pension or Social Security benefits.

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

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Brain Activities to Lower Alzheimers Risk

One of the greatest fears of many Baby Boomers is that we will begin to develop senile dementia or, worse, Alzheimer's Disease.  The thought that one day we will no longer be able to remember the past, or even recognize our loved ones, is horrifying.  Consequently, many of us are looking for practical ways to decrease our Alzheimer's risk factors.

Famed television host, Dr. Oz, recently presented an Alzheimer's prevention plan, and reprinted it on his website, doctoroz.com.  Below is a summary of the suggestions he has for reducing our Alzheimer's risk.

The Dr. Oz Recommendations to Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

1.  Take 600 mg. of DHA a day.  This omega-3 fatty acid will reduce your brain inflammation, combat plaque, and increase the blood flow to your brain.

2.  Use the opposite hand to cross-train your brain.  If you are normally right handed, try using your left hand to eat, brush your teeth, comb your hair, etc.  If you are left-handed, do the opposite.  This will stimulate new parts of the brain.

3.  Practice deep breathing three times a day to lower your stress, which is very damaging to the brain.  Dr. Oz calls this system 7-7-7.  Inhale for 7 seconds; hold it for 7 seconds; exhale for 7 seconds; repeat 7 times.

4.  Practice remembering lists of items by using silly word associations.  Try to work up to 20 or even 30 items.

5.  Do push ups.  That's right, this floor exercise, which builds your core body muscles, is apparently also good for your brain.  Doing seven push-ups a day will stimulate blood flow to the brain and generate new brain cells!

6.  Follow a brain building diet which includes elderberries, pecans, chicken giblets, clams, vegetable juice (up to 8 oz. a day), and beets.  All of these foods contain nutrients that are helpful to the brain.

These actions are all generally good for our overall health, and they are easy to do at home, without a doctor's prescription.  If we can radically reduce the number of Baby Boomers who will develop Alzheimers in the future, these easy steps will be well worth it.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's and how to reduce your risk of developing this dreaded disease, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page.  They will link you to hundreds of additional articles on health issues, as well as where to retire, financial planning, changing family relationships and more.

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Natural Cures to Stop Snoring

Does snoring affect the quality of your rest, and disrupt the sleep of your partner?  If you or your spouse snores loudly and still feels tired in the morning, you could be developing Metabolic Syndrome, also called Syndrome X.  Snoring is not a problem that should be ignored.  It can increase your chances of having heart disease, diabetes, or a stroke.  One symptom of snoring is if you are tired and fall asleep easily during the day, even when you believe you have had a full eight hours of sleep.

Metabolic Syndrome is a Common Health Problem

If you have metabolic syndrome, you are not alone.  According to an article by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen on RealAge.com, titled "Stop Snoring to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome," about one in four adults in the United States suffers from this disorder.  Among the symptoms are sleep problems, bulging belly fat, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol.  If you have a significant snoring problem, you double your risk for metabolic syndrome.

Treatments for Snoring

There are medical treatments for snoring and, if you cannot bring it under control naturally, you should see your physician.  They can prescribe medications or medical devices that can alleviate the problem.

In addition to the medical treatments for snoring, here are a few tips that may help you cure your snoring naturally, and they are worth trying out:

* Lose 10% of your body weight.  Try walking 30 minutes a day and gradually increase it, if necessary, in order to lower your body weight.

*  Use healthier fats, such as canola oil, walnut oil, olive oil and peanut oil.  They will help boost your HDL and lower your LDL

*  Put away the sugar bowl.  Stop adding extra sugar or syrup to your foods.

*  Try changing your position when you sleep.  My husband and I have discovered that he only snores if he falls asleep on his back with his arms raised so that his hands are either cupped behind his head or are on the pillow above his head.  If he sleeps on his side, or if he sleeps on his back with his arms by his side, he does not snore.  This simple adjustment has made a big difference in both our lives.  Many people snore only when sleeping in certain positions.  Experiment with the way your sleep and ask your partner which positions seem to be the best.

Remember, if these natural changes do not solve your snoring problem, you should see a doctor, especially if you have any of the other symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome.  A few simple changes can extend your life dramatically, by reducing your chances of having a heart attack or stroke, or developing diabetes.

If you are interested in learning more about medical issues that can develop as you age, retirement planning, where to retire, family relationships and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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Hepatitis C Tests for Baby Boomers

Periodically, the federal government puts out a health alert that pertains to Baby Boomers and, when it does, this blog tries to respond quickly to get the word out, especially if the health alert is a matter of life and death.  Few things are more important to Baby Boomers who are planning their retirement than making sure they are doing everything possible to maintain their health.

Boomers Should Get Tested for Hepatitis C

In May 2012, the Centers for Disease Control proposed that every American born between 1945 and 1965 (the Baby Boomers) should see their doctors and ask for a one time test for the Hepatitis C virus.  In the United States, Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer.  The need is urgent, because liver cancer is the fastest rising cause of cancer deaths in our country.

This information should be shared with all the Baby Boomers you know.  The CDC estimates that 75% of the people in this country who have Hepatitis C are Baby Boomers, which means that approximately 2 million Baby Boomers are currently infected with this deadly disease.  Five times as many Baby Boomers have the virus as other adults, and most of them do not know it.  In the case of this disease, ignorance is not bliss.  The virus can be damaging your liver for years before the symptoms become noticeable.  As a result, over 15,000 Americans are dying each year from Hepatitis C related illnesses.

The CDC believes it is extremely important that Baby Boomers be tested as soon as possible because new treatments can now cure up to 75% of infections caused by Hepatitis C.  The CDC estimates that screening for this disease could save thousands of lives.

If you want to read more about the CDC recommendations, here is the link to an article about it in the Federal Register:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/22/2012-12323/recommendations-for-the-identification-of-hepatitis-c-virus-hcv-chronic-infection#p-3 

Citizens are even invited to submit their comments about Hepatitis C testing for Baby Boomers.

Meanwhile, the next time you see your doctor for your annual physical, ask him if he thinks you should be tested for Hepatitis C.  It could save your life.

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How to Access Your Social Security Information Online

Since 1999, the Social Security Administration has been mailing annual statements to all workers over the age of 25.  However, it has cost the SSA over $70 million a year to provide this information by mail.  In fact, for a while in 2011, they temporarily stopped mailing the statements; then, in 2012, they resumed mailing the statements to people over age 60 who were not yet drawing on their Social Security benefits.  All these changes have been confusing for many workers, especially those who are attempting to make retirement plans.

How to Find Your Social Security Statement Online

As of May 1, 2012, the Social Security Administration began to put everyone's Social Security benefit statement online.  Workers over the age of 18 can now see their statements simply by going online and creating an account at My Social Security.  You will need to set up an account by filling in your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number and Social Security number, and will have to answer a few security questions.

You can go to the Social Security Adminstration's website at this link:  My Social Security.

Once there, follow the instructions to create an account.  You'll see a button about halfway down the home page that says: "Sign In or Create an Account."  The information that is available is very similar to what you would see on the old paper statements.

Periodically, the site will be down for a few days while they update the statements.  If that happens to you, just try again a week or so later.

If you are looking for helpful information about Social Security, retirement planning, financial information, where to retire, common health issues and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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