Sandwich Generation Headed Towards Retirement

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, as reported on the AARP blog, many people today are finding themselves part of the "sandwich generation."  In fact, almost half of all adults between the ages of 40 and 59 have a living parent who is over 65 and, at the same time, they are either still raising a child under the age of 18, or they are financially supporting an adult child.

About 27 percent of the people in the sandwich generation are providing financial support to their adult children; about 21 percent are providing some support to their aging parents.  In addition, the US Department of Health and Human Services states on their website that, according to the U.S. Census of 2000, over 2.4 million grandparents have primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren.  That number has undoubtedly grown since the year 2000.

Why We Are Providing Financial Support to our Family Members

There are several reasons why so many Baby Boomers are finding themselves in the position of providing physical and financial support for other generations of their family.  One reason is the recession which started in 2007.  Since that time, many young people have found it difficult to find jobs that pay well enough to enable them to be financially independent.  Another reason is because an increasing number of elderly parents are being forced to move in with their adult children in order to survive, especially if they lost their homes or savings during the recession or as a result of long illnesses and other financial setbacks.

When family members are in financial distress, it is natural for us to reach out and help each other.  Very few of us would feel comfortable taking care of ourselves while letting our children or parents suffer.  It is very commendable that we are willing to take on these extra burdens in order to alleviate the suffering of our relatives.

How to Protect Your Own Retirement Plans

The problem is that many Baby Boomers who are part of the Sandwich generation are finding it almost impossible to save for retirement.  While they are taking on the support of their adult children and their elderly parents, their 401K's and IRA's are sitting empty.

While I would never advocate that people let their family members suffer while they build up big bank accounts, people who find themselves in the "sandwich generation" need to do some serious financial planning so they do not find themselves destitute in retirement.  If you can think of no other reason to try to save more money towards retirement, ask yourself if you want to be a burden on your children and perpetuate the stress of being in the sandwich generation on them.

More than ever, it may be wise to consult with a financial planner and make some changes in your lifestyle now so that you can help your family members, while still being able to save for your own future at the same time.

There is no reason why anyone should feel guilty about saving for their own future.  After all, if you are able to take care of yourself during your own retirement years, you will also be helping your children by not making them financially responsible for your care.  We can all work towards the day when the size of the sandwich generation decreases once again.

How to Take Care of Yourself

In addition, it is important for Baby Boomer caregivers to take care of themselves emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually.  No matter how much you want to help others, you cannot do a good job of caring for your parents or grandchildren if you let yourself get run-down.

Take time to get exercise, eat right and sleep right.

Take advantage of any assistance you can get that will make caregiving easier.  Do you have other relatives that can help with the burden, at least once in a while?  Are there community resources, such as adult daycare, that can make life a little easier for yourself?

Keep up with your friends and religious affiliations.  You deserve to get a break from your burdens once in a while and renew yourself socially and spiritually.

Relax and get rest whenever you can.

If you are interested in learning more about where to retire, health issues that may arise while you age, financial planning, changing family relationships 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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Photo of multi-generational family courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Retirement Living in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley

Retirement Communities in Palm Springs and the other desert cities in the surrounding Coachella Valley of Southern California have been popular for decades.  Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Sonny Bono, and Gerald Ford are among the celebrities who made the area famous. 

Over the years, the valley has been so popular with movie stars and wealthy Los Angelinos, that the city of Palm Springs was once known as the Playground of the Stars.  There are many reasons why this area is so attractive to retirees.

Amenities in Palm Springs and other Desert Cities

The Coachella Valley gets approximately 332 days a year of annual sunshine in this lovely desert valley surrounded by spectacular mountains, particularly Mount St. Jacinto that rises 10,000 feet above the valley floor.  The Coachella Valley is populated by a string of small cities that begins with Palm Springs and ends with Indio.  The communities include Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and Desert Hot Springs

Attractive homes in the area can be purchased from less than $150,000 to over a million dollars.  In early 2012, the median selling price was about $200,000 in the city of Palm Springs.  Home prices are a bit higher in some of the other communities such as La Quinta.

Many of the gated communities that dominate the populated areas of the desert cities have their own amenities which may include country clubs, swimming pools, spas, exercise rooms and, in many cases, a golf course.  It is not a problem, however, if you move to a community that does not have its own golf course. There are over 100 golf courses in the Valley, and most of them are open to the public.

The Coachella Valley cities also offer a number of opportunities for fun and entertainment, including the 125,000 square foot Palm Springs Art Museum, the Desert Museum, a variety of festivals, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues.  Indian Wells is home to a world famous tennis complex.

There is also a large, modern medical system in the Coachella Valley, which brings peace of mind to people who choose to retire there.

Popular Coachella Valley 55+ Retirement Communities

Here is a list of some of the major retirement communities in the Coachella Valley.  If you are seriously considering relocating to this area, you will also want to contact a Realtor to help you compare current listings and find a community in the correct price range to meet your needs.  The list below is just intended to give you a general idea of the opportunities that are available to you.

Sun City Palm Desert in Palm Desert
From about $200,000 to over $1 million

Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio
From about $200,000 to about $850,000

Trilogy at La Quinta in La Quinta
From about $250,000 to over $1 million

Heritage Palms in Indio
From about $200,000 to over $600,000

Four Seasons in Palm Springs
From about $250,000 to $450,000

Villa Portofino in Palm Desert
From about $150,000 to $250,000

Villa Portofino and Heritage Palms were also recently listed by "55 Places" on their website as two of the Top 10 Snowbird Communities in the United States.

Coachella Valley Weather

The weather in the Coachella Valley is most appealing during the winter when daytime highs range from the 70's to the 80's, and nighttime temperatures drop into the 40's.  Summers, however, leave residents with no doubt that they are living in a desert.  The temperatures can rise to 105 degrees or higher during the day and frequently do not drop below 80 degrees at night.

In addition, many Palm Springs residents complain about the wind and dust storms in the summer.

Since the Coachella Valley is only about a two hour drive from Los Angeles and the beach towns of Orange County, it is not unusual for some desert residents to rent an apartment near the beach for two or three months during the summer.  This is a good compromise for people who love the desert in winter, but don't like the intense summer heat.  For example, Laguna Woods Village on the outskirts of  Laguna Beach, California is very popular in the summer with desert residents who are fleeing the heat.  Short term leases on furnished apartments are available in that community for about $1200 to $1800 a month.

If you are looking for more interesting places to retire, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

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Photo of Kaufmann House in Palm Springs courtesy of www.en.wikimedia.com

Surprising Tips for a Healthier, Longer Life

Are you hoping to have a happy, healthy and long life after retirement?  If so, this article is full of fun and interesting tidbits of information that I have gathered from a variety of sources.  In fact, I promise to come back and update this article from time to time as I run across more interesting ideas!

Tips for Staying Healthy in your Senior Years

Take walks.  There are lots of reasons for spending at least 30 minutes a day walking.  First, taking a walk is even better at improving your memory than spending time solving puzzles.  In addition, exercise of any kind is an effective way to reduce depression, which can become a problem as we age. So, keep moving as much as possible.

Stretch frequently.  It may help to take classes in yoga or Tai Chi.  In fact, these gentle stretching exercises seem to help relieve the pain and discomfort of arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Get any type of exercise you enjoy, including gardening.  The longer you exercise in your later years, the healthier and more active you will be.  This will also make your life more enjoyable. People who live in the "Blue Zones," or areas of the world where it is common to live a healthy life until the age of 100, continue to stay active well into their 90's. Once people stop moving, their life is likely to be shortened.

Spend time outside, weather permitting.  Get a little sun on your skin, about 20 minutes a day, before putting on sunscreen.  Natural Vitamin D is protective against a host of diseases, including certain types of cancer.  When you cannot get outside, take a Vitamin D supplement.

If possible, get a pet.  They can lower your blood pressure and stress levels, as well as give you another reason to get more exercise.

Interact with other people.  Socialize. Join a club. Volunteer.  Work on building relationships with your friends and family.  Participate in the religious institution of your choice.  All of these activities will help you stay healthy and happy for years to come.  Whatever you do, do it with zest.  Having a purpose in life has been shown to help people live longer.

Slow down.  Relax.  Take a vacation.  In other words, take time to smell the roses and enjoy your life.

Tips for Living Longer

Most of the above suggestions for healthy living will also contribute to a longer life.  However, to maximize the length of your life, you will want to use the following suggestions, as well.

Watch less television.  Some researchers have concluded that one hour of watching television trims more time from your life than smoking a cigarette.

On the other hand, this doesn't mean you can keep smoking if you want to live a long life.  People who quit smoking by the age of 40 will still live about 10 years longer than those who keep smoking.

Eat a plant based diet, and eat less than you normally do.  According to National Geographic researchers, people who live in the "Blue Zones," where it is not uncommon for people to live to be 100 years old, tend to eat less meat and stop eating a meal when they are 80% full.

Drink a small amount of red wine on a regular basis.

If you are interested in more tips for healthy living, or you would like ideas about where to retire, financial planning, changing family relationships and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.


Sources for these health facts:

"Live Longer & Better" by Gretchen Reynolds. Parade Magazine, January 27, 2013

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/happiest-places/blue-zones/


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How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

Are you the primary caregiver for a sick, elderly or disabled spouse or relative in your home?  For many Baby Boomers, care giving is a loving act of kindness.  You may even appreciate the opportunity to spend time with a loved one in their final years.  In other cases, you may feel overwhelmed, but realize that you are only one in the family who is able to take on this responsibility.  Regardless of the reason you are a caring for someone in your home, it is not easy.

While you may be happy and willing to take on the responsibility for someone else, you also need to pay attention to your own needs and take care of them.   After all, if you become ill or collapse from exhaustion, you cannot help someone else.

Caring for the Caregiver

Pay attention to yourself.  Make sure you are getting enough sleep, that you are eating enough and that you are not feeling exhausted or run-down.

Think HALT.  This means do not let yourself become too hungry, angry, lonely or tired.  If you do, you are likely to become depressed, irritable or angry.  You could lash out at other members of your family, including the loved one who is in your care.  In extreme cases, this has even led to elder abuse.  You do not want this to happen to you.

Reach out to others for help.  Find out what resources are available to you.  Are there relatives who can give you a break once in a while?  Even getting a day off once a week, or a weekend off once a month can make a huge difference.  Does your city offer free or low-cost adult day care programs?  Does a nearby nursing home offer respite care or temporary care for the elderly or disabled?  These services can fill in the gaps when you do not have other family members who are able to help.

If there are problems, discuss them with your loved one's doctor.  When my mother, who has dementia, became angry, paranoid and difficult to deal with, my father, sister and brother-in-law discussed her behavior with her physician.  He prescribed an anti-depressant and almost immediately my mother's behavior improved.  Do not keep new symptoms to yourself.  Doctors may be able to help more than you think.

Do not isolate yourself.  Keep up your friendships.  Get out of the house and spend time with others as often as you can.

If your faith is important to you, maintain your religious affiliations.  Participate as often as possible.  Pray. You will benefit from the spiritual support and, sometimes, other members of your church can be helpful.

Treat yourself once in awhile to something you enjoy, whether it is a long bath, a funny movie, or a stroll around the neighborhood.  Keep up a few relaxing hobbies, such as reading your favorite books, needlework, or painting.  If possible, take an occasional short trip. 

Let go of any feelings of guilt.  You are not responsible for the health problems of your loved ones.  You deserve a good life, too.  Enjoy it to the best of your ability.

Resources for Caregivers:

If you are looking for additional help, contact these organizations:

Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or at www.eldercare.gov
Family Caregiver Alliance at www.caregiver.org

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