New Blog for the Single Retiree

There are so many new adventures in store for people who are retired or planning to retire soon, that it is nearly impossible to cover every possible scenario.  That is one reason why I periodically introduce my readers to new books, articles or blogs that I think you will find helpful.  I have no desire to limit your research to just the articles I have written.  My goal is to expand your horizons and knowledge as much as possible.

In fact, I feel that one of the benefits of reading my blog is that I try to either summarize the information I discover and save you time, or I try to provide you with direct links to sources of information that would be too cumbersome to summarize on this blog.  In this way, I feel that I am providing my readers with comprehensive retirement information from a wide range of sources.  I hope to be the one site you can come to for all types of useful resources to help you get the most out of your senior years.

With that thought in mind, today I want to introduce you to a new blog that was recently started by a friend of mine.  It is:

http://singleretiredandhappy.blogspot.com

As you can guess from the title, Elizabeth, the author of the blog, discusses some of the joys and challenges of being a single retiree.  For example, she recently covered the problem of grocery shopping for yourself when you live alone and you have injuries or medical issues that could make it difficult for you to shop for your own groceries.  She explains how online grocery shopping works.

I found this article, and others that she has written, to be interesting and I thought that some of the readers of my blog might also be interested in following Elizabeth.  I hope that you will bookmark both of our blogs on your computer and check back frequently.

After all, it is quite likely that many of us will spend as least part of our retirement as a single person, either because of divorce or the death of a spouse.  Knowing how others have addressed the challenges could make life much easier for us.

I hope you enjoy her blog and consider it an enhancement to what you are learning from mine.  Meanwhile, I will continue to read and research more information that I believe you will find useful.

If you are retired, or planning to retired soon, be sure to use the tabs at the top of this blog to find links to hundreds of additional articles on where to retire in the United States and overseas, financial planning, medical issues, family relationships, travel and more.

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

Photo credit:  www.morguefile.com

How is Your Nutritional Health?

When I attended the Senior Summit in Laguna Woods Village a few weeks ago, one of the topics I learned about was the problem of maintaining nutritional health when people age in their own homes.  The problem that many people face when they live alone is that they tend to not eat as well as people do when they have meals in the company of others.  Often, the elderly find themselves snacking on unhealthy foods or they skip meals altogether.

There are other issues that can affect the quality of your diet, as well.  Everyone over the age of 60 should periodically ask themselves the questions listed below.

Questions to Determine Your Nutritional Health

* Do you have a health problem that affects the kind or amount of food you eat?

* Do you eat less than two meals a day?

* Do you avoid eating vegetables, fruit and/or dairy products?

* Do you drink three or more moderate servings of alcoholic beverages a day?

*  Do you have tooth or mouth problems that make it hard for you to eat?

*  Do you lack the money to buy the food you need?

*  Do you eat alone most of the time?

*  Do you take three or more medications a day, whether they are prescribed or over-the-counter?

*  Have you unexpectedly gained or lost 10 or more pounds in the last 6 months?

*  Are you physically unable to shop, cook or feed yourself, even if you only have this problem occasionally?

Be honest with yourself.  If you answered yes to several of these questions, there is a good chance that your nutritional health is at risk.

Solutions for People Who are at Nutritional Risk

Fortunately, there are programs available to help you, if you will reach out for them.

*  Apply for food stamps, if the cost of food is part of your problem.  Many senior citizens who are primarily living on Social Security or a pension will qualify.

*  Go to a food bank for additional assistance.

*  Contact your local senior center; many of them offer low-cost meals in a group setting.  This gives you the opportunity to eat a good, warm meal while socializing with other people.

*  If you cannot get out of your home to go to the senior center, contact Meals-on-Wheels.  They will deliver nutritious meals to your home ... either on a temporary basis after surgery or on a permanent basis, if you need it.

The additional benefit of regularly dining at a senior center or having Meals-on-Wheels delivered to your home is that someone will be expecting to see you every day.  If something happens, you are more likely to receive timely assistance.

Statistics Behind the Nutrition Questions

Here are the statistics that explain why the above questions are so important:

*  Four out of five elderly adults have chronic diseases that affect their diet, including depression and memory loss.

*  Only 13% of adults eat what is considered the minimum amount of fruits and vegetables.

*  One in four older adults drink too much alcohol.

*  Approximately 40% of older citizens have very low incomes. If they are not spending enough money for food, they are probably not getting enough to eat.

*  One in three senior citizens eat alone; this can cause them to eat poorly or skip meals completely.

*  One-half of older Americans take multiple medications, some of which can have side effects like decreased appetite, drowsiness, diarrhea, nausea and other problems that can cause nutritional harm.

*  Unexplained weight gain or loss can be a sign of poor health.

*  One out of five older people have trouble shopping, buying and cooking their own food.

As you can see from the above statistics, nearly everyone will experience at least one or two of these barriers to a healthy diet as they age.  Many people will be affected by several of these issues.

Source for questions and statistics:

For more information on this topic, you may wish to read the full document from the Nutrition Screening Initiative http://www.cdaaa.org/images/Nutritional_Checklist.pdfat

If you are interested in more information about retirement, use the tabs at the top of this blog.  They contain links to hundreds of articles about topics that include where to retire in the United States and Overseas, financial planning, medical concerns, family issues and more.

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

Photo credit:  www.morguefile.com

The Best Years of Your Life - After Age 65

Have your ever thought about what you are going to do with the final two or three decades of your life?  While many people retire from their jobs sometime in their 60's, they may continue to live an active, healthy life for another 20 to 30 years.  If you feel healthy and active as you approach your retirement years, what do you plan to do with all that time?

Well known broadcast journalist, Jane Pauley, addressed this issue in her outstanding book, "Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life."  

By using the link above, you will be taken directly to its Amazon page where you can read the first section of her book and decide whether or not you think it might inspire you.  You can also read the review I wrote for the online magazine Squidoo here:  Book Review: Your Life Calling.

Even aside from the Jane Pauley book, we need to explore the many options we have for spending our lives after retirement.  We may choose to travel, immerse ourselves in a hobby, take care of our grandchildren, or enjoy the free time we will now be able to finally spend with our family and friends.  All of these are worthwhile pursuits that can bring us a great deal of satisfaction and joy.

However, some people choose to completely transform the second half of their lives.  A few may decide to pursue an occupation that they hope will change the world.  Others may choose new career goals that are much more modest.

Whatever you decide to do, it is important to realize is that age 65 does not need to be the end of your working careers ... it can be the beginning of something that truly inspires you.

Because of this, I highly recommend Jane Pauley's book.  It is the perfect way to start re-thinking the term "retirement."  Instead of planning to spend those years in a comfy recliner, you may find yourself looking forward to the best years of your life.

If you are planning your retirement and you would like more helpful information, use the tabs at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of articles about the best places to retire in the United States and overseas, medical issues, financial planning, family relationships, and more.

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

(Photo credit:  Photo of book cover is courtesy of www.Amazon.com)

Aging Services in the United States

I recently attended the Orange County Senior Summit that was held in one of the clubhouses at the retirement community where I live in Southern California.  The speakers at the summit included:

Nora Eisenhower of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Laura Mosqueda who is a Professor of Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine

Lisa Gibson, a registered dietitian and consultant for Age Well Senior Services

Marilyn Ditty, DPA, a Gerontology expert and the CEO of Age Well Senior Services

Karen Roper, MBA, the Executive Director of the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness (a serious issue in some parts of affluent Orange County)

The topic of the conference was Aging in Place with emphasis on the resources that are available to people who hope to age in their current homes.

The information that I gleaned from these experts was fascinating and, over the next few weeks, I plan to share a bit of what I learned with my readers here at Baby-Boomer-Retirement.com.

Today I thought people would be interested in the amazing effect that Baby Boomers are about to have on American society, per Karen Roper.

US Population Age 60 and Over

2005:     49,712,000
2020:     76,986,000     

In a 15 year period, the population of people over age 60 will have increased 55% ... and the population is expected to continue to increase dramatically over the next 20 years.  The population of the extremely elderly is expected to grow rapidly, as well.  For example, between 2005 and 2020, the population of people age 85 and over is also expected to have increased by 55%.

Another interesting statistic that Ms. Roper mentioned was that in 2020 (which is only 6 years from now), 20% of the U.S. population will be over the age of 65 and 20% of the U.S. population will be under the age of 16.  This will be the first time ever that the number of elderly and the number of children in the U.S. were approximately equal.

The aging population means that there will need to be a significant increase in the services that are available to help an aging population such as:

Adult Day Care
Elderly Nutrition Programs
Transportation
Elder Abuse Prevention
Affordable Housing
In-Home Care
Legal Assistance
Case Management

How these services are going to be managed is something we all need to be thinking about.  We are fortunate that there are people who are already planning for ways they can help us as we age.  For example, many communities have already set up adult day care programs.  These are services that are available to help people care for loved ones who have dementia.  Being able to leave your spouse or parent with an agency during the day can make a difference between being able to care for them in your home or finding it necessary to institutionalize them ... at great expense.

Community nutrition programs for senior citizens organize services such as low cost hot lunches at senior centers and Meals-on-Wheels for the home bound.  These can make a significant difference in the ability of a person to successfully age in place.

Organizations are also helping to arrange transportation for the elderly to doctor's appointments.  Sometimes volunteers will drive them and sometimes the elderly are eligible for services like low cost taxi vouchers.  These are helpful solutions for people who are no longer able to drive.

Elder abuse is a problem that I have talked about in the past.  While this can mean physical abuse, more frequently it involves financial abuse when trusted family members or advisers swindle money from the elderly.  While there are organizations that try to watch for this type of situation, it can be difficult for people outside the family to detect.

Some of the other discussion topics at this year's summit included helping seniors find affordable housing, locate in-home care or accessing legal assistance.  If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, they should contact case carriers from the state Social Services department or talk to someone at their local senior center to find legitimate sources of help.

In the next couple of weeks, this blog will cover some of the other issues that were discussed at the senior summit, including maintaining your nutritional health as you get older and how to talk to people with Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.

If you are getting near retirement age, you may also wish to check out the tabs at the top of this blog.  They contain links to hundreds of other articles to help you, including where to retire in the US and abroad, medical issues that could arise, financial planning, and more.

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

Photo taken by author, Deborah-Diane; all rights reserved.