Sales calls and personal visits to affluent senior retirement communities occur on a daily basis. One company, the International Banking Group, recently has undergone scrutiny for trying to sell high return investments to seniors. Senior caregivers can give their seniors advice and cautions to make sure no schemes touch the senior’s pocketbook.

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is— One of the best questions a senior can ask is simply about the investment itself, questioning if the broker or product is registered with the state or national regulatory authorities. Be cautious of broker claims that their certificates of deposit (CDs) earn above average interest rates. Many companies trying to scam seniors will say the pay will yield much higher rates of return than normal.

• Be extremely skeptical of salespeople—Scammers target seniors by going door-to-door or pestering them with phone calls.

• Research, research, research—Check the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s list found at www.sec.gov/investor/oiepauselist.htm of unregistered entities with consumer complaints. Also, make sure you do not agree to an investment without consulting family and friends.

• If you have been scammed, all is not lost—Financial crimes against seniors often go under reported, with seniors feeling ashamed or they do not know where to report the company. To file a complaint against a broker or firm, visit www.finra.org/complaint. Read about a seller’s background, at www.SaveandInvest.org or call 888-295-7422. For more on brokers or firms, call 800-289-9999 or log onto www.finra.org/brokercheck.

Source: ConsumerAffairs.com

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

There’s a fine line when it comes to senior issues. Often, ailments that are “normal” parts of aging can have similar symptoms to more severe issues which is why it’s important that caregivers encourage their senior loved ones to seek medical attention for the following issues:

1. Symptoms from medical side effects – side effects that develop from medications should be discussed with a doctor. Some side effects might be normal; others might be a result of mixed medications. All concerns should be addressed with a medical professional

2. Awareness of self-medication – when caregivers see signs that a senior is self-medicating, it should be addressed. Even using over-the-counter medications combined with multiple prescriptions can cause complications

3. Understanding anxiety and depression – unmanaged depression can lead to more serious health complications. Caregivers should recognize the signs and encourage their loved ones to receive treatment

4. Changes in mobility – although physical changes can occur with seniors, changes in mobility do need to be addressed. First, a doctor can investigate any underlying medical problems; and second, changes to a senior’s home can be made to make it a safer environment

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The economy has taken its toll on a large percentage of the population, and seniors are a group that’s been hit especially hard due to their limited incomes. Few are likely to admit that they’re having problems, especially to family members, so over the holidays, families should be on the lookout for signs of financial issues that include the following:

1. Unusual temperatures in the home – seniors are more sensitive to temperature as they age, so a colder home in the winter and warmer house in the summer, despite the availability of adequate heating and air conditioning might indicate financial problems

2. Their home is in disrepair – if your loved one is typically on top of home repair and maintenance, if you visit and things are in disrepair, financial problems might be taking place to prevent the needed attention to necessary repairs

3. The outside of the home is lacking attention – seniors often need assistance with outdoor maintenance like lawn mowing or snow clearing, and if they are not being done, seniors may not be able to afford to hire someone

4. He/she is unwilling to travel over the holidays – if your senior typically visits family or travels over the holidays, they might not be able to afford to

5. Medical appointments are being missed – many seniors try and avoid visiting the doctor, but you have to look at the reasons that motivate them

6. Medications aren’t being filled – necessary medications that are going unfilled can indicate financial issues

7. Social activities are being cut out – entertainment, social activities and dining out could be eliminated from a senior’s routine

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Baby boomers marked the beginning of a generation of independent women. However, for many boomer women, financial matters are still a bit of the mystery either because they’ve allowed someone else to take the helm when it comes to money, or simply because they’ve never taken a hard look at financial planning. As baby boomers approach their senior years, it’s necessary that they consider their financial future seriously if they’re hoping to retire. Here are some common financial mistakes boomer women make that all should avoid:

1. Some boomer women expect they’ll receive an inheritance – women who are fortunate enough to still have parents alive, might expect that at the time of their passing, they will receive a large enough inheritance to carry them through retirement. There are no guarantees if boomers will receive an inheritance at all, and if they do, they may not know if it will be enough to finance their senior years

2. Reliance on a spouse – many women allow their spouse to control all aspects of finances and also assume that their loved one is effectively planning for their retirement. Both partners should be involved in financial management, or at least have an awareness

3. No planning for women on their own – boomer women might assume that their spouse will be with them forever. But death or divorce can change this, and women need to make sure they have their financial ducks in a row so they can survive on their own

4. Expecting a man to save the day – some women on their own have the “prince charming” attitude and are waiting for a man to sweep them off their feet and fill up their bank account

Via: Let Life In

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Many Austin seniors love to garden, but few have the space to plant a traditional outdoor garden unless they live in a stand alone family home. Seniors who still want to receive the benefits of gardening in an apartment or nursing home can do so by giving container gardening a try. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Get the right sized container – purchase containers or consider saving things from your recycling. All you need to do is punch a few holes in the bottom of the container to make it suitable for planting. Most vegetables require larger containers, although you might be able to use a recycled container the size of a large yogurt container for herbs, leaf lettuce, spinach and radishes

2. Use a good quality soil – purchase a high-quality potting soil or top soil in order to keep your container garden free of weeds.

3. Following planting instructions – if you’re planting vegetable plants or others which are already grown, place a little bit of soil at the bottom of the pot, remove the plant from its existing container and fill in any remaining space with the potting soil. When planting seeds, fill the pot completely with soil and follow directions for spacing

4. Care for as directed – put your pots in an area that will be the right temperature and have exposure to sunlight as directed. Water according to instructions.

Via: AFB Senior Site

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Many Austin seniors dream of the day that they reach their mid-60s so they can retire on a beach, spend more time with family, or pursue the many hobbies that they haven’t had time to take up earlier in life. However, some seniors, like 92 year old Erma Paliani are finding that retirement just isn’t in their cards and here’s why:

• While the average age to claim Social Security Benefits is 63.9, many need additional income on top of it to be able to afford basic aspects of daily living, like housing and food

• Many seniors would love to retire and just focus on their family and relaxing, but based on the numbers of seniors aged 65 and older which are rising higher than ever before, this isn’t a reality for everyone. The number of older works, aged 80+ has had the most substantial increase at 67% to 500,000 Americans

• With people living longer, money doesn’t go as far as it used to, and as time goes on this might increase even more, keeping more and more seniors in the workforce longer than planned

• Government benefits, which were initially defined in 1940 certainly weren’t designed to support 30 or more years of retirement, which means seniors need a fairly substantial nest egg to make it through

Via: AARP

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Some people try to avoid talking about their retirement plans until the time draws near, but by talking to your parents about their retirement early in life you can help them plan for any eventuality and ensure that they are happy, healthy and comfortable through their senior years. When talking to your loved ones about retirement, here are a few things to address:

1. Start early – talk to your parents about their retirement plans by the time they are 50…earlier is okay too, but don’t wait too long! However, if your parents are already retired, it’s not too late to have this conversation

2. Know their retirement goals – where do your parents want to live when they retire? Do they want to remain in Austin? Do they want to travel? Do they want to take on any new hobbies or continue with old ones? This will help determine their financial needs for retirement

3. How much? – you might not feel comfortable asking your parents about their finances, but it’s important to know if they have saved enough to get them through their retirement, while still meeting their goals. Ensure you let them know that they can’t live on their Social Security Benefits alone; according to studies, these only cover about 40% of retirement living expenses

4. Check Social Security Benefits – although seniors can’t live on their Social Security Benefit alone, requesting to know how much they will receive can help with financial planning for retirement

5. Let them know early retirement might be a possibility – whether or not they hope to retire early, with the economy today, many people are forced to retire at an earlier age. Take a look at the industry that your parents work in; if they are in an industry that’s really being effected, it might result in early retirement

6. Discuss health care – knowing what your parents would want with regards to their health care is perhaps the most important so you know what to do if they are not able to speak for themselves. You can also encourage them to draft a living will, but make sure you know what they’d want with regards to senior services as well as health care

Via: Senior.com

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders.  Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Q1 – How does the economic recession affect the health of Austin seniors?

A1 – Elderly Americans are under the same stresses as the rest of us; if not more, due to their limited fixed incomes. However, stress can take a greater toll on the health of a senior. In addition to depression and anxiety, seniors can find themselves with weakened immune systems which can result in the onset of a variety of illnesses, including cancer.

Q2 – Can Austin seniors prevent illness resulting from the stress of the financial crisis?

A2 – While they may not be able to take complete control over the financial affects; it is possible to reduce the level of stress and the affects upon health. Through diet, exercise, support groups, and simply taking enjoyment in day-to-day activities can help prevent or manage stress so that it minimizes the toll upon health.

Q3 – Is there any way for seniors in Austin to help prevent the financial affects of the economic decline?

A3 – No matter what the age, that’s the question that all of America is looking for the answer to! The best advice is to manage money wisely, and for seniors, that might involve asking for help from a family member or financial advisor to ensure their finances go as far as possible.

Sources:

1. The American Institute of Stress

2. The Mayo Clinic

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While it may be a perception that Austin seniors have no reason to worry and cope with stresses that can be detrimental to their health, the reality is that with retirement there can come a great deal of emotional stress that can lead many American seniors to worry their way into an early grave. Sure, it may seem like retirement is all about margaritas on the beach, and leisurely visits with grandchildren and family; but even seniors who have left behind the stresses of direct family responsibility and careers have a great deal to worry about.

Seniors lead lives filled with the unexpected; with fixed incomes their financial stability is often uncertain; they worry about finding the finances to fund their medical needs; and they’re constantly coping with change, like the loss of a close friend or spouse which can turn their world upside-down and trigger stress. With all of these worries on their mind at all times, seniors can suffer from chronic stress and chronic worry which can ultimately lead to health problems.

In order to cope with these anxieties and manage their stress so it doesn’t have a detrimental impact on their health, Austin seniors should choose activities that are physical in nature to help reduce tension and keep blood pressure low. The elderly can also cope with stress by engaging in activities that they enjoy; simply spending time with family, or doing an activity that puts a smile on their face can ensure that stress is coped with before it leads them to an early grave.

Sources:

1. SeniorJournal.com

2. Associated Content

3. The American Institute of Stress

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Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders.  Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

2009’s Economic Stimulus Plan brings both good and bad news for senior Americans. While some of the bills President Obama is hoping to have passed by the senate do benefit seniors’ financial needs; there are advocates who fear that the provisions might hurt Social Security benefits and healthcare long-term. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), recently passed by the House, does includes some senior-friendly elements such as $87 billion to help fund state Medicaid programs; $650 million to continue the DTV coupon program (allowing people to convert from analogue to digital cable); and $500 million dollars has been allocated to the Social Security Administration to process the rise in disability and retirement claims.

According to the Stimulus Plan, unemployed people age 65 and older will be able to retain their COBRA health insurance coverage, so they are not burdened with exorbitant medical costs until they are eligible for Medicare coverage. Healthcare provisions have also been added that will allow medical institutions to store information about senior health electronically to increase senior medical care. However, they also include a controversial component which requires that medical providers choose medical treatments that are cost-effective. While this may help keep seniors’ bills for medical care low, advocates also worry that this will impact the quality of care received by those with Medicare benefits or private insurance coverage.

Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan will also put money directly into seniors’ pockets, with eligibility for one time payments for retirees, including $300 for seniors receiving SSI, Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits.

Sources:
1. Spectrum

2. Bloomberg.com (Betsey McCaughey)

3. Associated Press: (Adrian Sainz)

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders.  Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.