Senior Living Blog & Events

Since my children were little, their grandparents have been sending them snippets clipped from magazines and newspapers in the mail. With headlines like “World’s Largest Snake” and “Chocolate is health food,” grandma edits the world’s news according to the changing interests of my now-teenage son and daughter. Not only do my kids delight in the strange and random tidbits, but the shared information gives our three generations fun conversation fodder when we all convene.  

Inspired by my parents’ quirky curation, I wrote a series of books called Totally Random Questions, 101 Wild and Weird Questions and Answers. Just like it sounds, this eight-part, photo-driven series is a totally random curation of topics ranging from space and science to animals and sports. The content is purposefully high-interest for the 8- to 12-year-old crowd, but because it’s about the real world, adults have been finding it fascinating too.

But it can take more than a fun book to encourage kids to read. I spoke with some experts about how grandparents can help foster a love for reading — and deepen their connections to their grandchildren in the process. 

To read about their tips, from AARP, CLICK HERE:

Feeling down every once in a while is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last a few weeks or months, you may have depression. Read this article to find common signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options, and if you or your loved one may be at risk for depression.

What is depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can affect the way you feel, act, and think. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but clinical depression is not a normal part of aging. In fact, studies show that most older adults feel satisfied with their lives, despite having more illnesses or physical problems than younger people. However, if you’ve experienced depression as a younger person, you may be more likely to have depression as an older adult.

Depression is serious, and treatments are available to help. For most people, depression gets better with treatment. Counseling, medicine, or other forms of treatment can help. You do not need to suffer — help and treatment options are available. Talk with your doctor if you think you might have depression.

To learn about the types of depression that older adults may experience, as well as risk factors, signs and symptoms, and how you can support friends and family with depression, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Scams are rampant these days, with criminals stealing a reported $8.8 billion from Americans last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. But there are ways to protect yourself, including staying up on the latest schemes and following the advice listed below.

1. Stop at the mailbox

Informed Delivery is a free service from the U.S. Postal Service. The agency emails photos of letter-size mail expected to be delivered to you that day or shortly after. This is a great way to be sure that nothing is stolen from your mailbox by ID thieves. Sign up at InformedDelivery.usps.com.

Pick up mail as quickly as possible after it’s delivered, and always take your outgoing mail directly to the post office. A hot fraud now is scammers stealing checks from mailboxes, erasing the ink and using them to steal from bank accounts.

2. Halt scammers at your front door

Consider installing a video camera; they are increasingly less expensive, and they’re easy to install. If you don’t recognize a visitor, don’t answer.

If you find yourself being pressured to buy or donate, have a refusal script ready (consider taping it near the door) that says, “I do not do business at my door. Please leave me something to review. If I’m interested, I’ll call you.”

Be wary of people posing as utility workers who show up unannounced. Don’t allow anyone into your house without an appointment.

3. Prevent garbage theft

Shred any papers that contain private information (financial statements, bills, shipping receipts) before putting them out for pickup to avoid identity theft. Don’t want to invest in a good cross-cut shredder? Many communities have shredding events or permanent drop-off sites. Get in the habit of dropping off your accumulated documents once every few months.

To read about 10 additional ways to protect yourself from fraud, from AARP, CLICK HERE.

Hearing loss is a common problem caused by loud noise, aging, disease, and genetic variations. About one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age. People with hearing loss may find it hard to have conversations with friends and family. They may also have trouble understanding a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms.

Some people may not want to admit they have trouble hearing. Hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can get worse. If you have a hearing problem, see your doctor. Hearing aids, special training, certain medications, and surgery are some of the treatments that can help.

Some people have a hearing problem and don’t realize it. You should see your doctor if you:

• Have trouble understanding what people are saying over the telephone
• Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking
• Often ask people to repeat what they are saying
• Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
• Have a problem understanding speech because of background noise
• Think that others seem to mumble
• Can’t understand what’s being said when children and people with higher pitched voices speak to you

To learn more about the types of hearing loss, causes and how to cope with the health effects, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Interest rates on savings — whether for cash stashed in money market mutual funds, bank money market accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs) — are hitting levels last seen in the early 2000s. “I’m just thrilled with all this,” says Peter Crane, publisher of Money Fund Intelligence. It’s especially welcome news for retirees in need of low-risk income to help make ends meet and others seeking a safe place to set aside funds for an emergency.

But not every financial institution is offering high interest rates, even to longtime customers. And even if you invest in money market mutual funds, whose yields float with the short-term market, you have to shop around for the best deal.

Thank — or blame — the Fed. In an effort to squash inflation, the Federal Reserve has hiked its target for short-term interest rates eight times since 2021. Its key fed funds rate is now 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent and expected to go higher after the Fed’s Open Market Committee meeting later in March. Typically, savings rates follow the fed funds rate, and you’ll find plenty of CD offers for 4 percent or more.

Some major banks, however, aren’t sharing the love, at least not with all their products. One big bank, for example, offers a six-month CD yielding a paltry 0.03 percent. Another big bank offers 0.05 percent for a six-month CD for customers willing to plunk down $100,000. (The “standard rate” for smaller deposits is 0.01 percent.)

One reason: Banks set their own rates according to how much they need money from deposits, which they lend out at a higher rate. Many of the larger banks are flush with cash and in no hurry to lure more at higher interest rates. “It’s a binary world where big banks are offering diddly-squat on a lot of their deposits,” says Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com. On the other extreme are online banks, whose rates more closely track the fed funds rate. “Right now we have four major online banks offering more than 5 percent on CDs,” he says.​

For tips on how to earn more interest on your savings, from AARP, CLICK HERE.