Seniors Site

I’m a bit bothered about all these national and local cuts on senior care funds happening nowadays, some of them are cleverly disguised as changes which promise better senior care etc. I won’t be bothered too much if I am not seeing a rise on the senior population which means there is enough reason for our government to apply changes just to balance things out. Seems to me that people in our government think they have been spending too much for senior care and they have to do some damage control if they don’t want to be rocking their budget boat.
Which to me, unfortunately, does have a point. In our fight against death, we unknowingly opened up a new can of worms. Statistics say that the fastest growing age group nowadays is 85 and beyond. Meaning, too many people are now reaching this age and worst, most have no means to support their ever-raising medical cost which their boomer daughters and sons are most likely to shoulder.
I am not saying that it is better to commit suicide than reach this golden age, only that expect a lot of financial hurdles on your way and as much as possible, prepare for it so that you won’t have to bother your kids sometime in the near future.
Growing old is good. There is so much in life you have yet to discover. Don’t let financial worries bother you and your family. Here are some of the things you can do to prepare yourself for a battle against financial hurdles:

· Senior-proof your home while you still can. Let’s face it, living in a nursing home can drain your savings faster than a newly repaired drain pipe. Not only that, nursing homes are laden with horror stories that the mere act of finding the right one for you is almost scary and downright doubtful. By senior-proofing your home, you can age comfortably at home and just move into a nursing home when it is absolutely necessary.

· Find a family that will take you in. this may not be the ideal solution to your problem but this absolutely remedies your financial problem, and it may even help your host family in the long run as local government nowadays has incentives for families with seniors living with them.

· Find a reasonably priced senior community. This is the trend nowadays. There is a boom in building communities for seniors; in Florida alone, there are recently built communities advertised over the internet and around shopping malls and surprisingly, seniors from neighboring communities are flying in to move and fill these communities.

· Inquire about latest insurance coverages for seniors. Because of these changes, insurance companies are now designing insurance coverages which include other incentives for seniors. It may not benefit you now but who knows?

Today I am going to share my experiences about blogging and how seniors can make a little money out of it. Because of my virtual assisting stint, I’m able to work with fabulous people who do this on a regular basis – I mean, do these things for a living which in my eyes made them a pro. However, I found out that there is indeed more to it than just blogging and adding ads. You can actually make money out of it in so many ways that it is impossible to count them off your fingers! Let me share to you these examples:
CLIENT 1: CONTENT IS KING. This client made me write articles and blog posts 6 times a week, despite bad grammar just as long as it is understandable and keyword enriched. The idea is to populate the blog with content that is related to his niche. For my fellow seniors who aren’t too techie yet, “niche” is your blog’s overall topic. This is what keeps you in line and not blindingly shooting whatever happens to be in front of you.
TIP 1: Find a niche that is neither too broad nor too slim/narrow. Make sure you go for something you can write for a long time without having to repeat yourself after 2-3 months.
CLIENT 2: SOCIAL NETWORKING IS THE KEY. This client happens to be a social media coach so she’s very particular with her “tone” when talking to her community. She doesn’t want me anywhere near her blogs so she propped me on her social media sites, adding friends and posting news and quotes which won’t require me to do a couple of words inserted on every post. Of course, my posts should all be related to her niche and they should, every now and then, promote her websites and blogs.
TIP 2: Engage with your community. Expect people to ask questions and they expect you to answer in return. This is good since you are getting feedbacks which will help you grow as a better blogger.
CLIENT 3: THE AFFILIATE MARKETER. This is where the money-making part starts. After polishing your blog nice and shiny, you can now apply for affiliate programs. When approved, you’ll be able to post ads on your website/blog such that when someone clicks on it and buys something, you’ll be rewarded with a commission. Commissions can go as low as 4% to as high as 7% depending on your program. Some of the most popular ones are: Google Adsense, Amazon and Clickbank.
TIP 3: You might want to wait, say 6 months, before applying into anything as affiliate programs are quite strict in approving applications.
CLIENT 4: PHYSICAL PRODUCTS. Indeed you can use your blogs to promote whatever product you are now selling – physical products, I mean. While marketing campaigns are not as concentrated on blogs as you would when affiliated, your blogs can serve as an additional marketing tool and establishing online presence. You can even install third party applications on your blog for your customers to be able to buy your product online.
TIP 4: Going online with your product is a good decision since localised products on web are really a hit these days.

If you plan to do all these things, be prepared to spend a lot of time in front of the computer however, if you do have the time to do so, I assure you it’s rewarding and worthwhile. Retired seniors who are getting a little bored and anxious at home can start incorporating these things, have fun and make money all at the same time!

Sure there are pains, physical and emotional. Sure, there WILL BE pain, and suffering and whatnot but if you ask seniors – those who are past midlife crisis, mind you – will tell you, growing old and gray isn’t so bad, certainly not as bad as we imagined it to be. In fact, when you reach a certain age, when you feel you’ve already done your part and just awaiting for the right time to go, you’ll feel content and best of all, happy.

While seniors are usually not pretty things to look at, there are joys in growing old – real joys – similar to that of what you had when you were younger but this time around, you possess maturity to go along with that blissful feeling. If you ask me, ageing holds the way to the kind of happiness you spent half your life searching for.

I don’t know about you but I noticed I am quick to let go of bad vibes now than 10 years ago. When I was younger, you don’t just mess with me but now, I have the tendency to let things pass especially if they will only bring about stress. I don’t confront people now, instead I talk it out with them and try to really listen.

Ever heard of the U-bend? It was believed that happiness is like a U-bend, highest points being the happiest and age is a factor. U-bend explains that people are at their happiest during their childhood and golden years but they are at their lowest point midlife. This may come as surprising for many especially those who are still nearing retirement and have yet to experience the happy feeling that comes with age but really, it’s quite understandable. Seniors, like I said, have already learned life’s lessons and more or less know how to deal with things which lessens the stress and emotional burden. Aside from that, the expectations are lesser and the obligations are lighter. These things alone are reason enough for seniors to be happy and content with their lives.

Your social life also plays a very significant role in your overall happiness, no matter what your age is. Young or old, studies show that a person who has friends or at the very least, sees and mingles with people regularly is mostly happy and content than those who seldom go out and interact with others, this is especially true for seniors who have mobility problems. Kids and pets at home prove to be a huge factor in a person’s level of happiness too however, fulltime caregiving to both kids and pets showed that these can trigger everyday stress as well.

Learning can never be enough, you just never stop learning, no matter what your age is. We humans are made with nonstop thinking brain – yes, even if you order your brain not to think about anything, it will not stop thinking, just as your heart never stop beating. However, it needs exercise especially if you don’t like it getting all soupy.

For seniors, being “soupy” is simply not acceptable. We have to be on top of things, always alert and engaged. In order to do that, we have to go on learning, find ways to keep your mind occupied. That’s exactly what lifelong learning can do for you!

By definition, lifelong learning is the act of continuously building your skills and knowledge, acquiring new ones, through experiences formal and informal. By formal we mean trainings, higher education, etc. Nowadays, lifelong learning is highly encouraged especially in the corporate world where the competition is a lot tougher than anywhere else. Retired seniors are also encouraged to do so since lifelong learning proves to be very beneficial to their health.

So what exactly can lifelong learning do for you? Let us count the ways:

* Sharper mind. I don’t believe that old dogs can never learn new tricks. What I believe, though, is that old dogs can be really lazy when it comes to learning new tricks. On the other hand, challenging your mind will help it stay sharp and focused.
* Boosts self confidence. It’s quite hard to not be proud of your achievements when you’ve acquired so many of them right? Even if you don’t brag about it, lifelong learning has it’s own way of oozing out of you so you won’t have to feel inferior or “too old” for anything anymore.
* Welcomed challenges. At some point, your retirement will start to feel boring and mundane. Lifelong learning will bring you fresh challenges each day, filling the void and leave you feeling revived and fulfilled.
* Give you the opportunity to meet other people. With age, we tend to shy away from people for some reason. Lifelong learning will help seniors to not lose touch with the society and be able to mingle with them confidently.
* Skill building. I can’t explain enough how exhilarating it could be when you know you are building and honing your skills every single day. Learning something new everyday is what we live for and we shouldn’t settle for anything less.
* It will keep you up-to-date with things. The thing with learning is that you never stop. Everyday, new things are discovered such that what you knew back in college won’t necessarily apply to your field now. Think of lifelong learning as updating your skills, an investment.

“Golden years” is simply passé. When you think of retirement and golden years, you are most likely to imagine kid-free house, no mortgage, trips to remote and unheard-of islands, holidays with grown-up kids and spoiled-rotten grandkids, growing old together with your partner, simple yet comfortable living and of course, no job or money pressures instead, you may now be looking at unknown years of caring for your grandkids, delayed retirement, credit card debts and mortgages – not really a sight to look forward to, ain’t it?

Unfortunately, it is quite impossible now to go back and change your life – what’s done is done, no use in dwelling about it. Furthermore, you don’t have to stress yourself too much by thinking of those could-have-beens and what-might-haves, you just have to move on.

Protecting your retirement dreams should be your priority now. Or salvaging what was left of it and making the most out of it. Here are few tips on how to still be on top even if your current situation does not suggest it:

* Seek help from a professional. Hiring a financial adviser must be your wisest decision right now. Getting a professional perspective on your current situation will help you understand it better thus arriving into a more doable solution. Bear in mind that your financial woes can never be remedied overnight. It takes time and a little bit of work.
* Examine your documents. It might be a good idea to do a thorough go-over on your legal documents. This should include your insurances, pension plans, etc. knowing where you gain and where you lose provides a good starting point in replanning your retirement.

* Clear up your debts. It is very much advisable that you enter your retirement debt-free as you won’t be needing that kind of pressure now. As much as possible, work on paying your debts before you go unemployed and build a plan on how you could still pay them if you won’t be able to make it to deadline.

* Budget your money. Nothing beats budgeting your money and learning how to stick with it. By having a weekly or monthly allowances and setting aside some for emergency situations, you won’t worry about having to go penniless later in your life.

* Consider your options. If you, by now, are really convinced that your financial situation won’t get any better, perhaps you should start thinking of ways to supplement your nest egg. Reverse mortgage, for one, has many flaws but nobody can’t deny how it was able to help many seniors during the strongest phase of the financial crisis.

When we were younger, we look forward to retiring. We work long hours just to be able to make ends meet and at the same time, save a little something for retirement. Retirement, for many American adults, is considered as the next phase, when there is nothing anymore to worry about, a time to travel and just do whatever you want, whenever you want. You are not expected to be working anymore. No pressure. No obligations. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

There are people who were born to work. They enjoy making money. It makes them feel alive. Trust me, they are not doing it just because they are greedy but it gives them a kind of fulfillment only an accomplishment could give—something that is important when you reach a certain age. Hence, the senior entrepreneurs.

Indeed, the word “retirement” has adapted a whole new meaning. More and more seniors are getting on the bandwagon either delaying retirement or starting new businesses. I say seniors today are getting restless and way more active than 20 years back. Funny if you notice how younger people are going into early retirement nowadays while seniors became more interested in working and building businesses. Now you know that the playing field has gone fair.

If you ask seniors why they ain’t quitting, you’ll probably end up with several different answers. That is because seniors are working for several different reasons. Some work to supplement their nest egg which was affected by the economic crisis while others believe that working gives them something to focus on, like their life’s direction. Funny how some seniors felt lost after retiring from work and needed something to occupy their time – funny but indeed true.

According to many retired seniors, retirement’s number one enemy is boredom. After years and years of working, it is just a huge leap from a working day to a “retired” day especially now that seniors are as active as ever and everything seems so convenient to do. Putting up an ecommerce site, for example, doesn’t even have to cost you a week’s allowance let alone a couple of hours working on your computer per day – at home. Even seniors with limited range of motion can do that!

Healthwise, staying on business proves to be healthy. Studies show that a senior who is engaged and actively running a successful business tend to live longer and happier lives. Aside from that, senior entrepreneurs are not at risk of being discriminated as opposed to applying for a job or trying a second career.

While I encourage seniors to make the most out of their lives especially during retirement, it is not impossible for many seniors to still be scrambling for money or perhaps doubting if their nest egg is really enough. My take is that your nest egg can never be enough. Aside from that, you will come to a point when your “retired” days become boring, annoying and downright ridiculous – enough reasons to make you get out of the house and do something meaningful to occupy your time – okay, not meaningful all the time but whatever is there to amuse you, right?

Hence the delay in retirement. I believe that seniors nowadays are as active as ever and they don’t really need to be told that they have already reached their retirement age. Nowadays, “retirement age” is only a number, nothing more. However, there are many factors you need to consider now that you are nearing your retirement age, one of them is time spent on rediscovering yourself. It is only normal to be torn between putting up a business and be your own boss vs. staying employed wherein financial stability is almost guaranteed.

Assessing the risk is the most important of all factors to consider if you are torn between these two options. Putting up a business is quite risky especially if you don’t have enough experience under your belt, formal and informal experiences, while staying employed can bring about dissatisfaction and unease since this should be the time when you could finally enjoy a slower phase and pursue other interests. Emotional risks should not be taken lightly as it can lead to depression and ultimately other health problems. It is important that seniors stay happy and contented all the time, no matter what.

Again, staying contented is the key to a happy seniorhood. Moreover, it is important that whatever you are doing motivates you as well. In other words, you should be enjoying the work you do, and at the same time, it should challenge you as a person. If you decide to self-employ then make sure you have enough time to grow with your endeavor. On the other hand, if you have decided to stay employed, better make sure you are getting exactly what you want from it.

Lastly, always include your family in the equation since they are the most affecting factor on your decision. Either way you decide to go, your family will surely feel the effect so make sure they are always involved and they know what to expect.

I seriously think seniors should be given a handbook or something of all their possible benefits and how they should go about it once they reach the tender age of 50. I mean, it’s quite hard to keep track of it all, right? I now have the suspicion that despite their knowledge of how forgetful seniors can be, they are deliberately making us forget so we miss all the fun! Below are some answers to basic questions about your social security:

* When is the right time to file for Social Security benefits?

Anytime is the right time as long as you allow at least 3 months before you start collecting benefits. Starting age 62, seniors can file to receive benefits or wait for full retirement. However, it is important to note that the longer you wait, the higher amount you get for benefits.

* What documents do I need to prepare for filing?

You will need your social security card and other documents supporting your social security number, birth certificate and proof that you are a citizen of the United States. You may also need other documents depending on your work status and past jobs, that is, US military service papers if you have served your country before or W-2 if you are self-employed.

* I am a senior with disability, now what?

Check if you qualify for adult disability Social Security. In this case, you will need to fillup your filing form along with your adult disability report. Prepare for an interview and secure the following documents:  names and contact information of the hospital and doctors who are currently seeing you for your disability, your medical records, your health journal which includes the dates of checkups, medication prescribed etc. There will be other important documents that the social security administration may ask you to bring to support your claim.

* How much will I get from social security?

Your benefit depends on your lifetime earnings and the year you decided to file to receive Social Security benefits. There are many online calculators to help you calculate your benefits and get an estimate, so you’ll have an idea.

* Can I get my deceased spouse’s social security benefit?

Actually, yes. Even a divorced widow or widower may be eligible for their ex-spouse’s social security benefits.

* Is it okay if I don’t encash my social security checks right away?

Yes, but observe the 12-month terminus from the date issued.

* Can my partner for 10 years collect my social service benefits?

Depending on your state’s law, your partner, even if you are not bound by legal marriage, can be recognized and be eligible for survivor benefits. Please do check with the law governing your state.

We encourage seniors to get off the couch and do something productive everyday – every single day! Now that you are no longer bound by work, there’s no reason for you not to get up, go out and explore. Retirement doesn’t necessarily mean staying inside your house, doing nothing. In fact, this is the right time for you to pursue long-forgotten interests and do something about your long-forgotten dreams.
I know, easier said than done right? But you need to exert an extra effort to stay active even in your retirement. Studies showed that staying active in all aspects of your senior life is essential in maintaining good quality of life.  The Journals of Gerontology has recently published a study showing that seniors who were able to maintain active social interactions lessen their risk for disability as well as disabling incidents that can lead to disability. It seems to me by staying socially active, you are keeping your mind as sharp as a knife!
A senior can maintain a socially active life in many ways. You just have to take that first step and make sure you keep up with the phase. It shouldn’t be annoying nor a bother to you since you will have fun while doing it making it feel less a task and more a lifestyle. Here’s what you can do to maintain a socially active lifestyle:
•    Join clubs. There are many clubs and organizations out there that are available to join depending on your interests. My suggestion is to go local especially if you are new to this kind of socialization. If you don’t have any idea where to start, you may ask friends and family members for recommendations or find them online. This is a good time to meet people of the same interests.
•    Volunteer. This is the beauty of retirement, you now have lots of time on your hands to do the things that matters to you the most. Volunteering will help seniors meet new people and do something productive and worthwhile.
•    Consider part time jobs. Working for years will make your mind and body form a habit which is harder to break than you might think. Working again, even part time, will help you slowly adjust to your new lifestyle while exposing you to new people and keep an active social life.
•    Reconnect with your old friends. Making new friends is harder than nurturing old ones so why not keep the connection going rather than starting new ones? Go places with your longtime friends, set up weekly meet ups and do some “catching up”. This way you’ll be able to be physically active and at the same time, sharpen your mind.

Nobody said that writing your own will is fun, in fact, most seniors prefer to write and be done with it and not bother to update it until last minute, if they ever get one – and sometimes they don’t, so it leaves their surviving families in a lot of confusion and potentially, heartaches.

On many counts, drafting and writing your own will is a hard job. Not only it is somewhat acknowledging your inevitable death but actually planning for it. However, if you are pushing 80 then might as well admit it and save your loved-ones the confusion of going over your estate and battling out what they think is rightfully theirs. Below are some basic information all seniors should know about wills and how they should be done:

* What is a will? A will is a legal document that will be executed in the event of your death. Your will should contain your wishes on how your estate should be managed when you pass away. Big or small, everything you own should be mentioned in your will along with specific instructions on how it should be managed. Be sure to name an executor – the one that will oversee your will, guardians – if there are kids involved and beneficiaries – the people who will inherit your estate.
* Do I need a lawyer for this? Ideally, yes since a lawyer can guide you on how to properly draft your will and make sure your will will be executed smoothly and without any legal problem whatsoever. However, your will is still valid even without a lawyer as long as its content is legal.
* What happens if I don’t prepare a will before I die? The state will determine who gets who, prioritizing your next-of-kin. The state will also appoint an administrator. In some cases, it will be necessary for your loved-ones to file claims and let the state sort things out. With that said, you would know that this could get ugly and even nasty.
* Do I have to notarize it? In some states, yes so please do check otherwise your effort might go to waste.
* Do I need a witness? How many? Yes, you need to have at least two and they shouldn’t be your will’s beneficiaries. Your lawyer cannot be your witness as well especially if he or she drafted the will.
* Does my will need updating? Yes, of course. Keep in mind that in every major event in your life, you need to update your will so that you avoid complications later on.