Medicare Advantage plans continue to gain in popularity as a growing number of seniors choose them over basic Medicare (or Medicare with supplemental coverage). They’re often touted as the best value in senior health care, with a wide range of services all covered under a single premium. But does the reality match the hype? For … Read more

Here’s a statistic that may surprise you as it surprised us: nearly 80 percent of all U.S. women will eventually become the sole financial decision maker for their household. Moreover, this responsibility won’t just be theirs for the short-term. For many who have outlived their spouses, they’re going to be solely in charge of household … Read more

The notion of retirees seeking part-time work is hardly front-page news. Some recent studies have suggested that almost half of all those soon-to-be retired say they plan to work part-time – to earn extra money, to stay active, or simply for the social interaction of the workplace. But good intentions are one thing, and reality is another. … Read more

The phrase “early retirement” is seductive. It conjures up carefree days strolling on the beach, or hiking mountain trails, or touring exotic destinations, all when you’re still young and healthy enough to truly enjoy the experience. We’ve written a lot about early retirement here on the AgingOptions Blog, most recently just a few months ago, and as … Read more

When people use the word “retirement,” they often speak of it as if it were a singular event, one phase toward the end of a long and productive life. But these days, as Americans are living decades longer than they did a century ago, retirement can last for thirty years or more – and,as this Kiplinger article … Read more

Old people in America have long been the butt of jokes and the victims of derogatory and even demeaning treatment. This pattern of discrimination based on age has a name: ageism. What’s more, ageism has a cost, one that can literally shorten the lives of those affected by it. That was the unsettling conclusion in this … Read more

Frequently we’ve written here on the AgingOptions Blog about the number of Americans who have never gotten around to even the basics of estate planning. Following that important theme, we present this article from Forbes, in which contributing writer Lazetta Rainey Braxton brings a valuable perspective to the issue. Braxton is both a pastor’s wife and a financial … Read more

Aging in place has been the preferred plan for the vast majority of seniors for several decades now. Survey after survey has revealed that, when asked where they want to grow old, practically every American adult has a three-word reply: “my own home.” That’s an admirable goal, since living at home can be – for … Read more

Are you an elder orphan? It’s not a term we use regularly – yet that label represents a common and growing phenomenon. Millions of American seniors – AARP estimates as many as 20 percent – are aging alone. “More than 1 in 5 Americans older than 65 are — or are at risk of becoming — elder … Read more

For an elderly person, finding the right medical care can be a challenge, not because good doctors aren’t available, but because too few doctors really understand the unique needs of their aging parents. That was our chief take-away as we read this recent article from Forbes in which contributing writer Carolyn Rosenblatt has a warning for adult children … Read more