We love the traditions of October – fall colors, college football, and “pumpkin spice” everything. But there’s another event that returns regularly in this month, and that’s the ritual referred to as Medicare open enrollment, which began October 15 th and continues through December 7 th. This is an important period for Medicare enrollees, because it’s the one … Read more

It’s a common scene in the movies: a wealthy relative has died and the family has gathered for the reading of the will. All the characters are there, from the bereaved widow to the bitter ex-wife to the estranged son to the indifferent daughter to the hopeful nephew. Who will become rich and who will … Read more

Will your retirement include a so-called “second act”? It’s a concept that gets a lot of attention these days (probably because most of today’s retirees are baby boomers who have never been content to be predictable). The idea of a second act simply refers to that stage of life when you can stop working merely … Read more

Here at AgingOptions, we’ve written many times (most recently in this article earlier this year) about the importance of choosing the right doctor. Getting age-appropriate medical advice and care is an essential part of maintaining good health. But here’s a guilty secret: all too often, we’re all tempted to take advice from so-called “medical experts” we’ve never … Read more

It’s official – more or less. By the time you read this on the AgingOptions Blog, the officials at Social Security will almost certainly have announced the largest cost-of-living adjustment (commonly called the COLA) in four decades. The actual announcement is due the day after this article was scheduled to be posted on the Blog, … Read more

Last week here on the AgingOptions Blog, we featured an article that asked the question, “What if I retired today?” This week, we’re continuing the theme of retirement readiness by taking a closer look at this recent US News article in which reporter Rodney Brooks gives us some vital signs – six in all – that can help us answer the … Read more

Now that October is half gone, fall is definitely in the air, which can only mean one thing: winter weather will be here soon. That means “winter emergency season” isn’t far off!  While an emergency can happen just about any time and any place, the changing of seasons is a good time to remind our … Read more

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the home of AgingOptions, autumn is known for many things: the bursts of fall colors, the first of the blustery wind storms, and the arrival of dark, short, cloudy days. For many, especially when the hours of daylight are short and long periods can go by without a glimpse of … Read more

When do you plan to retire? What if it was today? Sometimes it takes a familiar question asked in a different way to really get us thinking. For those not yet retired, the answer to the “when will I retire” question can remain vague and uncertain, allowing us to keep some of the troublesome issues … Read more

How important will Social Security be in your retirement? If you said “very important,” you’re not alone. Half of all Americans say Social Security will account for anywhere from half to all of their retirement income. Considering how critical this program is to the majority of retirees, there are certain things every soon-to-be retiree needs … Read more