A few years ago, many Baby Boomers began reaching the traditional retirement age of 65. With life expectancy continuing to rise, this generation faces longer retirements than previous ones. As a result, retirement planning must evolve: advisors need to offer services that reflect longer lifespans and the changing needs that come with them. While most … Read more

Long-term care refers to a range of supportive services needed to meet a person’s daily care needs over an extended period. Often these services are non-medical and focus on helping with everyday tasks—commonly called activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)—though long-term care can also include skilled nursing when required. … Read more

In a previous post titled Long Term Care: What Does Medicare Actually Cover?, I outlined the potential out-of-pocket expenses a person may face when receiving care in a private-pay skilled nursing facility (SNF) versus a Medicare-certified SNF. In short, Medicare Part A will pay for medically necessary skilled nursing care for a limited time and … Read more

Within Western culture, aging is often framed as something to fight. Billions are spent on creams, procedures, and supplements aimed at erasing wrinkles and hiding gray hair. Popular media frequently portrays growing older as a slow slide into insignificance. But what if that familiar story about aging is incomplete or even misleading? What if, paradoxically, … Read more

In a recent blog post, I highlighted a Washington State University study that found your place of residence can influence lifespan. That research examined gender, race, education level, neighborhood walkability, socioeconomic conditions, and the working-age population, and correlated those factors with the number of centenarians in each area. The study’s findings were surprising and drew … Read more

According to data collected at myLifeSite, roughly three quarters of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also called life plan communities, require an entry fee. About 80 percent of those communities offer a refundable entry fee option, with 50 percent and 90 percent refunds being the most common. It is not unusual for a single community … Read more

What if you could live in a retirement community that offers services, amenities, and an atmosphere on par with the world’s finest hotels? For many affluent older adults, that vision of luxury senior living is becoming a reality. There is rightly substantial attention on making senior living more affordable for average, middle-income retirees. At the … Read more

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity observed the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Many older adults use the holiday season to give cash or valuable assets to family members or charities. While those gifts are usually appreciated, it’s important to be cautious about large transfers—especially if you might need Medicaid or live in a … Read more

With COVID-19 cases down in many parts of the country, school breaks, and a host of religious holidays this month, many people will be visiting older relatives for the first time in a long while. Those visits are an excellent opportunity to reconnect and also to assess an older loved one’s health and safety. Ideally, … Read more

If you’ve started researching senior living options—such as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC, also called a life plan community) or other retirement communities—you’ve likely encountered questions about minimum age requirements. Many people find this confusing, especially when household situations are nonstandard (for example, a spouse younger than the community’s minimum age or a senior … Read more