For many families, conversations about aging and future care needs are easy to postpone. Parents may fear that raising the subject signals a loss of independence, while adult children worry about appearing pushy or insensitive. But delaying these talks until a health crisis — a fall, an unexpected hospitalization, or signs of memory loss — … Read more

In last week’s blog post we examined the advantages of periodically reassessing where you live and the idea of moving roughly every ten years. That approach encourages decluttering and makes it easier to “right-size” your home to match the life stage you’re in. Another important idea to consider as you plan later-life living arrangements is … Read more

We frequently discuss the high cost of long-term care, but dementia care can be especially burdensome for families. A recent study examined dementia-related expenses and found that these costs often consume a large portion of a person’s monthly income and rapidly erode retirement savings. A first-of-its-kind look at dementia care costs Researchers at the University … Read more

What is the essence of life? To serve others, and do good. — Aristotle Many Baby Boomers hesitate to even think about the “R-word”—retirement. After four decades or more in careers they love, the idea of entering a phase without daily work obligations can feel disorienting, like being sent out to pasture. Yet retirement doesn’t … Read more

The concept of senior living includes a range of choices, from independent living communities to assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), now often called life plan communities. CCRCs frequently require an entry fee and provide services across the full senior living continuum—independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing care. Whether researching … Read more

The decision to move to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a life plan community, is rarely made alone. Many people beyond the prospective resident have a stake in the choice and influence the decision—often the most significant voices are adult children. Most adult children share common priorities: they want their aging … Read more

As temperatures begin to fall across much of the country, many older adults consider whether spending their retirement in Florida makes sense. For established “snowbirds,” cooler weather signals it’s time to head south for the winter to join many other retirees. If you’re weighing retirement in Florida, here are key factors to consider. The tradeoffs … Read more

As summer arrives, many people embrace outdoor activities—hiking, swimming, gardening, or relaxing at the beach. These warm months bring plenty of enjoyment, but it’s important to take precautions to stay safe in the heat. Older adults are especially vulnerable to high temperatures. In many parts of the country—particularly retirement-popular regions such as Florida and Arizona—daytime … Read more

Last week we explored what defines an equity retirement community and reviewed the potential advantages and drawbacks of that senior living option. Before that, we covered the characteristics of rental retirement communities. In this third and final installment of our series on types of senior living, we examine entry fee retirement communities, often called buy-in … Read more

Over the past few years I have written several posts explaining the different types of residency contracts offered by continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs or “life plan communities”), clarifying the nuances among them and offering tips for comparing the options. Recently, it was pointed out that much of our content focuses on entry-fee models, even … Read more