Are You Financially SECURE? What the New Retirement Legislation Could Mean to You
On May 23, an Act dubbed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE) passed the House of Representatives. A nearly identical bill, the Retirement Enhancement Securities Act (RESA), is currently in front of the Senate. The eventual legislation will likely have aspects of both. Whatever the nuances in...
Are You a Tweenager?
I bet you know just what I mean when I ask if you’re a “tweenager.” It’s those times in life when we leave one life stage and begin to move on to another. Remember when you were 12? The marketers called you a tween—no longer a child but not...
Help Loved Ones Add Joyful Years to Their Lives
Growing older comes with many transitions, some of which can leave individuals feeling lonely. Whether it’s moving to a new community, transitioning to a new area to live closer to family or staying behind while others move, elders can become isolated in small increments without realizing how limited their...
How to Hula Hoop: Mastering the Impossible
I am embarking on a quest that would put Don Quixote to shame. I plan to whittle three and a half inches off my waist. If that’s not the impossible dream, I don’t know what is. I started by hiring a personal trainer. I found Tracy teaching the Body...
How to Plan a “Fun-er-al”
Thirty years ago, when someone asked me, “Do you have a plot yet?,” they were inquiring about the progress of my latest book. Today, they mean have I made funeral arrangements. The answer is NO! And I’m not alone. The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA), assures us that we can—and should—plan our...
7 Reasons for Perpetual Lateness Syndrome…and What to Do About It
In the groundbreaking book The Silent Language, Edward T. Hall documents how our concept of time is an unspoken way that we communicate with each other. Although Hall was addressing cultural differences, we also have a personal time culture. How we approach time may change throughout our lives, including after...
Allying with Powerful Feminist Initiatives to Fight Ageism
I recently had the opportunity to ask Gloria Steinem, the iconic feminist activist, about the nexus between ageism and sexism. My exact question was, “Do you think the same protocol that fought misogyny and advanced women’s rights can be used to fight ageism?” The 85-year-old Ms. Steinem derailed me...
My Birthday Blog—I’m Crying Because I’m Confused
“I’m confused”—that’s a line from the movie Moonstruck, said by the grandfather who is called “Old Man” by the family’s matriarch. The family is sitting around the table arguing about love, marriage, betrayal and change. The Old Man starts to cry. “What’s the matter Pop?” asks his son. Then the...
Why Won’t Mama Listen to Me?
Are you struggling to persuade Mom or Dad—or both—to move to a care community or accept aid at home? Are they resisting, arguing or simply ignoring you? Thousands of boomers are walking in your shoes. Half of all 60-year-olds have a living parent, usually reaching their late 80s and...
Coming of Age…Again–Will Co-Housing Help Retirees Retain Community?
Now that I’m past 70, I get weekly invitations to visit local assisted-living residences. I throw them out with a wistful feeling that I may need to visit one day. Recently, one of the invites had two words written in small print—“Resident Run.” That was all the hint I...