Taking The Burden Off Your Kids: 5 Saving Tips For Your Golden Years

Most people do not look forward to getting older as there are many changes that accompany getting to our so-called golden years. For instance, the children that seniors once cared for frequently have to take care of their parents as they age. Here are some tips that can help take some of the financial burden off of children. Saving for a good retirement is something that people both young and old and start to focus on to make for a better life and truly make their final years golden.

1. Take Advantage of Discounts

Ben Franklin once quipped that "a penny saved is a penny earned." There are many opportunities for senior citizens to save money through senior discounts. Every penny saved is one penny that a senior or his or her children do not have to spend at a later date. Many grocery and restaurant chains offer discounts that sometimes start as early as AARP eligibility at age 50. These are definitely worth looking into.

2. Cash in on Travel Rewards

Many seniors live at some distance from their adult children and grandchildren. Most of these elders will want to visit with family at some point during the year. Rather than having children foot the bill for travel, seniors can sign up for frequent flyer accounts and hotel rewards programs that can pay off in free flights or free hotel stays. The reduced cost of travel can fit a retired senior's schedule much easier than a working child.

3. Downsize

The American Dream for a large segment of society includes owning a large home. After a couple begins to experience an empty nest, there is no longer a need for 4,000 square feet of living space. One of the best ways to free up some additional cash during retirement can come from downsizing. A two- or three-bedroom home will probably suffice for most retirees. Getting rid of a five- or six-bedroom house can be a great move to reduce financial burdens later in life.

4. Look into Assisted Living

Many children feel obligated to take care of their aging parents. These same adult children will frequently need to be a part of a two-income household just to make ends meet. Getting into an assisted living environment can provide for some of the care that a senior needs while also allowing children to continue working. However, you can plan ahead and avoid ending up somewhere you don't like. Looking into assisted living in Clermont FL and other warm weather locales is often preferable.

5. Set up an HSA

When getting closer to retirement age, a good idea is setting up a Health Savings Account. These accounts can pay for some of the routine medical expenses that Medicare might not cover, and this can help take a big burden off of children.

There are many ways for senior citizens to save their adult children some stress. Whether it is looking into assisted living or cashing in frequent flyer miles for a visit, these tips can save money for seniors, and they can also help lessen the financial and psychological burden that their children might feel.

Boomers Dental Health: What You Need to Know

English: A little girl has her first visit to the dentist. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As more and more Baby Boomers age, many are finding that their overall dental health is lacking. Trying to juggle the many different monthly expense is contributing to the lack of proper dental care. It's true their prime health concern is worrying about paying their health insurance premiums. Plus with the Obama Care debacle, many losing are losing their health care insurance.

It is very important to take care of your dental health but to many it's secondary and often ignored. A survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) finds that for older Americans, even though they claim to be aware of preventive dental measures, neglect to implement these measures. These measures include using floss and mouthwash daily and even daily tooth brushing.

Still the good news is many Boomers do make twice a year visits to the dentist for check-ups. You need to take charge of your dental health care by learning what your needs are and making sure your dentist performs the proper the treatment properly.

It is important to be aware that 80,000 people per year are victims of some form of dental negligence. Sadly only 10,000 of these people seek help and appropriate compensation. Many wish to avoid the malpractice root because of fear or ignorance of their rights. 

The law states any health care practitioner who is responsible for causing injury is subject to the laws of medical malpractice. If your dentist hurts you or causes pain or injury it could be considered medical malpractice.

Dental malpractice is considered by many to be when the dentist causes a negligent conclusion to a medical procedure. This is true but there is another type of malpractice called passive malpractice. An example of this is when during a regular checkup your dentist spots evidence of cancer development. If the dentist neglects to tell you, then this is considered passive negligence.

There are many reasons that people avoid going to the dentist. But for overall health it is important to get you checkups and cleanings twice a year. For more information on dental health and your rights visit brooklyn dental malpractice.

Individuals seeking employment as caregivers are in a great position; the demand for caregivers is at an all-time high. According to the Pew Research Center, an average of 10,000 Baby Boomers in the United States turns 65 years old every day.

The need for caregivers will only continue to increase as Baby Boomers enter retirement. Government studies estimate 7 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 will need long term care at some point. 

It’s important that, as a caregiver, you understand how to give off a good impression throughout your job search in order to succeed at landing a job in this high demand market.

Creating a resume may sound obvious, but many people applying to be a caregiver skip this step entirely. Bringing along a professional resume that lists your previous employment and any related experience will help tremendously. 

Even if you have no prior professional care giving experience, you should list other jobs you have had to prove you are a dependable employee. Include any community volunteer or charity work you participate in, as well.

When you are searching for interviews, use social media to your benefit. There are tons of job listing sites for caregiver jobs NYC and many websites specifically designated for potential caregivers. 

Make detailed profiles and scour the online listings to find agencies and opportunities that match your needs. Do some research in advance to be sure you understand the average pay for caregivers in your area, both at agencies and when working independently, in order to decide your best route.

Always arrive early to an interview, dressed in clean, simple clothing that you would wear on the job. Being reliable is a vital part of being a caregiver and showing up a few minutes early never hurts. 

Ask questions and prove that you have done some research on the company, its mission, and how it is run. Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and solve problems, which are two huge parts of being a successful caregiver.

Don’t be afraid to be friendly and laugh when talking with a potential employer. People want to know that you are not rigid and serious and will be able to connect with others, especially the person for whom you provide care. 

Be warm and show that you have a sense of humor. Explain why you became a caregiver and display your passion for the profession.

A Scan Foundation report estimates that 27 million people in the United States will need long term care by the year 2050, and the need for caregivers will continue to increase as Boomers retire en masse over the next few decades.

Connecting and engaging with your potential employers can make all the difference in finding a caregiver job that fits what you are looking for. 

Take time to think about why you chose the path of caregiving, be genuine and honest in your interviews, and you may find the job search process just a bit easier!

About the Author: Barbara Davis is a big fan of all things N'awlins. When she is not exploring the culturally rich nooks and crannies of The Big Easy she enjoys working on her freelance writing career, frequently writing on such topics as retirement, Baby Boomers, and health care.

Practical Ways to Keep Your Marriage Strong After 50

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), divorces among people over the age of 50 have doubled since 1990. There are many reasons why the rates have skyrocketed, and understanding these reasons is one way to help maximize the divorce triggers. In addition to that, here are other practical tips for a happy marriage even until after your golden years.

Talk about it

One reason for failed marriages is avoiding issues rather than addressing them. Couples should get things out in the open and take time to talk to each other about anything that may be bothering them. If you think conversations like these will turn into shouting matches, you can always bring in someone else to serve as a mediator.

Laugh and smile

Humor plays a vital role in relationships, especially in long-term commitment. As you grow older, laughing and smiling are great ways to dissolve a heated situation. Instead of pointing the blame on each other, focus on laughing at mistakes. You can make fun of yourselves to resolve an issue and not take things too seriously. Laughter is the best medicine, right?

Practice selflessness

In some instances, all that is needed is a selfless act to rekindle a relationship. This little act of kindness goes to show how much you care for your partner. Remember, being selfless doesn’t mean losing yourself. Instead, it relieves moments from your younger days, when care was easier to express.

Spend time apart

When you retire, you and your spouse find spending hours and hours in each other’s company. While being physically together is beneficial, too much time together can also lead to feelings of suffocation. You may feel that you are no longer the same person. You can remedy this by doing things on your own, whether engaging in a new hobby without your spouse or spending time with friends. Short periods of separation can make the married couple's’ time together more meaningful.

Act like you’re dating

After many years of marriage, you often become less romantic with your partner. You may tend to forget the little details that made a relationship fun in the early years of being together. The sweet surprises, love notes, and flowers may slowly melt away after being together for some time. Now, in your 50s, make an effort to go on dates, exchange love notes and talk about what you love about each other. Cuddling, hugging, holding hands, and kissing is also a great way to show affection

Renew your wedding vows

Let’s face it. After 30 years of marriage, your wedding may only be a faint memory. To bring back the same passion you’ve felt during your wedding day, renewing your vows may be a great idea. You don’t need to spend so much like you did the first time, too. There are many resorts that offer all-inclusive vow renewal packages that are easy on the budget.

With the tips mentioned above, you can continuously enjoy a happy marriage and stay away from thoughts of divorce and separation.

About the author: Melissa Page is a professional writer based in San Diego, California. She writes about relationships and health on her group blog, Word Baristas. When she’s not writing, she’s bowling with her friends.

AARP Giving Away a Free 12 Month Membership

Image by martymadrid via FlickrIf you are 50 years old or older and thought about joining AARP, now is the time. The American Association of Retired Persons are giving away a free membership to those 50 or older and unemployed. If you have a membership already it will be extended for 12 months for free, also.

Just click on the link below and you will be taken to the AARP website where you will be asked for your date of birth. Then to another page where you enter your name and address. Soon after that you will receive in the mail your membership card and AARP new member info.

AARP said it is offering the complimentary membership for people 50 and over who may be having financial troubles or who have had an unexpected job loss.

With the card you will be able to receive big discounts at restaurants, shopping, prescriptions,entertainment, travel, and more. Don't wait the offer will expire December 31.

Click here to Join the AARP today and save the $16 membership fee.