Paying for Senior Housing and Health Care Costs – A Growing Burden
Boomers Delaying Retirement but also Relish Working Later in Life
(courtesy of Carol Marak, SeniorCare.com)
The growing costs of housing and health care expenses put a burden on a senior’s income. The expenses force many individuals to continue working to pay the bills.
Millions of people 60 and over feel pressured to work since the collapse of investments and home values. However, many baby boomers enjoy the value one gets from workplace influences like contributing skills and social relationships. Even turning age 70 won’t push them out the door either.
Here are reasons why older adults prefer to stay on the job:
- They want to earn more money for retirement.
- They would get bored not working.
- Retirement and Social Security income is not enough.
- They want to feel useful and productive.
- They like the interaction.
- It keeps them mentally and physically active.
- They need extra income to pay for health care and other expenses.
- They want to learn new skills.
Since it can be difficult to find work after 60, the Aging Council at Seniorcare.com suggests the type of work that suits older adults. The experts also give advice on how to stay current in today’s market:
Harsh Wanigaratne, Spedsta, “In 2010, the popular wisdom was that “the first person to live to 150 has already been born”…now with the Palo Alto Prize will life span stretch to 200 years? As Google’s Larry Page and other longevity companies think about the future of what aging and work looks like, it is going to be unique elder-tech that makes it easier for this massive retiring population to contribute and do digital work in a meaningful way.”
Connie Chow, DailyCaring.com, “Companies selling to older customers are more likely to seek older employees. Their life experience means they have more in common with target customers and can sell more effectively. Job seekers should focus on companies where their experience and talent matches what the firm needs to meet sales goals. To stay relevant, improve your communication skills and become as tech-savvy as possible.”
Scot Cheben, CaregivingAnswers.com, “Education, mentoring and non-physical consultants are areas best suited for our aging community. Don’t just think about schools or teaching when it comes to these areas. For example, when you come from the construction industry, you can add value to home improvement store or be in design consulting.”
Ben Mandelbaum, Senior Planning, “Seniors who want to stay active in the current market should continue to further their education. They need to learn about the latest technology in their fields. Working as a teacher, nurse, or home health provider are all great choices for older adults. Some other options include careers in social services, childcare, or office management.”
Caryn Isaacs, Get Health Help, “I help some clients to offer online classes. I set the senior up with a Chromebook, which is simple and comfortable to use. They can be found for under $200 and are easy to learn to use. Then the senior can join a site like UDEMY where you post the class based on your skills. It is template based so it walks the individual through all the steps of creating their business and even advertises it for a commission.”
Kaye Swain, SandwichINK, I love real estate as there is no age limit to it. Teaching and many medical jobs are also often open to all ages. Community colleges are a great resource for all ages including seniors (especially those that offer free or discounted classes.)
Marla Levie, Focus on Aging, Workers, especially boomers and seniors, must stay current with computer skills, technology and social media. Companies that hire older employees are expecting up-to date expertise. Take classes at community colleges or on-line. Settings such as offices, retail stores, research and seasonal work look for older adults who offer the blend of life and work experience with present-day skills. Be fluid.
Stephen D. Forman, Long-term Care Associates, LLC, “According to Uber, more of its drivers are over 50 than under 30 (with fully one-quarter ages 50+). In this respect, they are not unusual: part-time gigs form the backbone of the “gig economy”, and such jobs are increasingly filled by seniors during their “un-retirement.” Attractions include flexibility, supplemental income, and a means to stay engaged and social.”
Anthony Cirillo, The Aging Experience, “It’s not jobs or re-education that is the issue. It is age bias that has to be addressed. Princeton researchers uncovered what they call “Prescriptive Prejudice” a notion that society has certain biases toward older folks and one of them is the idea of succession, that older adults should step away from high paying jobs and social positions to make way for younger folks. There is a cultural issue we need to solve first.”
4 Helpful Things Every Voter Over 50 Should Know
It’s Crunch Time. Get Out and Vote!
Traditionally older Americans vote in larger percentages than the rest of the population. In fact, in the last 38 years, the 65-plus demographic averages a voting percentage of nearly 60 percent. In between the jabs and juvenile antics of the debates, we have not heard much about issues that impact seniors.
The Issues
What are the candidates’ positions on Social Security? Find out here.
On Medicare? Find out here.
Research for cures for Alzheimer’s and other age-related illnesses? More here.
What are their plans for helping Americans pay for long-term care costs? It’s limited!
Enabling the Vote
I researched the following while preparing for a TV segment about getting out the senior vote in the Charlotte area of North Carolina. And while there are specifics to North Carolina, there are takeaways for all voters.
- Check your state’s voter ID requirements. A North Carolina law requiring photo IDs at the polls was struck down though you do need to provide identification when initially registering to vote.
- The absentee vote is the best way and recommended way to vote for someone who cannot get to the polls at all. Request a form from your Board of Elections. I have observed that many of my long-term care clients have been very diligent in assuring their residents obtain the ballots.
- If you can get to the polls, early voting might be best way to avoid the lines and commotion on Election Day.
What if a person has a disability but can still make it to the polls?
Contact your Board of Elections and ask them about the accessibility of your polling place or an early voting location. You have the right to request another permanent polling place in advance of the election if yours is inaccessible.
People who have visual, physical, cognitive, or mental disabilities have a right to vote, protected by federal and state law. A poll worker is not allowed to offer assistance — you have to ask for it. You can ask for assistance from any person of your choice, except not an agent of your employer or union.
You can also remain in a car and vote from the curbside of the polling place if you would have difficulty going inside, due to your age or a physical disability. A poll worker will bring the ballot to you.
Get a ride to the polls.
There are people who have the ability and the desire to vote in person but may lack transportation. This is a very specific geographic issue so do some research to find out what services are available. An inquiry to Uber showed that they do not offer free assistance. Lyft did not respond to our requests.
For my North Carolina readers, here is what we found that can help.
- Mecklenburg County Coalition – Early Voting. Request transport using this online form.
- Go to NCVoter.org/rides and request a ride or call 888-482-7353.
- Democracy North Carolina and the Forward Together Movement — “Souls to the Polls.” Contact 1-888-OUR-VOTE.
If someone needs assistance with voting, say filling out their absentee ballot, who can help them?
They can choose whoever they want but it cannot be the owners and employees of a care facility, elected officials or candidates, and individuals holding office in a political party or organization or who are campaign managers or treasurers for a candidate of a political party.
Some states have mobile polling, also known as supervised absentee voting. These efforts are conducted in the residential facility, by bipartisan team of workers trained by local election officials. NC does not have this but with the growing numbers of seniors and senior facilities, probably should.
The older demographic is an important voting block and the issues facing older adults impact their younger family caregivers. Keep in mind that 25 percent of those caregivers are Millennials so older adult issues become everyone’s issues.
Lack of Sleep, Depression Could Be Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s
Lack of sleep, depression may increase risk of Alzheimer’s years later.
Genetic Predisposition Not a Factor
For Older Men, More Sex Increases Heart Attack Risk
Hui Liu, MSU associate professor of sociology.
Risk of Other Cardiovascular Diseases Increases as Well
Having sex frequently – and enjoying it – puts older men at higher risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. For older women, however, good sex may actually lower the risk of hypertension.
That’s according to the first large-scale study of how sex affects heart health in later life. The federally funded research, led by a Michigan State University scholar, is published online in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
“These findings challenge the widely held assumption that sex brings uniform health benefits to everyone,” said Hui Liu, an MSU associate professor of sociology whose vast research on the link between health and relationships has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, NPR, Time and many other national and international news outlets.
For the current study, Liu and colleagues analyzed survey data from 2,204 people in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Participants were aged 57-85 when the first wave of data was collected in 2005-06; another round of data was collected five years later. Cardiovascular risk was measured as hypertension, rapid heart rate, elevated C-reactive protein and general cardiovascular events: heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
Older men who had sex once a week or more were much more likely to experience cardiovascular events five years later than men who were sexually inactive, the study found.
This risk was not found among older women.
“Strikingly, we find that having sex once a week or more puts older men at a risk for experiencing cardiovascular events that is almost two times greater than older men who are sexually inactive,” said Liu. “Moreover, older men who found sex with their partner extremely pleasurable or satisfying had higher risk of cardiovascular events than men who did not feel so.”
She said the findings suggest the strain and demands from a sexual relationship may be more relevant for men as they get older, become increasingly frail and suffer more sexual problems.
“Because older men have more difficulties reaching orgasm for medical or emotional reasons than do their younger counterparts, they may exert themselves to a greater degree of exhaustion and create more stress on their cardiovascular system in order to achieve climax.”
Ultimately, while moderate amounts of sex may promote health among older men, having sex too frequently or too enjoyably may be a risk factor for cardiovascular problems, Liu said. “Physicians should talk to older male patients about potential risks of high levels of sexual activity and perhaps screen those who frequently have sex for cardiovascular issues.”
For women, it was a different story. Female participants who found sex to be extremely pleasurable or satisfying had lower risk of hypertension five years later than female participants who did not feel so.
Previous studies suggest that strong, deep and close relationship is an important source of social and emotional support, which may reduce stress and promote psychological well-being and, in turn, cardiovascular health.
“This may be more relevant to women than to men,” Liu said, “because men in all relationships, regardless of quality, are more likely to receive support from their partner than are women. However, only women in good quality relationships may acquire such benefits from their partner.”
Moreover, the female sexual hormone released during orgasm may also promote women’s health, she said.
