The facts of life for would-be retirees in the 21st Century

The average 50-something-year-old is ill prepared for retirement

WASHINGTON, DC, Sep 21 – Recent reports of an increased rate of bankruptcies among America’s senior citizens provides a new incentive to prepare for retirement, according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

“It’s not as easy as it used to be to retire. It’s even harder to imagine early retirement these days. So, for the over 50 set, in particular, it is time for a reality check. Ask yourself ‘do I have a plan’ and if the answer is no, you’d better start making up for lost time,” says Weber.

Meanwhile, President Trump has stepped in issuing an executive order that would “expand access to workplace retirement savings plans for American workers.” Weber notes that the order is aimed at lowering the costs for small businesses to create retirement plans for their employees. It would also let small business owners pool resources to create retirement plans. In a recent interview with iHeartMedia’s Sally Adams, Weber also explained that the order would allow employees to put away more money in IRA and 401k accounts for a longer period of time.

He told reporter Adams, “Right now, you have to start collecting from your IRA or 401K at 70 1/2 years old. Many people are still working at 70 and don’t want to take out money that’s making money for them quite yet. This will allow them to have some flexibility.”

Most of the experts on the subject of retirement agree that the average 50-something-year-old is ill prepared for retirement. Many of them will tell you that a family man, these days, will need a million dollars in savings. That may seem like a lot but people are living longer in this day and age and things are only going to get more expensive as the years go by.

Social Security can supplement retirement savings, but bear in mind that the average recipient currently receives a monthly benefit of $1,329. And, if you decide you want to retire earlier than the Full Retirement Age [FRA] of 65 to 67 years old, bear in mind that your benefits will be reduced. For example, if you decide to file for Social Security at age 62, it can be 20 to 30 percent less than it will be at your FRA.

If you want to see what you’ll have in your retirement, the American Institute for Economic Research offers a handy retirement calculator. It will tell you how much you’ll be able to safely spend from your savings when you retire.

Weber notes that “many of us will decide to continue working in either full-time or part-time positions in order to supplement retirement savings and income.  We’re also making life-style adjustments such as reassessing our housing needs.”

He noted that more than 80% of those in the 65-plus-age bracket own their own homes in the U.S. and that in the great majority of cases their homes are their single biggest asset.  “So, it stands to reason that when the kids grow up and move on, many of them start thinking about downsizing by moving into more efficient and affordable housing.”

Or, he says, you may want to consider moving to another part of the country where the weather is better, the cost of living is lower and there are no local income taxes.  “However, it can be difficult to choose that option if it’s a big move and there are other considerations such as proximity to friends and family.”

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AMAC urges seniors to enter into a ‘Fitness Protection Program”

You’ll feel better and it can improve your health, says the senior advocacy organization

WASHINGTON, DC, Sep 21 – Americans are living longer than ever before. The average lifespan in the U.S. has doubled over the past 100 years. In 1918, you were lucky if you made it past 40 years of age. Today we’re living into our 80s and the number of people living past 100 is at an all time high.

Fitness expert Jena Walther, Exercise Physiologist at the Scripps Center for Executive Health in La Jolla, CA, says more than half of us who are over 55 don’t even meet the minimum recommended guidelines for exercise. They lack confidence, are afraid they’ll hurt themselves or are just plain uninterested. And, it gets worse as they get older.

“In addition to making older folks feel better, the advantages of keeping fit include the ability to prevent some of the more serious diseases associated with aging, including Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even Alzheimer’s,” according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

Weber is encouraging AMAC’s membership to enter into what he calls a “Fitness Protection Program.”   He says, “As we get older we tend to seek ways to avoid activities that involve exertion. To quote one anonymous wag: the only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, sidestepping responsibility, and pushing their luck. We need to overcome inertia and find ways of improving our heart rates and blood sugar levels by developing good exercise habits. Of course, it is important to check with your doctor before beginning any regimen that involves strenuous activities.”

Exercise is particularly good at fending off Type 2 Diabetes and other chronic conditions. The World Health Organization says that a healthy diet, increased physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent 80% of premature heart disease, 80% of type 2 diabetes cases and 40% of cancers. And, according to the Alzheimer’s Association: “”Exercise or regular physical activity might play a role in both protecting your brain from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and also living better with the disease if you have it.”

AMAC suggests that, ideally, your own Fitness Protection Program will include formal exercise routines – even if it is going for a walk around the block. But being active doesn’t have to be limited to your workout times. There are plenty of ways to become more active as you go about your day. For example:

• When you are out and about, always choose stairs over the elevator, park at the far end of the parking lot when arriving at appointments and meetings, walk down every isle of the grocery store while shopping, practice balancing skills while standing in line, do neck rolls while waiting at a stoplight.
• When you are at home, do a set of wall pushups while waiting for water to boil, vigorously vacuum, tend to the garden, sweep the sidewalk, rake leaves, lift weights while watching the news, try toe-raises while talking on the phone, do knee bends after sitting for a long period of time.

Says Weber, “you will feel better if you keep active. Guaranteed!”

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Peak senior travel time draws near; here are some tips from AMAC

Help ensure your journey is enjoyable, worry free and safe

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug 24 – Summer vacations are the norm for full-fledged families with work and school schedules, but retirees prefer the leisurely, less costly pace of off-season escapes, says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens. Thus, he says, the start of the peak travel season for senior citizens begins after Labor Day.

“While the rest of the world goes back to school and back to work, the most popular vacation destinations are not so crowded and in many cases less expensive. These are ideal conditions for seniors,” Weber explains.

There are a lot of reasons travel is at the top of the lists for retirees. Those who can afford it want to see the world and fly or sail off to exotic destinations now that they have the time. Even those on limited budgets can satisfy their wanderlust by taking road trips.

And, Professor of Sociology and Gerontology at the University of Kansas, Dr. David J. Ekerdt, says that travel is good for seniors. He tells Forbes Magazine “it is something to anticipate, something that populates your future with a project or event. It’s an affirmation of good health — that you can actually get in a car and go two states away.” Some say travel can even help you live longer and healthier.

But, whatever the benefits of travel for older Americans, there are a few tips that can help ensure your journey is enjoyable, worry free and safe.

AMAC, says Weber, recommends early planning. “For one thing, you need to take note of physical limitations you may have and, if you are traveling with a wife or husband, what concerns they may have. So, begin by planning a getaway that will not be so physically demanding if you are not up to it. It might be a good idea to check with your doctors to discuss your medical needs during your trip.”

Once you’ve picked a destination that’s right for you, here are a few tips:

• Pack a sufficient supply of the medications you take in your carry-on luggage so that they will be easily accessible when you need them. And, make a list of the meds, just in case you run out or lose them.
• According to the official site for Medicare “In general, health care you get while traveling outside the U.S.isn’t covered. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered part of the U.S. So check with your insurance provider to make sure you can receive insured medical attention at your destination if and when you might need it. If your insurance does not cover you, purchase supplemental coverage that will be available at your destination or destinations
• Make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes and, if you are headed into a sunny clime, get yourself headwear that will protect you.
• Provide a family member and/or a trusted neighbor with an itinerary, complete with the names and locations of the hotels at which you’ll be staying.
• If you are flying to your destination and have any dietary restrictions, contact your airline to ensure they can provide meals that meet those restrictions.
• Check that your passports are in order if you are traveling abroad and if you don’t have a current passport, apply for it giving yourself time for it to be processed.
• Take a spare pair of glasses—particularly prescription glasses, just in case of breakage or loss.
• If you have a long flight to your destination, be sure to periodically walk the aisles during your flight lest you fall prey to Deep Vein Thrombosis.
• Use a money belt or safety pouch to carry your valuables, including your passport, travelers’ checks and cash. Leave expensive jewelry at home.
• Make copies of all the documents you carry, including your passport, airline tickets, etc. Leave one set with a family member or a trusted friend; hold on to a second set—just in case you misplace an original.

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Beware the attack of the ticks: some can give you Lyme disease

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug 3 – It’s the height of summer, a time of year when we are most vulnerable to insect-borne diseases. It’s a threat that will still be with us well into the Fall. Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control [CDC], warns that “a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick.”

Tick attacks can be particularly nasty for seniors, says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens. “They can cause several different illnesses, most notably Lyme disease. All of these sicknesses can have harsh symptoms but they rarely result in death, although the elderly have weaker immune systems and are therefore more susceptible.”

According to the CDC the symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, rash, facial paralysis and arthritis and can last up to six months. The Interim Healthcare Web site notes that these ”symptoms can be harsh but slow to set in – a person could be infected with Lyme disease for a full month with nothing but a small rash at the bite location before more serious symptoms set in. Later stage Lyme can include increased rashes, partial facial paralysis, arthritis and joint pain, irregular heartbeat, brain and spinal cord swelling, nerve pain and short-term memory loss.”

 Not all ticks carry Lyme disease. Weber says, “it is the blacklegged tick and the western blacklegged tick that are the culprits. They are not common in all 50 states. In fact, up until about 20 years, they were common only in the Northeastern United States. But two decades later they can be found in 1,531 counties spread across 43 states. Rebecca Eisen, a research biologist at the CDC, tells us that blacklegged ticks inhabit the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central regions of the United States, and the western blacklegged tick are found along the Pacific Coast.”

Weber says he did some research and found that you can tell the difference between the blacklegged and the common dog tick [which is not known to spread disease] by the physical differences between the two. The blacklegged tick is much smaller than the dog tick and the dog tick has white markings on its back.

The AMAC chief also suggests that you do not panic if you find a tick has attached itself to your body; you’ve got up to 24 hours before an infection can set in. So you have time to get help in removing it at an ER, for example. “Whatever you do, don’t try to squeeze it out or use a lit cigarette to coax it out. If you can’t get medical help, use tweezers to grip it as close as possible to its mouth to remove.”

And, now it is reported that a new species of tick, the “Longhorned Tick” has recently been identified in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas. According to one report, “while they have been known to transmit disease to humans in other parts of the world, health officials say more research is needed to determine whether that’s possible in the U.S.”

To prevent tick bites, the CDC suggests that you:

Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. And that you,

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions.

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AMAC supports Congressional BOLD initiative to combat ‘the scourge’ of Alzheimer’s disease

Bi-partisan bill in both Houses of Congress may provide them

WASHINGTON, July 20 – The Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] has endorsed bi-partisan legislation in Congress to focus attention and resources on “the scourge” of dementia and, in particular, Alzheimer’s, which is America’s most expensive disease.

The BOLD [Building Our Largest Dementia] Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act [S.2076] and the House version of the bill [H.R.4256] were both introduced last November with bi-partisan support. Susan Collins [R-ME], Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, introduced the bill in the Senate. Rep. Brett Guthrie [R-KY] sponsored the House version. The measures would provide “research funding … needed to achieve our goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by the year 2025,” according to an online post by Sen. Collins.

AMAC president Dan Weber sent letters of support to Senator Collins and her cosponsors in the Senate and to Representative Brett Guthrie and his cosponsors in the House. In his messages, Weber stated: “The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will empower those living with Alzheimer’s, and their caregivers, by increasing access to education and expanding necessary support services. The steps outlined in this bill will ensure both patients and caregivers are best positioned to deal with the effects of Alzheimer’s and preserve the financial integrity of our healthcare system by averting a potentially disastrous public health crisis.”

Weber has long been calling for a new focus on Alzheimer’s and says “it’s about time that one of the most devastating diseases afflicting older Americans receives the full attention of the U.S. government. It is destructive to the individuals who suffer from this malignant form of dementia and their families. But it also has the potential of overwhelming America’s healthcare infrastructure if it is not checked.”

Weber notes that AIDS, a disease that is in decline and afflicts 1.1 million Americans, receives some $32 billion in Federal funding. Meanwhile, he points out, the National Institutes of Health [NIH] says it will spend just $1.9 billion this year to fund research on Alzheimer’s – a disease that plagues the lives of more than 5.7 individuals in the U.S. and is expected to destroy the lives of as many as 14 million by the year 2050.”

Former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, who also served as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Alzheimer’s is the most under-recognized threat to public health in the 21st century.”

In an appeal for support of the BOLD Act, Satcher said that the legislation would create a “public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions.” It would:

• Establish Alzheimer’s Centers of Excellence that would increase early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, preventing avoidable hospitalizations, reducing health disparities, supporting the needs of caregivers and supporting care planning for people living with the disease.
• Provide funding to help public health departments implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions.
• Make available funding for the Increased data collection, analysis and timely reporting needed to support research aimed at controlling and controlling the disease.

“The BOLD Act provides a new, sorely needed perspective on Alzheimer’s disease and much needed, substantive support in the quest for a cure. Along the way it will help researchers to come up with new, more effective ways of managing this insidious form of dementia. Meanwhile, the more we learn about the pathways of Alzheimer’s with help from the public sector, the more effective medical researchers in the private sector can be in checking the progress of the disease among older Americans,” Weber said.

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