Healthy, vibrant aging tips

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healthy vibrant agingHealthy Living Made Simple

by Joyce Dillon

July/August 2015

“Why just survive as you age when you can thrive?

The human body is a beautiful, intricate system that functions at its best when we consciously care for each part of the whole: our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. If we neglect even just one seemingly small part of our body’s system, our whole body tends to not function at its highest potential. So, to enjoy a long, healthy and vibrant life, I suggest you develop and maintain those four key areas by incorporating these 10 tips.

  1. Love yourself – Aging well begins and ends with love. Practice giving and receiving love; it will change your life. Embracing and sharing love is the key to living well and maintaining a youthful spirit.
  2. Keep learning – Stay informed about current issues, technology and health trends. Be open and willing to meet new people. Travel to unknown destinations. Read and learn something new each day. Learning keeps your brain active and sharp.
  3. Laugh – Laughter really is great medicine because it’s a natural stress reducer. Laughing releases chemicals in our bodies that can drive away pain and fear, two emotions usually associated with aging, so laugh often. If you have to, buy a laugh: Rent a movie.
  4. Exercise – Keep your feet moving daily. Impaired mobility and balance are top aging concerns, for good reason. Daily exercise and foot care are extremely important because your feet make movement possible. Benefits of regular exercise include less depression, increased alertness, clearer thinking, improved ability to handle stress, and enjoyment of a positive mood. Start now, get moving, dance and kick up your heels.
  5. Eat well and healthy – Learn about antioxidants, phytonutrients and essential fatty acids; consume them every day. Prepare or buy savory food for yourself, and enjoy. Make mealtime a pleasure. Avoid eating in front of the TV while you watch stressful news.”

Read the entire article for tips 6-10 as well as advice for “a day in the life of a  healthy aging individual”

Joyce Dillon, RN, MN, BCC, is the founder of Joyce Dillon Inc.  She is a certified life and wellness coach, holistic nurse, author and intuitive painter.

I just joined SilverSneakers!

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SilverSneakers

“Did you know… 1 out of 5 people 65 or older is eligible for a SilverSneakers membership!

If you’re a group retiree, or part of a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Health plan, you may already have a SilverSneakers membership. This active adult wellness program is offered to many Medicare plans across the nation. To find out if your health plan offers the SilverSneakers® Fitness program, visit their health plan locator.

Can’t find your health plan? Call your health plan’s customer service number and ask when it will add this valuable benefit.

Looking for more information on well-being? Visit Healthways FIT to seek expert advice on nutrition, fitness and stress management; watch exercise videos; and much more!

The program is at no cost to members!

See if you are eligible for SilverSneakers to get started today.”

Check Eligibility

SilverSneakers

I checked my eligibility and now I’m a member!  All I had to do was print out a card and take it to my community recreation center to register with them.  I can now access many of their fitness classes for FREE and I’m not even 65!  It was an easy process and only took a couple of minutes.

For more information check the www.silversneakers.com website.

Bridge employment – working during retirement

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For some, leaving workforce continues years after retiringbridge employment

By Adam Allington, Associated Press

March 29, 2016

“The transition from employment to retirement used to be marked by a date on a calendar, along with some sheet cake, and maybe a gold watch.  Those days are long gone for most workers in the United States.

Today, the journey toward complete withdrawal from the labor force can last many years.  Economists refer to the transition period as ‘bridge employment.’  As more and more Americans either choose, or are forced, into bridge employment, the expectation of what retirement actually means is rapidly changing.

‘We shouldn’t even use the word ‘retirement’ any more.  It obscures more than it enlightens,’ says Boston College economist Joseph Quinn.

Quinn’s research has shown that for many seniors today, retirement is not a one-time event, but rather a process.  He attributes it to a changing economic picture that encourages more seniors to choose work over leisure.”

Read the entire article

Medicare Advantage

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Medicare Advantage: Know the Pitfalls

Source:  http://squaredawayblog.bc.edu/squared-away/medicare-advantage-know-the-pitfalls/

Social Security Credits for Moms?

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From the Center for Retirement Research…

Social Security Credits for Moms?

August 4, 2016

“Social Security’s benefits were designed for the typical family when the pension program was enacted in the 1930s….  A spouse, usually the wife, is guaranteed half of her husband’s full retirement age benefit under the program when she reaches her full retirement age – whether she works or not.  When her husband dies, her survivor benefit equals his pension benefit.

Social Security credits

But women who marry and become divorced within 10 years are not eligible for these benefits.  Nor, of course, are single working women, who receive benefits based solely on their own work histories.  Increasing numbers of women reaching retirement age today either were in short-term marriages or never married and won’t receive a spousal or survivor benefit. The problem is that most of these women are mothers.”

Read more

Making money last in retirement

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By Adam Zoll | 03-21-2015 09:00 AM

Source:  http://morningstar.com

Note:  Not a live video as the host states.  It is a recorded version.

Pay gap major cause for retirement insecurity

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pay gap
sbeconomic.com

Women more likely than men to face poverty during retirement

by Adam Allington, Associated Press

July 10, 2016

CHICAGO — “During their working years, women tend to earn less than men, and when they retire, they’re more likely to live in poverty.

These are women who raised children and cared for sick and elderly family members, often taking what savings and income they do have and spending it on things besides their own retirement security.

The National Institute on Retirement Security, a nonprofit research center, reports that women are 80 percent more likely than men to be impoverished at age 65 and older. Women age 75 to 79 are three times more likely.”

Read more