A speech given by John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity (UK), in which he addresses the media response to their awareness campaign and the current financial cutbacks on treatment imposed by the NHS.
Although the average retirement age is 62, since that is when an individual can start drawing against their social security benefits, some people still choose to work, especially if they truly enjoy their jobs. Other people want to retire as soon as possible so that they can spend more time with their families or travel the world.
Of course, retirement also depends on other factors. Some of these include their health, financial situation, if they have enough hobbies to keep them busy, and their overall retirement plans.
Though the retirement age keeps on increasing, there are a fortunate few that have enough money and retirement resources to take an early retirement. This is seen with some members in the military as well as high ranking political officers. The majority of people, however, have to work until at least retirement age.
Sometimes, people have to work past retirement age if they didn’t save enough money up over the years. We have seen this situation escalate in the past decade. There has been much debate over retirement age and the Social Security Administration. The way the program is currently designed, people have to remain in the workforce longer than ever before in order to reap the benefits of their retirement.
Generally, an individual who decides to take early retirement gets a lower percentage of their Social Security and a lower amount of any work attached retirement plan. You should check with your employer to find out about your their specific plan’s terms and conditions. For those individuals born after 1937, the full retirement age is 65. Due to the country’s economic status, as well as our overall increasing life span, the retirement age increases over time.
This means that for those born after 1960, they will not be able to take full retirement benefits until they reach the age of 67. While this may sound unfortunate, keep in mind that for a healthy individual who started in the workforce at an early age, the potential for a rather large retirement package is very strong.
Since the idea is to enjoy your retirement years, this means that you have to take care of yourself during your working ones. That will, of course, require that you put money away during your working years so that life can remain stress-free financially after you retire.
You also need to stay healthy, exercise, and eat a balanced diet so that you are able to stay active. You want the freedom to remain active and be free from any chronic health issues in order to enjoy your golden years to the fullest. This gives you plenty of time to put money away for when you retire. You want to have enough to live on and to enjoy life.
Is Your Money Ready For Retirement?
Do you have sufficient resources to live on throughout your retirement? It can be sad to see some older individuals working because they have to instead of because they want to. Proper retirement planning can avoid that by providing you with the income you will need.
The sooner you start putting money into a retirement plan, the more you will have when it’s time to retire. Types of resources to allocate for retirement planning include 401k and IRA plans. Generally you should invest a portion of your income each month into your retirement plan, taking advantage of the compounding interest. Many times your employer will match what you deposit up to a limit.
Control Your Spending Now
You must control your spending and learn to budget properly when it comes to your retirement plan. Most resources can be set up to have a monthly stipend or take a lump sum.
Health Coverage
Health insurance is another crucial issue that you need to have taken care of in advance of retirement, such as eligibility for medicaid or medicare. Unfortunately, too many retired people don’t have adequate medical coverage resulting in less care than they actually need or depleting their savings to cover medical bills and prescriptions.
Plan, Then Plan Some More in Advance
A financial planner can also help you get your retirement plan on track. There are also plenty of books you can purchase that will take you step by step with planning for your retirement future, no matter what stage in life you are at. As long as you are willing to make a commitment to adjusting your spending AND savings habit, it’s never too late! Retirement is supposed to be about enjoying oneself, not stressing out about finances. Worry about that now to save your old self the headache!
When my father passed away from cancer three years ago, my 82-year-old mother, typical of her generation, put up a brave front. Her health wasn’t great—she’d had a hip replacement surgery and used a walker to get around—but she assured my brother and me that she was fine, that she didn’t need our help, and that she didn’t want to move out of the house where she’d lived for 30 years.
Within a few months, it was clear that she wasn’t doing well. Her mood seemed down, and she was having more and more trouble getting around the house and caring for herself.
Both my brother and I had busy careers and traveled a lot, but we felt that by sharing duties we could take care of Mom ourselves. But as her health continued to decline, this became difficult and, after a couple of late-night emergencies, it was clear that she needed 24-hour care.
Our decision to put Mom in a nursing home was most difficult because her decline had been gradual. For those whose elderly parents’ face a sudden trauma or serious illness, the move often becomes necessary, which for the family leaves less room for hand-wringing and guilt over the decision.
For us, though, to even breach the topic of moving Mom to a nursing home was fraught with guilt and pain. After that, the decision itself involved days of discussion, research, and talking to elderly care professionals.
In the end, we were lucky that Mom was healthy and lucid enough to take an active part in the decision. By sharing our ideas with her, listening to her concerns, and talking to her about her feelings, we were able to make the process easier on her while also assuaging our own guilt.
Once she had warmed up to the idea of moving into a nursing home, it still took us weeks to settle upon the proper place for her. First, my brother and I toured several nursing homes throughout the area, spoke to administrators and family members of residents, and tried to get a feel of the residents’ quality of life. Then, when we’d narrowed it down to a few options, we brought Mom to see them, and that night we discussed our options over dinner.
The nursing home we settled upon had everything Mom needed. The workers were amazing—dazzlingly friendly and attentive. The rooms were spacious and well-equipped. There was a garden for the residents to stroll through, and there was even a church down the block.
After the emotional transition period, during which my brother and I had made sure to visit daily, Mom settled in, made friends, and was soon happier than she’d been since before Dad passed away.
Three years on, we could not be happier about our decision. The guilt we felt at the time was natural, but there’s no doubt that Mom is now much better off than if she were living alone in her old house. The workers, doctors, and residents at the nursing home have become like a second family to her. Plus, she’s happy and, given her health issues, as healthy as can be. She would be the first to tell you that there is no shame in putting your elderly parent in a nursing home.
Life is busy and hectic. We have jobs, children, spouses, and errands to keep us busy around the clock. On top of that, our parents and grandparents are living longer; at some point, they become unable to fully take care of themselves.
People have been having the ethical argument, for years, whether putting elderly people into nursing homes is right or wrong. Some people believe that putting the elderly in a facility where they can be properly cared for is the right thing to do. Others think that it is the same as if you were abandoning them.
Let’s put that argument on hold for now. First, you should learn about elderly day care. Then you can decide for yourself. Try to look at elderly day care as an acceptable compromise between the two sides of the nursing home argument. Your parents took care of you, so shouldn’t you take some responsibility in taking care of them?
However, this responsibility is misinterpreted by some people to be mainly financial. That is not the case. While there may be some financial requirements, it is a greater emotional responsibility to the people who took care of you when you were in need. Elderly day care gives us the possibility that you can take care of the old while living your own adult life.
Nursing homes can be depressing. Everyone wants to stay with his/her family, even if they won’t admit it. At the same time, the elderly do not want to be a burden. After all, you are their family and they do not wish for you to suffer because of them.
They do, however, want to feel loved and not forgotten. Having these services available means that you need not send your loved ones to a nursing home. You can drop them off and pick them up again at the end of the day. With elderly day care, you can let go of your worry (or guilt) about your loved ones getting the proper care that they need. Now, they can also get the regular love and care of their own family.
This would give them time to practice hobbies and maintain their own social lives while you go about your business for the day. Another advantage of adult day care, is that your visits are not limited by visiting hours. After all, your elderly will still be living with you.
Elderly day care is a solid idea because it actually reconciles the fact that over the years, family values have dwindled while the word “elderly” has been linked to the word “burden”. We need to bring back our strong family values, while not hurting the American way of business. So far, elderly day care has provided the best solution for that possibility.
Right now, the elderly day care business is still in its infancy. People running them have realized the advantages this type of business offers and word is catching on. We should be seeing a lot more of these in the near future.
Retirement communities are a smart choice for the elderly who aren’t in need of a nursing home. They offer a safe and secure environment alongside people of the same age group. There are usually social activities which may include meals, playing cards, and cultural events. This is often the best way to maintain an active social life.
Retirement communities aren’t all what they used to be; with the average life span increasing, these communities are attracting more active seniors than ever. They are a great choice for married couples or singles.
Most retirement communities consist of one or two bedroom apartments on a ground floor. Stairs are typically avoided since climbing them can be too difficult for some of the residents. Some retirement communities are located at an assisted living facility, giving the residents a place to go eat and receive medical care. Others allow residents to be more autonomous – arranging their own meals and scheduling their own doctor appointments.
There are things you should check about a retirement community before moving into one. A major issue is their guest policy. While some are quite lenient, there are others with strict guidelines. For instance, there may a policy against children staying with you or having overnight guests. This could be an issue if you plan to have grandchildren visit often or even if you occasionally like to host out of town guests.
Compare the prices on the retirement communities in your area. The location is important. You will also want to take a tour of the living quarters and facilities. Speak with current residents and ask them what they like or don’t like about the retirement community. Ask them about the quality of the food, if it is provided, and about the various activities to partake in. If you like to swim, make sure there is a pool or one nearby. If you like to walk, are there walking paths?
You should also find out about the terms of the contract. Do you have to sign a long term commitment or can you live there month by month?
Safety issues should be something you look into as well. Is the area well lit at night? Do they clear icy sidewalks if it snows there? Do you have a safe place to park your car? Are the sidewalks potentially hazardous; are they uneven or too bumpy – which can lead to falls and injuries? Is there security on the premises?
Make sure that the community suits your overall lifestyle. These communities offer the benefits of maintaining an active social life, meeting new friends, and perhaps learning new hobbies. A retirement community can be a wonderful place to enjoy your golden years. That is why it is so important that you do your homework when it comes time to researching them.
While a diagnosis of dementia requires a neurological examination, a physical exam, and appropriate laboratory tests – there are symptoms to look out for (listed below).
Also, gathering as much medical history as possible is necessary for a correct and timely diagnosis. This involves gathering information about possible risk factors such as a family history.
This would also include the history of strokes or other neurological diseases. Of course, keeping track of the the onset, duration, and progression of symptoms is crucial as well.
Usually, memory loss is the earliest and most noticeable symptom. Other major symptoms of dementia include:
– Having trouble recalling recent events.
- Having trouble performing simple calculations.
- Not keeping up personal hygiene such as grooming or bathing.
- Not recognizing familiar faces and locations.
- Having trouble finding the correct words to express thoughts or name simple things.
- Having difficulties balancing checkbooks or writing a note.
- Not exercising the best judgment, such as knowing what to do in an emergency.
- Having trouble controlling moods or behaviors. Depression is common, and irritation or aggression sometimes occurs.
Some types of dementia cause these symptoms:
- People who have dementia with Lewy bodies often have extremely visual hallucinations. They may fall frequently.
- The first symptoms of frontotemporal dementia may be personality changes or atypical behavior. People with this condition might not express empathy for others, or may blurt out rude things, expose themselves, or make sexually explicit comments.
Sudden symptoms of dementia may suggest vascular dementia or possibly delirium-short-term confusion caused by a new or worsening illness.
Dry Macular Degeneration is the most common form (about 90% of cases) of age related macular degeneration (AMD). It primarily occurs in folks over age 50 and worsens with age.
When blood vessels weaken in the eyes, central vision loss occurs. Early detection is a must to slowing down its effects. While there is no cure, studies have shown that Macular Degeneration Supplements do help to minimize Dry AMD.
Without treatment, the result may end up in permanent blind spots and chronic eye irritation. The National Institutes of Health published recently the Age Related Eye Disease Study, or (AREDS). A
REDS found that taking eye vitamins containing high doses of Zinc and Anti-Oxidants minimized the progression of macular degeneration by 25%. VisiVite’s AMD supplements have large doses of
Zinc and Anti-Oxidants.
Depending on which state you live in, a durable power of attorney for health care could also be called a medical power of attorney, a health care proxy, or medical proxy. It is also important to know that a medical power of attorney is not the same as a durable power of attorney for financial matters.
The durable power of attorney for health care is a document you create to give your agent the authority to make health care decisions for you. An agent is the person empowered to make decisions on your behalf under the durable power of attorney. These health care related decisions are made as if she or he were you. These decisions run the gamut, including the authority to remove you from life support.
Even though you might already have a living will, you still need a medical power of attorney. A living will only gives guidance as to types of medications you would want, but it does not give authorization to anybody to make decisions on your behalf.
This means that if you are unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, only the doctor has the legal power to determine your treatment. Therefore, if you do not give someone this power, it also may not be possible for your loved ones to remove you off life support, regardless of the circumstances.
While this is still an emerging law in the United States, most doctors will try to honor your wishes if you have previously presented the document which is written in a clear and convincing way.
Many times when doctors have not followed the known wishes of a patient, it was because they were not aware of the document’s existence. Once you have these written up, make sure they become a permanent part of your medical records.
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