As we enter our 60’s and 70’s, we are probably eating healthier foods, receiving
better health care and exercising more than our parents did at the same age.  
As a result, we can expect to live much longer than your ancestors.  

Increased longevity may mean increased possibility of needing Long Term
Care, the assistance required as a result of the frailty the goes with aging, a
lengthy illness, accidents or the development of cognitive impairment. 

Increased longevity also means that the traditional pension, Social Security
and savings accounts of our parents will not be sufficient for the next
generation.  The first of the baby boom generation have turned 60.
Many of us are in that group.  There are steps we need to take to make sure
we are able to fund our “retirement years” and still have funds to pay for
our needs until the day we die. 

Eighty-four million North Americans were born between 1946 and 1964.  
None of the baby boomers are under the age of 40 today. 

Due to longer life spans and the rejection of yesterday’s model for
retirement, we are now viewing the years ahead as an opportunity to
reevaluate our lives, consider our options and chart new courses.  
We may live 30 years or more after our first retirement. 

The future of your retirement may depend on choices you make today.
Many are not sufficiently prepared for the length and cost of the years
after age 65.  Many of us may live long and in good health, we are still
in good enough health to purchase the Long Term Care and the Life
Insurance protection we will need in our advancing age. 

The women of this generation were the first to seek equality in a formerly
male dominated workforce. 

If you are a woman, your needs are different than men.  Don’t become
one of the too many women who neglect to plan for their financial futures.
According to the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
and the National Center of Women’s Retirement research:

The average woman spends 15% of her career out of the workforce caring
for her children and elderly parents. For every year out of the workforce,
a woman has to work five years to recover the lost income, pension
coverage and career promotion.  

Female retirees receive about half the average pension benefits that men
receive.  This is partly because women change jobs more often than men
and because many women have jobs that offer no pension benefits.  In
addition, women stay in jobs for an average of 4.8 years and the typical
pension does not vest until after 5 years. 

Women on average, live longer than men.  At some point in their lives,
about 90% of women will be solely responsible for their finances.  The
average age when women are widowed is reported to be age 56. 

Many women find themselves suddenly single due to death of a spouse
or divorce and find they are now solely responsible for their finances.  

Do not ignore financial matters, either preferring to let someone else tend
to them or simply putting off the need to deal with them.  Contact me and
let’s have a conversation about what can be done to insure your financial
freedom and independence. 

I am very interested in helping you make informed decisions to help secure
your financial fitness.  Please contact me to start the discussion.  

Links Considering Retirement:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0109-04.htm
More Companies Ending Promises for Retirement.  New York Times.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/05/pf/retirement_planning
Retirement: Are you ready for 100?  CNN Money.

Information on Reverse Mortgages

Reverse Mortgages Links:

http://www.aarp.org/money/revmort
Information on Reverse Mortgages From AARP.

http://www.hud.gov/buying/rvrsmort.cfm
Reverse Mortgages For Seniors.
U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

http://www.consumersunion.org/finance/rmbwc798.htm
Guiding the Golden Years.  Reverse Mortgages.
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.

Reverse Mortgages For Seniors.  Fannie Mae.

https://www.wellsfargo.com/mortgage/refinance/learn/reverse/basics
Reverse Mortgage: Understanding the Basics.  Wells Fargo.


Caregiver Assistance Links:

http://www.benefitscheckup.org
 Benefits Check-Up.
A service of the National Council On The Aging

http://CybResLLC.com/favorites/caregiving.htm
Caregiving Assistance.

http://www.rosemaryinsurance.com/wisewoman.htm
Financial Impact of Caregiving.
Talk to your siblings and other family members about the
various costs involved in your providing care to a family member.

http://www.practicalbioethics.org
Center for Practical Bioethics.
Aging and end of life care considerations.

http://www.wiserwomen.org/wisercaregiverfinal6_04.pdf
Financial Steps For Caregivers.
What you need to know about money and retirement.
This is a pdf document needing the Adobe Reader.

http://www.nho.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
This organization is committed to improving end of life care 
and expanding access to hospice care.

http://www.rosemaryinsurance.com/reducestress.htm
Reduce Caregiver Stress.

http://www.sandyriverhomeresources.com
Sandy River Home Resources.
Home Care For Cancer Patients.

Sound financial planning includes planning for the worst
while hoping it never happens.
Explore resources for financial aid during serious illness:

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php
Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

http://www.copays.org/
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program.

http://www.rxassist.org/
RxAssist, a Directory of Patient Assistance Programs.

http://www.rxoutreach.com/
Rx Outreach Patient Assistance Program.