Article Snip: "...In a study by The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence and the MIT AgeLab, 59% of homeowners aged 50 and older reported that home maintenance has become more challenging for them over time. And that percentage rose to 69% for those ages 70 and older.
Moving to a retirement community could help alleviate the burden of home maintenance. You may find that..."
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
I'm 63 With an Aging House That Needs Repairs, but I Might Move to a Retirement Community In a Few Years. Is It Worth Making Those Fixes?
Destruction of Retirees | Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar: What to Expect Over the Next Decade
Title: Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar: What to Expect Over the Next Decade
Article Snip: "Medicare beneficiaries will face higher premiums, deductibles and surcharges starting in 2026...The 2025 Medicare Trustees Report projects a steady increase in Medicare Part B premiums and IRMAA surcharges over the next nine years. The projections are based on expected rises in healthcare costs, particularly for outpatient hospital services and physician-administered drugs. It's crucial for retirees and those approaching retirement to understand these projections for proper financial planning. ..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.comSaturday, September 20, 2025
Health Watch | Study: Aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence in half
Title: Study: Aspirin cuts colorectal cancer recurrence in half
Article Snip: "...The study included more than 3,500 patients with colon and rectal cancer from dozens of hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. Patients whose tumors showed a specific genetic mutation in the PIK3CA signaling pathway. The mutation, according to Medical Xpress, was found in approximately 40% of patients. Those patients were randomly chosen to receive either 160 mg of aspirin daily or a placebo for three years after surgery. ...For patients with the genetic mutation in PIK3, the risk of recurrence was reduced by 55% in those who received aspirin compared with the placebo group."
Reference: www.newsnationnow.comSunday, September 14, 2025
When will i get my Annual Notice of Change (Medicare) from my plan?
Title: Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
Article Snip: "...What is it?
If you're in a Medicare plan, your plan will send you a "Plan Annual Notice of Change" (ANOC) each fall. The ANOC includes any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January.
When should I get it?
September
Who sends it?
Your plan
What should I do if I get this notice?
Review any changes to decide whether the plan will continue to meet your needs in the next year.
If you don't get this important document, contact your plan.
..."
Don’t ignore this upcoming Medicare update (Annual Notice of Change) — it could be the most important message of the year
Title: Don’t ignore this upcoming Medicare update — it could be the most important message of the year
Article Snip: "...The Annual Notice of Change — sometimes called by its “ANOC” acronym — lays out how your costs and coverage will be different next year in your drug (Medicare Part D) or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which is the alternative to original Medicare sold by health insurers. If you assume the 2026 plan will be identical to your 2025 plan, you’ll be wrong. ..."
Reference: www.marketwatch.comThursday, September 11, 2025
Retirement Systems of Alabama | RSA completes construction on new statehouse with company busted for illegal immigrant labor
Title: RSA completes construction on new statehouse with company busted for illegal immigrant labor
Article Snip: "Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner still does not like President Donald Trump. ...He took particular issue with Trump's illegal immigration policy ...Bronner's remarks come as his operation is completing construction on a much-anticipated replacement for the Alabama Statehouse. However, one of the primary contractors under contract with RSA was the subject of an illegal immigration raid earlier this year. ..."
Reference: 1819news.comWednesday, September 10, 2025
Drug Watch | Heard of the ‘chill pill’? Meet Propranolol, the nerve-calmer everyone’s talking about
Title: Heard of the ‘chill pill’? Meet Propranolol, the nerve-calmer everyone’s talking about
Article Snip: "...Let’s talk about the buzzy little heart med that’s making waves as the “Chill Pill.” Propranolol isn’t new, it’s a classic beta blocker, around since the 1960s and originally meant for heart issues, but lately, it's become the darling of anyone needing nerves to chill… fast. ..."
Reference: timesofindia.indiatimes.comUnitedHealth sees 78% of members in high-rated Medicare plans
Title: UnitedHealth sees 78% of members in high-rated Medicare plans
Article Snip: "...The estimate of memberships in 4-star or higher-rated Medicare Advantage plans, which cover Americans aged 65 years or older, is consistent with the company's expectations and in line with historical performance, UnitedHealth said. ..."
Reference: www.reuters.comTuesday, September 9, 2025
More Americans aging into retirement are still paying down mortgages
Title: More Americans aging into retirement are still paying down mortgages
Article Snip: "The number of so-called cost-burdened older adults is at an all-time high. That means they are spending 30% or more of their income on housing, utilities, taxes and insurance. ...The mortgage debt story mirrors the broader trend toward more older adults entering retirement in debt. Debt repayments can hike financial stress and vulnerability, especially for those of modest means. The struggle to cover debts leaves them with less money for essentials like food, health and home maintenance — let alone fun. ..."
Reference: www.marketplace.orgHealth Watch | Nearly half of people with diabetes don’t know they have it, new study finds
Title: Nearly half of people with diabetes don’t know they have it, new study finds
Article Snip: "...When was the last time you had your blood sugar checked? It might be worth looking into, a new study says.
Forty-four percent of people age 15 and older living with diabetes are undiagnosed...“Diagnosing diabetes early is important because it allows for timely management to prevent or delay long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and vision loss,” said Rita Kalyani, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association. She was not involved in the study."
Study | What is a Life Well lived? | 38 million obituaries may hold the answer
Title: MSU study: What obituaries reveal about a life well-lived
Article Snip: "...What constitutes a life well-lived? A new Michigan State University-led study is turning to a common cultural artifact to find out: the obituary.
In the study, published in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS, researchers from MSU, Boston College and Arizona State University analyzed 38 million obituaries from the U.S. spanning 30 years to examine what values people are most remembered for, how cultural events and time change how people are remembered, and how legacy reflections reinforce societal expectations of a life well-lived based on demographics. ..."
MORE READING: The desire to be remembered: A review and analysis of legacy motivations and behaviors.
Monday, September 1, 2025
Health Watch | Dementia risk slashed with one common health intervention, study finds
Title: Dementia risk slashed with one common health intervention, study finds
Article Snip: "..Adults who wore hearing devices had 61% lower risk for incident all-cause dementia compared to untreated hearing loss. ..."
Reference: www.foxnews.comSunday, August 31, 2025
Retired Federal Employee ExFed T-Shirt on Amazon
Title: Retired Federal Employee ExFed T-Shirt
Article Snip: "... Looking for retirement gifts for women or retirement gifts for men in the form of retirement shirts for women or retirement shirtsfor men? Here's a great ExFed shirt perfect for retired federal employees as a 2020 retired fbi shirt for coworker FBI agents. Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem ..." Reference: Amazon
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Should you get original Medicare or an Advantage plan? Here’s what to know
Title: Should you get original Medicare or an Advantage plan? Here’s what to know
Article Snip: "...Traditional Medicare, also known as original Medicare, covers inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities care, hospice care and home health care, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It also covers services from doctors, outpatient care, “durable medical equipment” such as wheelchairs and walkers, as well as preventive services such as screenings, an annual wellness visit and certain vaccines...."
Reference: www.miamiherald.comWednesday, August 27, 2025
Does Medicare Part B Cover the Seasonal Flu Shot?
Title: Does Medicare Part B Cover the Seasonal Flu Shot?
Article Snip: "...Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers the seasonal flu shot (or vaccine) once per flu season. ..."
Reference: www.medicare.govFlu season is coming, so when should you get a shot?
Title: Flu season is coming, so when should you get a shot?
Article Snip: "...When is the best time to get vaccinated?
Influenza typically peaks in February in the U.S. The best months to get a flu shot are September, October and November. According to Cleveland Clinic, getting vaccinated during any of those months will allow your body to build up protective antibodies as flu season starts.
Will the flu shot be available around the country?
Yes, pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy have already begun offering flu shots for this year, along with grocers like Walmart and Kroger who offer them at their clinics.
Flu shots are covered by most health insurance plans. Some clinics across the country may offer the shot to people regardless of if they are insured or not.
You can also use the CDC’s flu vaccine finder to find a location near you to get your flu shot. ...Flu shots are covered by most health insurance plans. Some clinics across the country may offer the shot to people regardless of if they are insured or not.
"
Cracker Barrel Restaurant Returns to Old Logo, Yet DEI Program Allegedly Still Silently Lingers in the Background
Title: Cracker Barrel stock turns higher as Trump weighs in on logo furor
Article Snip: "...To distance the company from its rustic identity and appeal to a wider demographic, Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ:CBRL) embarked on a rebranding campaign, eliminating “old country store” and redesigning its logo to a more streamlined aesthetic that was roundly criticized by loyal customers...The idea was to celebrate the diversity of all our guests with a logo that represented our continued passion for pleasing people of all races, colors, and genders ..."
Reference: seekingalpha.comMore Reading: Uncle Herschel is back — but Cracker Barrel still has bigger problems to fix
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Health Watch | Mediterranean Diet Cuts Dementia-Linked Metabolites By 35% in APOE4 Carriers
Title: Mediterranean Diet Cuts Dementia-Linked Metabolites By 35% in APOE4 Carriers
Article Snip: "...Patients with 2 copies of the APOE4 gene—a major risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD)—who ate a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of dementia by 35%, according to study findings published in Nature Medicine...."
Reference: www.pharmacytimes.comA shocking 19% of retirees say they’re living a ‘nightmare’ — how to save yourself from the same terrible fate
Article Snip: "...This gap highlights a harsh truth: many Americans are falling short of the savings needed to support a comfortable retirement. While Northwestern Mutual research suggests the average person believes they'll need around $1.26 million to retire comfortably, Fidelity reports the average 401(k) balance among those 70 and up is just $250,000. And according to Federal Reserve data, only 3.2% of all retirees have $1 million or more saved.
This is simply not enough for many seniors..."
Monday, August 25, 2025
How to Plan for Aging in Place: Five Key Factors
Title: How to Plan for Aging in Place: Five Key Factors
Article Snip: "...Almost no one wants to live in a nursing home. But staying in your home as you grow older is more complicated than you may think. We ask the experts for advice. ..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.com