The facts are cleared the number one reason we are where we are in this country is Greed without a doubt! With all of the risky investments and decisions they made over the last few years, taking chances with money like they were in a casino and deciding like it was a choice of Red or Black. This situation may or may not have been avoidable is the issue that will most likely be debated for years to come

But the fact remains we are here and the arguing and debate continues with very few glimmers of hope for the senior who has seen their entire retirement investments disappear and they have real fears.

So what to do to relieve the some fears?

First and foremost relax and put the fear aside for a while.
Sit down in a quite atmosphere.
Gather all of your investments, bills, and income statements.
Also get a big piece of paper and pencil Not a Pen

The following list is what has been gathered from leading financial experts on how to overcome some of the issues that are keeping you up at night or making you ill. The first thing to remember is the world is not coming to an end. This financial situation that the country is going to turn around when is another story.

So you need to take matters into your own hands and make a plan!

Now how to act and make a plan

Gather all of your expenditures such as

Mortgage Statement
Insurance payments
Taxes I.e. Property or government
Medical I.e. Insurance, prescriptions, doctors
Utilities
Auto or transportation
Food, clothing
Credit debts
Luxury cost

Now gather all of your income statements from all sources

Social Security
Pensions
Retirement Accounts
Savings

Now take out that paper and pencil and make lines down the paper

First Colum is for Debt

Second Colum for Income

Third is for Totals

The problem most people have is that they never really see if on paper directly in front of them with a total monthly figure. Remember do not work with annual; break each and every payment down to monthly. This is one of the most important parts of setting up a plan.

Now that you have worked out the totals of all income and expenses to monthly payments, you now will know where you are with all positives and or negatives.

I know this is in most cases not going to be pretty, but it has to be done to come up with a place to go from here.

Now you have to look for other places to get money.

You can try to get a part time employment
You can sell items that you no longer have use for in your life. Be careful with this one don?t look next to you. Just kidding trying to make light humor.
Think where is there any money that you have not thought about short of selling your home. Think about the equity in your home!

Yes the equity in your home is one place that can offer the most money of anything you have ever own in your life. Now if you could not only get the equity out of your home, but eliminate your largest expenditure on your list if you have a mortgage payment would this not eliminate the stress?

You may not have thought about this or you seen it in an ad. But it is the best solution on the planet for eliminating debt and increase money in the bank.

The Reverse Mortgage is the solution; now I know if you are like most seniors you are right about now thinking I don?t want to use my home. Well let?s look at it the way you should be looking at it now.

When you purchased your home in most peoples mind it was a place to raise your family and put a roof over your head. Is this not true?

The fact is that when you were going to buy the home the first thing that your agent or mortgage person said to you is; how much of a down payment you are going to make.

The real question should have been stated this way! How much of an investment do you want to make on this future investment. Think about this; you purchase a home with money down and in most cases you received a mortgage using OBM (other people?s money) which is the way that all investors try to purchase anything that is an investment.

Then you made payments ever month for maybe 30 years paying them, most of their return on their investment in the first 15 years then paying down the principle.

The other fact that you need to know when you paid off your mortgage you paid the lender in most cases three times what they gave you over the 30 years.

Now how to look at a Reverse Mortgage

First just like the mortgage you received when you purchased the home it is a lien against the home, you do not sign over the deed to your home.
You are borrowing money that is Non-Taxable
You will never have to make a payment in your lifetime.
Unlike your mortgage you are not paying interest in advance
You can choose how you want to take the money
You can eliminate some of the expenses that you have on the sheet of paper that is taking from the income side of your paper.
Your family members will feel better knowing that you now have more money and fewer bills.
You will be able to stay in your home for as long as you choose to, if you decide at any point you can pay off the loan plus all interest without any prepayment penalties
If your home value falls in the future you will never owe more then the value at that time. This also true for your heirs they have no financial liability other than selling the home.

Remember this; if you have a mortgage on your home and you are not able to make the payments now or in the future you may run the risk of loosing your home. Not with a Reverse Mortgage. So make your list and put your plan into action and if you have a short fall in on your sheet consider a Reverse Mortgage as the most important part of your financial plan. It is now time to let your home pay you back for all of your hard work over the years and enjoy the best part of your life. Without all of the stress of today?s troubled economy!

So what does this mean!
Well it means that many people who took out mortgages who are seeing the adjustable rate increasing or they are in trouble financial through the changes in the markets they can now refinance that mortgage and get a lower interest rate and better terms. For the senior who had considered a Reverse Mortgage or took out a Reverse and had equity in their home and was not able to access it before they can now get more money if they need it.

Here is what the pattern has been over the years
? The original way that loan limits were established was the used a calculation based on each individual county throughout the United Sates and it was somewhere between $202,000 to $362,000 depending on your county!

? Then in November 8, 2008 the county limits were eliminated and the loan amount went to $417,000 straight across the board.

? Now with the passage of the economic stimulus plan of 2009 as of today February 25, 2009 the home vale lending limits has been increased to $625,500

So how is this going to work!

If you have a high mortgage on your home or you need money from a Reverse Mortgage and you have a home worth up to the limit of $625,500, you will be able to receive a higher loan amount to help you with your situation. Unlike before many people had been locked out of the market of using a Reverse Mortgage or refinancing because the home value was over the limits.

Seniors who own higher valued homes had in many cases leave money on the table or if they had a mortgage to pay off and the loan amount was not high enough to pay the loan balance had to give a check at closing to just break even. Now they maybe able to pay off that mortgage and walk away with a sizeable amount of money to live off and provide for the golden years.
The outlook is looking better then it did just a few months ago for many people who thought there was nothing that they could do to change their position financially. Now they can, so the future looks better now.

Senior dating websites are being very popular all over the internet, and the “senior” groups they?re aiming are singles over 40 years of age. Seniors Group, also known as retirement community who have been used to living on their own for a time will probably have established a routine that may well only comprise them. You should try to form habits for routine on your way as you get older.

It?s likely that if you are a senior dater you may also have much less extra time for dating as you may have rewarded for a missing partner by jut joining social groups, doing charitable work, and grow up new interests.

However if you find that someone special to share your life with the help of a senior online dating site it will be significant all the hard work! But the seniors have an advantage of experience and they know exactly what they want. They are no longer be confused and they were immature young man or woman once.

Online dating service can do well for seniors. You should not worry about transport, and there would be no – First date jitters because you will have talk with the person online you may decide to date before any meeting happens.

For online dating seniors need to have an email account and skills to follow the instructions to set up an account. Seniors should not require any special computer skills to join online dating sites. Nerveless to handle online dating is very easy process. Seniors have many questions like what they are looking for, what they like or dislike. And you have a bunch of questions intended to get someone who shares the same interests as you.

Mostly online dating sites ask you for a photo to put on show. This may found complicated, however, with the step-by-step directions that are obtainable, it is very easy and straightforward.

As per the studies it is shown that a senior who is alone without any contact can be put into danger of depression and also to Alzheimer disease.
These studies also have shown that with companionship, senior?s health have a longer life period. If you are alone and wish to have companionship and friendship join a senior online dating site. It will help to locate you with suitable members local to you.

You can expand a friendship online and then when you feel comfortable with them arrange meeting with them and enjoy your time.

More options for seniors

The life insurance companies have now designed more life insurance for seniors, retired and elder consumers now have more alternatives to select from, life industry sources said some policies introduced recently to provide more options for seniors were not available ten years ago.

Life insurance for seniors

Funeral expenses ?

Funeral expenses can come up to thousands of dollars, this could be a burden for most of the families. People can afford to buy a $50,000 car by installment may not have a lump sum cash of $15,000, besides the family needs to pay for other minor expenses related to death, or the medical bills.

Improved Diet

If you haven’t been the “healthiest” eater throughout your life, now is a great time to start. One way of truly improving and retaining oral health is to eat and drink healthier foods. Try to eat more green and raw vegetables, eat whole wheat, and drink less fatty milk products.

Brush Your Tongue Daily

Tongue brushing is too often overlooked, and even more so in older age. While brushing your teeth will always be essential in retaining oral health, it is much less effective unless you brush your tongue daily as well.

Ditch Refined Sugars

By now you know that too much refined sugar is certainly no good for your teeth. Try to cut out refined sugars from your diet as much as possible. However, we know some patients never loose their sweet tooth. Thankfully, these days there are hundreds of healthy snacks and desserts on the market with sugar alternatives that are just as delicious as other sweets.

Provide Dentists With Med Records

If you take one or more medications or have had any surgeries since your last dental visit, be sure to inform your dentist. This will give your dentist the information they need to assure you are given the correct treatment as well as medications if they are necessary.

Treat Dentures Like Teeth

Although dentures are not real teeth, you should always treat them as such. Brush them daily and keep them in the best of shape. This will save you both embarrassment and money in the end, and leave you with a bright and beautiful smile to share.

Never Decrease Brushing

As some patients get older, they brush their teeth less often or for less time. Some seniors simply fall asleep early and forget to brush. Others may experience arthritis pain, which may prompt them to brush for less time. There are devices you can buy or make to decrease arthritis pain while brushing, and you can set a bedtime alarm for you to get your teeth brushed if it is becoming a problem. Don’t let anything get in the way of your oral health!

Upkeep Dental Visits

No matter how healthy your teeth are, it is important to make yearly visits to your dentist. Your dentist will provide you with the best services for your age and make sure your teeth are staying aligned and healthy.

Through an independently issued and verified controlled survey of a combination of current and past clients, Abbey Caregivers was provided the opportunity to allow their customers to rate their experience with Abbey. Abbey is now in the position to boast the survey results as proof of its commitment to delivering an excellent service for seniors and their adult children. Alternatively, families may also call Senior Approved Services toll free at 877-620-6448 for an unbiased report.

Seniors Rated

Abbey Caregivers? current and past clients received a survey in the mail and were asked to complete it with their honest opinion of the key factors relevant to a home care client. They were asked to rate Abbey by answering these questions:

I feel safe when alone with the caregiver assigned to me
The administrative staff of Abbey Caregivers responds well to my unique needs & requests
The assigned aide arrives on time on the requested scheduled dates
Abbey Caregivers has assigned an aide that is well matched to my individual needs
I feel the fee and service contract is reasonable and fair
I would recommend Abbey Caregivers to other seniors and families
What, in your opinion, is the most important benefit that you receive by using the services of Abbey Caregivers?
What, in your opinion, might Abbey Caregivers do to improve upon their service?

83% of the surveys mailed were returned, a return ratio far surpassing the national average of 23 to 24% return ratio. The answers on the returned surveys were then compiled in a final report for Abbey Caregivers. Seniors (and their adult children) readily endorsed the service provided by Abbey with an excellent overall rating.

?Before we consider a company?s application it must meet our strict pre-requisites, and the business must agree to our Code of Ethics,? states Barbara Mascio, founder of Senior Approved Services. ?It is not possible to buy your way in, you have to prove that you are indeed an excellent service for seniors.? (http://www.qualityeldercare.com and http://www.seniorsapprove.com)

With rising costs of medical care, reports of elder abuse and fraud, and concerns about ongoing customer support, the consumer, more than ever, is demanding better information prior to making a decision to contract and employ a service on behalf of self, spouse, or loved one.

Ed Morris, founder of Abbey Caregivers states, ?Recognizing Senior Approved Services as a model for strengthening industry standards, we at Abbey Caregivers decided it would be in our and our clients? best interest to subject ourselves to their rigorous survey procedure.? ? We felt this would not only help us identify ways in which we could improve our services but also provide a credible third-party response to a frequently-asked question: ?Why should we choose to work with your company?”

?The results exceeded our expectations.? ?We were gratified to discover the extent to which our clients appreciated our services, helped identify some minor areas to be improved and, on an ongoing basis, are happy to be referred to Senior Approved Services for help and confirmation in choosing a home health agency.?

Are you fifty years of age or older? Have you ever looked into any seniors hobbies? Let me tell you why you should!

1. Hobbies for seniors are dependable prescriptions for improving physical health.

2. They’re even accused of increasing age longevity.

3. They fine tune your mental mechanisms and help keep them crisp and sharp.

4. They open new doors for your social life.

5. And they’re guilty of filling your days with zing.

We’ll talk about zing later!

There are more pastimes that could qualify as senior hobbies than you can shake the proverbial stick at. The candidates are virtually numberless.

Here are some categories that somebody, somewhere, is already engaging in as a hobby.

Antiques/Arts and Crafts/Collecting any of thousands of things/Cooking/Electronics/Games/Gardening/Internet Hobbies/Literature/Scale Models/Music/Outdoor and Indoor Activities/Photography/Performing Arts/Toys.

The interesting thing about all of the listed categories is each group is chock full of sub categories.

What do you like to do? Do you enjoy playing golf or tennis? Are you an avid grower of flowers? Does stamp collecting start your juices flowing. Is the thought of cooking gourmet meals your answer to friends coming for dinner?

Whatever you are enthusiastic about you will find other people just as eager as you are to learn more about and discuss at length. Some seniors hobbies involve ball room dancing. There are probably groups in your very area doing it on a regular basis. They’d welcome you with open arms, literally.

The physical and mental exercise involved in senior hobbies can do wonders for you. As a matter of fact, physical workouts at a gym, or just walking in the neighborhood can be the answer to your well being.

You’ll be able to meet other seniors feeling just as enthusiastic about your hobby as you are. Once you decide upon a hobby area of interest, check the local newspaper. Look for the mention of gatherings, or information about others doing the same hobby.

Medical science has learned recently about the physical and mental connection in the human body. For example, if the hobby you are interested in requires a minimal of physical activity, you will still benefit physically from the mental activity.

How?

The mental stimulation of engaging in a senior hobby you enjoy, translates into a form of physical activity. Not as emphatic as a strenuous workout in a gym.

But researchers tell us that it still creates virtual, physical effort at the cellular level. The physical responses may be subtle, but the benefits of it are nevertheless felt by the body.

Finally, lets talk about zing. No, it’s not a far eastern philosophy from Asia. The best definition of zing would be to categorize it as your feelings about the life you lead. Do you awake each morning with an eagerness for the day ahead?

Or are you just as weary as when you laid down the night before? Do you want to mentally spring out of bed and charge full bore into the newly born day?

Or do you dawdle in bed trying to put off getting up and going through another boring daily routine? Do you actually look forward to bedtime in the evening so you can fall asleep again?

If your answers to the latter questions are yes…then my friend you need the zing, and all else, that a senior hobby will give your life. You are in serious need of enthusiasm, anticipation and the social companionship that a senior hobby will bring into your life.

Start a senior hobby today! Go for it!

As published in the Naperville Sun ? 8/27/06, The Beacon News ? 4/29/07

By Denice Gierach

Recently, there was a case in the news of a Brooks Astor, a New York socialite, who is now 104 years old. Her grandson is in a heated battle to remove his dad as Mrs. Astor’s caregiver. In court papers that were filed, the grandson accused his father of ignoring Mrs. Astor’s health and personal needs and requested a friend of Mrs. Astor’s be appointed as her guardian.

While we may not all be in Mrs. Astor’s social or economic position, senior custody battles are being propelled by a number of demographic shifts. As the population ages and more people live longer, more seniors are likely to eventually lose their mental or physical capacity, leaving decisions over their finances and personal care to others. With divorce and second and third marriages leading to tension among children and stepfamilies, there is even more tension over the care of aging relatives. The ensuing custody battles are driven many times by long-standing family rifts and the desire to control the family assets.

Today many family members live far away from each other, making it more difficult to monitor the condition and care of elderly relatives. Sometimes family members are not even aware of the needs of the elderly relatives or the current condition of their care. For all of these reasons, it is important to have seniors take proactive steps ahead of time to minimize the chances of guardianship proceedings or custody battles later.

In Illinois, a person who is of sound mind and memory may designate a person or a bank trust company to act as a guardian (and may designate successor guardians) in the event that he or she is found to be a disabled person by the courts in Illinois. The designation needs to be in a written document and signed in the same manner as a will. The court will determine if the appointment of the designated guardian will be in the best interests of the person at the time the court determines that the person is considered disabled under the law. A person is considered disabled under the law if that person, because of mental deterioration or physical incapacity is not able to manage his personal or financial needs.

There are several other steps that a senior should consider taking. First, the senior should have a current financial power of attorney in which the senior appoints a trustworthy agent, often a spouse, another family member, or an adviser, to make financial decisions if the senior becomes unable to make them. The senior should also consider the use of a living trust. The senior transfers the title to all of their assets into that trust. The senior manages the trust until the senior is no longer able to do so, and is then succeeded by a successor trustee appointed by them in their trust document. In the event that the senior is again able to manage his financial affairs, the senior can again control and manage the trust.

The use of the financial power of attorney and living trusts which hold the title to all of the assets may preclude a fierce family battle later. In many circumstances, there will not be any need for a court appointed guardian. Instead, the trustee that was appointed by the disabled senior handles all of the financial matters for the disabled senior and the agent appointed by the financial power of attorney handles financial and other items that are not owned by the trust. In that case, all of the decisions have already been made by the senior before he or she is unable to do so.

Currently, few people plan ahead. The survey done by AARP in 2003 which reviewed 1,500 people age 45 and older found that only 27 percent had created a financial power of attorney document. So, if you don’t want to be like Mrs. Astor as a pawn in a custody battle, you had better plan ahead!