Notes from a dimly lit office.
Seniors give heat warnings the cold shoulder. Despite front-page news about the 2011 heat wave, heat-related deaths and repeated warnings for caution, seniors who hear how the vulnerable elderly ought to take every precaution have one common thought: “I’m not old.” One poll says 90% of over-65s know about the heat warnings, and 85% of those ignore them. Why? It seems to be a matter of self-image — and denial. Among Boomers, for example, it’s not unusual to believe “old” starts at 70 — maybe even 80. Many believe fitness and healthy diets trump aging’s effects. And for those who are rarin’ to go — no matter the heat index — belief in using common sense wins out, even though the common sense may be more aptly applied to a 40-year-old. Truth is, the body changes, the sense of thirst diminishes, internal organs aren’t what they used to be … and when it’s hot out, by golly, chill.
Caring costs. A new report AARP has posted tallies the totals on caring. Bottom line? It’s getting more expensive to be a caregiver: “In 2009, about 42.1 million family caregivers in the U.S. provided care to an adult with limitations in daily activities at any given point in time, and about 61.6 million provided care at some time during the year. The estimated economic value of their unpaid contributions was approximately $450 billion in 2009, up from an estimated $375 billion in 2007.” The report is available in a series of .pdf downloads.
That shifting retirement idea. From the SunAmerica Financial Group comes a study clarifying the new retirement mindset: Retirement no longer means an end to working. “A more pragmatic vision of retirement is emerging.” Find an eye-opening summary here.
