All Posts in "Lifestyles"

As the baby boomer generation has continued to grow older, more and more new types of assisted living facilities are being created to accommodate the unique needs of this generation. The assisted living facilities of today are much different than those of the past. Today, these communities not only offer unique living options such as condos and apartments and all-inclusive amenities, but they often have very specific niches as well.

For lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered seniors who are looking for a new assisted living facility to call home, there are plenty of LGBT options available in today’s market. In fact, more and more gay assisted living facilities are being built to accommodate the needs of today’s seniors and to provide those in the LGBT community with a safe and welcoming place to live out their golden years.

Unfortunately, there are many seniors who feel uncomfortable or unwelcomed in traditional assisted-living facilities, as some of their peers may not be as open to LGBT rights. This can perpetuate feelings of isolation and loneliness in some facilities instead of feelings of a strong community.

There are many community members who may feel understandably apprehensive about moving to a new facility after carving out their own life surrounded by other LGBT individuals and accepting individuals. With these facilities, seniors can move to a new home, access a new network of friends and neighbors, and they don’t have to worry about being accepted.

There are so many changes that seniors go through when they move from living independently to an assisted-living community. Some seniors deal with serious issue with isolation, loneliness and depression during this phase in their lives. If their new facility isn’t welcoming, encouraging and it doesn’t promote social interactions, it can only increase the chances of succumbing to these feelings and issues.

It is important that seniors feel as though this transition is a positive one, not a negative one, and ensuring they are entering into a welcoming and supportive community is one of the best ways to do this.

Manyy areas offer multiple LGBT-friendly assisted-living facility options. There are some communities that are more discrete about this and others that are much more open about their niche. There are also some areas of the country where LGBT community members may not be as welcomed. If seniors cannot find a specific LGBT assisted-living facility in their area, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t great communities that will also welcome, include and protect LGBT community members.

As seniors start to look for a facility, it is important that they look for some of the signs that a community may be LGBT-friendly. Images of men with men and women with women on marketing materials is a great first sign. There are also many facilities that offer LGBT-specific groups and activities under their roof, so make sure to browse the list of offerings available in every facility. It’s also a great idea to ask a specific facility about what they offer for their LGBT members. A great facility will have a quick response and a list of answers for you right away.

While there are still many areas of the country that are in need of LGBT assisted-living facilities, it doesn’t mean there aren’t great places for LGBT seniors to live during this new and exciting time in their lives. There are resources and options out there, all seniors today need to do, is look for the right option for them.

Lori Thomas, who wrote this article, is an associated editor of SeniorAdvice.com.

Contributing Author by — March 21, 2018 in Lifestyles

The phrase that something is “magical” seems overused at times, but not in the case of “The Illusionists: Live From Broadway,” the spectacularly entertaining show that’s on a limited engagement at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.

Jaw-dropping, wild, riveting, fun, and – yes – magical are all perfect descriptions of the performance by this amazing band of five illusionists March 15. It was the first of seven nightly or matinee shows that will wrap up on March 18.

Seeing is believing (and wondering how the heck they do that) during the roughly two-hour presentation of sophisticated, mind-blowing magic acts by Jeff Hobson, Jonathan Goodwin, Colin Cloud, Kevin James and An Ha Lim. I won’t spoil the surprises that are in store for audiences. Suffice that you’ll be thoroughly entertained by the fast-paced mix of daredevil stunts by Goodwin, mind-blowing card tricks from Lim, Cloud’s absolutely stunning mind-reading, and James’ visual artistry, including some traditional magic that can’t get old as long as it’s done this well.

And perhaps topping all of that is Hobson. He’s absolutely hilarious with his mix of standup comedy and magic – more of the former than the latter, which is fine, given his brilliant showmanship as he banters with audience members and keep everyone in stitches in between acts.

 

Pat Jenkins, who wrote this review, is the editor of Senior Scene and program director for Senior Media Services.

srmedia by — March 16, 2018 in Lifestyles

Deciding when to start receiving your retirement benefits from Social Security is a decision that only you can make, and you should make that decision with as much information as possible.

There are a lot of important questions to answer. Should you claim benefits earlier and get a smaller monthly payment for more years? Or should you wait and get a bigger monthly amount over a shorter period? There are no right or wrong answers, but consider these four important questions as you plan for your financially secure retirement:

How much money will I need to live comfortably in retirement?

Anticipate what your expenses will be in retirement, including things like mortgage payments or rent, utilities, healthcare insurance and related costs, food, personal care, car payments and maintenance, entertainment, hobbies, travel, and credit card or other debt. Also, consider whether you’ll need to provide for your spouse, children, or grandchildren.

What will my monthly Social Security retirement benefit be?

The average monthly benefit for a retired worker in 2018 is $1,404 (up from $1,377 in 2017). The average monthly benefit for a disabled worker in 2018 is $1,197 (up from $1,173 in 2017). As a reminder, eligibility for retirement benefits still requires 40 credits (usually about 10 years of work). The Social Security Act details how the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is calculated. You can read more about the COLA at www.socialsecurity.gov/cola. The best way to get an estimate of your retirement benefit is with a my Social Security account. Get yours today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Will I have other income to supplement my Social Security benefits?

Secure your financial future with a retirement portfolio that includes savings, investments, and possibly a pension plan. If you’re willing and able, you may choose to increase your income by working past retirement age.

Social Security replaces a percentage of a worker’s pre-retirement income based on your lifetime earnings. The amount of your average wages that Social Security retirement benefits replaces varies depending on your earnings and when you choose to start benefits. If you start benefits at age 67, this percentage ranges from as much as 75 percent for very low earners, to about 40 percent for medium earners, to about 27 percent for high earners. If you start benefits after age 67, these percentages would be higher. If you start benefits earlier, these percentages would be lower.

Most financial advisors say you will need about 70 percent of pre-retirement income to live comfortably in retirement, including your Social Security benefits, investments, and other savings.

How long do I expect my retirement to last?

Anticipate the length of your retirement, keeping in mind that many American workers will live much longer than the “average” retiree. Consider your health, family longevity, and lifestyle. Your Social Security retirement benefits will provide continuous income for as long as you live, protecting you even if your other sources of income run out. Discover your life expectancy with our online calculator at www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/population/longevity.   

No one can predict the future perfectly, but careful planning and preparation will help you to make a well-informed decision about when to start receiving your Social Security benefits.

If you’ve contributed enough to the Social Security system through FICA payroll taxes, you can receive your full retirement benefit at age 66 or 67, depending on when you were born. You may also claim it sooner, starting at age 62, at a permanently reduced rate. Or you may wait until after your full retirement age, increasing your benefit amount by up to 8 percent per full year to age 70.

Social Security is with you through life’s journey, and we’re here to help you prepare for a financially secure future for you and your family. We invite you to use our online retirement planners at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire/.

To learn more about all of our programs, please join us at www.socialsecurity.gov.

  

Kirk Larson, who wrote this article, is a Social Security public affairs specialist for Washington.

srmedia by — March 6, 2018 in Lifestyles

It’s time to break out the seeds and potting mix to start your garden plants indoors.  It’s a great way to keep your green thumb in shape over winter. Plus, you’ll save money, increase your variety of plants and jump start the growing season when you start seeds under LED grow lights. 

Indoor growing conditions often offer limited light and that can mean tall leggy transplants with weak stems.  You can greatly increase your success by investing in quality grow lights.  Adding artificial light to your seed starting regime results in stout transplants with strong stems and deep green leaves.

Invest wisely when shopping for indoor plant lights.  Fluorescent tubes used to be the standard because they provided a wide spectrum of light needed for plant growth and flowering, were relatively inexpensive and readily available. Unfortunately, they used significant amounts of electricity and needed to be replaced every few years. Then many gardeners shifted to full spectrum fluorescent grow lights.  Many last longer than the older and larger fluorescent tubes, but new LED grow lights (gardeners.com) provide even better light intensity with much less energy.

If you’ve looked at LED lights in the past, you may have suffered sticker shock. Fortunately, the prices have dropped. And if you consider LED plant lights typically use half the energy of fluorescent tubes, provide consistent light quality and last up to five times longer, the long-term savings outweighs the initial investment. Plus, they’re mercury-free and won’t add contaminates to landfills.

When replacing fluorescent tubes with LED grow lights, look for compatibility. Some of the newer LED grow lights are compatible with existing T-5 light setups. You just replace the bulb, not your whole lighting system.

You will get the most out of your investment and grow better transplants with proper use. Move seedlings under lights as soon as they start breaking through the soil surface. Keep the lights about six inches above the top of seedlings.  This means you’ll need to raise the lights or lower the plants as the seedlings grow. Make your own light stand using adjustable supports to raise and lower lights as needed. Use a reflector above grow light tubes to direct the light downward toward the plants. Bounce light back onto seedlings by using reflective surfaces under and around the plants. Even easier, invest in a quality grow light stand like the SunLite® Garden.

Set the lights on a timer. Seedlings need about 14 to 16 hours of light. Plants do need a dark period, so running the lights longer wastes electricity and is not good for the plants. If you are using grow lights to supplement natural daylight, you may only need to run the lights a few hours a day. Monitor plant growth and increase the duration if plants appear leggy or pale.

Increased light along with proper watering, fertilizer and growing temperatures will ensure you have a bumper crop of transplants for your gardens and containers.

 

Melinda Myers, who wrote this article, has written more than 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening.” Myers’

LED grow lights provide greater light intensity, making it easier to grow strong transplants indoors for your gardens and containers. (Gardener’s Supply Company/courtesy photo)

web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Contributing Author by — February 21, 2018 in Lifestyles