Blank Crossword Puzzle Template

by fank209

Forget early retirement, the trends all point toward working well after the traditional retirement age of 65 – reversing earlier trends of early retirement. In fact, an AARP study reported that almost half of their respondents planned to be working seniors into their 70s or beyond. The financial reasons for working after retirement are significant. But, many people also find jobs in retirement to be a source of fun and vitality. Explore the varied reasons to work below.

1) You Will Likely Live a VERY Long Time

It is important to understand that today’s retirees have a very good chance of living a long time – to 85 or longer.

Retiring at 65 means that you could be out of work and living off your savings for 20 years or more.

Twenty years without work requires a lot of retirement assets and a lot of good hobbies.

Is leisure and rest really how you want to spend that much time?
Are you sure that you have the financial assets to live that long?
2) Insufficient Retirement Planning

Most households simply have not planned sufficiently for retirement.

You may have enough assets and retirement income to cover the basics, but are you sure that you have plannedadequately for inflation, rising medical costs, long term care, and how long you are actually going to live?

These variables can have a profound impact on how long your money will last in retirement. Continuing to work in retirement can provide additional assets to cover the financial uncertainties caused by these variables.

3) Need More Retirement Savings or Income

The most fundamental financial consideration of having a full- or part-time job after retirement is that you are earning money. Working in retirement could enable you to continue saving money and therefore better your quality of life once you do stop working. Studies show that less than 50 percent of retirement-age-households actually have adequate savings to maintain their quality of life in retirement.

It is likely that you will need the extra money. If you are unsure if you have enough or not, use theNewRetirement Retirement Calculator to find out how long you savings will last in retirement.

4) Retain Existing Savings and Allow Them to Accumulate Interest

In addition to adding to your retirement assets, a retirement job might also mean that you won’t need to draw down your existing savings.

You can retain your existing savings – enabling those assets to continue earning interest — while living off income from your retirement job. By delaying the use of your retirement assets you will be able to live more comfortably for a longer period of time in retirement.

5) Improve Your Monthly Social Security Payment

Social security benefits are based on your top 35 earning years. Depending on your work history, working past the traditional retirement age could have a significant impact on your Social Security benefit payments. By working longer, you could insure a bigger monthly Social Security check. And, working full or part time after retirement does not impact receiving your benefits after you have reached your “Full Retirement Age” as defined by the Social Security Administration. You can claim full Social Security benefits after you have reached your “Full Retirement Age” and still work full time.

To learn more about what your full retirement age is, visit Find Your Retirement Age.
If you are interested in learning more about how your benefits would be affected if you work and are taking benefits before your “Full Retirement Age,” visit Work and Social Security.

You might also want to consider working full or part time as a way to delay the start of Social Security benefits. The longer you delay the start of Social Security up until the age of 70, the bigger your monthly Social Security check will be. Review the Maximum-Taxable Earnings table to see how your Social Security benefits might increase with additional years in work.

6) Medical Benefits

Many retirees are not prepared for the high cost of medical care they’ll face in retirement when they are no longer part of a company plan. Too many people believe that Medicare covers most or all expenses. The reality is that Medicare only covers a percentage of some of your medical bills. Working after retirement can positively impact your medical benefits. If your employer offers medical benefits, those benefits may be better than what you receive from Medicare and the Medicare supplemental insurance programs.

Medicare Part A and Part B are plans that almost all retirees can and should participate in. Your ability to purchase and/or qualify for most additional or medicare supplemental insurance — including employer plans — is dependent on your enrollment in Medicare part A and part B. However, discuss your health care options carefully with someone knowledgeable of the system and your circumstances.

Each situation will be unique. Medical benefits from a retirement job are particularly important if you have taken early retirement. If you retired before the age of 65, you are not yet eligible for Medicare and private insurance can be prohibitively expensive for seniors.

7) You Like Your Current Work

Yes, work can be a source of stress. But, studies show that around half of all Americans actually enjoy their job. And, it is important to be aware that depression after retirement is a common problem. If you have invested a lot into your career and identify strongly with your work, you may be at risk for depression after retirement. Before retiring, consider these types of questions:

How will you spend your days in retirement?
How much of your identity is tied up with your work?
How do you define your purpose in life?
How much attention and admiration do you derive from work?

More men than women experience depression after retirement. Studies have shown that the self worth and identity of men have much to do with their careers. Having invested so much into their careers, executives seem to have the most significant problems adjusting to retirement. Men also seem to have a more difficult time making friends and finding things to do after retirement. When considering retirement – be careful what you wish for and be sure to consider how you really feel about your work.

Macro Economics — You Don’t Want to Hurt the U.S. Economy

Economists are not entirely sure of the actual effects baby boomer retirement will have on the U.S. economy. However, the idea of 76 million baby boomers entering retirement is cause for alarm. Employers may need baby boomers to continue working. If baby boomers retire at or before the age of 65, the United States may experience huge labor shortages – hurting the economy. Alan Greenspan the former Federal Reserve chairman seems to support senior work. He is quoted as saying, “Policies promoting longer working life could ameliorate some of the potential demographic stresses.”

Furthermore, it will be interesting to watch what happens to economic growth in the United States as the baby boomer generation transitions from accumulators of wealth (working) to spenders of assets (retired).

9) Chronological Age is Not Your “Real” Age

The International Longevity Center funded a survey showed that the majority of Americans think that chronological age has nothing to do with “old age.” Only 14 percent of those surveyed indicated that reaching a specific age indicated that they were old. The majority said that overall health was the important factor. If your health is good at “retirement age” you might consider not retiring. There is no real need for the rest and relaxation that retirement allows.

10) There is Other Work You Might Like

Working after retirement does not mean that you must stay at your current job or continue working full time. Many retirees are retraining and pursuing careers that they really love. These working retirees may not earn as much money as they did in their lifelong careers, but they enjoy the work or the flexibility of their new jobs. Click here for more information about jobs for retirees.

11) You Like the Social Aspect of Work

Maybe you don’t like “work” exactly, but many people find when they retire that they really miss the social aspects of work. Having a place to go and people to see everyday is very important to the happiness of many people.

12) You Want to Stay Mentally Alert

Use it or lose it is what they say about your mental capacity as you age. Crossword puzzles or a good book may provide the stimulus you need to stay mentally fit, but working is also an excellent way to stay engaged.

13) You Don’t Have Anything Better to Do

Boredom is a common complaint amongst retirees. Boredom can also lead to depression and mental and physical decay. Before retiring completely, be sure you have an idea of what you would like to be doing and a plan for how you are going to do it.

14) Sense of Purpose

Retirement can force you to evaluate the very fundamental question of the purpose of life. When faced with the prospect of wide open days with no where to go, retirees must confront what to do and why. For some people, their existing work is their real purpose – they derive great pleasure and satisfaction from work and yet they don’t realize it until after they retire. Other people find that transitioning to a new career gives them the most satisfaction. Other people will want to pursue leisure, time with family or the arts. By evaluating your values, you can come up with a plan for spending the last phases of your life in a way that is meaningful to you.

Other Options

If a working retirement is not for you, but you do require additional retirement income, you might consider the following retirement options:

A Reverse Mortgage
Downsizing or Relocating Your Home
Reducing living expenses and/or debt consolidation

Technorati Tags: Reasons, Senior, Working

by Deaf RED Bear

Alzheimer’s disease is also simply called Alzheimer’s, which is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting about 24 million people across the globe. Alzheimer’s is a terminal and degenerative disease that is currently has no cure. It affects people over the age of 65. The disease will actually begin many years before it is diagnosed. In early stages, the most common symptom is short-term memory loss, often thought to be caused due to stress or aging. Later, other symptoms include anger, confusion, language breakdown, mood swings, long-term memory loss and later decline of senses. The sufferer loses minor, then major bodily functions and finally ends in death. Even though the symptoms are common, each individual experiences unique symptoms.

The duration of the disease is estimated to be 5 and 20 years. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease generally reported to a physician when there is a memory-loss; health specialists will prove the diagnosis with cognitive tests and behavioral assessment, mostly followed by a brain scan. The cause and progression of Alzheimer’s disease is not understood well, but associated with tangles and plaques in the brain. Unfortunately there is no treatment to stop or reverse this disease, and it is not known if the current treatments slow its progression. Many preventative measures have been suggested for Alzheimer’s, but their value is unproven in reducing its course and severity. Exercise, balanced diet and mental stimulation are often recommended, both prevention and as a sensible way of managing the disease. Due to its degenerative and incurable nature, care management of Alzheimer’s is very important.

Different epidemiological studies have been proposed that relates between certain modifiable factors such as cardiovascular risk, diet, pharmaceutical products or intellectual activities among others. Only further research such as clinical trials will tell whether these factors will help to prevent the disease. The components of Mediterranean diet that include vegetables, fruits, wheat bread, cereals, olive oil, and red wine might individually or together reduce the risk and course of Alzheimer’s. Even Vitamins like B, E and C and folic acid seem to reduce the risk of the disease. Although risk factors like hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and smoking are associated with higher risk of onset and course of Alzheimer’s.

Sometimes long-term usage of NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with reduced likelihood of developing the disease in some individuals. Other pharmaceutical treatments like female replacement hormone therapy are no longer thought to prevent dementia, while a 2007 systematic review concluded that there was unconvincing and inconsistent evidence that ginkgo has positive effect on cognitive impairment. Intellectual activities such as playing chess, crossword puzzles or regular social interaction with friends and family, may also delay the onset or reduce Alzheimer’s severity, bilingualism is also related to a later onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Technorati Tags: Alzheimer's, Disease, know, Must

by Deaf RED Bear

There are many people who have problems with remembering things such forgot where you put your keys ? Can’t remember telephone numbers? or where you parked your car in the parking lot. Surely you are not alone and the good news is that there are easy ways to improve your memory.

Here are 10 ways, which you can follow to keep your memory in shape, and also techniques that can actually help you to improve your memory’s condition and performance.

1. Eat Your Brain Food

What we eat every day, affects the performance and long-term condition of our memory. Surveys in recent decades, have shown that certain foods can contribute to the better functioning of the neural circuits of the brain that control memory. Fish and foods that contain a lot of omega oils nourish the brain, and this can help improve your memory. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet and avoid foods that are high in sugar.

2. Physical exercise

Physical exercise  increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients in the blood. The benefits of exercise affect positively many body systems, and particularly our memory and other cognitive capabilities. It is enough to exercise for 20 minutes everyday in simple forms of exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming and dancing.

3. Play A Game

Play engages the prefrontal cortex, responsible for your highest-level cognitive functions – including self-knowledge, memory, mental imagery, and incentive and reward processing. Activities like bridge, chess, sudoku, role-playing games, and challenging crossword puzzles all provide rigorous neural workouts.

4. Meditate

Meditation is an excellent way to focus your mind and awaken your brain in the morning. Make the time to sit and mediate for 15 minutes each morning, focusing on only your breath and heartbeat. Your mediation session

will leave you feeling calm and able to begin creating your day. Mediate again before bed in order to let your mind naturally sift through the remnants of the day and prepare yourself for a restful sleep.

5. Music

Music is a great workout for the mind. Listening to the right type of music will allow your brain to  process information better and become more receptive to that information. Listening to classical music composed by Mozart or Beethoven is highly recommended.

6.  Get plenty of rest.

Some scientists believe that the poor sleep patterns and sleep deprivation experienced by many overworked adults – contribute to forgetfulness and memory loss. Aim for at least 7 or more hours of sleep each night to keep your brain functioning at its best. 

7. Never stop learning

Look for topics that interest you and really get involved with learning new information and developments about them. Think of something that you’ve always wanted to learn to do and then get started. Reading, following lectures, programs, information on television and the Internet, are sources of continuous education for your brain with beneficial results to your memory.

8. Reduce Stress

when you’re Stress or anxious, you can’t concentrate or process information. Learn to calm yourself with breathing exercises. Yoga offers a great way to unwind. Remind yourself of what’s important and good in your life. Let the rest of it go.

9. Take a vitamin

Vitamin and nutrients stimulate the functioning of brain and are beneficial in memory retention.Certain vitamins play an important role in brain health and memory, including B-vitamins, choline, vitamin E, vitamin c, Omega-3 Fatty Acids. and other antioxidant nutrients.

10. Aromatherapy

Studies show aromatherapy can be used for both the body and the mind, helping to ease physical and emotional illnesses and improve mood, memory and concentration. One herb that particularly helps the brain is rosemary.

Brain training starts with brain games, like solitare and sudoku, and continues with a brain food diet. mental.healthguru.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Technorati Tags: Brain, Peak, Performance, Train