Well Senior Blog

A bald man with a white beard and mustache is standing against a textured grey wall. He is wearing a dark jacket over a white shirt and is making a playful expression while raising both index fingers in a gesture of caution or warning.

Saying “no” when your kids ask for money

August 2, 2023

Once you’ve decided it’s unwise to give or lend money to children—or grandchildren—think through how you want to communicate your decision. Money is often equated with love. Even if this is a loving decision (e.g., you’ve determined that giving or lending them money is encouraging something unhealthy), how and when you decline is important for…

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A wooden cutout of a house with a large heart in the middle is surrounded by paper cutout figures holding hands, forming a chain on a dark turquoise background. The image represents community, unity, and home.

“With a little help from our friends”:
The Village movement

July 5, 2023

Aging in place has great appeal and can be challenging and expensive. Elders who are part of a “Village” help each other with simple tasks, making it easier and more financially feasible to stay at home. Today, there are close to 250 Villages across the country. They are part of a widespread grassroots movement of…

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A camera, a pair of sunglasses, a pen, and two United States passports are placed on a world map. This travel-themed arrangement suggests preparation for a journey or vacation.

Medicare coverage while traveling

June 1, 2023

Planning a trip? Your health insurance might not come with you! International travel. If you need medical care outside the United States—an ER visit, hospitalization, ambulance, medical exam, labs, or a medical evacuation—there are very few circumstances in which original Medicare will help out. You should be prepared to pay 100 percent of any medical…

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An older woman with short gray hair is smiling at the camera while adjusting her black-rimmed glasses. She is wearing a light-colored shirt, a yellow scarf with white stripes, and a watch on her left wrist, set against a plain gray background.

Solo aging: Eyes wide open

May 3, 2023

Aging comes to us all. What makes solo aging different is the need to be more proactive about arranging for help. Twenty-two percent of older adults acknowledge they will need to take care of themselves. (Even if you are partnered now or have children, you are wise to consider the possibility of solo aging because,…

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An assortment of vintage items displayed on a table, including brass candlesticks, binoculars, an old-fashioned boot, a ship in a bottle, nautical instruments, and various small brass objects and trinkets. The scene appears to be from a flea market or antique sale.

Getting rid of your stuff

April 5, 2023

Once you get beyond the sentimental value of your belongings, you are still up against the logistics of how to get things out of your nest. Some stuff is easier to pass along to family than other stuff. Options for what’s left over: Sell, donate, or just “get rid of it!” Start with family. You…

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Purple crocus flowers bloom through a layer of snow, illuminated by soft sunlight. The vibrant petals contrast with the white snow, creating a striking image of early spring emerging from winter. In the background, more snow and blurred trees are visible.

Thriving through life transitions

March 1, 2023

Change is the only constant. And as we enter our later years, it seems the changes are more frequent. Before writing Life Is in the Transitions, Bruce Feiler interviewed 225 individuals to gain a sense of the ways people navigate disruption across the lifespan. He found that we experience roughly thirty-six transitions in a lifetime,…

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An elderly couple is carrying cardboard boxes in a modern home with a staircase in the background. The man is holding two stacked boxes and the woman is holding one box, both smiling as they move the boxes. The setting is well-lit with large windows.

Should you move (closer to your kids)?

February 1, 2023

The most common reason to move in later years is to be closer to children and grandchildren. Regardless of your reason for relocating, unless you plan to live with family, there will be many hours of the day when you are just plain newbies in town. How will you spend your time? If proximity to…

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A stack of 100 dollar bills partially emerges from a horizontal slot against a gradient background that transitions from light gray at the top to pink at the bottom.

“My kids treat me like a bank”

January 4, 2023

When an adult child asks for money, it’s hard to say no. You want to respond to a need. But perhaps your child perceives that you don’t need all you have, or that they’re simply requesting some of their inheritance, just a bit early. Before you answer, ask for time to think it over. You…

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An elderly person uses a tablet to control smart home features in a modern living room. The tablet screen displays icons for various smart home functions like temperature control, locks, and lighting. A grey sectional couch and ottoman are in the background.

Adding smart home safety features

December 1, 2022

You probably already have some “smart” features in your home. For instance, a thermostat you can program for a higher temp during the day and lower at night. Perhaps it has remote capabilities, so you can make changes from afar. Or sensors, such as garden sprinklers that shut off when it’s raining, or outdoor lights…

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