Many seniors don’t let owing get them down
Many Americans older than 60 face serious financial difficulties, but they are much less likely to feel overwhelmed by such problems than their younger counterparts, according to a recent survey conducted by InCharge Education Foundation, the education arm of Institute of America.
Only 21 percent of debt-stressed seniors feel “overwhelmed” by their current financial situation, according to the survey. This is significantly lower than the 36 percent reported by younger people.
Seniors are also less likely to suffer health problems caused by financial stress. About half as many debt-stressed seniors (19 percent) reported stress-related symptoms such as depression, insomnia or headaches as compared with younger people (31 percent).
“Older Americans today are facing serious financial challenges — challenges their parents’ generation did not face, like being forced into early retirement, falling into easy credit traps, relying on a pension for retirement that just isn’t there anymore,” said Rebecca Stiehl, president of InCharge Education Foundation. “But despite these obstacles, this generation takes things in stride. Life experience has taught them to keep things in perspective.”
The nonprofit institute, based in Orlando, Fla. specializes in personal finance, education and credit counseling.
Web site gears up for older drivers
By 2030 more than 70 million Americans will be older than 65, and many of them will still be on the road. Those who continue to drive may need senior-friendly cars and better road signage, while those who cannot or will not drive will need other ways to get around.
To help the growing senior population stay mobile, the AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington, in cooperation with the Beverly Foundation of Pasadena, has created an online clearinghouse specifically dedicated to senior transportation issues and information.
The Senior Driver Web site has four sections, each with its own focus. The clearinghouse provides a forum where those who work with seniors can exchange transportation information, strategies and news. Other sections provide information about senior driver safety and ongoing research. To visit the site, go to www.seniordrivers.org.
Another informational source is the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. It offers a range of information on such topics as driving with macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetes, etc. Its Web site is www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
How to take aging in stride
Many of the most critical challenges and opportunities of aging are addressed by a physician, a lawyer, a family counselor and a clergy in “Aging in Stride,” a book that was co-published this year by a nationwide network of more than a dozen nonprofit organizations that serve older adults and their families.
The consumer guide for older adults is organized into 45 separate issue-based discussions, each followed by a list of more resources, plus 26 forms to help readers gather and organize information and plan for the future.
The book addresses such questions as: What choices and factors will most contribute to my health, independence and happiness as I age? How do Medicare and Social Security work? What types of advance planning should I be thinking about? What diet and forms of exercise will help me age well? How can I reduce my risks of a fall or an accident, whether I’m at home or driving a car?
The book (listed at $24.95 and published by Caresource Healthcare Communications) is available by calling (800) 448-5213 or online at www.aginginstride.org.