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Recent ColumnsHow to Stop Junk MailDear Savvy SeniorCan you give me some tips on how to stop or reduce the mass junk mail and e-mail I receive? For some reason, my wife and I get bombarded with this stuff every day and are sick of it. What can you tell us? Retried Targets Dear Targets While most adults in the U.S. receive lots of junk mail, the biggest target tends to be retirees, ages 60 and older. But there are steps you can take to avoid these invasions. Here’s what you should know. Junk Mail To help you scrub your name and address from marketers mailing lists start with the Direct Marketing Association, who offers a consumer opt-out service at www.dmachoice.org/mps. This won’t eliminate your junk mail (because many direct mailers aren’t association members) but it will reduce it. This service is free if you register online, or $1 by mail. If you’re willing to pay $20 try Greendimes.com, a savvy resource that promises to reduce your junk mail up to 90 percent and will plant 10 trees on your behalf. Also see 41pounds.org which charges $41 for a five-year anti-junk mail plan. De-catalogue To reduce or eliminate the paper catalogs you receive go to Catalogchoice.org, a free new service that does the work for you. Stopthejunkmail.com is another good service but charges a $20 fee. Other options include calling the catalogs’ toll-free number and request to be taken off its list – have the customer number from your mailing label handy when you call. Or you can tear off the page with the mailing label and mail it to the retailer with a request to be removed from its mailing list. Credit Card Offers Are credit card offers clogging your mailbox? You can shut them down with the opt-out service run by the major credit bureaus at www.optoutprescreen.com or call 888-567-8688. Be prepared to key in your Social Security number and date of birth. You’ll have the option of removing your name either for five years or permanently from pre-screened marketing lists sold to credit card companies and insurers. You can also prevent financial institutions and other companies from sharing or selling information about you. Look for the privacy notices (sent once a year) that should come with your statements and follow their instructions. You should have to opt out only once with each institution. Can the Spam To cut down on the junk e-mail you receive, register your e-mail addresses at www.dmachoice.org/EMPS. And check your e-mail account to see if it provides a tool to filter out potential spam or a way to channel spam into a bulk e-mail folder. Also see www.ftc.gov/spam for more tips. Telemarketing Protection You’re probably already aware of the “National Do Not Call Registry,” which has helped millions of Americans reduce their telemarketing calls. If not, you can sign up at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222. If you already signed up, you don’t need to reregister. Sign-ups were supposed to expire after five years, but the FTC expects to make registration permanent. The registry however will not stop calls by charities, politicians, survey takers or companies that have a prior business relationship with you. In addition to the national registry, many states operate their own do-not-call program. Go to www.ataconnect.org/public/compliance/donotcallbystate.php for a list of state programs. Be Stingy Be very picky about sharing your information. Every time you order something online, check the site’s privacy policy and avoid sites that don’t let you opt out of advertising or ones that are looking to share or sell your information to others. Also, be wary about signing up for freebies, sweepstakes or contests, online or off, because many are simply ploys to collect contact information for marketing purposes. And always write “no mailing list” on product warranties or rebates you send in. Savvy Tips: Another good resource on this topic is the World Privacy Forum (www.worldprivacyforum.org/toptenoptout.html), a nonprofit group that offers a top 10 list of opt-outs. And if identity theft concerns you, you can freeze your credit files by mailing a certified letter to the three credit bureaus. See www.financialprivacynow.org for more information. New Options for Senior’s with CataractsDear Savvy SeniorI’ve read that there’s a new type of cataract surgery that can also correct vision so you don’t have to wear reading glasses anymore. What can you tell me about this? I will need cataract surgery in the near future and would like to learn more. Bifocal Bob Dear Bob For the millions of bifocal wearing baby boomers and seniors who will eventually need cataract surgery there’s great news! New types of implantable lenses are now available that allow cataract patients to see near, far, and in between without wearing glasses or contact lenses. Here’s what you should know. More Options Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures that has recently gotten better. In a typical cataract surgery, a patient’s aging and cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) to restore the eye’s focusing power. Until recently, the only option was a fixed-focus lens, typically designed for faraway distances, which left the patient needing bifocals or reading glasses to see up close. But now, there are new multifocal and accommodating lenses that can restore sight at all distances so patients can go glasses-free. New Lenses The new lenses – all FDA approved – have been available in the U.S. for around three years and so far doctors and patients are pleased with how well they work. While these new lenses don’t guarantee 20/20 vision, they can reduce the need for glasses for most people by as much as 90 percent. Some of the different brands currently on the market include the ReStor (www.acrysofrestor.com) and ReZoom (www.rezoomiol.com), and the Crystalens (www.crystalens.com) accommodating lens. It’s estimated that around 20 percent of cataract patients nationally are now choosing these new multifocal lenses. However, some doctors have been hesitant to adopt the new technology, owing to scattered reports of halos, glare, and problems with night vision and blurring. Because these lenses have been available for only a short time, most of these doctors are waiting for more data on patient’s long-term experience. Also keep in mind that as with any surgery, lens implantation comes with some risk of complication. Infection, retinal detachment, and an increase in eye pressure, while rare, do occur but can almost always be successfully treated. Finding a Doctor Since the multifocal lenses are relatively new, not all cataract surgeons are trained to implant them. So if you would like to find out whether you’re a candidate for one of these lenses, you may need to call several surgeons in your area to find out who uses them. You can also search for trained physicians through the ReStor, ReZoom and Crystalens Web sites previously listed. After you locate a few, ask lots of questions and choose one who has significant experience with these lenses and is prepared to deal with any problems that could arise. Extra Cost You also need to know about the additional cost. While Medicare, Medicaid and most health insurance plans cover cataract surgery and the traditional lens implants, they don’t yet pay for new multifocal and accommodating implants. That means if you opt for the newer lenses you’ll have to pay the difference of what Medicare or insurance doesn’t cover, which will be around $2,000 to $2,500 per eye. Savvy Tips: To learn more about these new cataract lens implants visit www.allaboutvision.com – click on “Cataracts.” And for more information about cataract in general, the National Eye Institute offers a free publication called “Cataract: What you should know.” To get a copy, call 301-496-5248 or visit www.nei.nih.gov. Do-It-Yourself WillsDear Savvy Senior,What self-help resources do you recommend for writing a will? At age 60, I need to get my affairs organized, but I don’t want to go to a high-priced attorney to do it. Willing Wilma Dear Wilma, Creating a will doesn’t have to involve expensive visits to a lawyer anymore. Today, there are plenty of low cost ways to write a will, many of which take less than an hour from start to finish. Here are some good resources and tips to help you get started. Take Inventory Your first step in creating a will is to take an inventory of all the important assets that you have. You’ll also need to choose your beneficiaries and an executor. The beneficiaries are the people or organizations you want to leave your property and assets to. And the executor is the person you designate to see that your wishes are carried out. Do-It-Yourself There are many user-friendly, do-it-yourself resources available today that make creating your own will a snap and are plenty adequate for most people. Here are some places to get help:
Tip: If you have a blended family or a complicated financial situation that may require legal judgment, or if you have assets of more that $2 million (the threshold for triggering estate taxes), do-it-yourself wills are not your best option. You probably need to get help from a lawyer. Storing Your Will When you’re finished creating your will, you need to keep it (the original) in a secure location, but be sure the executor has access to it. A fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home is a good choice. It’s also wise to make several copies and placed in separate locations. And be sure to review and update your will every two or three years, especially after any major life change, like a death, remarriage or if you move to a new state. Legal Help If you need some legal advice when creating your will, try the Senior Legal Hotline service, a resource sponsored by AARP that provides free legal advice by telephone in 27 states. Visit www.legalhotlines.org to get the phone number for your state, or contact your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number). Tips for seniors who don’t take their medicineDear Savvy SeniorDo you have any suggestions on how I can help my mother keep up with her medicine? She takes several medications for various health conditions and I just learned she hasn’t been taking them regularly. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned Medicine that goes untaken is unfortunately, a very common problem in the U.S. In fact, according to the National Council on Patient Information and Education, a whopping three-quarters of Americans admit to not always taking their prescription medicines as directed. And medicines don’t do much good if they never leave the bottle. Skipping Doses Your first step in helping your mom is to find out why she has not been taking her medicine. Most people skip doses because they either cause unpleasant side effects; they’re confused about how and when to take them or they forget; they can’t afford them; or they don’t think they need to continue taking them if they start feeling better. Depending on your mother’s reasons, here are some tips that may help. Side Effects If unpleasant side effects are causing your mom to balk on her meds, talk to her doctor. They may be able to prescribe a substitute, change her dosage, or give her a brief supervised break to see if her symptoms disappear. Confused or Forgetful If confusion or forgetfulness is the problem, some simple suggestions that can help her stay on track include:
Some patients may not understand why they’re on a medication, and why they need to stay on it, even if they feel fine. If your mom fit’s into this category, her doctor can help by reminding her why she’s on a particular drug and how long she needs to take it. Another tip is to monitor mom’s condition. If she takes medication for hypertension, for example, checking her blood-pressure regularly with a home monitor can help motivate her to continue taking her medication. Too Expensive If your mom can’t afford her prescriptions, again, talk to her doctor. They may be able to switch her to a cheaper alternative or generic drug, or give her free samples of the drug. Also ask about cutting her pills in half. Pill splitting allows her to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one, but not all pills can be split. And depending on your mom’s income level, she may be able to get help through Medicare’s’ extra help program, pharmaceutical patient assistance programs (see www.rxassist.org and www.pparx.org), state pharmacy assistance programs, or national and local charitable programs. To find out if she’s eligible for these programs visit www.benefitscheckuprx.org. Also see www.needymeds.com. Savvy Tips: If you have questions or concerns about the medications your mother is taking, gather up all her pill bottles (include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements) and take them to her primary physician or pharmacist for a drug review. Web sites like www.drugdigest.org or www.medlineplus.gov are also great resources for finding out medication information. And always remember to use the same pharmacy or one pharmacy chain to get her prescriptions. Pharmacy computer systems can automatically flag any potential drug interaction problems. Beware of Heart Attack SeasonDear Savvy SeniorWhen I had a heart attack last year my doctor told me to take extra precaution during the winter months because my risks of having another one could increase. Is this true? How can the seasons of the year affect your heart? Old Man Winter Dear Old Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but most people don’t know that it’s also the prime season for heart attacks too. Here’s what you should know. Heart Attack Season It’s true! In the United States, the risks of having a heart attack during the winter months are twice as high as in the summertime. And, a heart attack in the winter is also more likely to be fatal than a heart attack during any other time of year. Why? Lots of reasons, and they’re not all tied to cold weather. Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Wintertime Risks Here are some reasons why heart attacks are more common during the winter than other months and some tips to help you combat them:
Longevity Insurance:A good deal if you live long enough to collectDear Savvy Senior,Can you tell me about a new financial product called longevity insurance? With longevity running in my genes – dad lived to age 94 and mom’s 92 and still going strong – I worry about outliving my money. Long Living Larry Dear Larry Outliving one’s retirement savings is a financial nightmare that haunts many retirees. That’s why a handful of insurers have recently introduced a new type of annuity that caters specifically to that fear. Here’s what you should know. Longevity Insurance Now you can actually buy insurance that pays you for living a long life. It’s called “longevity insurance,” and like an annuity, it pays you income for life, but only if and when you make it to a certain age. How does it work? You give an insurance company a lump-sum of money when you retire (say age 60 or 65), in return for monthly income starting at age 80 or 85. Advantages The advantage of choosing longevity insurance over an annuity is that the payouts are much higher. For example, a 65-year-old man who puts $50,000 into a longevity policy can expect to receive around $3,400 per month (that comes to $40,800 per year) starting at age 85. With a traditional income annuity, he’d get only around $640 per month. Why such a big difference? Because the insurance companies are betting you won’t be around to collect. National statistics show that a 65-year-old male will live, on average, to 82, and a 65-year-old woman to 85. Another great benefit with longevity insurance is it gives you the freedom to spend down your nest egg, knowing you’ve locked up an income stream for your later years. Drawbacks As tantalizing as those big payouts may be, longevity insurance has its drawbacks. For starters, a basic longevity policy offers no escape hatch for you to retrieve your money during the 20 years or so you’re waiting for benefits to start. And your heirs won’t get death benefits if you die before you begin to collect. Recognizing that many people might balk at these limitations, insurers are also offering add-ons to the basic policy that include a death benefit to be paid to heirs, early payments for nursing home care, cash withdrawal options and inflation protection. The downside, however, is that every piece you add on reduces your monthly benefit. When to Buy Most people purchase longevity insurance at or just prior to the time they retire. Figure out how much of your essential expenses you can cover with Social Security, pensions, and other forms of guaranteed income – and consider buying coverage for the rest. But don’t overdue it! Experts recommend you use no more than 10 to 15 percent of your assets to purchase a policy, and leave the rest in your portfolio to provide income until it kicks in. Also, when choosing a product, remember that you’re buying income that will not kick in for 20 years or more. So be sure to go with a company with a good reputation and solid financials. Some major players offering this type of insurance are MetLife, Hartford, Integrity and New York Life. Alternatives If you don’t like the idea of longevity insurance, you could always invest the money that you would spend on this type of insurance on your own and come up with a similar result. If you took your $50,000 and invested it at age 65, for example, assuming a conservative 6 percent growth per year, you would end up with $160,000 in 20 years. At age 85, you could then begin spending the money or use it to buy an immediate annuity. An 85-year-old man who invested $160,000 in an immediate annuity would get about $2,200 per month for the rest of his life. That’s a lot less than you’d receive with a longevity policy, but you’d have access to the money for emergencies or to leave to your heirs. Digital TVWhat seniors need to know before the national switch-overDear Savvy Senior,Can you alert your readers to the national digital television transition that’s coming in early 2009? I work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and we need journalists like you to write articles to inform the public (especially seniors) about what they may need to do to keep their television sets working. Senior Alert Dear Alert, There’s no doubt that most Americans are still in the dark when it comes to the looming digital television switch-over, and lower income seniors may be particularly vulnerable. Here’s what viewers need to know about the national digital TV conversion, who it will affect and what they can do. TV Changes If you still use an antenna to watch your favorite news and television programs, next year (at midnight on Feb. 17, 2009), your picture will disappear forever unless you make a change. Why? The government is requiring all broadcasters to convert their signals from old-style analog (which have been used for 60 years) to new-style digital. The key reason for the conversion is to make better use of the public airwaves. Digital broadcast signals are superior to the analog system and take up less spectrum, so once broadcasters make the transition it will free up a big chunk of the airwaves and allow the government to auction it off and dedicate some of it to public safety. In other words, it’s technology moving forward. Who’s Affected If your television set is hooked up to a cable or satellite service, or if you have a new TV with a built-in digital tuner (check your manual), don’t sweat it. You don’t have to do anything. But if you have an older television that works with the help of a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears,” you’ll have to make a change if you want to keep watching TV after Feb. 17, 2009. Your options are either to:
Social SecurityMaking sure your benefits add upDear Savvy Senior,When my 62-year-old brother applied for his retirement benefits early this year, he found that Social Security had made several mistakes on his earnings record in past years. The result was his monthly benefit check was much lower than it should have been. It took him months to straighten it out. How can I prevent this from happening to me? Social Insecurity Dear Insecurity, The best way to keep an eye on your personal Social Security records is to carefully review your yearly Social Security statement, and don’t be surprised if you uncover an error. Government watch groups estimate that the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes mistakes on at least 3 percent of the total official earnings records it keeps. Here’s what you should know. Earnings Errors Social Security benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years as reported to the government by your employers. If an employer has given the government incorrect salary data or if the government has erred in recording the information, you want to get it corrected as quickly as possible. Otherwise you may not get the full amount you’re entitled to when you retire. So, when you receive your annual Social Security statement, take the time to compare the earnings listed in the statement with income listed on W-2 forms in your tax records. And if you spot a discrepancy, follow these steps:
Other Mistakes Earnings miscalculations can also happen if the SSA didn’t have your correct mailing address. If you don’t receive your annual statement, that’s a tip-off. If there is a mistake, contact the IRS (SSA depends on the IRS for addresses) at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you the “Change of Address” form 8822, or print it off at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8822.pdf, fill it out and mail it back to the address on the form. Two other factors that can cause mistakes are if you changed your name following a marriage or divorce, or if your date of birth in SSA records isn’t the same as it appears in IRS files. Double check your SSA statement for these possible mishaps and make sure your earnings data matches the amounts on your W-2 forms. And whenever you change your name, or if you notice a birth date error call the SSA (800-772-1213) and ask for Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” and submit it with the correct information. The form can also be downloaded at www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html. Calculation Errors Even when all the earnings data is correct, the SSA occasionally errs in calculating benefits. You can double check their calculations by using SSA’s formula found at www.socialsecurity.gov, however the math is rather complex. If you think your benefits have been miscalculated, point it out to your local SSA office and ask them to recalculate. If they do find an error, make sure you receive a confirming letter and that the correction appears on next year’s statement. If you’re already receiving benefits, the SSA will reimburse you for the amount of the error. Coping with Low VisionDear Savvy SeniorWhat kinds of resources are available to help seniors with severe vision impairment? My wife has macular degeneration and has become very discouraged. What can you tell us?Looking for Help Dear Looking Unfortunately, there are millions of older Americans with incurable vision impairment, making everyday tasks like cooking dinner, reading the newspaper or watching television challenging. But the good news is there are resources, tools and techniques available today that can help. Here’s what you should know. Growing Problem According to the National Eye Institute, 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over currently live with low vision or blindness – usually brought on by one of the big four age-related eye diseases: macular degeneration; glaucoma; cataracts; or diabetic retinopathy – and that number is expected to double over the next 30 years. (The terms vision impairment, or low vision, means that even with eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, you don’t see well.) Those affected often sink into depression, suffer hip fractures and other injuries, and become socially isolated. While not much can be done to prevent these diseases, there are some things your wife and you can do to help her cope with and manage her condition. Hands-On Help Are you aware of vision rehabilitation services? Today, there are hundreds of vision rehabilitation agencies, organizations and clinics across the country that can help people, and their families, adapt to living with vision loss. While vision rehabilitation cannot restore lost sight, it does help people maximize their existing sight or, if they have no vision, it can equip them with techniques and tools to maintain an independent lifestyle. Services vary, but many offer eye examinations, low vision evaluations and professional counseling, along with special training on how to perform everyday activities in new ways and training to use visual and adaptive devices. They may also offer tips and guidance for modifying the home, and support from others with low vision. To find a program in your area visit www.lighthouse.org – click on “Help Near You.” Costs for these types of services range in the ballpark of $200 to $300 for an initial vision evaluation, and $50 to $100 per hour there after. While Medicare and most private insurance coverage is spotty at best and more often non-existent, most state agencies for the blind and visually impaired offer low cost or free services. Other Resources If you can’t find a vision rehabilitation service in your area, there are other resources that can help like the American Foundation for the Blind, which created a special site for seniors with low vision (www.afb.org/seniorsite), and VisionAWARE (www.visionaware.org), a nonprofit public charity. These sites offer tons of information, instructional videos and articles providing everyday solutions to living with vision loss including tips for adapting your home to make it safer and easier to maneuver, techniques for traveling safely outside the home, and ideas on how to manage your finances, medication and other tasks like cooking, cleaning, grooming, reading, writing and more. They also list a variety of low vision adaptive products and computer technology that can help improve your quality of life and help you get back to doing the things you enjoy. Another helpful resource is Lighthouse International, a nonprofit offering great information on their Web site and a free new guide called “Living Better: A Guide for People with Vision Loss.” To get a copy, visit www.lighthouse.org or call 212-821-9567. Macular Update Most seniors with low vision have age-related macular degeneration. While treatment options, for most, are limited, the wet form of macular degeneration, which affects about 15 percent of those who get the disease, got a big boost last year. Two drugs (Lucentis and Avastin) are now available that can stop vision loss and may even restore it. But the dry form, which affects the other 85 percent, has no cure. However, you may be able to slow it’s progression by not smoking, an early diagnosis, a diet rich in antioxidants, and by taking AREDS formula vitamin supplements which you can find in drug stores, supermarkets and health food stores. Pet TrustsHow to ensure your pets are cared for when you’re not thereDear Savvy SeniorWhen I read that Leona Helmsley (who recently died) left $12 million to take care of her dog, it got me thinking about my own pets. While I don’t have millions to leave my furry family, I want to make sure they’re well taken care of after I’m gone. What can you tell me about “pet trusts” and how do I set one up? Pet Loving Lucy Dear Lucy, Pet trusts have become increasingly popular in recent years as older pet owners are looking for ways to ensure their pets will be well cared for when they’re no longer able to do the caring. Here’s what you should know. Pet Trust A pet trust is a legal instrument that allows you to designate a specific amount of money for your pet’s care and name a trustee to carry out your wishes. There are two main types of pet trusts you can set up. One option is a “traditional pet trust,” which is effective in all states and is similar to a trust you’d set up for a child, but it’s pricy costing around $1,500 to $2,000. Or you could opt for a “statutory pet trust,” which is a much cheaper option (under $100) and is currently allowed in 38 states and the District of Columbia (see www.estateplanningforpets.org). To create a statutory pet trust you simply add a few lines to your will, instead of setting up a separate legal trust. But the drawback is it takes several months for the will to go through probate, so you’ll need to arrange care for the interim. If you want to set up a pet trust, talk to an estate-planning attorney (see www.aaepa.com), preferably one who has experience with pet trusts. Or you can work with a company like Pet Guardian (www.petguardian.com; 888-843-4040) which creates living pet trust in any state for birds, cats, dogs and horses, and charges around $500. Some factors you’ll need to consider before setting up a pet trust include:
If you don’t want to spend the cash or time on a trust, there are other options to ensure your pets are cared for, including:
Getting Your Affairs OrganizedDear Savvy SeniorMy husband and I (both in our 70s) would like to get our personal and financial information better organized so our kids will know what’s going on when we die. Any tips on how to get started? Unorganized Edna Dear Edna, Collecting and organizing your important papers and information is a smart idea and a great gift to your loved ones. Here’s what you should know. Get It Together The first step in getting your affairs in order is to gather up all your important personal, financial and legal information, so you can arrange it in a format that will benefit your caregivers, survivors and even yourself. Then you’ll need to sit down and create various lists of important information and instructions of how you want certain things handled. Here are some key areas to help you get started. Personal Information
House SwappingCut Travel Costs without Sacrificing ComfortDear Savvy SeniorA while back I read an article about “home exchange” programs that offer free travel accommodations to their members. My wife and I will both be retiring soon and are interested in traveling, but also have a limited budget. What can you tell us about this option? Budget Travelers Dear Travelers, Home exchange programs have become a popular option among many retirees who like to travel, providing free accommodations in a homey setting, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s what you should know. Free Vacation Lodging In a home exchange program, you agree to swap homes with someone who is interested in visiting the area where you live. You stay in their place; they stay in yours, and no money is exchanged – it’s purely a barter system. The payoff comes in the opportunity to live like a local, have some extra space and save money. All you need to do is list your home (photos included) on an exchange Web site for a modest fee. Then you e-mail the owners of houses you’re interested in – or they e-mail you – and you cut a deal. Perhaps you exchange cars too or agree to take care of each other’s pets. Who would visit here? Finding an exchange partner can be more difficult if you live in a remote area but it’s not impossible. Home exchange companies recommend focusing on your best assets. For example, if you live in an area that’s not an obvious tourist attraction, pitch the nearby destinations that are appealing. Not For Everyone While home exchanges have a great upside, they’re not for everyone. For starters, you have to feel comfortable opening your home and possessions to someone you’ve probably never met face-to-face. And keep in mind you’ll be staying in somebody else’s home, which is different from staying in an anonymous hotel room. Your fellow exchangers may have different standards of cleanliness or neatness from yours. And, there’s also the concern they might break or damage something while in your home or back out of the deal at the last minute. Swapping Sites While there are lots of online companies that provide home exchange services, here are some top sites that offer both U.S. and international listings:
If you don’t like the house swapping concept another option is house sitting. This is where you live in someone else’s home while they’re away. In exchange for the free accommodations, you take care of certain responsibilities such as their pets, lawn, mail, etc. To find these worldwide opportunities visit www.caretaker.org which posts more than 1,000 house-sitting openings per year, ($30 annual fee to see listings). Also check out HouseCarers.com, MindMyHouse.com and SabbaticalHomes.com. Evergreen Club If you like staying in bed-and-breakfasts and have a spare bedroom yourself, consider the Evergreen Club (www.evergreenclub.com). This is network of more than 2,000 club members (age 50 and older) who agree to play host to each other for short stays. For a modest gratuity of $15 a day for two ($10 for singles) you can stay in a host guest bedroom with breakfast. Annual club dues are $60 ($75 for married couples). Guests make arrangements directly with hosts, and you’re free to turn down inquires anytime you choose. Downsizing and RelocatingTips to help make your next move al little easierDear Savvy SeniorDo you have any tips for seniors who want or need to downsize to a smaller home but need help moving? The idea of packing and moving from my home of 45 years is overwhelming me. Any suggestions? Stressed-out Sandy Dear Sandy, Any move is stressful, and moving from a long-time residence is even more so. The idea of actually sorting through decade’s worth of stuff can be terribly daunting. But today, there’s a new kind of moving service that can make downsizing and relocating a lot easier. Here’s what you should know. Hassle-Free Moving There’s a growing new industry called “senior move managers” that specialize in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional, physical and organizational aspects of relocation. These are professionals who understand how difficult it can be to move from a long-time residence and can make the move easier and less stressful. Although services will vary, most senior move managers can help with some or all of the following:
To locate a senior move manager visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers Web site at www.nasmm.com. But before you hire one, be sure you ask for references from previous clients and check them. Also find out how many moves they have actually managed, and get a written list of services and fees. And make sure they’re insured and bonded. If you can’t find a senior move manager in your area, another option is to hire a certified professional organizer – many of whom offer moving/relocating services for seniors. To find one, check out the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net. Hiring a Mover If you don’t have any luck locating a senior move or organizing professional, or you don’t need this type of service you’ll probably still need to hire a mover (see www.protectyourmove.gov). But before handing your money and your hard-earned possessions over to just anyone, it’s smart to do a little research. Here are some tips to help you hire the right mover. Start by getting recommendations for movers from family and friends. Real estate agents are also a good source. Look for companies that will offer you estimates in person – these are the only ones that will give you a reliable figure. Once you have a few options, conduct a background check starting with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Also see www.movingscam.com and www.movingsham.com, which provide blacklists of moving companies and a history of consumer complaints. Next, get several in-home estimates, and ask for a written, binding estimate, which guarantees the total cost of the move based on the weight of the items to be moved, the distance to be moved, packing, and other services. When an estimator comes to your home, be sure you show everything you want to have moved (the closets, the backyard, the basement, the attic) so there are no surprises. Also, find out what the mover’s responsibilities are for damages that may occur to your belongings, ask for a list of references, and get the company’s USDOT and motor carrier license numbers. If one company offers a much lower bid than the others, it’s smart to be skeptical. Once you choose a company, make sure it has the license and insurance it needs to move you legally. Visit www.safersys.org and enter the company’s USDOT number to check. You can also call the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hotline at 888-368-7238 to check if there have been any complaints filed against your company. Senior ScamsHow to protect your elder loved oneDear Savvy SeniorCan you offer some tips on protecting seniors from financial scams? My next door neighbor’s elderly parents were recently swindled out of several thousand dollars and I want to make sure my own mother is protected. Fraud Fighting Cindy Dear Cindy Senior financial scams are a big problem! In fact, the Securities and Exchange Commission estimates that some 5 million senior citizens are the targets of financial abuse each year. Here’s what you should know. Appealing Targets While people of all ages can be fleeced, senior citizens are particularly appealing targets to con artists. Why? Money, time and good manners! Seniors tend to have more money to steal, more free time to listen to sales pitches, are less likely to hang up on or cut off a pushy salesman, and are more trusting than the younger generations. Scammers It’s not always easy spotting a con. They range from swindlers, to shady financial advisers to slick-talking telemarketers to professional caregivers and relatives who steal from the very people they’re supposed to be looking after. The most common scams targeting seniors today come in the form of free-lunch seminars selling dubious financial products, and high-pressure phone calls and endless junk mail peddling free vacation packages, sweepstakes, phony charity fundraisers and more. And, of course, there’s the ongoing problem of identity theft, Medicare fraud, door-to-door scams, credit card theft, Internet and e-mail scams and family thieves – which makes up more than half of all financial crimes against the elderly. Fraud Protection The most effective way to help protect your mom is to alert her to the different kind of scams out there that target seniors. The easiest way to do this is by visiting the North American Securities Administrator’s Web site (www.nasaa.org – click on Senior Investment Resource Center), where you can get a rundown on some of the most common scams making the rounds these days as well as a Fraud Awareness Quiz. Also see www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm and www.fraud.org. If your mom doesn’t have access to a computer, print out the materials yourself and use them to start a conversation. It’s also a good idea to keep tabs on her social circle. For example, are you hearing a new name mentioned when you talk to her? Who’s giving her advice, financial or otherwise? It’s almost like checking up on your kids and who they’re hanging out with. Introduce yourself to the new people entering your mom’s life, just so they know you’re involved with her affairs. Some additional tips that can protect her include reminding her to never give out her Social Security number or financial information over the telephone, in person or over the Internet unless she initiated the contact. To consider using direct deposit rather than having paper checks (such as Social Security, disability or stock dividends) sent to her through the mail. And to register with the National Do Not Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov; 888-382-1222) which will reduce telemarketing scams. Spotting a Scam Helping manage your mom’s money is the best way to spot potential scams. But be aware that this can be a very sensitive topic, so be as diplomatic and graceful as possible. The last thing you want to do is make her defensive, but even simple tasks such as looking over her financial statements can alert you to questionable checks or large withdrawals. If she doesn’t want you looking at her financial records, there are other clues, such as is she getting a lot of junk mail for contests, free trips, and sweepstakes? Is she receiving calls from strangers offering awards or moneymaking deals? Are there lots of cheap items lying around her house like costume jewelry, mini-flashlights or wristwatches, which she may be purchasing in order to win a contest – a common con artist lure. Also notice if her spending habits have changed, if she has complained about being short of money lately, or has suddenly become secretive or defensive about her finances. All these may be signs of trouble. Who to Call If you suspect you mom has gotten scammed report it to your state securities regulator’s office (visit www.nasaa.org to find yours). Even if you aren’t sure, it’s important to get regulators involved. They may be able to connect the dots in ways you can’t. |
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