Of Interest
Research, Studies and Findings
Compiled by Ellen O’Connor
Boomers on the Move
According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, “The decline in home values has reduced the prospect of comfortable retirements for the majority of near retirees…This extraordinary destruction of wealth will have tremendous implications for millions of families as they enter retirement. Coupled with a very low personal savings rate, this means that many people will only have Social Security and Medicare to rely on in their retirement,” according to an article by Al Kernek, an Internet marketing consultant and author.
One of the most effective steps Baby Boomers can take to live better on a fixed income is to relocate to an area where the cost of living is less. This can result in dramatic savings without sacrificing quality of life. In fact, in many cases the quality of life significantly improves.
It is expected that a large number of upcoming Baby Boomer retirees will move to less expensive areas to stretch their meager retirement income. Among the likely actions foreseen are:
• For Boomers that have equity in their current homes, many will invest their sales proceeds rather than purchase a new home in a relocated area.
• More Boomers deciding – or forced – to rent rather than purchase downsized accommodations.
• A good percentage of Boomers will relocate south of the border to countries like Mexico and Costa Rica where a comfortable lifestyle can be maintained on a low fixed income.
Boomers will seek to avoid areas with high housing costs or which are dependent upon expensive fuels for heating and traveling. Inexpensive housing solutions such as co-ops, prefabricated homes and senior mobile home parks are expected to benefit from this demographic migration.
Keep Flossing, Just as Mom Said
Baby Boomers, there is a reason to continue flossing your teeth every day. If it wasn’t a regular routine in your past, make it so now.
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is a serious condition that will normally result in tooth loss, according to an article by Rick Perkins. With adults, gingivitis and periodontal disease are the most common forms of gum disease. To prevent both types of gum disease, you should always brush your teeth and remove as much plaque as possible. If you allow the plaque to build up, gum disease will normally be the result.
Gingivitis is known as inflammation in the tissues of the gums. If plaque and tartar build up along the gum line, the gums will eventually get swollen and irritated. Over time, the gums will get very tender and start to appear puffy. When you brush your teeth, you’ll notice that your gums have become very sore and they will start to bleed with little to no pressure. If you notice blood when brushing, chances are you have gingivitis. Anytime you brush your teeth or floss, there should not be any sign of blood.
During this stage of gingivitis, there is no loss of bone structure. You can help to prevent gingivitis though, through flossing and brushing a few times a day. If you have gingivitis and you don’t do something about it, it could lead to periodontal disease. Those who don’t treat gingivitis or those who keep poor oral hygiene habits, will normally end up with periodontal disease.
Your Home is Your Castle
When people think of retirement, they usually visualize traveling to exotic locations, visiting friends and family, getting involved in activities in the community, playing golf or other outdoor activities.
No matter how you imagine or plan your retirement, your home is going to be more important than when you were working. You need to take a new look at your home to evaluate how it is going to serve as your primary base from here on out, according to an article by Kathy Severson.
The most extraverted and involved people will more spend more time at home than they did when they were working. Even if you fill your initial retirement years by being fully engaged in volunteer, leisure activities and travel, there were eventually come a time when you will want or need to slow down.
Your home can start feeling like a prison if you have never developed any activities you enjoy doing there. If you do not have activities you enjoy doing around the house, now is the time to start. With a passion you can engage without going anywhere, home can be a place that renews your spirit and stimulates you mentally, physically or emotionally.
It is important for people who have spent their adult lives out in the work world to look at home as more than a place to hang your hat. It is especially essential for men who may look at home as the domain of their wives. Not only does a newly retired man need to find activities around the house he enjoys, but he needs to have a space he can claim as his own. If his province was the office away from the home, he needs to have a room or garage that he can do with as he pleases. He needs to feel that there is a part of the home that is his alone.
These activities should hold your interests, be intellectually, or physically stimulating. They should use your creativity. You know you have found the right activity when time flies; you look up at the clock and what felt like five minutes was actually two hours. It may take some experimentation to find activities that will be worth your energy. The key is not get sucked into spending all your new free time watching television.
The first few years of retirement are a time to see the world and do things you were not able to do when you were working. As they age, most people slow down. Illness can affect your ability to be out or finances may diminish. Having taken the time when you were younger to generate home based activities and interests will make the transition into elderhood much easier.