January 20, 2020 Your weekly link to grown-up news and information from credible newspaper and magazine publications, and national news media outlets.

Having peace of mind that if something happens, someone will know. Snug is a friendly, free check-in service for seniors that live alone.

HEALTH:

What The 2020s Have In Store For Aging Boomers: Within 10 years, all of the nation’s 74 million baby boomers will be 65 or older. The most senior among them will be on the cusp of 85. Even sooner, by 2025, the number of seniors (65 million) is expected to surpass that of children age 13 and under (58 million) for the first time. What lies ahead in the next decade, as society copes with this unprecedented demographic shift? Kaiser Health News, Jan. 16.

A Better MRI Test to Study Aging in the Brain: Researchers are mapping the brain in a new way to study the effects of aging. U.S. News & World Report, Jan 14.

Sleep Problems in Older Adults Linked to Cognitive Decline and Dementia: People who have trouble falling asleep may be at increased risk of developing cognitive problems or dementia than their counterparts who sleep well. Reuters, Jan. 15.   What Are the Signs of and Treatments for Arthritis in the Neck? Most of us will eventually develop osteoarthritis, and for some, it can be a real pain in the neck. U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 13. How Autoimmune Diseases Affect Life Expectancy: According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease, and the incidence of many of the conditions is rising for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 9.

Need Knee Replacement Surgery? Get it Before it's Too Late: A study conducted by Northwestern University and published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Monday found that a vast majority of patients who would benefit from knee replacement are taking too long to undergo surgery, to the detriment of their mobility and overall health. USA Today, Jan. 13.

MEDICINE:

Do You Take Warfarin? Time of Day Might Not Matter: Patients taking the blood thinner warfarin have been told that it should be taken at night, but a new study found the time of day doesn't matter. HealthDay, Jan. 17.

MEDICARE:

Medicare’s Part D Doughnut Hole Has Closed! Mostly. Sorta: The drug coverage gap was widely loathed, but the new scheme may still leave some older Americans holding the bag. The New York Times, Jan. 17. If You’ll Hit Age 65 Soon and Are Still Working, Here’s What to do About Medicare: If you work at a company with more than 20 employees, you generally have the choice of sticking with your group health insurance or dropping the company option to go with Medicare. CNBC, Jan. 14. Medicare Now Covers Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Addiction: Recognizing the huge problems caused by opioid addiction in the United States, Medicare is adding a new outpatient opioid treatment benefit, paying for methadone and related treatment in certain facilities. Elder Law Answers, Jan. 17.

MONEY:

Some Retirees Feeling Less Secure About Tax Rule Changes in SECURE Act: Two key rules regarding retirement savings are changing under the SECURE Act. One involves an inheritance; the other how long you can delay taking money out of tax-deferred retirement savings accounts. Detroit Free Press, Jan. 17. Here's the Grade Most Americans Give Themselves for Retirement Readiness: If saving for retirement were graded, most Americans would want to hide their report cards. USA Today, January 15. 8 Moves to Consider for IRAs, 401(k)s Under New Secure Act: There’s a new law in town, and it wants to help you improve your retirement savings outlook. Nerd Wallet, Jan. 13.

The Costly Danger of Putting Extra Money in Your IRA: Uncle Sam will sock you with an annual penalty until you fix your mistake. Kiplinger, Jan. 2020.   Self-Employed People Have a Lot of Perks When it Comes to Saving for Retirement: Self-employed one-person businesses have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to retirement plans. Of course, you’ll need the cash to sock away, but once you get it there are many places to put it. MarketWatch, Jan. 13.

TAXES:

Do I Have to File Taxes? For many Americans, filing taxes is a no-brainer. Failing to do so can cause them to miss out on valuable tax refunds or burden them with late fees and failure-to-file penalties. But for Americans with low incomes or without any earned income at all, the decision to file is more complicated. U.S. News and World Report, Jan. 17.   Leverage These 5 Retirement Tax Diversification Strategies: Taxes can be overwhelming in retirement, eating up income that you need to live on. Learn how to minimize taxes through tax diversification. Kiplinger, Jan. 13.

RETIREMENT:

2020’s Best States to Retire: If retirement is still a big question mark for you because of finances, consider relocating to a state that lets you keep more money in your pocket without requiring a drastic lifestyle change. WalletHub, Jan. 13.   How to Retire in Portugal: Portugal has a low cost of living, easy residency options and tax incentives for new residents. This country also has great food, some of the best beaches and golf in Europe, excellent infrastructure and a large English-speaking population. U.S. News & World Report, 1/14.   The Huge Retirement Risk You Probably Don't Realize You're Facing: There's one risk that you may not even be considering, even though it can have a drastic effect on your retirement: the risk of retiring early. The Motley Fool, Jan. 16.

Plan to Relocate in Retirement? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First: If the idea of packing up and moving somewhere new for your senior years appeals to you, be sure you consider these potential pitfalls. The Motley Fool, Jan. 17.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

How to Apply for Social Security: As you approach retirement and consider applying for Social Security benefits, there are several steps you will need to take. The preparations for your Social Security application include gathering the right documents, filling out the paperwork, thinking about the timing of the application and considering the online process. U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 15.   4 Changes Coming to Social Security in 2020: If you’re one of almost 69 million Americans who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you’ll notice a small change in your monthly check this year. USA Today, Jan 17.

SCAMS:

Will the Census Bureau Ask For My Medicare Number, or Other Personal Info? Here’s How to Avoid Scams: The bureau conducts some 30 surveys every year and has many resources available to verify their validity if your household receives one. The Dallas Morning News, Jan. 17.   Social Security Scammers Are Trying a New Trick: These criminals have added fake emailed documents to their repertoires -- often using the official SSA letterhead. The Motley Fool, Jan. 18. Cybercrooks Are Targeting Retirement Accounts, and There's No Guarantee You'll Get Your Money Back: Unlike with stolen credit cards, a saver's losses to fraud in retirement investment accounts aren’t limited by federal law. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 14.

CAREGIVING:

On a Mission to My Dad’s Remission: 5 ways grown children can navigate the health care system for their parents. Next Avenue, Jan. 17.

LONG-TERM CARE:

Nursing Home Eviction? Know Your Loved One’s Rights: Involuntary discharge (from nursing homes) is the number one complaint that (long-term care) ombudsmen have had to deal with for the past seven years. Next Avenue, Jan. 14.

TECHNOLOGY:

A Free App Helps Senior Retain Their Independence and Stay Safe at Home: Snug is a free daily check-in service for seniors living alone. Have peace of mind that if something happens, Snug will make sure someone knows. Over 250,000 check-ins so far.

WORK:

The Big Pull: Going to Back to Work After Retiring: More people are coming out of retirement and returning to the workforce for a number of reasons. One of the benefits of working in retirement is that you may have options you didn’t have before. Next Avenue, Jan. 15.   How to Find a Great Career in Your Golden Years: It’s not uncommon to work well into your golden years, but for seniors looking for a fresh start, the job search has added challenges. CNBC, Jan. 12.

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