Visualization works

As we move into October of our years, and the fall of life, we have faith that the next few years will be filled with laughter, new friends, and far away travel. 

We still dream of exploring wildlife, unexplored jungles, and hidden lagoons. We yearn for adventure, exploring ancient mysteries, and modern cities. We know that our life will be full of challenges, heroes, and passionate love. 

Do you still dream? You should because you deserve it ALL.

Your future starts by visualizing the best future you can imagine, so for your own sake and the sake of those who love you; start your visualization

Learning to focus on experiencing

I have talked about my struggles to accept the fact that I am retired, and how long it took for me to accept being fully retired. As part of that struggle I had to learn to focus more on experiencing rather than doing. 

Some would say I was/am a workaholic at each stage of my life, I focused on doing more than was expected and as a result, I was successful in my chosen career and was able to fill my life with stuff.

When I was younger I thought it was important to work to have things such as cars, homes, clothes, furnishings, etc. But at this stage in life, I no longer have a desire to buy the latest car, upgrade my home, wear the latest fashions, or show off the newest, latest toy I own. 

I have friends who still have such a need; they will show off their latest driver, putter, when we are golfing. My clubs are at least eight years old and they still work. 

I don't need the latest toys to enjoy the experience. I am learning to, as they said when I was younger, "go with the flow".

Try it, I  think you may find it a change of pace and I am learning it makes life so much more enjoyable.

Report on Seniors in BC

B.C. Seniors Advocate Releases first comprehensive report Monitoring Seniors’ Services (PDF FILE)

Among areas that affect seniors positively, the report notes that 96% of seniors report they have a regular GP. Data also highlights that four out of five seniors over the age of 85 have no diagnosis of dementia. “While the risk of dementia clearly increases with age it is very important to get the message out to seniors that they have greater likelihood of living a full life without developing dementia,” stated Mackenzie.

The report also outlines a number of areas of concern, most notably the number of incidents of resident on resident aggression in residential care facilities. Data presented in the report confirm there were between 425 and 550 incidents of resident on resident aggression that resulted in harm in residential care reported in 2014/15. Based on these findings, the Advocate will conduct a systemic review of resident on resident aggression this year.

“While we have to remember this is still a small number when you consider there are more than 27,000 individuals in residential care at any given time in this province, the numbers are still substantial enough to warrant our office taking a closer look at this issue,” said Mackenzie. “We are beginning in-depth research to see if there are particular patterns or systemic issues that contribute to an increased likelihood of resident on resident aggression,” continued Mackenzie.

The 60-page Monitoring Seniors’ Services report focuses on 2014/15 data highlighting key services in the Advocate’s legislated seniors’ services which include transportation, health care, housing, income support and personal care. Further highlights from the report include:

• Home support hours decreased in three out of five health authorities, while the number of clients increased in four out of five
• There are 943 individuals on the wait list for a total of 4,430 subsidized assisted living units. There has been less than a 1% increase in the number of subsidized assisted living units since 2012.
• The number of residential care beds in the province has increased by 3.5% since 2012, but the population over 75 has increased 10% during that time and the number of seniors placed within the 30-day target window has decreased from 67% to 63% in the past year
• 8% of licensed residential care facilities did not have an annual inspection within the last year
• Since 2005, the Shelter Aid for Elder Renters (SAFER) maximum rent that qualifies for a subsidy increased 9% while rents increased by 34%
• The number of new HandyDART users is decreasing – down 15% since 2011. 51, 926 (1.9%) of regular HandyDART ride requests went unfulfilled in 2014
• Income supports for seniors such as the Old Age Supplement and Guaranteed Income Supplement increased by 1%. The BC Seniors’ Supplement, available to low-income seniors, has not increased in over 25 years
• The number of people aged 65 plus accessing the BC Bus Pass Program (offers subsidized passes to low-income seniors and individuals receiving disability assistance from the province) has increased by 21% since 2010
• In 2014, 33%, or 48,840 of all drivers evaluated under the Driver Medical Examination Report (DMER), an evaluation for fitness to drive, were aged 80 or over. Only 1% of people of all ages or less than 3% of seniors evaluated through a DMER were referred to DriveAble for cognitive assessment
• The Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) received 1,286 calls related to elder abuse in 2014 and 15% of these calls reported the abuse had been going on for five or more years

The Seniors Advocate will use data contained in this report for upcoming reviews in 2016. In addition to a systemic review of resident on resident aggression, the Office of the Seniors Advocate will be conducting reviews of home support, supplemental benefits for seniors, transportation, residential care and hospital discharge experiences in 2016. Additional services monitored by the Advocate will be added as data becomes available.

The Office of the Seniors Advocate is an independent office of the provincial government with a mandate of monitoring seniors’ services, issuing public reports focusing on systemic issues and providing information and referral to seniors and their families

Are you bored in retirement? Try these ideas

As we wait to go home, I find that my day keeps filling up with lots of things to do and I enjoy spending time and playing with my grandson. I also know that many of my friends are doing so much that they do not have time to be bored but some retirees wonder what to do next. I count myself and my friends among those who are having trouble managing our time because there is something new to do every month. 

I do know that one of the biggest concerns I hear from people approaching retirement is "what will I do with my time".

Some retirees know exactly how they will spend their days when they no longer have to work, while others who decide to play it by ear may find themselves battling boredom but those folks are in a minority in my circles.

Throughout most of our lives, we are defined by what we do, when we are young we are students, when we leave school we are workers and for all of us, our jobs keep us busy and provide a sense of purpose in our lives. But just because you no longer have an office to go to every day does not mean life cannot be as fulfilling or even more fulfilling than it was when you were still working. 

If you feel that you are succumbing to retirement boredom. Try these ideas:

Work part-time. Though it might seem odd to start working right after you retire, a part-time job can provide the type of structure you have grown accustomed to without all of the responsibility that comes with a full-time career. Part-time jobs can range from consultancy work that makes use of your professional experience to something entirely different like landscape maintenance at a nearby golf course that gets you out of the house and enjoying the warmer seasons. Whichever you choose, make sure it's something you find fun and interesting.

Embrace a new hobby. Working professionals often say they wish they had time to pursue a hobby. Now that you are retired, you have all the time in the world to do just that. Whether it's perfecting your golf game, writing that novel, learning to cook like a gourmet chef or whatever else you might have always wanted to do, retirement is a great time to do it.

Get in shape. If retirement boredom has started to negatively affect your mood, one great way to conquer your boredom and improve your mood at the same time is to start exercising. Exercise is a natural mood enhancer. When the body exercises, it releases chemicals known as endorphins, which trigger positive feelings in the body. In addition, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve sleep. Working out at a gym also is a great way to meet fellow retirees in your community, and the energy you have after exercising may give you the boost you need to pursue other hobbies.

Volunteer. If a part-time job is not up your alley, then consider volunteering in your community. Volunteers are always in demand, and volunteering with a local charity can provide a sense of purpose and provide opportunities to meet like-minded fellow retirees, all while helping to quell your boredom. Retirees who love to travel can combine their passion for volunteering with their love of travel by signing up to work with an international relief organization that travels abroad to help the less fortunate.

Defining Marriage All Over Again

I have discussed in other posts about the issues that face couples when men retire. By retiring without discussing the effect the retirement can have on a relationship, can put their marriage out of sync. Couples dealing with, or facing an out-of-sync retirement can take a variety of actions to strengthen their relationship instead of weakening it. Step one is understanding what retirement is not. Couples may spend a lot of time talking and planning for what retirement could be but, if they never flip things over and agree what it won’t be, trouble can brew. Some men may feel that spending 30-40 years as the main breadwinner entitles them to some time off and a little relaxation. They forget that their spouse may have also spent as many years working both at home and away from home. By forgetting this and thinking that as  a man you deserve to relax is a big mistake. As a man your role is now to figure out what new role you play in the relationship.  Before you retired you spent much of your relationship apart except for evenings, weekends and vacations. You and your partner have to get to know each other again. It is not easy, my wife and I have been together almost 50 years and when we both retired it was hard to figure out our new roles.

Marriage is a funny thing. How you view it is drastically different if you are a teenager or youth with stars in your eyes compared to your vision of marriage when you have been ensconced in the practice for 20-30 years and looking toward a life in retirement as a married couple. Baby boomers have experienced every aspect of marriage from that early idealistic stage through divorces, various redefinitions of marriage and now taking their marriages into their retirement years. It may be that this next transition of marriage will bring as many changes to that special relationship as any that have gone before.

How you view marriage as you move toward your retirement years without a doubt depends on how marriage has gone for you over the decades. If marriages are rocked with difficulty, separations and other woes, retirement can bring a new dimension to that tension. On the other hand, part of the commission of retirement is to begin to seek resolution of life’s struggles so working together with each other in the context of marriage can bring tremendous healing in this phase of life.

Each era of life seems to bring a new opportunity to define marriage and how it will be an important part of life. When the baby boomer generation became parents, the shift was notable as retailers responded to their emphasis on being good moms and dads and away from youthful issues to some extent. Then as baby boomers moved through parenting and into the empty nest phase of life, that seemed to bring as many challenges as when that nest filled up with children decades before.

There is no question that real life in the context of a very real and functional marriage, even with the problems that brings is also a huge resource for us throughout life’s journey. While sometimes the romance can escape from the marriage relationship if life brings struggles and as our bodies go through changes, that partnership and intimacy of relationship is an incredible resource for coping with the big changes all baby boomers have had to face over the years.

This is the good thing about hanging in there with that marriage until you get to the stage of life most baby boomers are moving toward in this decade. The things that can rob a marriage of romance during the working part of your married years are the coming of children, the hard work of raising them, keeping a career moving forward in the tough business settings we have experienced in the last three decades and seeing your own relationship evolve under that kind of “pressure cooker” environment. 

But a significant amount of those pressures begin to lift when you are able to perhaps scale back the work life, enjoy the fruits of your labors and let the kids get out on their own. So that side of the pre-retirement years can actually be a fertile setting for a new romantic life between husband and wife to spring up. Many couples, as they leave the world of parenting behind, experience such late in life romantic rebirths. And this kind of late springtime in your relationship with your long time spouse can bring the birth of new creativity in many parts of your life making it one of the happiest phases of life for you and your husband or wife.

A marriage gets tested throughout youth and middle age and marriages that survive do so because of mutual support and the ability to accept the other member of the marriage and compromise. Since these traits will be well established in your relationship as you move into your fifties and sixties together, they will be a continuous resource to you as you face retirement issues, dealing with being a grandparent and being wise counsel for children who are facing life’s struggles for the first time.

But baby boomers should not be surprised if they see their marriages continue to change, grow and mature in new directions as each partner explores this phase of life for the first time as well. A marriage is a living thing so we can take joy from seeing it become something new each new decade as, as we have done often in the past, we start defining marriage all over again.

The Ideal Second Act

My needs are not that great she said, as we talked about how life was treating her.  I had mentioned that I had been interviewed for a story on transitions to retirement in a National Magazine and would likely be misquoted. We laughed and started talking about how retirement looked for both of us. I am no longer working as I have come to face the demons and faced up to the changes not working brings.

I also have a pension and do not need to work to pay the bills. She was a recent widow who had worked as a consultant all of her career and had not set any money aside for retirement but with the money from her husband's pensions and the money she invested when she sold the family home, she had a healthy income. 

She said she only worked for five days a month, but she only worked on projects she enjoyed. She was currently working on a documentary, which had won an award, and had been picked up for viewing on two TV channels one national and one regional. 

She told me about her next project which was helping to organize a First Nation's  rebuilding of a village from which the Nation had been forcibly removed in the 1960's, she was quite excited about this project. She had her ideal post-retirement job which:

• Has flexible hours
• Is fun
• Is something her friends and significant others can easily support
• Promotes longevity as opposed to detracting from it
• Brings emotional rewards
• Allows time to still look after your nest egg
• Makes money
• Allows her to travel

Working during retirement can be fulfilling, but I think if only you are working on your own terms, and money is not their primary motivation. I have been officially retired for eight years ago but only in the last two have I thought of myself as fully retired. My first careers was hard work, but I no longer have to work to pay the bills. Like my friend I am able to work at what I want to do. 

What type of  second act do you see yourself doing when you retire?

Your getting old when....

You are getting old when you don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as you do not have to go along.

Statistics show that at the age of 70, there are five women to every man. Isn't that an ironic time for a guy to get those odds?

Your houseplants are alive, and you can’t smoke any of them.

Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

You keep more food than beer in the fridge.

You hear your favorite song in an elevator.

You watch the Weather Channel.

Your friends marry and divorce instead of “hook up” and “break up.”

Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as “dressed up.”

You’re the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door won’t turn down the stereo.

Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.

You don’t know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.

Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.

You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.


Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt

You have stopped growing at both ends, and have begun to grow in the middle.

You have a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.

You are cautioned to slow down by his doctor instead of by the police.

A fortune teller offers to read your face.

After painting the town red, you have to take a long rest before applying a second coat.

You want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age.

At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you're not eating cereal. 

Dialing long distance wears you out. 

Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt -- doesn't work.

It takes twice as long -- to look half as good.

It takes too much effort to procrastinate.


It takes two tries to get up from the couch.

You’re getting old when “getting lucky” means you find a great parking space.

More than half of this list pertains to YOU! 

Three lifestyle changes that could add years to your life

Cardiovascular disease is a common term used for a number of medical conditions that affect the heart and/or blood vessels. Coronary heart disease, heart failure, hardening of the arteries and irregular heartbeat are all examples of cardiovascular disease.

Despite the fact that in many cases cardiovascular disease can be preventable through physical activity, healthy diet and lifestyle changes, this is still the second-leading cause of death in B.C., claiming approximately 6,000 British Columbians a year.

Risks for developing cardiovascular disease include: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity, as well as risk factors that we cannot control such as age, gender, ethnicity and family history. Each of us must also do what we can to prevent getting cardiovascular disease in the first place.

These three lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce your risk and can help keep your heart healthy:

 1. Quit smoking: Smoking is linked to virtually all major causes of death and disease in Canada and quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke. 

 2.  Physical activity: No matter how busy life gets, it is important to remember that getting out and doing some activity is better than doing none at all. With each step you take you are doing your heart a favour and are helping to increase your overall health. F

3.  Healthy eating: A diet high in fruits, vegetables and fibre and low in sodium and saturated and trans fat is ideal for getting the nutrition your body needs and for keeping your heart healthy.

The Hidden Dangers of Retirement

We can all remember a time when we took the children to some event or theme park that was supposed to be “totally awesome”.  Then when the kids get there and see that Mickey Mouse is a guy in a suit and that the rides are about the same as the local Six Flags, an inevitable let down and disappointment sets in. And that is no fun for the parents on the trip home when all of those expectations did not come to pass when the kids came face to face with reality which did not line up with their dreams and hopes.

But sometimes even adults can be guilty of letting dreams and images of a golden time ahead get the best of us.  We often develop a mythology of how retirement will be when we get there and when that retired life actually starts, there are some real, down to earth adjustments that need to be made.  So if you can know some of the hidden dangers of retirement in advance, it is so much better to go into retirement with your eyes open and have realistic expectations.

There are two negative reactions to the sudden shift of lifestyle in retirement.  They are loneliness and boredom.  Even if you are going to be home all the time, there is no question that once you stop going to an office or having regular responsibilities, you can often feel a sense of loss and grief because you miss the people, the regular human contact and the fun of being out and that can result in loneliness that can get pretty chronic.

For men especially the feeling of boredom can also set in pretty fast when the challenge of the work world goes away.  In many cases, men live for their jobs and when that world goes away, there is a sense of disorientation and not knowing what to do with themselves that is disconcerting for the family and for the retired man himself.  You may have been looking forward to a less stressful life only to find that it was the stress that makes you tick and without it, you feel adrift in life with no direction or goals.

Both of these problems can be addressed by not letting your retirement life be to idle, at least not at first.  You can fill your life up with volunteering, getting busy with family or by getting involved socially with other retired people.  One area of volunteering that can go a long way to replace the gratification of the work place is to work with habitat for humanity to help build homes for people who cannot afford a home any other way.  Both retired married partners can find ways to pitch in and it gets you out with people doing things that are worthwhile.

Give yourself time to get used to the idea of retirement and to the new lifestyle.  It should be a simpler lifestyle because your responsibilities are reduced and you have more time on your hands.  Be aware that if you and your spouse are suddenly around each other every day and every hour of the day, that is going to create new stresses which can also qualify as a hidden danger of retirement.  By being aware that this is not the fault of either spouse but a natural reaction.  The best response is just to get out and do things separately and create that natural space you are both used to more often.

There will be a natural down time when you first retire and treat the first month like vacation.  But don’t stay on vacation.  Let your ambition and zeal for life find new outlets.  It will be fun and exciting to see where it takes you and that is what retirement is all about.

Supporting seniors not on the governments agenda

Two stories in the local paper shows how little the conservative and the BC Liberals care about supporting seniors.  The first is about a local volunteer group that helps seniors with myriad programs, that is facing the loss of funding. Community Volunteer Services for Seniors (CVSS) operates a series of programs benefiting seniors across the Tri-Cities that includes grocery delivery, over-the-phone checkups and in-person visits.

But the group, which has relied on the United Way for 50 per cent of its funding, is losing its contract at the end of June.

Instead of funding the PoCo-based program, the United Way has chosen to fund the Better at Home program, which is administered locally by SHARE Family & Community Services Society of which I am a director. The paper doesn't say this but the funding SHARE is receiving to run this service is not close to what is needed, and the service we are offering does not meet the need. 

Without the funding, Marg Gordon, executive director of CVSS, suggested the organization could be shuttered by the end of the year.

So she was at the Port Moody council meeting Tuesday night, looking for support from politicians as the group tries to push the provincial government to revisit the program. "We're going to prevail. I don't want this message to be 'We're not around.' I want this message to be that 'We're fighting, we're fighting hard and with your support we're going to make it,'" she told council.

The organization is also looking at bridge funding until it can implement revenue-generating plans.

Council promptly approved the request to send letters of support to Premier Christy Clark and the various provincial ministries involved.

Coun. Zoe Royer called the organization an "incredible lifeline" to seniors living in isolation and suggested she's more than happy to contribute to the letter.

"It really goes to show what the power of people can do," she said.

The group serves 178 clients and has a volunteer base of more than 180 people. Most of those volunteers are seniors themselves, and former clients with the program.

Coquitlam agreed to lobby on the group's behalf, but not before at least a few Councillors had some harsh words for the governing Liberals.

"How could we possibly lock the doors on the volunteers? The provincial government has got to be crazy to do something like that," said Coun. Lou Sekora.

In April, the United Way of the Lower Mainland announced it will cut funding to 31 seniors programs across Metro Vancouver which will not be picked up by either Provincial or Federal Governments. This means a loss of support for seniors in need. 

The second story hits close to home as my cousin who is 80 lives in the coop and needs a subsidy to help her pay her rent.  an upcoming change to co-op lease programs around the province has the president worried for her residents' future.

Operating leases on seven of 11 co-op properties in the Tri-Cities are ending in 2018, while another three finish in 2024, and with their conclusion comes an end to a federal government subsidy that helps some residents stay in their homes.

That means several hundred Tri-Cities residents living in co-op housing could find themselves out of a home in a couple years.

Garden Court is one of the larger co-ops in the Tri-Cities with 99 apartments and 22 townhomes, with 37 units on subsidy.

"Everyone who's in a co-op is seriously worried about it," Raffan told the Tri-Cities NOW. She's even more worried for some of the seniors in the coop living on a pension who have no family and can't afford higher costs.

And that's where the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC (CHFBC) is hoping to get the word out about the upcoming change to the subsidy through a campaign called "You Hold the Key: fix the co-op housing crunch."

The organization will host an event in the Tri-Cities next week for co-op members.

Fiona Jackson, communications director for the CHFBC, explained that with the federal government out of housing, the issue is now in the hands of the province.

The CHFBC is proposing the province set up a subsidy program similar to the one offered by the feds.

"We're saying now that housing is a provincial responsibility ... the province needs to find a solution rather than having all these people in these federally-funded co-ops having to potentially find new homes," Jackson said.

The CHFBC suggested its proposal would cost the province an extra $2.5 million initially as the first few co-op agreements come to an end and top out at no more than $20 million.

A co-op is a non-profit federally funded mixed-income community with no landlords where everyone owns a share. A board of directors runs each co-op.

The CHFBC estimates about one third of people living in co-ops are eligible for the rent subsidy.

In the Tri-Cities, more than 260 households will face a loss of subsidy by 2018, with that number rising past 300 by 2024.

Back at Garden Court, Raffan said she supports the federation's proposal for the province to step in, and is urging her members to get involved in the campaign.

She's also trying to work on plans to get a subsidy that lasts for a few years.

"Someone has to care out there. It's just a really sad situation," Raffan said.

The CHFBC is holding a campaign event in the Tri-Cities on Thursday, June 19 at 7 p.m. at Falcon Crest Estates Co-op, at 1170 Falcon Dr. in Coquitlam.

- See more at: http://www.thenownews.com

Over 50 and looking for a job

Interesting article and advice from Andrew Pais, Great for job hunters of all ages.

I hear this constantly. I can’t compete with younger candidates. I’m too old. I’ve got too much experience. I’ve been self-employed most of my career, so who would hire me? I’m too expensive.

To quote Donald Sutherland “Oddball” in Kelley’s Heroes “Negative Thinking…Moriarty…Negative thinking.”

What he was saying is simply you believe that you've  been defeated before you even try. If you don’t think you stand a chance of getting through then you never will. Sun Tzu and  ”The Art of War”

Want to level the playing field and gain a distinct advantage over younger and cheaper competition, then I strongly suggest that you pick up a copy  of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. If you haven’t read it and are looking for a new job you should. It’s not only about business dealings and negotiations  it also applies directly to getting the job of your dreams.

Sun Tzu deals with the exact obstacles that those men and women over 50 believe they face in the job market.

In his book he describes the value of creativity, planning, choosing the terrain, using propaganda, maneuvering past obstacles and how to be a successful general leading forces to victory, whether they be superior or inferior.

For those of us over 50, his philosophy and coupled with our experience should put us way ahead of our competition, if only we can accept that change is necessary to succeed and understanding that doing what everyone else is doing is not going to get you the job you desire.

You've got to take control!

You pick the ground. You pick the time. You decide whether you need to charge straight ahead, flank or retreat and regroup.

You've got to do your homework and scout the employer’s strengths and weaknesses.

Most importantly, you need someone on the inside who can give you the knowledge you need to succeed. Find those who will help you in your quest and keep you aware of all factors not known outside the company or department.

“What is called “foreknowledge” cannot be elicited from spirits, nor from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor from calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation.”  Sun Tzu, Chapter 13, The Employment of Secret Agents:

What does all mean? If you approach your job search the way your employer expects or assumes that you’ll approach then you've lost before you even take the field.

The only question you should have to ask is “When do I start?

Healthcare costs in retirement

This was published in November 2013 in the Madison Press  written by Ronald Garver, CFP®, CRPC®, and speaks to one of the challenges my American friends have when they retire. 

Health Care in retirement is a concern for all of us, but the costs of healthcare in Canada are less than the US but many of the prescriptions and other needs we have are not covered by our medicare programs and with the current government thinking they will not be. One of our Premiers, Kathleen Wynne warns that "Canada is headed for a huge economic crisis if the provinces and the federal government don't improve retirement incomes," preferably by enhancing the CPP,

Whether there is federal or provincial action, much thought must take into account that simply increasing the contributions by employee and employer, without additions that factor in the lower wages, particularly of women, workers' precarious jobs, leaving the workforce to care for family members, and immigrant workers who lack the residency requirement, does little to increase and protect the income security for these workers.

On average, women live longer than men and face distinctly different challenges in maintaining their health. Perhaps as a result, women tend to spend more than men on out-of-pocket medical expenses in retirement. According to a 2012 Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) study, retired men spent an average of $124,000 on healthcare, while retired women spent $152,0001 — $28,000 more than their male counterparts. In addition, women are more likely to need (and to spend more money funding) long-term care, some of which isn’t covered by Medicare. (Employee Benefit Research Institute, “Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare: Some Rare Good News,” October 2012.)

With these expenses in mind, it’s not surprising that the cost of healthcare is one of the biggest retirement planning concerns for Americans. Though it’s essential that everyone plan financially for healthcare needs in retirement, it’s especially important that women understand the specific challenges they may face. This knowledge may help women work toward preparing for these expenses and to help avoid a financial shortfall in retirement. Start by:

Estimating your healthcare costs — Begin by assessing your overall health and family health history. Calculate your current annual medical and dental expenses as a starting point. For help projecting what these costs may be in retirement, use an online healthcare calculator or estimator to help you become familiar with treatment costs for a variety of health and dental conditions. Also become educated about various long term care insurance options to determine if a policy might be right for your situation.

Being realistic — If you think you’ve got it covered with Medicare, think again. Today Medicare only pays about 60 percent of retiree healthcare costs and it doesn’t reimburse for most long-term care expenses. Plus, there’s uncertainty about how much it will cover in the future due to potential entitlement reform changes. Knowing the challenges you may face with your health — and what they may cost — can make a difference in being prepared. (Employee Benefit Research Institute, “Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare: Some Rare Good News,” October 2012.)

Creating an emergency fund — Reducing your debt and saving as much as you can before you retire is the simplest way to prepare for an unanticipated need — medical or otherwise. If your balance sheet is healthy, you’ll likely be better positioned to absorb medical costs not covered by Medicare.

Being proactive about your health — Schedule and keep routine dental and medical check ups and stay up-to-date on preventative services including the flu and pneumonia vaccines, colorectal cancer screening and mammography. Thoughtful prevention and early detection can help prevent minor medical issues from becoming major ones. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and avoiding tobacco and other addictive substances is important to quality of life at any age. It’s also one of the best and most inexpensive ways to keep medical bills at bay.

Consider setting up a health savings account (HSA) — An HSA allows you to make tax-deductible contributions when you put money in. The money builds up tax-free and you can withdraw it tax-free for qualified medical expenses. Unlike a flexible spending account, you don’t lose money you don’t use. It rolls over and is 100 percent portable. Plus, you can use it anytime during your lifetime to pay for qualified medical expenses. Keep in mind that if you withdraw funds for non-medical purposes, you are subject to a tax penalty. (Note that an HSA is only available with a high deductible health insurance plan .)

Unfortunately, when it comes to healthcare costs in retirement, there is no silver bullet solution. But by following these tips, you can help take control of the things you do have influence over now to help prepare. Consider working with a financial professional who can help you factor real and potential healthcare costs into your overall financial plan for retirement

A video, Why I like Retirement

Thanks to Dave Sakas for putting together this wonderful short video on You Tube

The direct link is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wra_Rrkkitw#at=79 

Find your Explorer Quotient

As we move into late spring and early summer, many of us are getting the urge to travel. Here are some links from the Blog Retire Happy.

The Canadian Tourism Commission has come up with a fun quiz to find out what style of traveller you are.  It is a fun way to match your preferences, personality, and values to the kind of travel you wish to experience.  Are you a Free Spirit or a No-Hassle traveller, an Authentic Experiencer or a Rejuvenator among others? 

I took the quiz and it seems that in the world of explorers, I am a Gentle Explorer.  I  like returning to past destinations and enjoy the security of familiar surroundings.   I seek the most comfortable places when you get away and avoid the unknown.  It turns out as a traveller I am conservative, reliable, traditional, solitary, selective, discriminating, and fun-loving.

Another Canadian government site that offers a great deal for the traveller is Travel.gc.ca which has lots of useful information.  There is a publication on Living Abroad, the Bon Voyage booklet and even, Her Own Way, aimed at women going solo.  Another on-line publication on this topic is Journeywoman with travel tips and articles helpful to the single woman traveller enjoy her journeys safely.

There are many resources are there for the careful traveller.  The Canadian Snowbirds Association has a news publication that comes out four times a year.  They also have a Travel Insurance Guide, a Travel Information Guide, a Report Card, the Travellers’ Checklist, information on exchange rates, travel tips, and a helpful website.  I have heard so many nasty travel stories of those who did leave home without proper insurance, or were turned down for coverage, or did not fill out the form correctly, that I suggest that people do not leave home without it!  Your doctor’s extra set of eyes on the application may be a good move too.

The Canadian Automobile Association also has lots of relevant information and resources with everything from Roadside Assistance, to insurance, to Trip Tiks, special offers, discounts, vacation packages, and airline and hotel information.  They also have stores or online orders for travel accessories like plugs that work in various parts of the work, luggage, pillows, quick dry clothes, money belts, hats or bags designed  to make you more comfortable and safe while on the road or in the air.

Most airlines and hotel chains have loyalty programs that give the repeat customer a discount or deal.  Some credit cards will give you points toward travel as well as insurance coverage.  Check out the details and do not assume what that coverage entails!  Early sign up or last minute choices can get you a break as well.  Many on-line sites can get you a discount or at least let you know what the going rates are in any location.  

Sites like expedia.ca, travelocity.ca, kayak.com, travelzoo.ca and many more will give you options for bookings.  They are not without many issues that can arise.  That is why good travel agencies that can insure you and get you guarantees are still very much in business.  That is why travel brokers and group travel can get you what you need cheaper and safer that you can in some instances.  Travel is often a Buyer Beware situation like any other transaction.

So take a look at the brochures, the maps, the on-line reviews, find out your travel EQ, and dream on or get on the road.  Any travel plans for this summer? Any tips?

Do you use play to keep you young? Evidence says you should!

This article was posted in the  theage.com.au in September 2013 and it was written by Jill Stark. The Aussies as a nation love play and the research  backs up their love of play, according to this article.

 According to a growing band of researchers, sociologists and health experts, playing is exactly what more of us should be doing. Far from being a frivolous indulgence, an emerging evidence base suggests playtime in adulthood may actually be critical to human development.

''From a biological and evolutionary point of view, social mammals have been hard-wired for play for hundreds of millions of years. It's a fundamental survival drive, not too dissimilar from sleep and dreams. Although we can survive into adulthood without it, we don't survive socially, emotionally, cognitively with any kind of fullness without having a healthy play background that continues throughout life. It is a sustaining, important part of being human,'' says Dr Stuart Brown, a pioneering play researcher from the National Institute For Play in California.

Whether it's dancing in the dark, rolling around on the floor with a pet, or just belting out our favourite songs as we strum the air guitar, play for play's sake is increasingly being shown to have significant positive effects in education, parenting, workplaces and even in fostering community cohesion.

The ''play ethic'' is deemed so significant that dozens of cities are starting to foster greater social interaction in public spaces.

London's Swing & Be Free project put swings into bus stops, encouraging incidental fun for commuters. In Montreal, a giant collective instrument made of 21 musical swings has been set up in the city centre. While in Stockholm, a piano staircase in a subway underpass led to a 66 per cent increase in people using stairs over the escalator. Proponents say the separation of play from work is no longer appropriate in a frenetic modern world where ''downtime'' is a rare luxury. 

They believe incorporating fun into all aspects of our life is the key to happier, more productive societies.

Businesses such as Google, Lego and Red Bull are among those prioritising playfulness as the building blocks of creativity and innovation, with adventure playground-style office environments complete with scooters, hammocks, mini soccer pitches, lolly dispensers and tyre swings. 

Employees at Melbourne-based firm iSelect enjoy a slide that dumps them into a ball pool.
Dr Brown, a psychiatrist who was in Australia this month for the Arts Health Institute's Play Up Convention in Sydney, believes play - which he defines as any activity which is deeply engaging, joyful, done for its own sake, and without consideration of time or an expected outcome - is the cornerstone of a healthy community.

But when play is absent, things can go awry. Dr. Brown's fascination began after extensive research into the backgrounds of violent inmates, including Charles Whitman, who killed 17 people and wounded 41 others in a shooting from the top of a tower at the University of Texas in 1966. The common theme among offenders, he discovered, was ''play deprivation'' as children.

The research backs up animal models that show play opens new connections in the brain, boosting social and emotional competency. Deprivation can cause problems with mating, stress, resilience and immune system deficiencies.

''The most successful people I've interviewed, and I've done several thousand of these, have had the opportunity to live their lives in harmony with their play nature,'' Dr Brown said. ''We know from a number of anthropological studies that in civilisations and cultures that incorporate a good deal of play there are increased co-operation, great altruism, more sharing and less violence. We're not there yet by a long shot in an industrialised, Western, materialistic culture but I think that with the public health and scientific backing play is now being shown, we will see transformational changes down the road.''

It's already happening in pockets in Australia. A 2011 trial of play therapy involving 35 nursing homes and 400 aged care residents, using clowns and ''humour therapists'', led to a 20 per cent reduction in levels of agitation among dementia sufferers, and significantly reduced the need for antipsychotic medication.

The program has since been rolled out at 70 aged care facilities. ''Smile Study'' chief investigator Dr Lee-Fay Low, from the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, said nursing home residents were often bored and lonely, with little chance to experience humour.

''Giving them an opportunity to play changes them. It gives you enjoyment, it gives you opportunity to express yourself and helps you make a connection with other people, and those are critical things for mental wellbeing at any age,'' she said.

Co-founder of the Humour Foundation's Clown Doctor program and creative director of the Arts Health Institute, Jean-Paul Bell, believes Australians are playful and irreverent by nature but we've lost touch with our true selves.

''Living in cyberspace is not grounding us in the way that organic play would do. It's that idea of getting down and dirty and making mud pies, sliding down a hill on a piece of cardboard so you're connecting your bum with the earth. Forget about how old you are, the incentive to play is a cradle to grave approach.''

But while once our playfulness would have been cultivated at an early age, these days overprotective parents, shrinking backyards and increasing pressure to achieve academic success are contributing to a reduction in play time for children.

Brown says this is why we must put play at the forefront of education, arguing that this ''flow'' is the optimal state for learning. He points to a growing number of play-based schools in the US which are seeing great results.

Here, programs such as ArtPlay - a creative studio at Melbourne's Birrarung Marr - are encouraging children and their families to express themselves through art, performance and inquisitiveness, which in turn can boost learning.

''Schools are very regimented in expected outcomes and testing these days and sometimes the value of free play is underestimated,'' said creative producer Simon Spain. ''We do workshops out in the backyard where we literally just go out and get some sticks and get people drawing in the ground. It can be simple and messy, you don't have to buy the fancy drawing pad and the pencils. Our sub-line is 'let your imagination out to play' because that's what sometimes is cramped. Ultimately what we're trying to foster here is the imaginative person who can imagine possibilities.''


Read more: 

Do you keep a journal?

Keeping a journal will absolutely change your life in ways you've never imagined." - Oprah Winfrey

This article was written by Dan Robey and I agree that a journal is important for keeping track of goals and self esteem, etc. More importantly I believe that keeping a journal is also a very important part of a legacy that you will leave your children and grandchildren. When my mother died, I was given all of her papers including her journals. It took me a while to find the time to read them, but when I did, her journals opened up her life to me more than I thought. I am thankful that she did keep a journal and hope you take the time to think about stating one as well.

Why is it so important to keep a journal?

Here are just a few of the benefits a personal journal will provide you:

* A journal will remind you of your goals and the actions you are taking towards them every day. Your are writing down your goals right?

* It allows you to factually track your progress as you head closer towards your goals. Here is an example. Suppose you had set a new goal to lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months. Record your weight in your journal each day, you will now be able to seetrends in your weight loss that you would not have seen without the journal.

* It provides detailed information such as dietary changes, calorie reductions, fat reduction, and so on.

* It helps build your self-esteem because you are reaffirming the positive benefits you are achieving as you get closer to your goals.

* It helps to paint the picture every day of who you are becoming.

* When you see positive results as they happen, you will become energized with optimism.

Here are a couple of simple journal tips:

Keep a simple, short log , it's easy, and it usually only takes 1 minute of your time. Each day, make short entries into your journal, list such things as your attitude, emotions, diet, weight,
responses to situations and conditions in your life.

For example, if having a healthy heart is one of your goals, you will want to keep track of your cholesterol levels, your blood pressure, your weight. (Obviously, all of this data would not be 
recorded daily, but some entry would be recorded each day)

Try this simple little exercise.

Get out a note pad or a sheet of paper and a pencil. Look at your watch. When the second hand hits 12, start timing yourself as you write down the following information:

5/27/12 Sun.-Felt great all day. Weight 135 pounds. Walked briskly for 20 minutes. Had healthy almonds and nuts for snacks.

More then likely, you completed writing down the information in approximately 1 minute. Yet, in that 1 minute, you created an important snapshot of important data in your life. You now have 
historical data you can refer to as time goes by, to help you track your progress as you move towards your life goals.

I know how well this works. For many, I have kept a simple, yet informative log of every day of my life. I can tell you exactly how I felt on Wed., July 25,1999, or any day since.

I can look back and see how I reacted to issues in my life and what helped me overcome an illness, injury or stressful period in my life.

It generally takes me less then two minutes to record the log for any day. It is a habit that has become a part of my life; it is now second nature for me. If you have a computer, I recommend typing just three to four lines of descriptive text into a word processing  program or notepad each day.

Impulse spending is taking its toll

 Interesting reading with some ideas that may surprise you. We overspend, and make impulse buys that hurt our financial independence. If we know what we overspend on we can, I believe take steps to reign in our impulse spending and get control of our personal finances.

According to a BMO report released today, impulse spending is taking its toll on Canadian household balance sheets. The BMO Psychology of Spending report is the first in a series from BMO that will examine personal finance and investing behaviours among Canadians and the resulting effects.

The inaugural report on the spending habits of Canadians found the majority (59 per cent) make impulse purchases, with half (52 per cent) regretting the purchases after the fact, and 43 per cent sometimes spending more in a month than they earn.

The report, conducted by Pollara, also revealed:

• The majority of Canadians at least sometimes shop to cheer themselves up and buy something they may not need because it's on sale (60 per cent and 55 per cent respectively), and 42 per cent buy items they never use.
• On average, Canadians spend $310 a month on items they want but do not need, and believe they could save over two-thirds of this amount if they made an effort to limit their spending.
• The most common impulsive purchases made by Canadians over the past year are clothing (57 per cent), dining out (52 per cent), shoes (39 per cent), books/magazines (38 per cent), and music/movies (31 per cent).
• Additionally, one-in-five Canadians (19 per cent) have purchased consumer technology items on impulse in the past year.

"Financial anxiety is commonly triggered by larger one-time expenses, but spending on a daily basis can be the most disruptive when it comes to keeping your financial house in order over the long term," said Lily Capriotti, Vice President, BMO Bank of Montreal. "In most cases, impulse spending is an emotional transaction. Setting parameters and tracking your daily spending can help curb behaviours that can negatively affect the larger picture."

Ms. Capriotti noted there are a few practices Canadians can put in place to help track and control impulse spending, including setting aside savings on a regular basis, putting off impulse purchases for an hour, or using online tools to track daily spending and set limits. There are online personal financial management tool that enable you to set and track spending limits and savings goals.

"The data shows Canadians recognize they have the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars per month and thousands per year by cutting back on non-essential items," said Ms. Capriotti. "However, the report shows only one-in-five review non-essential purchases at the end of each month, which implies some may be avoiding the reality of how much of their money is being put towards things they do not need."

Ms. Capriotti added that leveraging a TFSA or a high-interest savings account, can help Canadians maximize these savings.

According to BMO Economics, Canadian household debt excluding mortgages has doubled in the past decade and consistently outrun disposable income, with the debt-to-income ratio rising from 42 per cent in early 2002 to a record high 153 per cent earlier this year.

The Consequences of Impulse Spending

• According to the report, one-third (31 per cent) of Canadians have had to borrow money or take out a loan to pay for non-essential items, with 23 per cent unable to buy something they needed because of their spending on items they wanted.
• These habits are more common among younger Canadians. One-in-three (33 per cent) of those under 30 have been unable to afford something they needed because of spending on 'wants'.
• Even high-income earners have felt the consequences of over-spending on non-essentials - 19 per cent of those in households earning at least $100,000 a year have been unable to afford something they needed because of non-essential purchases.

Demographically:

• On average, men spend twice as much as women on 'wants' ($414 vs. $207), and stand to save more by cutting back ($276 vs. $145).
• Top 5 Impulsive Purchases for Men: dining out (53 per cent), clothing (47 per cent), books/magazines (32 per cent), shoes (29 per cent), software/apps (26 per cent).
• Top 5 Impulsive Purchases for Women: clothing (66 per cent), dining out (50 per cent), shoes (48 per cent), books/magazines (44 per cent), makeup (36 per cent).

Spending Money You Don’t Have

The survey also found that 31 per cent of Canadians had to borrow money to pay for their impulse buys and 23 per cent said they were unable to get something they truly needed because of overspending on wants.

Zap Impulse Spending

If you find yourself splurging on more than you can truly afford, here are some ways to pull yourself away from the cash register:

• Wait. Really ponder if you need those new boots or if the family needs to go out for dinner tonight. Take an hour to think about it before pulling out that credit card.

• Spend what you have. Speaking of credit cards, if impulse buying is a real problem, consider doing all your spending with cash or using debit so you can never spend more than you have.

• Tuck money away. Keep a separate savings account (you can find a list of competitive rate accounts here) and create automatic transfers every month to be sure you’ve got money saved for your real needs. Tap into that account only when you need to replace your winter coat or do an urgent car repair.

• Shop at home. Before you head out to purchase new things or indulge in a nice meal, ponder the stuff you already have. Dig into the back of your closet for that great sweater you bought last year. See if you can’t make a gourmet meal with what you have in the fridge (and the help of an online recipe search). See which things you can repair around the house instead of buying a new replacement.

• Ignore the hype. Online sales. Commercials that tout a high lifestyle. Question the marketing you’re exposed to and ponder how you can find meaning in your life beyond your purchases.