Money fears

I was going to write about “Where have all the Volunteer leaders gone”, but since my interests are many, when I saw this question, I changed my topic. The question is What’s your biggest money fear?

This is an interesting question and the answer is dependent, I suspect based on age, lifestyle and stage of life.  So, I went to the net to see if my assumptions were correct. I assumed that twenty-somethings might say they fear having to live in debt forever, or that they’ll never be able to afford a home, which is true, but this group is also concerned about learning how to manage money, debt and savings

Those in their thirties fear they’ll never stop living paycheque to paycheque. By the 30’s many have children, have bought a home or an apartment, and get caught up living with a mortgage. However, they are still learning to manage their money, controlling spending and debt. The savings are now starting to be geared for college for the kids and maybe retirement.

Forty-somethings might fear losing their job and having to start all over again. However, the concerns are more focused, many in their 40’s are established, but they recognize that a downturn in the economy or automation can put a halt to their plans. So, they are focused on gaining new skills, looking for ways to reduce debt by refinancing their mortgage or taking on a second job. Children are getting married so ways to help pay for the wedding become a bigger issue. In the late 40’s the realization that maybe some more money should be allocated to saving for retirement dawns.

The biggest money fear in your fifties might be whether you’ll ever be able to retire. The reality for many is that they have not because of other issues saved enough for a comfortable retirement. All of us will retire and in Canada and the US, we retire at age 61 or 63. This means that we have to find extra money for retirement. In this process we re-examine or debt and perhaps use debt consolidation to pay down our debt faster, we re-evaluate our retirement goals and we start to consider the value of different types of insurance.

The number one concern for all retirees is whether they will outlive their savings. It’s a legitimate fear, especially for women over the age of 60 who worry about the prospect of outliving their money and becoming homeless. Indeed, careful planning is required for those who retire without access to a defined benefit pension and without sufficient savings in RRSPs.

This fear can be overblown because Canadians enjoy government programs such as CPP, OAS, and GIS that provide a financial floor that has kept seniors out of poverty, although there is no assurance that these programs will continue to work as they were intended.

Move while you can

The following is from the longevity  News Alert written by David A. Kekich.

Despite the fact that our bodies may be beginning to wear out as we age, there is still much we can do to slow the trend.

As part of a long-term study to determine how post-middle age changes in physical activity affect mortality rates, 2,205 Swedish men were initially surveyed from 1970 to 1973 at the age of 50. Each participant was categorized into one of four groups according to their level of physical activity: sedentary, low, medium or high. Researchers followed up as they turned 60, 70, 77 and 82.

The team found what you would expect: exercising more translated into lower mortality rates in all exercising groups. But the study also revealed some surprising findings.

Those who raised their level of physical activity between the ages of 50 and 60 experienced the same mortality rates as those men who had always maintained high levels of physical activity.

The results were so pronounced that the study team compared the reduction in mortality to people who stop smoking. “Increased physical activity in middle age is eventually followed by a reduction in mortality to the same level as seen among men with constantly high physical activity.

This reduction is comparable with that associated with smoking cessation,” writes the study team. However, the researchers found that in order for low-level exercisers to “catch up,” they would need to maintain regular physical activity for at least five years.

The study was published in the British Medical Journal. It confirms we can reverse some of the damage done in earlier years and become as healthy as people who have maintained a healthy lifestyle for most of their lives. In fact, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh finally answered the question, "Is physical frailty inevitable as we grow older?”

A large number of studies in the past few years showed that after age 40, people typically lose 8 percent or more of their muscle mass each decade. Then the process accelerates significantly after age 70.

Less muscle mass generally means less strength, mobility and independence. It also has been linked with premature mortality. But a growing body of newer science suggests that such decline may not be inexorable. A study published in the October 2011 issue of The Physician and Sportsmedicine found there was little evidence of deterioration in the older athletes’ musculature. The athletes in their 70s and 80s had almost as much thigh muscle mass as the athletes in their 40s, with minor, if any fat infiltration. 

The athletes also remained strong. There was a drop-off in leg muscle strength around age 60 in both men and women. They weren’t as strong as the 50-year-olds.

That means the 70 and 80-year-old athletes were about as strong as those in their 60s. So people don’t have to lose muscle mass and function as they grow older. The changes that we’ve assumed were due to ageing, and therefore unstoppable, seem actually to be caused by inactivity. And that can be changed.

We are designed to move. When we exercise, our body signals our cells to grow. These growth signals cause a ripple effect, spreading the growth process to every cell in our body, making us functionally younger. 


Sedentary people who get fit cut their heart attack risk by 75–80% over five years. That’s impressive since heart disease is our single biggest killer. According to the Harvard Alumni Health Study, you need vigorous activity to significantly lower your risk from coronary heart disease.

Many people in their sixties, seventies and older exercise their way to being in better shape than the average thirty-five-year-old. If you're not exercising now, you can double your strength in three months and maybe double it again in three more months. It doesn't matter if you're twenty-five or eighty-five.

So you’re never too old to add strength and flexibility. Researchers also found that the percentage of body fat and aerobic capacity was related more to training than to age.

Regular exercise also seems to maintain the levels of hormones that typically decline with age. This is great for your appearance, attitude and your sex drive. (Did you know sex sends longevity signals to your cells that may postpone senescence and death?)

Regular exercise helps to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. Some of the other general effects of exercise include increased metabolism and increased lymph flow. If you are over forty years of age, have a chronic disease or any serious conditions, check with a doctor before beginning your exercise program.

The best way to stay on track is to decide what kind of activities or sports you enjoy most. Then mimic the basic movements pertaining to those activities, and incorporate those into your routine.


Not only will you enjoy training more, but your sports performance should improve as well. Weight training wakes up your neural connections too. This is one reason it improves your performance in your favourite sports. Not only are you stronger and more agile… but you become better coordinated.

Tips to Help You Remember the Doctor’s Instructions

We are currently working with the Canadian Deprescribing Network to help seniors understand the dangers of taking too much medication. As part of the work, we are trying to get better communications between doctors and patients. No matter what your age, it’s easy to forget a lot of what your doctor says. Even if you are comfortable talking with your doctor, you may not always understand what he or she says. So, as your doctor gives you information, it’s a good idea to check that you are following along. Ask about anything that does not seem clear. For instance, you might say: “I want to make sure I understand. Could you explain that a little more?” or “I did not understand that word. What does it mean?”

Another way to check is to repeat what you think the doctor means in your own words and ask, “Is this correct?” Here are some other ideas to help make sure you have all the information you need.

·         Take notes. Take along a notepad and pen and write down the main points, or ask the doctor to write them down for you. If you can’t write while the doctor is talking to you, make notes in the waiting room after the visit. Or, bring an audio recorder along and (with the doctor’s permission) record what is said. A recording is especially helpful if you want to share the details of the visit with others.

·         Get written or recorded materials. Ask if your doctor has any brochures, DVDs, or other materials about your health conditions or treatments. For example, if your doctor says that your blood pressure is high, he or she may give you brochures explaining what causes high blood pressure and what you can do about it. Ask the doctor to recommend other sources, such as websites, disease management centers, non-profit organizations, and government agencies that may have written or recorded information you can use.

·         Talk to other members of the healthcare team. Sometimes, the doctor may want you to talk with other health professionals who can help you understand and carry out the decisions about how to manage your condition. Nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and occupational or physical therapists may be able to take more time with you than the doctor.

·         Call or email the doctor. If you are uncertain about the doctor’s instructions after you get home, call the office. A nurse or other staff member can check with the doctor and call you back. You could ask whether the doctor, or other health professional you have talked to, has an email address or online health portal you can use to send questions.

The Denver Airport

What a great idea and fun for the passengers. Watch the video