Maine Life After 50 Blog

Even though all investors are trying to make money, each one comes from a diverse background and has different needs. It follows that specific investing vehicles and methods are suitable for certain types of investors. Although there are many factors that determine which path is optimal for an investor, we’ll look at two main categories: investment objectives and investing personality.

Investment Objectives
Generally speaking, investors have a few factors to consider when looking for the right place to park their money. Safety of capital, current income and capital appreciation are factors that should influence an investment decision and will depend on a person’s age, stage/position in life and personal circumstances. A 75-year-old widow living off of her retirement portfolio is far more interested in preserving the value of investments than a 30-year-old business executive would be. Because the widow needs income from her investments to survive, she cannot risk losing her investment. The young executive, on the other hand, has time on his or her side. As investment income isn’t currently paying the bills, the executive can afford to be more aggressive in his or her investing strategies.

An investor’s financial position will also affect his or her objectives. A multi-millionaire is obviously going to have much different goals than a newly married couple just starting out. For example, the millionaire, in an effort to increase his profit for the year, might have no problem putting down $100,000 in a speculative real estate investment. To him, a hundred grand is a small percentage of his overall worth. Meanwhile, the couple is concentrating on saving up for a down payment on a house and can’t afford to risk losing their money in a speculative venture. Regardless of the potential returns of a risky investment, speculation is just not appropriate for the young couple.

As a general rule, the shorter your time horizon, the more conservative you should be. For instance, if you are investing primarily for retirement and you are still in your 20s, you still have plenty of time to make up for any losses you might incur along the way. At the same time, if you start when you are young, you don’t have to put huge chunks of your paycheck away every month because you have the power of compounding on your side.

On the other hand, if you are about to retire, it is very important that you either safeguard or increase the money you have accumulated. Because you will soon be accessing your investments, you don’t want to expose all of your money to volatility - you don’t want to risk losing your investment money in a market slump right before you need to start accessing your assets.

Personality
What’s your style? Do you love fast cars, extreme sports and the thrill of a risk? Or do you prefer reading in your hammock while enjoying the calmness, stability and safety of your backyard?

Peter Lynch, one of the greatest investors of all time, has said that the “key organ for investing is the stomach, not the brain”. In other words, you need to know how much volatility you can stand to see in your investments. Figuring this out for yourself is far from an exact science; but there is some truth to an old investing maxim: you’ve taken on too much risk when you can’t sleep at night because you are worrying about your investments.

Another personality trait that will determine your investing path is your desire to research investments. Some people love nothing more than digging into financial statements and crunching numbers. To others, the terms balance sheet, income statement and stock analysis sound as exciting as watching paint dry. Others just might not have the time to plow through prospectuses and financial statements.

Putting It All Together: Your Risk Tolerance
By now it is probably clear to you that the main thing determining what works best for an investor is his or her capacity to take on risk.   Since this blog is primarily intended for seniors and those caring for seniors, future blog entries will be geared for more conservative investment strategies.

Have you ever wondered how the rich got their wealth and then kept it growing? Do you dream of retiring early (or of being able to retire at all)? Do you know that you should invest, but don’t know where to start? This blog entry is the first of a series I’ll be posting on the basic concepts of investing. Today, we’ll define what investing is (and isn’t) and explain why we should all be thinking of investing regardless of our financial situation or our life status.

Of course, the information I provide in this and future blogs reflects my own thinking, observations and experience. It is in no way intended to be taken as professional financial advice or recommendations.

Also, I need to emphasize that investing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. Taking control of your personal finances will take work, and, yes, there will be a learning curve. But the rewards will far outweigh the required effort. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to allow banks, bosses or investment professionals to push your money in directions that you don’t understand. After all, no one is in a better position than you are to know what is best for you and your money.

Regardless of your personality type, lifestyle or interests, my goal is to help you to understand what investing is, what it means and how time earns money through compounding. I will also teach you about the building blocks of the investing world and the markets, give you some insight into techniques and strategies and help you think about which investing strategies suit you best. So let’s get started.

What Is Investing?

It’s actually pretty simple: investing means putting your money to work for you. Essentially, it’s a different way to think about how to make money. Growing up, most of us were taught that you can earn an income only by getting a job and working. And that’s exactly what most of us do. There’s one big problem with this: if you want more money, you have to work more hours. However, there is a limit to how many hours a day we can work, not to mention the fact that having a bunch of money is no fun if we don’t have the leisure time to enjoy it

You can’t create a duplicate of yourself to increase your working time, so instead, you need to send an extension of yourself – your money – to work. That way, while you are putting in hours for your employer, or even mowing your lawn, sleeping, reading the paper or socializing with friends, you can also be earning money elsewhere. Quite simply, making your money work for you maximizes your earning potential whether or not you receive a raise, decide to work overtime or look for a higher-paying job.

There are many different ways you can go about making an investment. This includes putting money into stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate (among many other things), or starting your own business. Sometimes people refer to these options as “investment vehicles,” which is just another way of saying “a way to invest.” Each of these vehicles has positives and negatives, which we’ll discuss in future blog entries. The point is that it doesn’t matter which method you choose for investing your money, the goal is always to put your money to work so it earns you an additional profit. Even though this is a simple idea, it’s the most important concept for you to understand.

What Investing Is Not
Investing is not gambling. Gambling is putting money at risk by betting on an uncertain outcome with the hope that you might win money. Part of the confusion between investing and gambling, however, may come from the way some people use investment vehicles. For example, it could be argued that buying a stock based on a “hot tip” you heard at the water cooler is essentially the same as placing a bet at a casino.

True investing doesn’t happen without some action on your part. A “real” investor does not simply throw his or her money at any random investment; he or she performs thorough analysis and commits capital only when there is a reasonable expectation of profit. Yes, there still is risk, and there are no guarantees, but investing is more than simply hoping Lady Luck is on your side.

Why Bother Investing?
Obviously, everybody wants more money. It’s pretty easy to understand that people invest because they want to increase their personal freedom, sense of security and ability to afford the things they want in life.
However, investing is becoming more of a necessity. The days when everyone worked the same job for 30 years and then retired to a nice fat pension are gone. For average people, investing is not so much a helpful tool as the only way they can retire and maintain their present lifestyle.

Whether you live in the U.S., Canada, or pretty much any other country in the industrialized Western world, governments are tightening their belts. Almost without exception, the responsibility of planning for retirement is shifting away from the state and towards the individual. There is much debate over how safe our old-age pension programs will be over the next 20, 30 and 50 years. But why leave it to chance? By planning ahead you can ensure financial stability during your retirement.

That’s a wrap for our first blog on investing. I’d love to get your feedback. Is this a useful topic? What areas should I discuss in the future? Let’s hear from you!!

Have you been denied or forced to pay a higher interest rate on a loan or a credit card recently due to a less than perfect credit history?  Or maybe you’re thinking about buying a house or a car and you’d like to know your credit rating before making a purchase. Or maybe you’re just curious what your creditors are saying about you.  A credit report is what you need and you can have on free in minutes.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), each of the major nationwide credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – must provide consumers with a free copy of their credit reports every 12 months.

These three bureaus collect and disseminate consumer credit information that is then used to compile your credit report. Also known as consumer reporting agencies, these bureaus have databases containing consumer credit reports, which are meant to evaluate an individual or corporation’s creditworthiness. Credit bureaus collect financial data, personal information, and alternative data such as payment histories from utility firms, telecommunications companies, rental payments, and electronic payments.

Credit bureaus receive their information from data furnishers such as lenders, creditors, debt-collection agencies, utility companies, and courts providing public records. These data furnishers report their payment experience with a consumer to the bureaus, who in turn aggregate this information and report it on the consumers’ credit reports.

As part of the FCRA, the three bureaus have set up a central website that allows consumers to order their annual credit reports. That site, www.annualcreditreport.com, lets consumers order all three reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at the same time, or to order each report individually over time.

In order to receive your credit report, you must provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth, as well as a previous address if you have moved within the past two years. You may also be asked for specific information that only you may know, such as the names of lenders with whom you have opened accounts. This is to ensure the security of your credit report.

If you order your credit report online, you should be able to access it immediately. However, if you order it through the mailing address or telephone number on the website, it may take up to 15 days to be processed and mailed to you. On occasions where there are higher demands for credit reports, this process may take longer.

Federal law also mandates that a consumer is entitled to a free report if a company has denied an application for insurance, credit, or employment. The consumer must request his or her report within 60 days upon receiving notice of the denial.

So, there you go. No excuses. Get that free credit report and be informed!

Sleep and Aging

Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as young adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But seniors tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than when they were younger. Older people may nap more during the day, which can sometimes make it hard to fall asleep at night.

There are two kinds of sleep—REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. We dream mostly during REM sleep and have the deepest sleep during non-REM sleep. As people get older, they spend less time in deep sleep, which may be why older people are often light sleepers.

Sleep Problems

There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night. Feeling sick or being in pain can make it hard to sleep. Napping during the day can disrupt sleep at night. Some medicines can keep you awake. No matter the reason, if you don’t get a good night’s sleep, the next day you may:

• Be irritable
• Have memory problems or be forgetful
• Feel depressed
• Have more falls or accidents
• Feel very sleepy during the day

Insomnia

Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older. People with insomnia have trouble falling and staying asleep. Insomnia can last for days, months, or even years. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may:

• Take a long time to fall asleep
• Wake up many times in the night
• Wake up early and be unable to get back to sleep
• Wake up tired
• Feel very sleepy during the day

There are many causes of insomnia. Some of them you can control, but others you can’t. For example, if you are excited about a new activity or worrying over your bills, you may have trouble sleeping. Sometimes insomnia may be a sign of other problems. Or, it could be a side effect of a medication or an illness.

Often, being unable to sleep becomes a habit. Some people worry about not sleeping even before they get into bed. This may even make insomnia worse.

Older adults who have trouble sleeping may use more over-the-counter sleep aids. Using prescription medicines for a short time might help. But remember, medicines aren’t a cure for insomnia. Developing healthy habits at bedtime may help you get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is another serious sleep disorder. A person with sleep apnea has short pauses in breathing while sleeping. These pauses may happen many times during the night. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to other problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, or memory loss.

You can have sleep apnea and not even know it. But your loud snoring and gasping for air can keep other people awake. Feeling sleepy during the day and being told you are snoring loudly at night could be signs that you have sleep apnea.

If you think you have sleep apnea, see a doctor who knows about this sleep problem. You may need to learn to sleep in a position that keeps your airways open. Sometimes a medical device called Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP), a dental device, or surgery can help.

Movement Disorders

Restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder are common in older adults. These movement disorders can rob you of needed sleep.

People with restless legs syndrome, or RLS, feel like there is tingling, crawling, or pins and needles in one or both legs. It’s worse at night. Moving the legs brings some relief, at least for a short time. RLS tends to run in families. See your doctor for more information about medicines to treat RLS.

Periodic limb movement disorder, or PLMD, causes people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep. Some people have hundreds of these movements each night, which may result in loss of sleep and feeling tired and sleepy the next day. Medication, warm baths, exercise, and learning ways to relax can help.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, also known as REM sleep behavior disorder, is another condition that may make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep, is the most active stage of sleep when dreaming often occurs. During normal REM sleep, your muscles cannot move, so your body stays still. But if you have REM sleep behavior disorder, your muscles can move, and your sleep is disrupted.

Alzheimer’s Disease And Sleep—A Special Problem

Alzheimer’s disease often changes a person’s sleeping habits. For example, some people with Alzheimer’s disease sleep too much; others don’t sleep enough. Some people wake up many times during the night; others wander or yell at night. The person with Alzheimer’s disease isn’t the only one who loses sleep. Caregivers may have sleepless nights, leaving them tired for the challenges they face.

If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, there are steps you can take for his or her safety and that might help you sleep better at night. Try the following:

• Make sure the floor is clear of objects.
• Lock up any medicines.
• Attach grab bars in the bathroom.
• Place a gate across the stairs.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Being older doesn’t mean you have to feel tired all the time. There are many things you can do to help you get a good night’s sleep. Here are some ideas:

• Follow a regular sleep schedule. Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Try to avoid napping in the late afternoon or evening, as it may keep you awake at night.
• Develop a bedtime routine. Take time to relax before bedtime each night. Some people watch television, read a book, listen to soothing music, or soak in a warm bath.
• Keep your bedroom dark, not too hot or too cold, and as quiet as possible.
• Have a comfortable mattress, a pillow you like, and enough blankets for the season.
• Exercise at regular times each day but not within 3 hours of your bedtime.
• Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight each day.
• Be careful about when and how much you eat. Large meals close to bedtime may keep you awake, but a light snack in the evening can help you get a good night’s sleep.
• Stay away from caffeine late in the day. Caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and hot chocolate) can keep you awake.
• Drink fewer beverages in the evening. Waking up to go to the bathroom and turning on a bright light break up your sleep.
• Remember that alcohol won’t help you sleep. Even small amounts make it harder to stay asleep.
• Use your bedroom only for sleeping. After turning off the light, give yourself about 20 minutes to fall asleep. If you’re still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed. When you feel sleepy, go back to bed.

Safe Sleeping

Try to set up a safe and restful place to sleep. Make sure you have smoke alarms on each floor of your house or apartment. Lock the outside doors before going to bed. Other ideas for a safe night’s sleep are:

• Keep a telephone with emergency phone numbers by your bed.
• Have a good lamp within reach that turns on easily.
• Put a glass of water next to the bed in case you wake up thirsty.
• Use nightlights in the bathroom and hall.
• Don’t smoke, especially in bed.
• Remove area rugs so you won’t trip if you get out of bed in the middle of the night.
• Don’t fall asleep with a heating pad on; it may burn.

Sweet Dreams

There are some tricks to help you fall asleep. You don’t really have to count sheep—but you could try counting slowly to 100. Some people find that playing mental games makes them sleepy. For example, tell yourself it’s 5 minutes before you have to get up, and you’re just trying to get a few extra winks. Other people find that relaxing their body puts them to sleep. You might start by telling yourself that your toes feel light as feathers and then work your way up the rest of the body saying the same words. You may drift off to sleep before getting to the top of your head.

If you feel tired and unable to do your activities for more than 2 or 3 weeks, you may have a sleep problem. Talk to your doctor about changes you can make to get a better night’s sleep.

For More Information

Here are some helpful resources:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
1-301-592-8573
1-240-629-3255 (TTY)
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
1-800-352-9424 (toll-free)
1-301-468-5981 (TTY)
www.ninds.nih.gov

American Academy of Sleep Medicine
One Westbrook Corporate Center
Suite 920
Westchester, IL 60154
1-708-492-0930
www.aasmnet.org

American Sleep Apnea Association
6856 Eastern Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20012
1-202-293-3650
www.sleepapnea.org

Better Sleep Council
501 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1917
1-703-683-8371
www.bettersleep.org

National Sleep Foundation
1522 K Street, NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005-1253
1-202-347-3471
www.sleepfoundation.org

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation
1610 14th Street, NW
Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901
1-877-463-6757 (toll-free)
1-507-287-6465
www.rls.org

For more information about health and aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
www.nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol

Seniors in search of some additional income may have access to a significant amount of cash that requires no loan qualification and no repayment.  The source of this cash? – A reverse mortgage on your house.

A reverse mortgage enables older homeowners (62+) to convert part of the equity in their homes into tax-free cash without having to sell the home, give up title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. The reverse mortgage is aptly named because the payment stream is “reversed.” Instead of making monthly payments to a lender, as with a regular mortgage, a lender makes payments to you.

The amount of funds you are eligible to receive depends on your age (or the age of the youngest spouse in the case of couples), the appraised home value, interest rates, and the lending limit your bank may impose. In general, the older you are and the more valuable your home (and the less you owe on your home), the more money you can get.

Eligible property types include single-family homes, 2-4 unit properties, manufactured homes (built after June 1976), condominiums, and townhouses.

You can choose to receive the money from a reverse mortgage all at once as a lump sum, fixed monthly payments either for a set term or for as long as you live in the home, as a line of credit, or a combination of these. The most popular option – chosen by more than 60 percent of borrowers – is the line of credit, which allows you to draw on the loan proceeds at any time.

No monthly payments are due on a reverse mortgage while it is outstanding. The loan is repaid when you cease to occupy your home as a principal residence, whether you (the last remaining spouse, in cases of couples) pass away, sell the home, or permanently move out. The amount owed can never exceed the value of your home. Furthermore, if the home is sold and the sales proceeds exceed the amount owed on the reverse mortgage, the excess money goes to you or your estate.

Because of the upfront costs associated with a reverse mortgage, if you intend to leave your home within 2-3 years, there may be other less expensive options to consider, such as home equity loans, no-interest loans or grants that may be offered by your county government or a local non-profit to repair your home, or a tax deferral program, if you’re having problems paying your property taxes. Also, if you want to leave your home to your children, then you should consider other options, because in many cases, the home is sold to pay back a reverse mortgage.

As with all matters financial, a reverse mortgage has risks and is not appropriate for everyone.  Before proceeding, you should speak with a financial consultant and do some additional research.  There are many sources of information on the Internet on reverse mortgages. One such source is Senior Reverse Mortgage.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “the only things certain in life are death and taxes.” In today’s blog, we’ll deal with the more pleasant of those two topics – Taxes.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Accountants are working overtime, taxpayers are searching for old receipts on cocktail napkins, and some lucky people are looking forward to that huge refund check from Uncle Sam.  As a reminder, your federal taxes are due this year by April 18^th. (April 15 is a holiday in DC.)

Federal income taxes are obviously a very complex issue. There are, however, some issues that are specific to seniors that can be extremely important helping determine that you pay only the appropriate amount of taxes.

For a comprehensive view of all tax matters specific to seniors, the IRS has Publication 554 (Tax Guide for Seniors).

Following is some additional information I’ve gleaned from the IRS web site.

Current research indicates that individuals are likely to make errors when preparing their tax returns. The following tax tips were developed to help you avoid some of the common errors dealing with the standard deduction for seniors, the taxable amount of Social Security benefits, and the Credit for the Elderly and Disabled. In addition, you’ll find links below to helpful publications as well as information on how to obtain free tax assistance.

Standard Deduction for Seniors - If you do not itemize your deductions, you can get a higher standard deduction amount if you and/or your spouse are 65 years old or older. You can get an even higher standard deduction amount if either you or your spouse is blind. (See Form 1040 and Form 1040A instructions.)

Taxable Amount of Social Security Benefits -When preparing your return, be especially careful when you calculate the taxable amount of your Social Security. Use the Social Security benefits worksheet found in the instructions for IRS Form 1040 and Form 1040A, and then double-check it before you fill out your tax return. See Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits.

---

Credit for the Elderly or Disabled – You must file using Form 1040 or Form 1040A to receive the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. You cannot get the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled if you file using Form 1040EZ. Be sure to apply for the Credit if you qualify; please read below for details.

Who Can Take the Credit: The Credit is based on your age, filing status and income. You may be able to take the Credit if:

Age: You and/or your spouse are either 65 years or older;or under age 65 years old and are permanently and totally disabled.

AND

Filing Status: Your income on Form 1040 line 38 is less than $17,500, $20,000 (married filing jointly and only one spouse qualifies), $25,000 (married filing jointly and both qualify), or $12,500 (married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse for the entire year).

And, the non-taxable part of your Social Security or other nontaxable pensions, annuities or disability income is less than $5,000 (single, head of household, or qualifying widow/er with diependent child); $5,000 (married filing jointly and only one spouse qualifies); $7,500 (married filing jointly and both qualify); or $3,750 (married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse the entire year).

Calculating the Credit: Use Schedule R (Form 1040 or 1040A), Credit for the Elderly or Disabled, to figure the amount of the credit.  See the instructions for Schedule R (Forms 1040 or 1040A) if you want the IRS to figure this credit for you.

The following is an article I found on the Age Wise Living website http://agewiseliving.com

by Barbara E. Friesner

This is the time of year when we see parents and other aging loved ones that we may not have the opportunity to see the rest of the year. Regardless of how often you talk by phone throughout the year, seeing an aging parent in person tells you a lot more than phone calls alone can reveal. The clues are all around you if you know what to look for. And the best part is that you can look around without making it a big deal for you or your parent.

Here are some things to look for:

Overall:

• Is your loved one clean and well groomed?
• Is s/he properly dressed with clean clothes?
• Has s/he gained or lost significant weight?
• Is s/he walking well (eg: good balance and posture)?
• Do you notice changes to his/her hearing, sight or speech.
• Is s/he is more timid, apprehensive or withdrawn?
• Do you notice a change in short term memory? Does s/he seem confused and/or lose her/his train of thought easily and/or often? Does s/he ask the same questions and/or tell the same stories over and over?

If you go to their home:

• Has the neighborhood changed? Does it look safe?
• Is the exterior of the house maintained?
• Is the interior of the house neat, clean, and well maintained?
• Is the refrigerator stocked with fresh (or at least edible) food?
• Do you notice excessive clutter and things like piles of unopened mail, lots of sweepstakes offers, etc?
• If the home has stairs, can s/he navigate the stairs safely or does it look like s/he is now living on the ground floor because of an inability to climb the stairs?

What you see can run the gamut from “everything is fine” to “something is definitely wrong”. If you see something critical or alarming, obviously you have to take action immediately. If you don’t see anything out of the ordinary, then this is a great opportunity to deepen and strengthen the lines of communication for the future.

However, if you do see something – or even just sense something – that just doesn’t “feel” right but you are not sure of the extent of the issue, you need to dig deeper. Use the opportunity to talk with your aging parent face to face. Express your concern and gently ask questions about what you have observed. (If they’re in denial, use the suggestions from last week’s newsletter.)

With family gathered, this is a golden opportunity to get input from sibs, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. on the situation, too. In addition, if an opportunity arises, discretely talk with your parent’s friends and neighbors and see if they have noticed any changes and ask them to let you know if they do . For example: “You see Mom more often that I do. How do you think she is doing? She seems a little more forgetful (distracted, frail, etc) than usual. Have you noticed it too? You know I worry about her so if you do see anything, would you please give me a call?”

Veterans who attend the Truslow Day Health Center in Saco, Maine have the opportunity to meet and visit with other veterans who also experience some form of memory loss. Approximately one-third of Truslow participants are veterans, so there’s a shared history and ability to converse between people who have a lot in common. As do all the participants at Truslow, veterans find activities that stimulate the mind, body and spirit. Whether it’s playing trivia, planting or picking in the garden, or singing karaoke, veterans are involved and engaged. Veterans who come to Truslow also feel valued and honored at events like our annual Veterans Appreciation Day. Truslow is a place to reminisce, to laugh, to learn and to enjoy the companionship of others.

Family Caregivers (spouses and adult children) of veterans who come to Truslow also benefit from knowing that while they are away at work or running errands, their loved one is in a safe, caring and engaging environment, that’s open 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. They also know that their “Vet” will enjoy a healthy, nutritious meal and snacks at Truslow, receive monthly health assessments, and if needed, medication dispensing and assistance with personal care, such as toileting. Truslow can also provide or arrange for transportation in most cases.

Cost can be a concern, but for most qualified, enrolled veterans, the cost for Truslow services is covered by VA benefits.

TRUSLOW is a great place for veterans who have symptoms of memory loss while at the same time, Truslow supports their families who care for them. If there’s a Vet in your family who might benefit from Truslow, come for a visit! You can arrange for a free, three-hour trial visit by contacting Program Manager Debra Thomas at: (207) 283-0166 or dthomas@smaaa.org

It’s been a record setting winter already this year as the snow continues to pile up.  For some the word “Winter” conjures up images of sledding, skating, rosy cheeks, and ‘hot cocoa.  For others, however, winter can bring on feelings of loneliness and isolation.  Seniors can be very vulnerable to those feelings.  The thought of being outside may no longer be exciting. In fact, it’s can be plain old scary.  Being inside all the time can take its toll too.

In the face of winter, seniors might feel subdued, reflective and even sad. Acknowledge to yourself that winter can be difficult.  Good, common sense habits can help you to get through…get enough sleep, exercise if you can, and maintain a healthy diet.

Be kind to yourself, and recognize your limitations.  Try to connect with others. Think about the things you can enjoy and take part in them.  Reach out…having a supportive social circle is good for emotional and physical health.  Invite people to see you…you don’t have to prepare a full course meal…enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a friend.  (Go easy on the alcohol-it’s  a depressant,  and doesn’t mix well with many medications.) Take up a new hobby, or re-kindle your interest in an old one.  If you are able, get involved with your local senior center, and also think about volunteering.  Helping others makes us feel good.

Remember…practice “ balance” in your life.  Find things you enjoy, and do what you are able.  Ask for help with the things you need, and be specific…generally people are more than willing to help, and often don’t know what to do.

If your winter blues seem to give way to longer term sadness, you may have depression. According to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, some factors that can contribute to senior depression include financial limitations, disability, loss of independence, being alone or separated from loved ones, as well as loss of mobility.  Depression warrants medical attention and can be treated.

Talk to your Doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. Some of the warning signs are:

–Persistent sadness
– Withdrawal from regular social activities
– Slowed thinking or response
– Lack of energy or interest in things that were once enjoyable
– Excessive worry

–Irritability
– Frequent tearfulness
– Feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
– Changes in eating
– Pacing and fidgeting
– Changes in sleep patterns (inability to sleep or excessive sleep or nighttime awakening)
– Difficulty concentrating

For more information about older adults and depression, visit the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation Web site.

In Cumberland County, individuals experiencing a mental health crisis have immediate access to a team of professionals who are trained to respond to mental health crises 24 hours/day.  If you are having a mental health crisis call 774-HELP or 1-888-568-1112 (Voice or TDD) 24 hours a day OR call 9-1-1.

Got some extra time on your hands? Do you have experience that may benefit others? Do you like working with people and have a desire to make a difference?  Volunteering may be just what you are looking for.  There are several volunteer programs designed specifically for seniors. In this entry, we’ll talk about three such programs.

The first program is Foster Grandparents.  Foster Grandparents devote their volunteer service entirely to disadvantaged or disabled youth. Foster Grandparents are individuals age 60 and over who thrive on direct interaction with children and believe they can make a difference in their lives in a variety of environments .  Income-eligible Foster Grandparents receive a modest stipend to help offset the costs of volunteering.

Placements include child development centers and Head Start programs, public school classrooms, long-term residential programs and Maine Medical Center and homes with children with special needs.

Typical assignments of a Foster Grandparent in the classroom include helping students with their reading and writing in a caring and patient way. In Child Care and Head Start settings, the Foster Grandparent helps children make the transition from home by being a positive, loving presence in the facility.

Foster Grandparents also provide Home based support services to families with special needs self referred and referred by the Maine Department of Human Services, City of Portland Public Health Department and other community agencies. Home-based services are designed to provide role modeling, promote positive parenting skills, reduce family isolation and provide skills in well-baby care, household management and nutrition.

In the Portland area, the Foster Grandparents program is called PROP. More information, including contact info can be found at the PROP website: http://www.wherepeoplecomefirst.org/Programs/PROP_Seniors/foster_grandparents.php

The second senior volunteer program is Senior Companions. Senior Companions are individuals age 55 and over who volunteer 20 hours per week to aid other seniors in leisure activities, assist them with grocery shopping, accompany them to medical appointments, or just visit with them in their home. Senior Companions may also provide short periods of relief to primary caregivers.
Senior Companions attend pre-service and in-service trainings on such topics as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and issues related to mental health. For their service, Senior Companions who live on a low income receive $2.65 per hour (tax free), reimbursement for transportation, annual physical examinations, meals, and gap accident and liability insurance during service.

For more information, go to http://www.propeople.org/Programs/PROP_Seniors/senior_companions.php

Finally, we have the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). RSVP offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to serve their communities.

Volunteers choose how and where they want to serve—from a few hours to more than 40 hours a week. RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services. RSVP offers “one stop shopping” for all volunteers 55 and over who want to find challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their local communities.  RSVP volunteers come from all backgrounds and choose volunteer opportunities based on their interests, skills and schedule. RSVP provides all its volunteers with a variety of volunteer opportunities from which to choose, careful placement, on-going support, a recognition luncheon, insurance coverage while volunteering, and, in some cases, reimbursement of travel expenses.

The RSVP program is run by a variety of agencies throughout the state of Maine. Here in the Portland area it is run by the Southern Maine Agency for Aging (SMAA). The website is  www.smaaa.org/rsvp.php