Search Results for: blog elderly women and retirement

Why I Thought My Grandma Didn’t Love Me

It’s funny how years and maturity can change your view of things from your childhood. I know all memories are colored by time and usually we have a rosier view of the past than we did at the time but sometimes, it’s warranted. My father died when I was a toddler so every summer I got to spend a week or two with my father’s mother, Grandma D. My father’s family all lived out of state so we didn’t see them on a regular basis. I remember as a child feeling unloved by my grandmother and one of the reasons … Continue reading →

Of Debts and Dying

Imagine how you would feel if your spouse, parent, or other close relative passed away. Now, imagine that shortly after their death you begin receiving phone calls from debt collectors multiple times a day, asking you to pay their debts. You may think that this could not possibly happen, that collection agencies are not allowed to do that. Unfortunately, creditors and the debt collection agencies that represent them can and do pursue collection of the debts of the deceased from their survivors. This practice is very upsetting for a number of reasons. First, the survivors do not have a legal … Continue reading →

Elderly Women and Retirement

Whenever I think about elderly women, of course my grandmother comes to mind. She and I were very close. I remember going up to stay with her from time to time, often for five days or a week, and enjoyed her simple, laid-back lifestyle. She canned, she gardened, she did crossword puzzles, she wrote in her journal—and she always had a cookie jar full of various home-baked treats for her grandchildren. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-teens that I realized something: Grandma didn’t have a lot of money. It wasn’t something that had ever been an issue, so … Continue reading →

Weight Lifting and the Elderly

It’s never too late to start lifting weights. At least that’s what the authors of a new fitness study maintain. A recent study published in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that individuals should be hitting the weights as they age. The reason: As time goes on people gradually lose muscle mass and become more prone to falls. Researchers say as individuals age they lose fast-twitch muscle fibers, used for activities such as running, kicking a ball, or getting up and down from a chair. To reverse the effects, scientists say older people need to … Continue reading →

Judge Protects Health Benefits for Government Retirees

A judge in California has ruled that health benefits for government retirees cannot be eliminated. It was clear that state and local governments promised that workers would receive those benefits, and that those benefits would last a lifetime. The governments cannot end those benefits now, as a budget saving measure. In the past, it was standard for large corporations to continue to offer health insurance benefits to their employees who have retired. Recently, many companies have decided to change their minds, and cancel those health benefits. In most cases, there wasn’t anything that the retired workers could do about it. … Continue reading →