What happened to my secure retirement?
Like many Americans, when the plummet of financial institutions, we were frightened and very concerned what this meant for our future. Everything we had known as ‘saving for our retirement ‘was no longer valid. Not only did we lose our economic foundation of retirement funds we also lost our 401K, homes, our friends and family (due to moving in with others to meet financial needs, moving in where the work was or going back to work ourselves and more).
Two thousand sixteen sees our country and our lives in turmoil of uncertainty. We have been uncertain where to turn or who to ask. Does this sound familiar? And now we must live with this Social Security bubble over our heads, not knowing when if ever it will burst.
Now the time to dust off all of those things we heard as children when our parents and grandparents had insight. Today is not the time to let our nerves take over and rule our lives. We cannot become frightened of the future, rather it I time to take control. We can benefit from this situation. There are new and bright horizons. No, this action is not being Pollyanna. We are looking for the cloud with the silver lining. Get yourself in a positive and happy mood (whether that means exercising, watching a movie where everything came together at the end (no blood and gore, actors hitting rock bottom or drinking away the problems).
Although being the largest collective group in America, we are a minority when it comes to providing help or services, having access to affordable services and legal information. It is easy to see why we are the largest collective group as we are the children born after WWII. Called Baby Boomers and the greatest number of taxpaying or property owners in the last ten years. Having all this information does not explain our lack of representation in government, lack of legal, prescription and house resources.
Many services are changing, and we need to choose carefully for our economic and physical lifestyle. I know how hard it is to do the research for life services. Many services will require more information gathering during our lifetime. Not many of us have a geriatric resources specialist, in our circle of friends. These specialist need to be at least one generation below our generation, the reason for this is growing older our need for geriatric services will increase. We must be aware of new needs or changes in our abilities to take care of our everyday life.
The benefits mentioned herein are in flux and have been in flux for many years. Seniors and the disabled have prepared for the worst at the beginning of a new year, and with an election, those concerns become even more worrying. A large part of this worry comes from being in a class of people that has little or no way to bolster our income and living situation.
Instead of worrying and getting angrier take the time to find someone who can help you when the going gets tough. There is always new information out there; concern comes when we cannot differentiate from what we need and what will do us the most harm. A geriatric case manager is the professional to help us break through all the information and come to an answer for us.
I want to Thank You for your insights into this subject. You were very well educated and sought even more as you began your adult life while already requiring help. It is not always the case, well educated regarding what resources are available. Thank you, again, for comments.
Medicine being what it is, people are living much longer. Most baby boomers will probably outlive their resources. Yet, they tend to retire much earlier for many reasons and start saving for retirement much later for many reasons. I have found that most people waste a lot of money in oversized homes, expensive cars and habits that range from drug use to sports fanaticism and other pastimes that keep them from saving for retirement. Many people think they can start and run a business--most fail. To get a case manager late in life to help them with their retirement is probably too late.
When I was partially paralyzed (mostly arms and hands) in surgery at 20 years of age, my biggest concern was employment. Once employed, I began saving for my retirement knowing that I would need more than the average individual even though my life would probably be cut short because of my paralysis… And, I soon found out that my paralysis would continue to advance and I would become more disabled with time. So, I lived a very frugal life, saving money anywhere I could and taking advantage of programs like my employment offering long-term care insurance that I was able to get without pre-existing conditions. I was unable to get short-term or long-term disability insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
Long story short, I worked until 69. I have been living in the same home for 33 years modified when I had to get in a wheelchair 24 years ago. At the same time, I had to hire help and now have one full-time assistant/caregiver and two part-time caregivers that I'm paying from my own resources and retirement. I continue to work full-time on my writing and publishing that makes no money and is a big expense. I am taking advantage of every opportunity to extend what little retirement money that I have through both government and private investment opportunities. I do not fear the future, I've adapted to it. I am healthy in spite of my disability so I may live into my 90s. If I do, I am projected to run out of funds. I hope that doesn't happen because I would like to give something to my beneficiaries. As a final note. I have never received any help from my family except for a brief rehabilitation period of about nine months at 21. I have offered to help my siblings a couple of times and am helping my mother, but it was refused.
Ron