It is quite a dichotomy.  The Government of the United States seems to pass many laws that work against the needs and desires of the population of senior citizens.  Yet many of those Senators and Representatives, one-third in fact, are senior citizens themselves.  Have they become so disconnected with the trappings of “real life” that they are voting against their own population demographic?

 The Senate historian says the average age for a senator is 60.3 years, the oldest ever and up six years from 1985. Thirty-seven are at least 65, 19 of whom are in their 70s. Five are in their 80.
Reuters

Although opinions vary widely on the effectiveness of these senior Senators, it is generally agreed that, like driving, ability to function in a job should not be determined by age.  But how do you determine whether or not a Senator is still able to meet the demands of the job?  Without term limits, a Senator who is well-liked, through reputation, may be in the elected position for life. 

It brings up two questions:

• Why do they stay?
• Why have they lost touch with the general population of senior citizens in the U.S.?

“In most cases, it’s because they have a safe seat and public service ethic,” James Thurber, of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, said. “A cynical view would be they can’t do anything else or find it uncomfortable to leave the stage.”

Considering the perks it is easy to see the answer to both questions.  Senators earn $165,200 annually and of course they have a health insurance plan that most of us can only dream of.  They do have, albeit unused, great retirement benefits as well.  What is the motivation to leave?  But shouldn’t they be called on the carpet for ignoring the needs of the other, less well-off seniors?

Perhaps the continual re-election of these Senators is just tradition.  A voter gets into the polls and is pressured by time; there is always a line behind waiting to vote and subconciously voters feel rushed.  They vote for many people because they have always been in that office and since the world hasn’t fallen apart, perhaps it is the best vote to make.  Perhaps it is, but it may be more important to look at what is actually happening in the “World’s Most Exclusive Club,” and see if that vote is in the interest of the people.

Senate Packed With Senior Citizens

Do you know what elder law is?  You should.  Whether you are a Baby Boomer, a senior citizen, or a member of the Sandwich Generation, you need to learn about elder law and how it is, or will become, necessary in your life, or the life of your parents.

Elder law is a legal specialty that helps older citizens and their family members with a variety of legal issues that can include: estate planning (wills, trusts and probate), long-term care planning, Social Security and disability, public and private pensions, Medicare, Medicaid, nursing home issues, durable powers of attorney, living wills, conservatorship and guardianship, age discrimination, elder abuse, fraud, senior housing and more.
Jim Miller – Bradenton Herald

The complexity of society has caused this arm of the legal profession to come together in an effort to protect the rights of the senior citizen.  As that age group becomes the largest population group within the United States, the need for attorneys specializing in this field, will increase. 

But finding a good attorney is a bit like finding a good physician.  Not all of them received straight A’s in law school.  And some are downright unethical.  How does a person find a good attorney, who specializes in elder law?  And how can adult children and other extended family members help?

Elder Law One Of Fastest Growing Fields - Finding A Good Attorney

Does it seem like the press is hounding us lately about losing weight?  Like every time we turn on the television or Internet, someone is there saying, “You are too fat!”  Well, they don’t say it that way, because they know we would change the channel or surf to another site.  But they say it all the time in more subtle ways.  At least it seems that way to me – maybe I am feeling guilty!  Is there a concern about Baby Boomers and their weight causing them problems later on in life?  Is this a justified concern?

It seems that it may be a very big (pardon the pun) concern because as this article says, “Obese Baby Boomers are on the fast track to becoming disabled senior citizens.”  Disabled?  Wait a minute.  I thought being overweight was going to shorten our life and definitely cut our quality of life, but what is this about being disabled?

Public health officials have said for years that obesity increases the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancer and can shave years off a person’s life. Now a growing body of research suggests being obese – 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight – increases chances of becoming disabled at a younger age and unable to perform daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, shopping and climbing stairs.
Clarion Ledger

That translates into big bucks for our government, meaning our society, and meaning our taxes.  Social Security is the supply of most of the disability payments in the United States, and it is going to be drained as it is with the Baby Boomers all retiring at the same time.  Now, if we enter in longterm disability into the equation, the system is going to be stressed even more than before.

There are no easy answers.  We can’t really legislate weight.  How could we enforce it anyway?  Twinkie Tax?  But there are many questions and concerns on the very near horizon.  Unfortunately, most have no easy answers. 

Obese Baby Boomers To Be Disabled Seniors

Thinking about buying a second home? You’re not alone. New research from the National Association of Realtors finds that second-home purchases are growing at a rapid pace and baby boomers are leading the way. Boomers are still in their peak earning years and are purchasing second homes not only for vacation purposes, but as investment vehicles to diversify their portfolios.

According to the National Association of Realtors:

• Second-home sales accounted for four out of 10 residential transactions in 2005;
• Sixty-three percent of investment-property buyers purchased for rental income, while 49 percent wanted to diversify their investments
• Fifty-three percent of investment-property owners own two or more investment homes
• Twenty-one percent of vacation-home owners own two or more vacation homes
• More than 1 in 10 second homes are now owned by minorities.

Are you considering a second home for a college bound child?  Perhaps you have thought about buying your dream getaway.  Whichever it may be, consider what you are getting into financially before you sign on the dotted line.

Questions Regarding a Home Purchase for a College-Bound Son

Benefits of Owning a Second Home

Purchase Your Own Private Getaway