A Financial Planner may be your Best Gift to Yourself

There are many ways in which you can plan for your financial retirement. The first step in making the right moves is always the step that involves actually creating a plan of action that you can follow as a family. Many people focus too much on the now or too much on the later and have a great deal of difficulty when it comes to creating a happy medium for savings and investing.

Throughout our lives we will have both long and short-term goals that need to be assessed, addressed, and often revisited. Whether you need to find a way to pay for your children to attend college, home improvement projects, or a method for saving for your retirement you can find information and assistance for all these things and so much more if you seek the services of a qualified financial advisor.

A good financial advisor will help you find that balance that so many people and families lack. He or she will also help you assess your means in comparison with your long and short-term needs in order to see where your funds would experience the greatest return in order to suit your specific needs with minimal risk. It is important to remember that going with a financial planner or advisor does not eliminate the risks that are an integral part of investing but it does help you learn to better calculate those risks.

Investing is a risky business. Learning how to weigh the odds and go for the prize is the best way to earn the biggest possible return on your investment no matter how modest your investment may be. We are all starting from different means, isn't it amazing to know that we could all end up with very similar abilities when all is said and done and we are living out our 'golden years'?

Good financial planning is the key to success when it concerns your financial retirement. With so few people around the world adequately prepared to retire it is great to know that there are options and assistance that is available to help you get started on your retirement no matter how late in the game it is. Even better is the knowledge that limits are lifted a little once you reach the age of 50 and retirement is much more eminent. This allows those who got a late start on their retirement planning or who have hit a speed bump or two along the way the opportunity to 'catch up' on their investing and work up to the place they need to be in order to establish a more comfortable retirement for themselves and those they love.

401 (k) plans offer some of the best retirement benefits your money can buy at the moment. They certainly allow you to make the maximum possible investment for your money. If you aren't taking your company up on their offer to match your investment in a 401(k) then you should seriously rethink that thought. Seriously, you're throwing away free money.

When it comes to the murky water of retirement investing it helps to have a guide to get you through. Utilizing the services of a financial planner may be the best move you've ever made in your life when it comes to the financial health of your family and your retirement.

Herbal Remedies that May Do More Harm than Good in Older Adults

Nutritional supplements like herbal remedies are used by millions of older adults every day. After all, the ancient Chinese knew for centuries the power of herbs in enhancing health and immunity. Herbal nutritional supplements can also help you catch those zzzz's that have been eluding you as well as boost memory function and add those essential nutrients that you cannot always get in your diet.

There is one predicament with herbal remedies: not everyone is fully informed of the potential side effects that can occur, especially if you are taking prescribed medication for certain health conditions. Mixing herbal remedies and prescription drugs can cause dangerous problems. In addition, your herbal remedies can also cause problems when you have surgery or other medical procedures. The bottom line is that when you visit your doctor, be up front with all supplements that you take from vitamins and minerals to natural herbal remedies.

A few herbal remedies are more popular than others in the over age 50 crowds when it comes to boosting health. These popular remedies do have many positive benefits but they also have some serious side effects, depending on the person taking them. Therefore, read on for a short primer on some of the pros and cons of the more popular herbal remedies being consumed today:

1. Gingko Biloba - This is the most popular herb used to boost memory. It does so by increasing the circulation of the blood, thereby boosting oxygen levels to your brain.
* The side effects to gingko could have dangerous repercussions if you are on any type of anti-clotting medications; an increase in bleeding may occur.

2. Echinacea - Many people believe in the power of Echinacea in boosting the immune system making you less likely to catch the flu or even a cold. In fact, this herb is known to promote healing too.
* The side effect to Echinacea is swelling or inflammation of the liver. Usually this occurs if you are taking certain medications like anabolic steroids for arthritis.

3. Feverfew - Migraine sufferers often take feverfew to ease their tremendous migraine headaches. Feverfew is also known to ease the swelling and pain of arthritis, allergies and other rheumatic diseases.
* The major side effect to feverfew is bleeding, especially if you are on blood thinners for heart or stroke conditions.

4. Ginseng - Ginseng is a great herb for increasing your focus and concentration as well as boosts your stamina physically.
* Your prescribed blood thinners could lose effectiveness and you might experience bleeding. In addition, your high blood pressure may increase.

5. Garlic - A favorite in many foods, garlic also comes in a supplemental form. It's a popular herb in helping to lower cholesterol as well as blood pressure and triglycerides in the blood.
* Side effects most likely occur in hypertension patients who take blood thinners aka anti-clotting medications.

There is no need to totally discontinue the herbs you are taking. However, you will want to compare the potential side effects against the medications you are currently taking for health issues. You could prevent serious complications if you research first. In addition, be sure to speak with your doctor for advice on these herbal remedies as well.

Understanding the Impact of Depression in the Elderly

Those who work with the elderly on a regular basis will tell you, that they see the evidence of depression in these individuals routinely. The trouble with something that is observed on a routine basis is that it becomes normal to witness the occurrence of the event or condition in the case of depression; and it is often than ignored by medical personnel. Depression should never be viewed as a "normal part of aging". When caregivers and medical professionals assume that depression is normal, they ignore it. Ignoring depression is never a good thing for the individual experiencing it. Depressed individuals need immediate attention, diagnosis, treatment and support.

The very natural progression of years that an elderly person as experienced predisposes them to a higher incidence of disease and situations like loss, that are known to put them at risk for depression. This fact is the reason doctors often assume that it is normal for anyone over 65 to be depressed (they have more reasons to be depressed).

The facts are that:

Depression in the senior years does go hand in hand with other medical chronic or terminal illnesses.

Depression will tend to last longer in the elderly individual.

Depression compounds medical risk for cardiac disease.

Depression in the elderly is more likely to end in suicide than it will for someone who is depressed and much younger.

Risk:

Those at most risk for depression are the elderly population that are female, unmarried and especially those living alone, those who have experienced stressful life events such as natural disasters and loss of close loved ones, and also those who lack a support network.

Other factors that can put an elderly person at risk for depression include certain medications or medication combinations, a recent loss, chronic pain, damage to body image such as an amputation, having the fear of self death, a family history of depression or a history of any major depressive disorder, past suicidal attempts and any substance abuse.

Treatment:

The elderly and those caring for them should understand that not only is depression not normal but that it is common for them to experience it and also more importantly that there are several treatment options available for those who suffer from depression.

The treatment option for those over 65 include: medications, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and also a combination of these treatments.

Medications - The medication class is known as antidepressants. Antidepressants have been shown to be very effective for the older individual. There are however risks associated with using these drugs including potential for adverse reactions from antidepressants and other medications that they may already be taking. It is important that both the doctor prescribing the antidepressant and the pharmacist filling the prescription be aware of any other medications that the individual is taking to avoid this risk factor.

Antidepressants are also known to take longer before the benefits can be felt by the individual taking them in those of advanced age. This prolonged effectiveness is due to elderly individuals being more sensitive to medications and the fact that doctors are prone to start them off at lower doses.

Senior Issues with Nail Fungus

It's gross and no one likes to talk about it. However, many people, especially seniors get it. What is this "it" you might wonder? It is nail fungus! A fungal infection can develop in both the fingernails and toenails and is identified in the beginning stages as a yellow or white spot under the tip of the nail. As the fungus spreads, into your nail, the nail will discolor, get thicker and even start to crumble. This is not only disgusting looking but also painful.

Nail fungus thrives in moist, warm conditions like sweaty feet trapped in shoes or even from the floors of a shower. While nail fungus is treatable, the infection that causes it may not ever really go away, so recurrences are a problem.

A Closer Look at the Symptoms and Causes of Nail Fungus

Also called onychomycosis, a fungal infection will make your nails look thicker and brittle. The nails may also look distorted and ragged with a dull appearance. While health nails shine, fungal nails lack that luster. Debris could also build up under the infected nail making it look dark in color.

Sometimes, your infected nail could pull away from the bed of the nail. This can cause pain and some people even say that they can smell a slightly offensive odor due to the infection. For some seniors, nail fungus can occur due to a weaker blood circulation to the toes and fingers. This in turn inhibits the body's ability to fight infection.

Nail fungus are tiny microscopic beasties that just love warm dark places. If you are a frequent swimmer and hang around locker rooms, chances are that you could develop an infection which causes nail fungus. These little organisms enter the body through little undetectable cuts as well as between the separation of the nail and nail bed.

Toe nails are the most popular areas for seniors to experience nail fungus. This is because after your feet are exposed to an infection through a warm, wet environment, you put your feet inside shoes, essentially trapping your toes and the moisture. The fungus thrives under these conditions.

Treatment of Nail Fungus

Nail fungus is difficult to treat and rest assured that most over the counter remedies are ineffective against it. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe a treatment. There are both oral and topical medication options for treating nail fungus. With the oral medications, they help your nails develop new, healthy growth. This health growth slowly pushes out the infected nail. This process is slow going and you may not see progress for weeks and weeks. However, it could take at long as 1/3 of a year before the infection is completely gone.

Topical medications are not quite as successful. There is one topical option which is applied much like nail polish. This anti-fungal application is not effective for every person. In addition, some prescription ointments can cause rashes and skin irritation. The last resort for the treatment of nail fungus is to totally remove the infected nail. For some seniors, it could take as long as a year before a new nail comes in.

The bottom line is that to avoid nail fungus, you have to avoid all the environments that promote its growth. Now, while you may not want to avoid swimming and you can probably wear protective shoes while in the locker and shower rooms. In addition, always dry your feet before putting on your socks and sneakers.

What are IRAs?

With all the three letter names floating around our society what is one more? Really? It's not like we don't have enough to worry about without adding this burden. However, when it comes to real life, these three letters will have a greater noticeable affect on people than many of the other three letter names that we here on a regular basis such as the CIA, FBI, NSB, ATF, and countless other abbreviations that are hidden behind three little letters. The good news is that an IRA isn't nearly as insidious as its name would imply. This is a useful tool to most Americans who hope to someday retire from their life of work and life out a somewhat comfortable existence.

There are actually many different IRAs, which is the abbreviation for individual retirement account.

A Traditional IRA is the most common. The only requirement for this particular IRA is that you are employed and that you invest no more than 100% of your income or $4,000 per year, whichever is greater up to the age of 49. At the age of 50 your maximum investment is 100% of your income or $5,000 whichever happens to be greater. If you meet the requirements of the IRS to their satisfaction your contributions to your traditional IRA will be tax deductible. As a result, the funds are not taxed while in your IRA account but once the funds are withdrawn they are subject to federal income taxes.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, particularly for those who plan to be in a lower tax bracket when the funds are withdrawn. However, there is a growing number of people who are interested in the benefits that Roth IRAs and similar funds present by paying the taxes now when the rates are known rather than risk an even higher rate of taxation in the future, even in a lower tax bracket. The best advice I can give is to discuss the matter thoroughly with your financial planner and listen to their advice.

This is a case where only you can ultimately decide which decision is best for your needs but he or she can provide valuable guidance. You should also keep in mind that though laws favor non-taxation for Roth contributions that could change between now and the time you are ready to withdraw your funds, which will have you paying double taxes on those funds and is the primary reason that many people elect to stick with Traditional IRAs instead.

There are several distinct disadvantages to the traditional IRA funds. One of those would be the requirements in order to qualify for tax deductions. First of all, if you have the opportunity to invest in another retirement option through your employer you must be below a certain income level in order to qualify for the tax deduction. If you do not meet that qualification all the funds that are deposited into your IRA fund are subject to federal income tax. You will need to seriously discuss your stock buying strategies before determining if this is the best choice for you as those who buy and hold tend to be penalized when it comes to capital gains.

As things are currently, a Roth IRA is often preferable as the money isn't immediately tax deductible but not only is the investment not taxed upon withdrawal but neither are the gains that were earned on the investment. Another serious setback when it comes to the traditional IRA is that you are required to begin receiving payments at age 70.5. As we are seeing more and more people work well beyond the traditional retirement age this is becoming more and more of an issue.

There are advantages and disadvantages to traditional IRAs. It is important that you decide which of these you are prepared to live with and which you would rather live without. These differences will matter a great deal when retirement comes. Take the time to discuss your goals for the future with your financial advisor and see what he or she recommends.

You Are Elderly And You Think You Are Depressed

Depression is common among the elderly, but is not something that they have to accept as a part of growing old. There is plenty to be done to overcome depression and to live life the way that will make you happy to get up each day.

Whether you are the one who is depressed or you think someone you care about is depressed the following tips for dealing with the depression in an elderly individual can be useful to you.

Encourage the individual to seek medical attention because untreated depression, especially in those over 65 can lead to other related psychological problems and also can lead to health issues. A medical professional besides diagnosing depression can also lead you to many resources right in your community that can help you to cope with depression or be of assistance in encouraging someone else to deal with their depression.

If part of your treatment for depression is medication, do not be discouraged if it takes a while to work or if the doctor puts you on a low dose of the medication and then you need to wait to be able to elevate the medication to a higher level before feeling better. Elderly individuals need to start out at a low dose because they are usually sensitive to the affects of medications and this is the safest way to allow the medication to work.

Antidepressants must be taken as directed in order to work, so follow directions carefully.

Take good care of yourself so that your body can take good care of you. Eat nutritious meals. Some communities offer meal assistance to their elderly community members. Ask your doctor about appropriate exercise to keep your body in good condition and to improve mobility. A fit body improves mental outlook.

Investigate what counseling options are open to you by asking your doctor for resources, or contact a senior center or hospital in your area for references to these support services.

Reach out to family and friends that perhaps you have not seen or heard from lately.

Ask your doctor about treatment options to explore.

If you suspect that you are suffering from depression - self diagnosis is not a good idea. There are many reasons for the symptoms you may be feeling, depression being one of them. Depression is also a symptom of other diseases so getting a proper evaluation and diagnosis is what is best for your good health and will allow you to feel better faster.

There is more to life now days for the elderly than in generations past. Elderly individuals are more active and have organized groups that support a healthy lifestyle.

Ask for a referral from your family doctor to someone who specializes in depression if you are given this diagnosis.

Depression is a condition that with treatment does not have to be long-term. Opening yourself up to receiving help and support is the best way to feeling more like you used to feel about how good life can be.

Surround yourself with those who love the same activities and topics that you do.

Examples in How the Body Senescence in Healthy Aging

Each day we all face the possibilities of getting some type of illnesses. Each day we live, we face common colds, allergies, flu, pneumonia, joint injuries and so on. Each day we live, we face the chances of reducing our life expectancy because at any moment someone could die from an accident or violence. Violence takes place in all our communities, which each day we all face the risk of becoming the next victim. Sure, you can spend your life in blindness believing that it can't happen to you, but what happens on the day it does happen to you or someone you love. Are you ready to face the reality then? If you built your strengths, you would prepare for the unknown or inevitable because the fact is it can happen to you.


Facing reality head-on is something many people dread. The fact is when you face reality head-on you are preparing to take action when the day arrives. For instance, if you prepare to prevent hurricanes or tornadoes from destroying your home, you are taking steps to live healthier and happier, since you will be prepared if that day arrives. Likewise, when you consider healthy aging, if you take steps now you will be prepared to endure whatever doors open in your future, including disease, wrinkles, and so on.

On this note we are going to discuss a few ailments or conditions that all people may face as they begin to age.


Your brain:

Your brain is a natural gift that holds dendrites, blood cells, tissues, cells, etc, and all these elements channel down to your central nervous system. (CNS) As you start to age, your brain will decrease its flow of blood and your many levels of chemicals in the brain and body will decline as they go through the senescence of change. This means that your CNS will also decline its functions.

Moreover, when you begin aging you eyes are affected as well. As you grow older, the lens will stiffen. Your retina may feel less responsive to daylight or artificial light. In addition, your pupils may start to react slower.


How the ears, mouth and smell are affected:

As you begin to age your may find that your high-pitch hearing frequencies are less responsive. Your nose may not have the ability to identify scents or odors. In addition, you may not like the foods you once enjoyed since your tastes will change as well.

How aging affects the heart:

Aging affects the heart. Aging causes the pulse acceleration to lower. Your blood and heart muscles will stiffen and decrease production. In addition, your heart may not respond to natural things it once responded to at one time.

Your lungs will lose its ability to obtain air, moving it freely as it once did. Each breath you take will not carry the oxygen it once did to your blood. Aging will also change your liver. Your liver may reduce in size. Your liver may also decrease its blood flow.

As you grow older and these elements of your makeup change, it will affect your kidneys, bladder, colon, or large intestines, skin, immune system, metabolism, and your reproductive organs. A male will lose his reproductive organs ability to function proper, since the prostate glands will enlarge. The male will also lose reproduction of testosterone echelons. In addition, the blood will cease its flow to the male organs, such as the penis.

As you grow older you will experience many changes, which is why it is time to say now, it can happen to me and do something about it.

Properly Planning for Financial Retirement

The vast majority of people reading this will never receive the benefit of social security for the purpose of retirement-unless of course serious adjustments are made in the current system. There are simply too many people living much longer than anticipated. At the same time, regardless of how much you've managed to pay into social security over time it is doubtful that anyone could live on the amount of money they would receive in social security benefits even if they had no other significant bills to pay such as house notes, car notes, or insurance on a home or automobile.

It amazes me that my grandparents managed to live on the modest sum that was earned from my grandfather's retirement and social security. They were never wealthy but in the last decade or so I understood just how little they had and yet they managed somehow to have all the things they absolutely needed in order to survive. I know that in the world of today, their meager incomes would not even begin to make ends meet for groceries let alone utilities and other necessities in life.

It is because of the struggles my grandparent's faced that I have devoted a good deal of time and effort into making sure that we do not go through those same challenges and struggles upon retirement. We have taken steps today to insure that we will have income throughout our retirement as well as a few carefully crafted investments to pull us through. I do not believe that I have all the answers and for this reason we have relied heavily upon the advice of our financial planner. He has helped us discover avenues for investing money and methods of doing so that have been nothing short of amazing for us as we watch our holdings grow year after year in preparation for retirement.

If you haven't taken the time to find a financial advisor for your investments there is no time like the present to do so. Even if you are nearing that magical number you might be amazed at the guidance and advice that can be offered by a competent financial planner to maximize your short and long-term investment and retirement planning needs. I believe you will be amazed at the financial miracles a good financial planner can work with even the most modest of investments with which to work.

You should also make sure that you take care of as many of the recurring bills as possible before you retire. It helps greatly if you have your home paid off and do not have the worry of a monthly mortgage payment. Another thing that is good to keep in mind is that you will want to downsize rather than upsize at retirement. Eliminate the second car and ride together when possible (this also eliminates an insurance payment as well).

If you are planning to move to a particular area of the country for your retirement you may want to begin now, as early as possible, seeking property in that area at a much lower price than you will pay ten to twenty years down the road when you actually get around to retiring. This will increase the likelihood that you either have your retirement home paid for or are very close to having it paid for. Another thing to remember is that you will want to get a smaller home for your retirement rather than a larger home that you will need to care for. This means you can eliminate some of the utility costs, which may prove substantial.

The most important thing to remember when planning for retirement is that it is your retirement for which you are planning. Make sure you set aside funds to make your retirement worth retiring for. Don't merely exist throughout your retirement because you can't afford to live, take the steps now to insure that this is not going to be a problem for your retirement years.

Driving Safely - How to Know When It's Time to Turn in the Car Keys

As the bulk of our country's population is getting older, that means the drivers on the road are too. First of all, it is important to draw attention to the fact that just because you are older, does not mean that your driving skills deteriorate. Many people still are great drivers in their 70's and 80's. However, there are some elements that can affect driving skills that you should be aware of as you age.

Physical Changes

Getting older means that your muscles and joints also are older this translates to more muscle and joint aches and pains. If you feel stiff, this could hinder your reaction time behind the wheel. Just think about what would happen if your knee is stiff and slows your braking time. How about a stiff neck or elbows interfering with checking traffic or turning the wheels of your car? Reflexes also get slower as you age, no matter how good a shape you are.

Hearing and eye sight are also physical changes that can make a difference in driving. Some older adults have a hard time with seeing at night while others have trouble with bright lights and sunshine hurting their eyes. Peripheral vision becomes less focused and if you are suffering from any type of eye condition, you could run into problems.

Any number of health conditions that are normally treatable can become problems. A defibrillator could cause your heart to skip a beat or two and cause dizziness just like low blood sugar in a diabetic. Adverse reactions to medications can also trigger health issues. Any number of physical or medical changes can turn an innocuous trip to the corner grocery into a huge accident.

Savvy Driving Advice

Before you leave on a trip, even if it is a quick one, plan your route in advance along with a back-up in case of road construction or other road problems. Avoid highway driving if possible and always add extra time to get where you are going in case of any problems. In addition, only drive when you are fully rested.

During the drive, always wear a seat belt and do not drive with distractions like talking on a cell phone. If you must make or take a call, pull into a parking lot or safely on the shoulder of a road. Leave at least two to three car lengths between you and other vehicles in case there are any sudden stops or traffic problems. You need to leave yourself a way out of those situations. Always have your head lights on and discourage tailgaters by slowing down to let them pass. Do not, however, drive on the shoulder to do so as it can be dangerous.

Keep routine maintenance kept up on your vehicle and make sure that you have all the latest safety features such as air bags. Always have your fluids and tires checked every so often and go in for a full car check-up if you plan to travel for any length of time.

Evaluating your own Driving Skills
Evaluate your own driving skills. Are you becoming more nervous on the roads as you get older? Do you avoid driving unless absolutely necessary? Do other drivers honk at you or have you have some minor dings on your car as a result of your driving? Do family and friends show concern with your continued driving privileges? These are all concerns that can help you decide whether you not you should still keep those car keys.

If you still feel that your reflexes are good and that you can handle being on the roads, look into a roadside club you can turn to in case of an emergency or traffic mishap. Also, check into driver's education refresher courses for seniors to keep you abreast of the latest techniques and tips to keep you safe as an older adult on the road.

When driving is something you need to give up, don't fret. There are plenty of ways that you can still get out and about. Bus lines and taxis are options as are family and friends. There are even senior assistance programs that you pay a nominal fee to that will take you grocery shopping or to the doctor's office. Check with your local senior advocate offices or even your church parish. There are volunteers that would love to help out with driving and errands. There are plenty of options to stay safe and still get around without driving.

How Working Promotes Healthy Aging

Working is a good way to stay on top of your health. Many things about working make a person feel good both inside and out. Knowing that you can do something to make a difference in peoples lives is a great inter feeling.

How does working make me happy?

Working will keep you healthy by keeping you in shape so you can maintain. Working forces the brain to continue processing, which is good when one is trying to say healthy. Work boosts your self-esteem. Your self-esteem when satisfied will be so high you will not know what to do with it. You won't feel depressed, since the stress is less on you. Just knowing that you are going to meet your bills on time will give you a peace of mind.

There is a lot of reason why you should work to stay healthy. Take someone that does not work. These people are always sick and depressed, stressed out and not knowing which direction to turn. However, if they were working they would be feeling like a new person that can walk over a mountaintop. If your working you doesn't have, time to sit and stress over things like paying your bills. You know that you will be able to pay them on time. In addition, you will not be stressing about things that you can't change in life like maybe a bad marriage, or the children moving out of the house. You will be able to go to work and come home a new person and love the change.

What can stress do to you?

Stress can do a lot to your mental as we as physical reactions. You have to be able to control your stress to avoid illness. Being stressed out all the time can cause you to go into a depression and not be able to get out without your doctors help.

When you feel stressed, it often brings you down. You feel worn and often feel like nothing in life will help. Stress begins to burden you, which affects your health and in time, you will not have control if you do not take control now.

Stress will cause you to lose weight or even gain weight. Stress can cause headaches, which seems to continue. As you allow stress to take over, it gradually breaks down your immunity system. This is when you experience sickness, colds, flu etc. Depression follows symptoms appear similar to common stress. At this point the mind takes over, playing tricks to confuse you further.

Some of the things that depression can cause are either too much sleep where all you do is sleep or not enough sleep making it hard to sleep. You will find it hard to achieve a good night sleep. Now we see fatigue during wake hours accumulating.

Some people that are depressed gain weight. Often they sit around sinking in self-pity, which means activities are out of the question. Now the muscles start to deteriorate, since these natural sources need activities to survive. As the depression continues, the person starts binge eating, or not eating enough foods. Now we have a problem, since the intestines, and other vital organs will sustain damage.

The person often feels saggy, Nagy, and unwilling to exercise. Now we have more problems. Can anyone say Hello Obesity? As you can see, in the end it pays to work, since you will feel better about you. The muscles and joints require consistent movement to promote health. Learn how you can keep those muscles and joints happy by learning more about healthy aging.

Preventing Depression in the Elderly

Preventing depression in the elderly individual is closely connected to the symptoms of depression. Recognizing what depression is and what it looks like in an individual will help in preventing it from occurring.

Many symptoms of depression are also seen in disease such as Alzheimer's. What makes them stand out as possible depression symptoms are that they last for more than 2 weeks and are not associated with any other symptom of disease.

The symptoms of elderly depression are:

Irritable or depressed mood

Feeling unworthy or extremely sad

Loss of interest in activities that usually hold their interest

Agitation or expressions of temper

Appetite changes, typically a loss in appetite

Unintentional weight loss or weight gain

Daytime sleepiness

Difficulty falling or staying asleep at night involving multiple waking, or early morning awakenings and then not being able to go back to sleep

Fatigue not associated with a cause (medical, travel, disruptive noise etc.)

Difficulty concentrating on tasks or conversations

Memory loss not associated with disease

Excessive or inappropriate guilt

Unusual or obsessive thoughts of death

Thoughts or talk concerning suicide

Making plans to commit suicide (thoughts, actions or speech)

Recognizing the signs or symptoms of depression is just the first step to preventing depression in the elderly. Making sure that social support networking is in place before depression sets in as well as being a part of treatment for depression is the next step in preventing depression. Support groups can help individuals to deal with loss, life changes and loneliness when these things occur and also to prepare individuals for the likelihood that these events may occur and give them coping skills to learn before they are needed. There will be times though when recognizing the signs or networking for support cannot prevent depression from happening.

A key component to preventing depression in the elderly is to encourage the social support network. The network can consist of many activities such as family gatherings, neighborhood events, and senior activities within the neighborhood. Encourage those activities that are of interest to the person so as to make them feel alive and happy again with their lifestyle. Address each symptom in this manner so that a solution is found either by the person or by those who love and care for the person and can encourage them to do these activities.

Things the individual can do:

Volunteer as a way to meet others, and to give back to your community or to an organization that has perhaps been helpful to you in the past and also to do this to keep your mind sharp. Volunteering will give meaning to your life and a reason to get up and start your day.

If you have experienced a loss (spouse, adult child, and best friend) seek a support group for those with similar experiences for support.

Learn a new hobby or activity that will challenge you.

Take good care of yourself (meals, personal hygiene, and exercise).

Ease yourself into any major changes that you foresee happening in the future (prepare).

Things those who care about the elderly individual can do:

Invite them to social event, family dinners, church or other community event.

Ask to help with housework or to take them shopping and make an afternoon of it by going out to lunch before shopping.

Call them on a regular basis to find out about how their day is going or what they plan on doing over the weekend.

Help Your Parents Prepare for Retirement

Your parents are a couple that have always seemed to have their heads on straight when it comes to finances. When they first retired 7 years ago, everything seemed to be going fine, but lately, you have noticed that their spending habits have changed. They have not been going out to eat as much, they rarely travel anymore, and they seem to be constantly reminding you of the rising cost of gas. How can you help your parents prepare for the rest of their retirement? Let me give you an idea to begin.

Have you ever heard of a reverse mortgage? Well, it is a good possibility that your parents have. They are probably inundated with mailings telling them that they qualify for a reverse mortgage. The only problem - they may not know what that means. In the past, these types of loans have had a bad reputation because of the predatory lending practices of its early stages. Let me tell you a little about modern day reverse mortgages. You have to be 62 or over to qualify. The reverse mortgage takes the equity in the home and gives a portion of that money to the owner. It is much like a home equity loan except there are no payments for the life of the loan. That is correct, I said no payments for the life of the loan. The amount of the proceeds is dependent upon the age of the senior, the value of the home, as well as the location of the home. If there is still a mortgage left on the home, that must be paid from the proceeds of the loan, after which any funds are left for the homeowner. More often than not, paying off the mortgage itself is highly beneficial to the homeowner and can greatly increase their monthly cash income enough for them to live comfortably.

Before a senior can submit an application, they have to attend a counseling session on the ins and outs of the loan. This is completely free to the senior, and is paid for by the federal government. It is completely separate from the lending agency and the originator of the loan. There are no out of pocket costs such as closing costs or attorney fees involved. And because there are not payments to return, there are no credit requirements for reverse mortgages. Essentially, it is free money for your parents' retirement.

Disbursement of the funds can come in a number of ways. They can choose to take the funds in one lump sum of cash up front or they can set up a line of credit to be used as needed. They can also set up a guaranteed monthly tenure payment for life, or they can do a combination of the three. An example of this would be a lady in her eighties that refinanced with a reverse mortgage. She had been doing part time catering to make ends meet, but this opportunity came along and she decided to try it out. She was able to pay off her first mortgage, set up a credit line of $25,000 to draw from at any time, she took $25,000 at closing, and set up a guaranteed tenure payment of $1000 per month for the rest of her life. Of course this is someone with lots of equity in her home, but these numbers or some similar are possible for many seniors today.

If you are concerned about your parents and their financial stability, the reverse mortgage is one way to help your parents prepare for retirement.