The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Blogging Boomer Carnival #261: Read about veterans, weight loss, hepatitis C testing, investments, part-time work, and food storage

By Rita R. Robison

This week’s Blogging Boomer Carnival is hosted by Vaboomer.com.

Take a look at the weekly roundup of boomer articles on a variety of topics including remembering veterans, losing weight, testing for hepatitis C, investing, working part time, and solving food storage problems.

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are America’s largest age group so far, and a fascinating group they are.

Boomers are leading corporations, serving as governmental officials, heading up non-profits, worrying about retirement, and experiencing layoffs at a higher rate than younger workers. They’re also reinventing themselves in trying economic times, with some looking for their dream jobs to keep them happy in retirement.

At each stage in their lives, boomers have changed things. They’re continuing to make America different as they begin entering into their retirement years.

In addition to The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: The Accidental Locavore, The Midlife Crisis Queen, Sightings at 60, Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures, So Baby Boomer, Vaboomer, Empty House Full Mind, and Witty Woman Writing.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

CDC advises all baby boomers be tested for hepatitis C

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing draft guidelines proposing that all U.S. baby boomers get a one-time test for the hepatitis C virus.

One in 30 boomers – born from 1946 through 1964 – has been infected with hepatitis C, and most don’t know it. Hepatitis C causes serious liver diseases including liver cancer, which is the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths, and the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

The CDC believes testing will address the largely preventable consequences of this disease, especially since new therapies can cure up to 75 percent of infections.

“With increasingly effective treatments now available, we can prevent tens of thousands of deaths from hepatitis C,” CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement.

More than 2 million U.S. baby boomers are infected with hepatitis C, accounting for more than 75 percent of all American adults living with the virus. Boomers are five times more likely to be infected than other adults. Yet most infected boomers don’t know they have the virus because hepatitis C can damage the liver for many years with few noticeable symptoms.

More than 15,000 Americans, mostly boomers, die each year from hepatitis C-related illness, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Deaths have been increasing steadily for more than a decade and are projected to grow significantly in coming years.

“Identifying these hidden infections early will allow more baby boomers to receive care and treatment, before they develop life-threatening liver disease,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention.

Current CDC guidelines call for testing only individuals with certain known risk factors for hepatitis C infection. But studies find that many boomers don’t perceive themselves to be at risk and aren’t being tested.

The CDC estimates one-time hepatitis C testing of boomers could identify more than 800,000 additional people with hepatitis C, prevent the costly consequences of liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases, and save more than 120,000 lives.

The CDC’s draft recommendations are available for a public comment period until June 8.

For additional information about hepatitis, visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Blogging Boomer Carnival celebrates its fifth anniversary with travel tips, financial discussions, food and health issues, and pet love

By Rita R. Robison

Blog carnivals collect links pointing to blog articles on a particular topic. A blog carnival is like a special interest magazine. It has a title, a topic that flows through its postings, editors, contributors, and a focused audience. Editions of the carnival come out on a regular basis, often weekly.

A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Blogging Boomer Carnival. This week, the carnival is marking its fifth anniversary with a roundup by Laura Carter, blogging at The Midlife Crisis Queen.

Laura reports on using trout in salad, sightseeing in Dubai, helping adult children financially, hearing problems boomers face, challenging investment decisions, loving pets, and looming food shortages. See "Blogging Boomers Blog Carnival #260" for details.

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are America’s largest age group so far, and a fascinating group they are.

Boomers are leading corporations, serving as governmental officials, heading up non-profits, worrying about retirement, and experiencing layoffs at a higher rate than younger workers. They’re also reinventing themselves in trying economic times, with some looking for their dream jobs to keep them happy in retirement.

At each stage in their lives, boomers have changed things. They’re continuing to make America different as they begin entering into their retirement years.

In addition to The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: The Accidental Locavore, The Midlife Crisis Queen, Sightings at 60, Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures, So Baby Boomer, Vaboomer, Empty House Full Mind, and Witty Woman Writing.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Baby boomers need to be aware of possible hearing loss as they get older and the importance of getting a hearing test

 

By Rita R. Robison 

Hearing loss affects nine million older adults in the United States today. It's one of the most common health problems in the country – but also one of the most under-diagnosed and undertreated. 

May is Better Hearing Awareness Month and Older Americans Month.

The National Council on Aging, with support from United Health Foundation, wants older adults to know about the signs of hearing loss and the importance of getting screened.

"One out of every four older Americans has undetected or untreated hearing loss, and NCOA's research has shown that most older adults with hearing loss do not realize how much the quality of their lives has been affected," Jim Firman, president and CEO of the council, said in a statement.  

"As someone with significant hearing loss, I can personally attest to how the right hearing aids have dramatically improved my ability to work and play, my relationships with family and friends, and my self-esteem,” Firman said. “We encourage all older adults and their families to take a hearing test and find out what they've been missing."

When people began to use hearing aids, many see improvements in their lives, including their family relationships, 66 percent; mental health, 36 percent; sense of independence, 34 percent; social life, 34 percent; and sex life, 8 percent, a council survey on hearing loss and older adults found. 

"In recent years, hearing aids have improved significantly because of digital technologies," he said. "Therefore, we think people who use hearing aids today will see even more significant improvements in their lives." 

To learn more, including what are some warning signs of hearing loss to look for, visit www.ncoa.org/HearingLoss.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomer Guide joins Blogging Boomer Carnival for weekly reports on boomer happenings

By Rita R. Robison

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are America’s largest age group so far, and a fascinating group they are.

Boomers are leading corporations, serving as governmental officials, heading up non-profits, worrying about retirement, and experiencing layoffs at a higher rate than younger workers. They’re also reinventing themselves in trying economic times, with some looking for their dream jobs to keep them happy in retirement.

At each stage in their lives, boomers have changed things. They’re continuing to make America different as they begin entering into their retirement years.

For about five years, a web community of boomer bloggers has been covering the boomer scene and posting weekly about what their blogs are covering. They call themselves the Blogging Boomer Carnival and last week, I joined their ranks.

This week, Anne Maxfield at Accidental Locavore is hosting the roundup with “Blogging Boomer Carnival 259: A Celebration of Mother’s Day.”

Anne reports on blogs about grandmotherly advice for teenagers, what working mother’s want, and tips for stressed out moms.

Other members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: The Midlife Crisis Queen, Sightings at 60, Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures, So Baby Boomer, Vaboomer, Empty House Full Mind, and Witty Woman Writing. 

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Baby boomers need to fight internalized agism

In the popular culture and throughout society, the message is loud and clear: Young is good, old is bad.

Although baby boomers experienced women's liberation and gay rights, they have anti-aging messages ingrained into their psyches, says Carol Orsborn, CEO, FierceWithAge, Spirituality for Grownups. These messages are economically, socially, and politically damaging for boomers and all age groups.

Boomers are allowing stereotypes of aging to take over their thinking about who they are as they age, Orsborn says.

She suggests boomers start or join a Fierce with Age Consciousness Group.

Find between two and 10 boomers and set a time to meet regularly. Discuss whatever you want, but when the following five flags come up, catch yourself and catch others.

1. Comments, satire, or jokes, including asides, that revile, infantilize, or marginalize aging and old people.

2. Youth-centric language, as in "young at heart" or "youthful." Replace it with age-neutral words such as "vital" and "passionate."

3. Separating one out from peers, as in: "Can you believe I'm 60 years old?"

4. Definitions of successful aging that are based solely or primarily on your having attributes normally associated with individuals younger than your own age.

5. Romanticizing or sanitizing images of aging.

For details, see Orsborn’s Huffington Post article “Aging With Pride: The Call for Boomer Consciousness.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomer consumer journalist wins awards from state organization

By Rita R. Robison

It was fun yesterday to go to the awards luncheon for the Washington Press Association.

I received the following awards:

• First Place for Consumer Affairs – “FDA Misses the Mark on New Sunscreen Requirements”
  

• Second Place for Consumer Affairs – “FDA Action on Sunscreen Too Little, Too Late” 

• Second Place for Sports – “Super Bowl 2011: Another Round of Violent, Sexist, and Ageist Ads”
  

•  Second Place for Food – “What’s a Gluten-Free Diet?”

• Second Place for Agriculture/Environment – “Ways to Help the Planet on Earth Day”
  

That’s me in the photo with John Lesow, a WPA member and Bellingham writer, who helped present the awards.

I enjoyed visiting with my journalist colleagues. It was interesting to learn about their work and tell people how much I enjoy blogging about baby boomer consumer issues.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Overseas travel tips for baby boomers

Baby boomer consumers love to travel.

Vayama, an online travel agency that focuses on international travel, offers the following tips the best day of the week to fly, how far in advance to book flights to get the best deal, when to use multiple flights, and how much a stopover can save:

Travel midweek

International travel deals are entirely based on availability. Since most people travel on Friday and over the weekend, you’ll find the cheapest international airfare deals if you travel midweek, usually departing and returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Spend Saturday night

Business travelers fly home on the weekend, so most discounted international airfare deals require a Saturday night stay. Be prepared to spend Saturday at your destination. 

Don’t book too early or too late

When it comes to cheap international airfares, follow the Goldilocks rule: Don’t book too early or too late.

An international ticket booked with less than three days notice will be very expensive, but it will also be pricy if you book too far in advance. Most airlines start competing for passengers around three to four months before departure. This is known as the “Goldilocks Zone.” Search for your international airfare about three to five months out, and you’ll be in the best position to hit the international airfare deal jackpot.

Fly through the side door

If your desired destination is too expensive, try flying out of a secondary international airport, Boston instead of JFK or San Francisco instead of Los Angeles, for example.

The same tips works with your destination airports. If you’re flying to Costa Rica, check out Liberia airport as it’s often cheaper than flying into San Jose plus. In addition, it’s only two hours from Playa Tamerindo and Ollies Point verses the 8-plus hours it takes to get to these designations from San Jose. 

Use the multiple flights function

Vayama has a “multiple flights” function on its “find a flight” box. It’s a good idea to use it because it may be cheaper to fly into one city and return from another; New York to London, returning from Amsterdam, for example. Try different combinations to save.

Add a stopover and save

Direct flights – those with one stop – are also cheaper than nonstop flights, especially when you have a long flight.

For example, the fares for a New York to Johannesburg flight will be cheaper on airlines that add a stopover, usually in Europe, Africa or the Middle East, versus the nonstop option from New York.

The same applies to long haul flights to Asia. One stop in Seoul or Taipei could shave hundreds of dollars off an India trip when compared to nonstop flights.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Fewer older adults apply for Social Security benefits last year, but disability benefit requests still up

Fewer workers age 62 and older applied for Social Security retirement benefits in 2011, mainly because more and better jobs were available.

Only 27 percent of older workers began collecting retirement benefits last year, the lowest rate since 1976, according to the Urban Institute’s Program on Retirement Policy.

Older Americans were more likely to claim Social Security retirement benefits in 2009 than in previous years as the economy weakened, and the unemployment rate for workers age 55 to 64 rose to 6.6 percent, more than double the 2007 rate.

 In 2009, the retirement benefit take-up rate reached 30.8 percent, up from 28.8 percent in 2008 and 27.1 percent in 2007.

“Claiming Social Security benefits early sometimes jeopardizes future economic security, because early claimants receive permanently reduced benefits,” Richard Johnson, director of program, said in a policy brief. For example, Social Security reduces monthly payments by 25 percent when beneficiaries begin collecting at age 62 instead of 66.

While the number of Social Security applications has declined, more people are continuing to apply for Social Security disability benefits.

In 2011, 18.9 insured workers per 1,000 applied for Social Security disability benefits, more than any year since 1957except 2010. The disability program was launched in 1957.

The weak labor market caused the surge in disability applications.

“Workers with health problems are more likely to turn to disability benefits when jobs are scarce,” Johnson said. However, disability applications had been rising before the recession.

Population aging accounted for about two-thirds of the growth between 2000 and 2007, as many boomers entered their fifties and sixties when disability is relatively common.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tips for baby boomers who are traveling again

Baby boomers love to travel. Boomers consumers now account for more than three quarters of the cash spent on leisure travel in the U.S. every year.

I asked Bob Diener, co-founder of Getaroom.com, to answer the following questions about baby boomer travel these days and to offer tips on using travel dollars wisely.

Rita: How can you find a cheap airline ticket?

Bob: It’s very important to pick the right days to fly. Air travel on Saturday, Tuesday, or Wednesday are the best bets to save money because they are much lower demand than other days, especially Friday and Sunday.

Another important tip is to check different airlines for both directions of your flight. There is no law saying you have to book the same airline for both your departing and return flights. By looking at different airlines you greatly expand your options, so you can find a southerly route in the winter and avoid possible weather delays. You can also save money by booking two one-way tickets instead of a typical round trip.

Rita: What can baby boomers do to reduce their travel costs in the United States? Abroad? What are some deals you can get in Europe this spring before the heavy tourist season sets in?

Bob: Baby boomers that want to reduce their costs should always look to book their rooms in far as advance as possible. Many sites such as Getaroom.com offer substantial discounts for vacations booked 21 or more days in advance. Savings can still be had for the spur of the moment trips by looking at flash sales or daily deal type websites that feature discounts that only last for hours or a day.

Las Vegas is very popular for this generation, and some four-star rooms can be booked in Sin City for only $100 a night. Europe trips through the end of May offer some significant discounts compared to deeper summer travel. Paris, London, and Tuscany are attractive boomer destinations that are very cost effective in July and August.

Rita: What are the top five travel destinations for boomers?

Bob: New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, and Washington D.C. are all top destinations for baby boomers. Each of these destinations offers upscale accommodations for surprisingly affordable prices.

Rita: Are more boomers traveling now since the Great Recession is easing?

Bob: Baby boomers have seen their retirement and investment accounts growing in the past year, and this has freed up much more money for them to travel. There’s also less pressure on their children as the economy improves, so they’re worrying less and can spend more cash on longer and more expensive trips both domestically and internationally.

Rita: Thank you, Bob, for giving us your insights on baby boomer travel.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist