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The National Council on Aging is expanding its national network of benefits enrollment centers to help eligible older Americans and individuals with disabilities apply for benefits programs to pay for daily expenses.

NCOA will provide over $11 million in funding to 90 centers across 39 states—including two in the Puget Sound area–to offer in-person assistance to low-income individuals who are eligible for federal and state programs for healthcare, prescriptions, food, and utilities.

The benefits enrollment centers are funded through the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act administered by the U.S. Administration for Community Living. The funding has been extended 11 times with bipartisan support in Congress, helping connect 9.3 million lower-income adults to benefits in 2022-23 alone.

Locations in Washington where enrollment is offered are the Chinese Information and Service Center (206-624-5633, cisc-seattle.org) and the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (206-624-1023, napca.org), both in Seattle.

The centers prioritize outreach to individuals who are historically under-enrolled in benefits or face unique challenges accessing services:

• Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other people of color.

• Members of religious minorities.

• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals.

• People with disabilities. • Residents of rural areas.

The Senior Scene by — May 15, 2024 in Personal Finance/Consumers

By Rena Marken

Loneliness, once viewed as a mere emotional state, is now recognized as a serious health concern.

Harvard’s Study of Adult Development, a comprehensive 75-year study, has provided invaluable insights into the profound impact of loneliness on our well-being, particularly as we age. As the study reveals, loneliness is not just a psychological burden; it can have detrimental effects on our physical, emotional, and cognitive health.

Harvard’s research highlights the toxic nature of loneliness. Individuals who experience more isolation than they desire are not only less happy, but also face earlier declines in health and cognitive function, leading to shorter lives. Shockingly, more than one in five Americans report feeling lonely at any given time, emphasizing the pervasive nature of this issue. Loneliness, as the study suggests, is not confined to social isolation; it can thrive even in the midst of a crowd or within the bounds of a marriage.

One of the study’s key findings challenges the notion that the number of friends or the presence of a committed relationship is the sole determinant of well-being. Instead, it’s the quality of close relationships that proves crucial. Living amidst conflict, especially in marriages lacking affection, is revealed to be detrimental to health. The study emphasizes that warm and supportive relationships, rather than simply being in a relationship, play a pivotal role in maintaining overall health.

Intriguingly, the study found that middle-age individuals who were most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80. Surprisingly, it wasn’t cholesterol levels that proved to be the most predictive factor of a person’s health in old age–rather, it was their satisfaction in relationships. This reinforces the idea that close relationships act as a buffer against the challenges of aging.

Protecting body and mind

A crucial insight further emphasizes that strong relationships offer more than just physical protection; they extend to safeguarding cognitive well-being. Research reveals that securely attached relationships in one’s 80s contribute to enhanced memory retention. Individuals who find solace in partners they can rely on during times of need experience sustained cognitive function over time. Conversely, those entangled in relationships lacking trust face an accelerated decline in memory. Additionally, the study sheds light on the silent partnership between loneliness and mental health challenges. It uncovers a correlation between loneliness and heightened vulnerability to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. The absence of social engagement and support not only exacerbates existing mental health issues, but also poses a barrier to recovery.

Harvard’s research challenges the modern pursuit of quick fixes and instant gratification. Relationships, it asserts, are messy, complicated, and lifelong. The study recommends actively tending to family and friends throughout one’s life, replacing workmates with new playmates in retirement. The happiest retirees in the study were those who invested time and effort into building meaningful connections beyond the workplace.

“The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health,” said the study’s dsirector, Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care, too. That, I think, is the revelation.”

As loneliness emerges as a health crisis, Harvard’s study offers profound insights into the power of relationships. The findings remind us that the pursuit of fame and wealth pales in comparison to the enduring value of genuine connections with family, friends, and community. In a world that often seeks shortcuts to happiness, the study’s wisdom is a timeless reminder that the foundation of a good life lies in the intricate, lifelong work of cultivating and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Rena Marken is the co-founder of Ascending Community of Light LLC and manager of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) for Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

THREE THINGS TO DO IF YOU’RE FEELING LONELY

Exercise regularly.

In addition to being good for overall health, regular exercise has positive effects on mental health, according to surveys and other research. It can help manage or even prevent certain health issues, including heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and it’s associated with lower rates of depression. That doesn’t mean running a 5K every morning, as even normal everyday activities like walking or doing yard work can help keep you physically fit. For older adults, four types of exercise are recommended — endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.

Build community connections.

An active social life is just as important as being physically active as we age. Visits with friends and family can help lower feelings of isolation, and many older adults use this period in their lives to focus on causes that are important to them.

AmeriCorps senior volunteers can help connect you with organizations that need a helping hand in your community. In Pierce County and Kitsap County, contact RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), which is operated locally by Lutheran Community Services Northwest. Call 253-722-5695.

Other ways of building community connections can include running for local office, taking classes at a library or community college, or spending a few hours a week at a part-time job.

Get regular medical care.

Preventive care is often the key to remaining healthy into old age, and Medicare can help people access preventive care like screenings, counseling, and flu shots.

Your doctor can offer advice and referrals if you are concerned about your mental health, a key component of overall health. Depression can be common for older adults, but there is no reason to live with intrusive or depressive thoughts. If you’re in emotional distress or concerned about the mental health of a loved one, call hotlines such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at 206-783-4288 or the federally supported SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 800-662-4357 for help, referrals, and advice.

The Senior Scene by — May 15, 2024 in Health & Fitness
Mount Rainier requiring reservations to enter

(Pictured: The Ashford entrance to Mount Rainier National Park).

Depending on the time of day and year, getting into Mount Rainier National Park now requires a reservation.

The timed-entry reservations, as park officials are calling them, will be necessary from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Paradise (south) entrance via Ashford from May 24 to Sept. 2 and from July 4 to Sept. 2 at the Sunrise (northeast) entrance via Enumclaw. Standard entrance fees will apply.

The park has experienced about a 40 percent increase in visits over the last 10 years, leading to overcrowding during the summer and damage to fragile ecosystems, according to officials. So timed entries during the prime, busiest hours will be tried in the hope of reducing traffic congestion and overuse of trails, particularly in heavily visited areas such as Paradise.

Entering before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. doesn’t require a timed reservation. The park is open 24 hours a day. And some parts of the park don’t require a timed reservation at any time. They include:

Park entrance fees are $15 for pedestrians or bicyclists, $25 for motorcycles, $30 for private vehicles (cars and trucks), and $55 for an annual pass.

Adults 62 or older can buy annual passes for $20 or lifetime passes for $80.

Mount Rainier isn’t the only national park with timed entries or entry reservations. Others include Rocky Mountain in Colorado, Glacier in Montana, Arches in Utah, and Yosemite in California.

The Senior Scene by — May 15, 2024 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures
Regrets? They have a few

By Kayla Hopkins

We all have regrets. But when it comes to reflecting on their life and professional career, no collective of people may have better insight than retirees. A quarter of retired Americans say they have regrets now that they’ve retired, which can be a learning lesson for younger Americans who still have many professional working years left.

In a new study by MedicareFAQ, a Medicare learning resource center hosted by Elite Insurance Partners, more than 560 retired Americans were surveyed to understand those regrets better and to see what advice they can offer to younger generations.

One of the biggest considerations in retirement is finances. Even once you’ve retired, there’s no guarantee you’ll feel financially secure. In fact, 59 percent of retirees have financial concerns about their retirement, and 46 percent have saved enough money for a comfortable retirement. Eighty-six percent wish they had saved more before retiring, and 60 percent didn’t start investing in their retirement funds early enough. That’s a clear indication that it’s never too early to start saving for retirement, and for most retirees, that’s their biggest piece of advice.

Other advice regarding retirement includes prioritizing experiences over material possessions and finding a fulfilling work-life balance.

Some retirees regret not prioritizing their health. That can look different depending on one’s situation. For some, it means staying active, following a fad diet, or reducing the amount of unhealthy food you eat. For others, it means prioritizing your healthcare. After you retire, healthcare becomes an even more essential part of your daily routine.

Not having a good work-life balance, not traveling enough, and not spending enough time with friends and family are major regrets throughout retirement.

One-tenth of retirees delayed their retirement because they simply enjoyed working. Other reasons included not having enough money saved or a delayed Social Security payout.

Nearly 1 in 4 retirees struggle to find purpose and fulfillment in retirement. The transition from working full-time to being retired can be tough, and 22 percent say this transition was harder than they anticipated.

One thing that may help with the transition, and also help those struggling to find a purpose, may be volunteering or working a part-time job. Currently, 18 percent of retirees volunteer, and 1 in 4 plan to continue working. The vast majority (93 percent) of retirees say retirement has given them the ability to enjoy things they didn’t have time for while working full-time, like new hobbies.

Although they may have regretted not keeping health top of mind when they were younger, retirees are cooking healthier meals, going to the doctor when they think they need to, reviewing their health coverage during enrollment periods, dedicating time to exercise, and more active in general.

Reflecting upon careers, family, travels

In their careers, 38 percent have regrets and 35 percent wish they’d achieved better work-life balance.

One in 10 say they’ve had a “second-act” career, which is a major career change that occurs after retirement.

When it comes to family, 56 percent say they’re able to spend more quality time with their loved ones now that they’ve retired.

Of retired Americans who don’t have children, about 1 in 4 wish they had.

Travel isn’t a luxury everyone can afford, but according 89 percent of retirees, it’s an important part of life. 58 percent wish they’d traveled more when they were younger.

What advice would retirees give to themselves? The biggest thing is to prioritize financial planning and savings. Other self-advice includes taking health seriously, traveling more, focusing on personal growth and happiness, and not living too far beyond your financial means.

When it comes to the age at which they were happiest, retirees say the magic year was 41. Sixty-two percent say age doesn’t limit new life experiences. And 72 percent feel younger than their current age.

Source: MedicareFAQ.com

The Senior Scene by — May 1, 2024 in Spotlight