The Number One Boomer
The world’s number one boomer quietly turned 60 this week and I wondered if aging one more year made a difference in anything. Such as he’s fit and has money galore, and he is also the world’s most powerful person, so the need of social security, medical health plan and medication isn’t something he personally worries about.
But can he understand why the rest of the boomers do have to worry? When they must choose between having dinner today or taking their heart medicine? I hope turning one more year, also means he’s not only one more year wiser but can understand the needs of the other boomers around him.
At this point many boomers who should have retired already are still working and although some do it because they still want to, lots more do it because they have no choice. Many lost everything in scandals such as Enron and are almost starting from scratch which is damn sad.
The Tribal Government of Taos Pueblo, NM
Tribal Government - The Tribal Council is composed of over 30 former tribal leaders. The Council elects and appoints the Officials of the Governors Office and the War Chiefs Office. These Officials are appointed for every new calendar year. The Governor and his 9 officials are concerned with civil and business issues within the village and the relations with the non-Indian world. The War Chief and his 11 officials deal with the protection of the tribal land outside of the village walls as well as the protection of the wildlife. Conservation and preservation of the Sacred Village and the Blue Lake Wilderness Area are of primary concern to the Taos Pueblo. The Pueblo’s goal is to maintain the area of over 100,000 acres in its most natural state - protecting trees, water, fish, wildlife, soils, and land from damage. The Taos Pueblo Wilderness Act provided the tribe with exclusive use of the area for traditional purposes and is closed to the general public. (Taos Pueblo introductory brochure)
Today or Tomorrow? Atlantic Current shifts
From Daily Grist Magazine, 01 Dec 2005
A Current Despair
Waning of Atlantic currents could chill Europe
Remember that movie The Day After Tomorrow? With the shifting ocean currents that cause sudden, catastrophic climate changes? Crazy stuff! Michael Moore territory! Well … funny story. Turns out the Atlantic Ocean currents that move warm tropical waters northward and cooler waters south have in fact slowed dramatically — by about 30 percent in the past 50 years, according to a new study in the journal Nature. The likely culprit? Disruption in the salinity and density of Atlantic waters brought about by increased “freshening” with more rain and melting glaciers, thanks to global warming. This could be bad news for northwestern Europe, which depends on that hit of tropical heat for its mild climate. A total shutdown of the Atlantic current system — still deemed unlikely so far — could cool the region by several degrees over 10 to 20 years. Hello, ice age! Researchers say a lot more study is needed, but most seem alarmed by the findings. And alarmed researchers make us nervous.
straight to the source: Nature.com News, Quirin Schiermeier, 30 Nov 2005
Deconstructing Hurricane
Intense 2005 hurricane season may be harbinger of things to come
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season officially ended yesterday (at which point we emerged from basement bunker, blinking), having racked up a record-breaking 26 named storms. Thirteen of these became hurricanes, and three reached Category 5 strength, including Katrina. And over half the past two seasons’ storms have made landfall, compared to an average of 9 percent from 1995 to 2003. “It was incredibly out of the ordinary,” said federal hurricane specialist Jack Beven. Some researchers say we may see more such destructive storms in years to come, thanks in part to warmer sea-surface temperatures in the tropics. A natural-cycle variation or global warming? Most experts are unwilling to come down on one side or the other. “This season was such an extreme event that it’s a little difficult to believe it could repeat itself on a regular basis,” said Beven. “But it’s too early to tell what the next season will bring.”
straight to the source: Reuters, Erwin Seba, 30 Nov 2005
straight to the source: The New York Times, Amy Goodnough, 30 Nov 2005
straight to the source: The Christian Science Monitor, Peter N. Spotts, 30 Nov 2005
Putnam Lake, New York
Filed under: General, Politics, Relationships, Retirement, Vacations, Working
Putnam Lake, New York
http://www.city-data.com/city/Putnam-Lake-New-York.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putnam_Lake%2C_New_York
Small country hamlet outside of Brewster, New York where me, Hena, and my daughter Brea used to live in the year 1999 … I also lived there for a summer in 1983 while visiting my brother during a summer vacation in high school; It’s a beautiful and serene place. Lovely place to retire, live while working in NYC, be close to hiking trails, the Appalachian Trail, and ski resorts. Art. Antiques. Countryside. Putnam Lake hamlet is located just 6 miles from the Danbury, Connecticut state line. It’s a beautiful area that is great to raise kids in. I have beautiful memories of the area. Below are a couple photos.
According to Wikipedia: ) “Putnam County is a county located in the state of New York. As of 2000, the population is 95,745. The county seat is Carmel. The name is in honor of Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Putnam Lake is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the eastern part of the Town of Patterson in Putnam County, New York adjacent to the Connecticut border, which is crossed by a number of eastern Putnam Lake streets. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 3,855.
The community is located next to a lake called Putnam Lake.”
Stats from the web sites listed above:
Population (year 2000): 3,855
Males: 1,953 (50.7%), Females: 1,902 (49.3%)
County: Putnam
Land area: 3.9 square miles
Zip code: 12563
Median resident age: 35.2 years
Median household income: $62,695 (year 2000)
Median house value: $147,000 (year 2000)
Races in Putnam Lake:
White Non-Hispanic (87.6%)
Hispanic (6.9%)
Black (2.9%)
Two or more races (2.2%)
Other race (1.1%)
American Indian (0.9%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: Italian (31.8%), Irish (28.5%), German (15.6%), English (7.3%), Polish (6.1%), United States (3.2%).
Lakes: Lost Lake (A), Little Pond (B), Putnam Lake (C).
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Quaker Brook (A).
 View of Patterson/Brewster area from ski resort mountain outside of Brewster, NY |
 Putnam Lake across from our house, Putnam Lake, NY |
Health Insurance for Seniors on the ‘Net
Article by William H. Pritchett
When a good friend of mine inquired where he could obtain information about medical insurance for his out-of-state, elderly mother, I told him to try the Internet.
He reported back to me about a week later, in desperation: “I am giving up, I am too confused.” He had taken on an overwhelming project with his widowed mother, living in another state. As the only child, and following the sudden death of his father, it was his responsibility to care for his mother.
In this world of technology, the family unit is often living in different geographical areas and the family members are usually quite involved with their own lives, careers, and families. In addition, when both parents are alive, often one or both parents are quite independent and do not require a lot of assistance. As time goes on things, of course, change, and sometimes change very suddenly. There can be a crisis, with regard to the health care needs of one or both aging parents.
With our baby boomers facing this problem in ever increasing numbers, and with the information highway in full bloom, there is a definite need for planning.
Protecting your parent’s assets and health is a huge and daunting undertaking, which requires a tremendous amount of education and practical application. Our seniors face many diverse responsibilities upon reaching age 65. To name just a few: Estate planning, taxation, Medicare, social security, wills, insurance, and various other legal and financial matters. All of these different areas require expertise from accountants, lawyers, estate planners, insurance agents, home brokers, financial advisors, and others.
The Internet is a good starting point for most people to find resources for questions and solutions for your problems. There is, however, no replacement for good solid intelligent advice from an expert.
Twenty years ago, insurance for elders was sold by “senior insurance specialists”, with just a handful of companies in each state. The programs were most often Medi-gap or Medicare supplemental policies, which covered the expenses not covered by Medicare, including hospital and doctor deductibles, durable medical devices, and non-approved Medicare costs. Ironically these specialists did not sell a lot of nursing care policies, even though Medicare paid a national average of less than 2% of these expenses. With the advent of “financial and estate planning” and more insurance companies entering this market, a more broad and diversified product line became available to agents, brokers, planners, and seniors.
Part of this new diversification was the “home health care plan”, sold by itself, and in conjunction with senior health insurance products. The appeal of the “home health care policy” was that a senior could stay at home and still receive medical and custodial benefits, allowing a person to recuperate in the comfort of their own home.
This was the answer to a huge problem. The last place an older person wanted to go was a “retirement home”, or “rest home”, or, God forbid, the “nursing home.” It appeared that seniors could now rely on this new innovation without worry of having to move out of their home environment in the event of a health problem.
As with most things,” if it is too good to be true”…. The home health care policy is no exception. The problem is, there is not enough coverage for a lengthy illness or recuperation time. The fact is, the new trend is toward an “all in one” type facility, allowing for a variety of levels of care all in one location. In other words a senior could start off with little or no health care concerns in an independent, less expensive area, and then go to an assisted living, or nursing care facility, all within the same compound.
A “nursing home” requires a nurse on the premises 24 hours per day, assisted living is just eight hours. The advantages to this are financial. The patient or senior is only charged according to the care level required during the time he or she is admitted to that facility. Another benefit is it alleviates a lot of planning because the care is delivered, as it is needed. The medical attention is available to all residents regardless of their current health.
Some people are offered a lifetime package, which covers their care for the rest of their life, regardless of their current age. It also allows for social outlets to an otherwise somewhat isolated group. On-line shopping services have become a huge business. It is definitely here to stay and many insurance policies are purchased from Internet quotes and on-line applications.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of insurance agents and brokers advertising on the Internet. Most of them will provide instant on-line quotes and even applications for the potential insured. I highly discourage a layperson to purchase insurance in this fashion. A little knowledge can be dangerous.
The federal government has mandated to all states through legislation, the standardized senior health insurance policy guidelines, which are governed and regulated by each state insurance department.
There are plans for almost every level of health. Some are designed and priced for a less than healthy individual. Others are for a person with minimal health concerns. . The whole concept of insurance is to provide protection for “unanticipated” sickness or injury, especially catastrophic expenses, which would devastate a person’s net worth. The more small expenses a person is willing or able to pay (self-insure), the lower the rate. I recommend this strategy when evaluating your insurance options.
Another consideration when reviewing various insurance plans is to look at the company itself. How long has the company been selling this type of insurance? Do they have a lot of complaints filed with the local department of insurance? Are the rates stable? Does it pay claims on time? Service? Most agents talk about the rating. These ratings are as follows: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or “not rated”.
Do not be fooled by rating alone. It is good to have a high rating, but it is far better to have a company that has longevity, stability, innovation, service, and expertise. The problem is that some companies enter into a market and quickly leave without explanation. This does not give security to the policyholder.
The most important consideration should be a review of the profit/loss ratio for that product. This will establish stability, and longevity in the market. An insurance company with a moderate profit in a particular line of business will remain in that market. On the other hand, a company with losses will make changes and possibly even withdraw. This is information not normally available to Internet users.
Before entering into an insurance contract, the senior person, the family, and other advisors must be realistic, and a careful evaluation of the entire picture must be examined. The age, the health of the senior, the financial resources, the personality and attitude of the senior, and most importantly the desires of the senior, should all be considered.
Early planning is important, as qualification becomes increasingly more difficult as the applicant’s health declines. The senior health care market is complex. I will offer some words of advice to attempt to alleviate potential pitfalls. *C hoose a well-informed, seasoned, and service oriented agent or broker to assist your decision making process. The professional can offer invaluable information, but do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions and even get a second opinion. *Do not wait until your parent or loved one is sick, or injured. Plan ahead and take the time needed to cover all the options. *C hoose an experienced insurance company. A Company that has been in the marketplace for a significant time and has maintained a balance of rates and benefits and sound risk selection with moderate rate increases over time is your best bet. *T he plan should be flexible, with a broad range of options and benefit selections to the insured. There should be no tricks, or complicated language for the coverage. An incredibly low rate is a red flag for trouble in the future. *Do not rush or be rushed by an over aggressive sales person.
This policy will not be inexpensive and will need to be read and reviewed for a clear understanding of the contents. This is one advantage to the Internet. You are allowed to read indefinitely before you act.
A long-term care program, with or without insurance coverage, will only work if the senior has input into the care selection process. If there are any questions about the accreditation of a facility please call the “Continuing Care Accreditation Commission at 202-783-7286.
About The Author
William H. Pritchett Sr.
Bio: William H. Pritchett sr. has been involved in the senior care health field for over 20 years. he is the former president of great republic health company, and is the founder/c.e.o of empire homecare resources, inc., a national website for seniors and the disabled. he is a graduate of the university of washington, and has written “caring for a family member at home” and has produced several home health care videos.
willprt@cs.com
Welcome to Boomer 2.0 - News for the Baby Boomer Generation
Filed under: General, Health, Politics, Relationships, Retirement, Technology, Vacations, Working
Welcome to Boomer 2.0 - News for the Baby Boomer Generation.
In this blog we’ll be covering issues important to you — your health, vacation, retirement, politics, technology, relationships and more.