Column Savvy Senior
- How health insurance marketplaces may help early retirees
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about the new Obamacare health insurance exchanges that begin next year? I am interested in retiring early at age 61 but need to find some affordable health care until my Medicare benefits begin at 65. — ... Full story
- How to avoid identity theft when you travel
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What tips can you recommend to help retirees guard against identity theft when traveling? My sister and her husband had their identity stolen while on vacation last year, and I want to make sure I'm protecting myself on my trip to ... Full story
- Ensure your pets are cared for after you're gone
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: How does one go about creating a trust for their pets? I have a dog and two cats that mean the world to me, and I want to make sure they'll be well taken care of after I'm gone. — Elderly Ellen
Dear Ellen: Pet trusts have be... Full story
- How to diagnose and treat sleep apnea
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about sleep apnea? My husband, who's 60, has become such a terrible snorer that he wakes himself up at night, and he keeps me up, too. — Sleepy Shelly
Dear Shelly: If your husband is a loud snorer who wa... Full story
- Savvy Senior: Employment options for older job-seekers
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What resources can you recommend to help older job-seekers? I'm 62 and have been out of work for nearly a year now and need some help. — Looking For Work
Dear Looking: While the US job market has improved slightly over the p... Full story
- Simplified smartphones for seniors
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any smartphones specifically designed for seniors? I'm interested in getting one, but at age 69, I want to find one that's easy to see and use. — Semi-smart Senior
Dear Senior: There are actually several manufactur... Full story
- Do I need to file a tax return?
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: My income dropped way off when I retired early last year, and I'm wondering if I fall into the so called "47 percent" of Americans who won't have to pay any income taxes this year. What can you tell me? — Curious Senior
Dear... Full story
- How to divvy up your stuff
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What's the best conflict-free way to divvy up my personal possessions to my kids after I'm gone? I have a lot of jewelry, art, family heirlooms and antique furniture — and five grown kids who don't always see eye-to-eye on th... Full story
- Vehicle shopping tips for older drivers
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What resources can you recommend to seniors who are shopping for a car? My wife and I are relatively healthy 70-year-olds and are looking for a new senior-friendly vehicle, but we could use some help. — Older Drivers
Dear Ol... Full story
- Resources for seniors interested in retiring abroad
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What tips and resources can you recommend to folks interested in retiring abroad? My wife and I will be retiring next year and are intrigued with the idea of living in a foreign country. What can you tell us? — Looking Abroad... Full story
- Getting Social Security help may boost benefits
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any services that you can recommend that help pre-retirees decide when to start drawing their Social Security benefits? My wife and I are still a few years away from retiring but want to carefully weigh all our options to... Full story
- Medicare preventive services: What's free, what's not
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What types of preventive health screenings does Medicare completely cover, and which ones require a co-insurance fee? I'm due to get some preventive tests done, but I want to find out how much I'll have to pay before I proceed. &md... Full story
- How to locate discounts if you're 50 or older
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: I just turned 50 and would like to know what resources you recommend for locating senior discounts. — Love to Save
Dear Love: One of the great perks of growing older in the US is the many discounts that are available to boom... Full story
- How to find, hire a good home care worker
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What's the best way to find a good in-home caregiver for my elderly mother? — Looking for Care
Dear Looking: Finding a good in-home caregiver that's dependable, likeable, trustworthy and affordable can be challenging, to say... Full story
- Financial considerations for remarrying later in life
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What are the financial issues that come with remarrying later in life? I've been seeing a wonderful man for two years, and we've been talking about marriage, but I want to make sure we understand all the possible financial conseque... Full story
- Can Social Security checks be garnished?
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: I have some outstanding debts and would like to find out if my Social Security checks can be garnished. What can you tell me? — Old and In Debt
Dear Old: Whether your Social Security benefits are garnishable or not depends o... Full story
- How to find a lost pension
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: How does one go about tracking down a lost pension? About 35 years ago, I worked at a manufacturing company for a few years that offered employee pensions, and I want to find out if I'm eligible for any money now that I'm about to ... Full story
- Resources for making a home senior-friendly
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: My husband and I are both in our 60s and are interested in making some modest changes to our home to make it more practical and senior-friendly but aren't sure what to do. What resources can you recommend to help us figure this out... Full story
- Is a longevity annuity right for you?
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about longevity annuities? I come from a family with long life expectancies and I would like to protect myself from running out of money in my old age.– Looking aheadDear Looking: If you’re worried ... Full story
- Save money by donating your body to science
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about body donations? With little money to spare, I'm looking for a cheap way to die and have heard that donating my body to science is free, not to mention it benefits medical research. — Old and Poor
D... Full story
- Strength training tips for seniors
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Can lifting weights help with age-related health problems? At age 70, I have diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis and recently read that strength training could improve my conditions. What can you tell me? — Looking for Help
... Full story
- How to write your own will
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Can you recommend some good do-it-yourself resources to help me write my will? At age 62, I want to get my affairs organized, but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if I can do it myself. — Don't Have Much
Dear Don't: ... Full story
- Help for seniors with memory concerns
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: My mother, who's 72, has become very forgetful lately and is worried she may have Alzheimer's. Is her forgetfulness really something we should worry about? What should we do? — Worried Daughter
Dear Worried: Many seniors wor... Full story
- Direct deposit options for Social Security
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: I have received my Social Security check in the mail every month for more than 25 years, and now I'm told I have to switch to direct deposit. Do I have any options? — Suspicious Senior
Dear Suspicious: If you're older than 9... Full story
- How to compare Medicare prescription drug plans
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Is it important to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans every year? My pharmacist recommends it, but it's such a hassle sorting through all those different plans. What can you tell me? — Confused Beneficiary
Dear ... Full story
- Why baby boomers should get tested for hepatits C
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: In the news last month there was a public health alert urging all baby boomers to get tested for hepatitis C. Is this really necessary, and if so, what are the testing and treatment procedures? — Weary Wanda
Dear Wanda: If y... Full story
- Vaccination options for seniors this flu season
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any new or different types of vaccines being recommended to seniors this flu season? — Health-conscious Carol
Dear Carol: There are actually several different types of flu shots available to seniors this year, alon... Full story
- How to save on prescription eyeglasses
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What tips or resources can you recommend to help seniors with the high cost of prescription eyeglasses? I used to have vision insurance through my work but lost it when I retired. — Need New Specs
Dear Specs: There's no doub... Full story
- How to recognize and get help for depression
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: Where can I find help for depression? My husband, who's 68, has become lethargic and very irritable over the past year, and I'm concerned that he's depressed. — Worried Wife
Dear Worried: Depression is unfortunately a widesp... Full story
- Paying for nursing home care with Medicaid
- By Jim Miller/For the Appeal-Democrat
- Dear Savvy Senior: What are the eligibility requirements to get Medicaid coverage for nursing home care? — Looking Ahead
Dear Looking: The rules and requirements for Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care are somewhat complicated and will ... Full story
