The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Golden years, growing costs: New survey reveals seniors’ difficult trade-offs For older Americans, retirement is meant to be a hard-earned reward after decades of work. But for many today, it feels less like a celebration and more like a struggle to stay afloat. A new, national survey of 1,000 seniors reveals that rising costs are forcing many to make difficult decisions—cutting back on food, delaying or skipping medical care, and scaling back social activities. All of these decisions can hav...
Higher premiums, Medicare updates: Healthcare changes to expect in 2026 In 2026, higher costs along with major shifts in Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage and Medicare will affect healthcare and health insurance affordability. Here, GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, breaks down what’s changing. Key takeaways: - Expect higher premiums for your health insurance, regardless of type, in 2026. - More people are expected to opt out of insurance — including Affordable Care Act plans bec...
Complete guide to senior home safety: Solutions for aging in place As your loved ones grow older, their everyday routines can become more challenging, and what was once a safe home may instead become a high-risk environment. Although many seniors consider moving to nursing homes or retirement communities, 75% of Americans aged 50 and older want to remain in their homes and age in place. If you have a senior individual in your life who wants to age in place, there are steps you can take to make s...
How to choose the best senior care services for your loved one The special people in our lives deserve dignity, respect and a good quality of life. This remains the case no matter how old they are. We all want what’s in our senior loved ones’ best interests. But when the time comes to consider a care service, making the right decision isn’t always straightforward — especially with so many types to consider. Several care options are available to support people who need care. Making a choice...
The 25 best places to retire in the US in 2026, ranked by what retirees value most What’s the best place to retire? To answer that question, The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 retired Americans to understand what matters most in retirement and used those insights to rank the best places to retire across the United States. Based on the survey results, The Motley Fool identified seven key retirement factors and weighted each according to retiree preferences: quality of life (31%), healthcare access a...
1 surprising things not covered by Medicare and ways you can pay for them Medicare provides coverage for essential medical services for millions of Americans. From lab tests to physician visits, this health insurance program helps people 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities or specific medical conditions, afford healthcare costs. However, despite the rise in Medicare spending — which reached over $1,029.8 billion in 2023 — the program still doesn’t cover all h...
The states aging fastest and what it means for communities Across the United States, the population is getting older, but not at the same pace everywhere. While every state is experiencing some degree of demographic aging, recent data shows that growth among older adults is happening especially quickly in certain parts of the country. In those places, the shift is already influencing everyday aspects of community life, from housing availability to transportation needs and local services. QMedic...
5 generational living patterns that are changing how older adults get care at home Aging at home has long been a personal preference for many. Being able to stay in familiar surroundings, maintain independence, and avoid institutional care can be a priority. But today, aging in place is increasingly shaped by forces that go far beyond individual choice. Older adults are now aging within households, communities, and digital ecosystems that look vastly different than they did even a decade ago....
Gray divorce: How the splitting of older households is impacting the housing market With longer life expectancy comes a longer “third act,” and many people in their 50+ era just don’t want to stay in the same box society has confined them to. As a consequence, the so-called gray divorce is now the most prevalent, especially in the U.S. While overall divorce rates across the country are stabilizing or dropping, the 50+ demographic is the outlier. A report from the National Center for Family & Mar...
How to care for elderly loved ones at home Taking care of elderly parents at home can be rewarding. Many seniors prefer to age in a familiar place, encouraging adult children to have aging parents live at home instead of residential care facilities. However, caregiving encompasses huge responsibilities. Your loved one’s degree of mobility and independence impacts the type of work to expect. You typically need to assist with their daily activities, offer emotional support and manage medical n...
$5B in OTC dollars go unclaimed by seniors annually Medicare Advantage over-the-counter (OTC) benefits are insurance-provided allowances that enable seniors to buy everyday health and wellness products. They work similarly to FSA accounts and the average person on Medicare Advantage has $400 in OTC credits to purchase items they would otherwise pay for out of their own pocket. These funds are included as an ancillary benefit for many Medicare Advantage plans, yet they frequently go unused becaus...
What questions should you ask a caregiver? Hiring a caregiver is a decision that significantly impacts your elderly loved one and the wider family dynamic. On the one hand, you want someone who is competent and well-qualified. On the other hand, having someone who cares about your senior loved one is also vital. It’s like meeting a potential new family member who will instantly become an important part of your life. A reputable home care company will send you caregivers who have undergone a s...
How changes in Medicare telehealth coverage limit access to key services for neurodivergent patients According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, telehealth use among U.S. office-based doctors shot up during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from just 15.4% in 2019 to 86.5% by 2021. What started as a crisis response quickly became a lifeline, especially for neurodivergent patients, such as those with ADHD or autism. For them, virtual care helps cut sensory overload, makes it easier...
Aging at home: How families and care teams are meeting the rising demand for in-home support Across the country, older adults and their families share a common goal: the ability to live safely, independently, and confidently at home. The demand for home- and community-based services (HCBS) continues to grow, driven by an aging population and the desire for greater comfort, connection, and autonomy. States, managed care organizations (MCOs), and local agencies are responding with innovative...
Before you buy: 5 key questions about OTC hearing aids For many adults, hearing challenges can make conversations, restaurants, or phone calls more difficult to follow. These difficulties often increase with age, as hearing loss becomes more common over time. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, around 5% of adults ages 45 to 54 experience disabling hearing loss, increasing to 10% among those 55 to 64. The prevalence continues to rise with age,...
Depression in retirement: Why it happens and what to do Retirement is often associated with feelings of joy, relaxation, and freedom, but research shows it can also be a challenging time emotionally. Many individuals who retire struggle with unexpected feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness as they leave behind careers that provide structure, identity, and daily purpose. Recognizing this reality is crucial. LifeStance Health shares how people can proactively address potential emotional...
State of Medicare heading into 2026: Your complete guide to new laws and avoiding surprise bills Prescription drug costs have long been one of the biggest financial burdens for Americans, but relief may be on the horizon for many. Starting in 2026, Medicare will fully implement a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug spending. This is a landmark change baked within the Inflation Reduction Act, potentially offering reprieve to millions around the country. However, this new rule comes with certa...
The annuity rebrand: How self-directed investors are shaping the future of retirement income Over the past several decades, society has undergone a notable cultural shift — one marked by the transition from full-service gas stations to self-service pumps. This evolution reflects a broader movement toward autonomy that now permeates daily life, from self-checkout to investing for retirement. Research conducted in January 2025 by financial services company Gainbridge highlights how this shift i...
Coping with the retirement killer: Inflation The next time you’re making retirement calculations, don’t forget one very important factor that can blow up the whole equation. Inflation. If you have a dollar now, that dollar isn’t going to be worth nearly the same in 20 or 30 years, because of a loss of purchasing power. With the cost of almost everything going up every single year, that dollar is constantly eroding in value, even if you keep it safe under a mattress. As an individual, there...
Most Social Security recipients say 2.8% COLA isn’t enough Starting in January 2026, the average monthly Social Security check for the U.S.’s 74.5 million Social Security recipients will be around $1,917, up 2.8% from 2025. That’s an increase of about $52 per month. But the majority of beneficiaries aren’t happy with that increase. According to The Motley Fool’s annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Survey, 54% of Social Security recipients say the 2.8% cost-of-l...
The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, increasing monthly benefits for more than 71 million Americans starting in January. The adjustment, based on inflation data from the third quarter of 2025, is intended to help retirees, disabled individuals, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients keep pace with rising costs. What It Means for Alabama Families For the average retire receiving $2,000 per month, the 2.8% increase...
What are the best in-home care options for seniors with dementia? More family members and seniors are considering in-home care as a superior option to traditional nursing home facilities. In-home care allows your loved one with dementia to spend time in a familiar space surrounded by other family members, allowing them to retain their independence for longer. If you’re considering in-home care for your loved one with dementia, this guide from Village Caregiving will help you make an informed d...
Micro-retirements are on the rise. Here's what HR leaders need to know Why are some high-performing employees walking away from their jobs for weeks or even months at a time—voluntarily? The answer lies in the rise of "micro-retirements," a career break trend especially popular among Gen Z and millennial workers. An estimated 10% of U.S. workers plan to take a micro-retirement this year, according to SideHustles.com. Unlike traditional sabbaticals, which are often employer-sponsored, micro-retir...
How increased lifespans are reshaping retirement security across the US One of the many upsides to living in the 21st century is that average life expectancies are higher than ever before, and so people who make it to retirement age can expect to enjoy many more years of health and happiness than their parents and grandparents. This creates concerns at a state and national level, as the aging population puts pressure on various systems that were designed and implemented long before current...
A small town main street. lucasImages // Shutterstock 50 metros where your Social Security check goes the furthest Retirement evokes excitement as you leave behind the working world and enjoy your days to the fullest. Upon retirement, your monthly Social Security check bolsters other retirement savings to provide a regular income during your golden years. The amount of that monthly check depends on how much you've earned during your working years, regardless of where you've lived. You must work...
