By Karen Guice | Webster Parish Council on Aging
Karen’s Korner
Here are some pertinent facts of which you may not be aware:
***Starting soon, seniors will not be able to apply for retirement or survivor benefits over the phone. Instead, they must apply online or visit a local Social Security office. This change has raised concerns about accessibility for many seniors who may find it challenging to travel or navigate online systems! (According to Senior News Daily)
***There are ongoing discussions about capping out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D prescription plans, which could significantly impact seniors’ financial burdens related to healthcare. Advocates are pushing for reforms to ensure that seniors can afford necessary medications.
***There has been a significant increase in seniors becoming caregivers for their sick and older family members, creating a growing trend among our seniors throughout communities and our Country, “The 2025 edition of Caregiving in the US, released by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, reveals a rapidly evolving caregiving landscape that now includes 63 million Americans, a nearly 50% increase since 2015.”
***Age doesn’t determine success: “The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Harland David Sanders (a.k.a. Colonel Sanders), started Kentucky Fried Chicken at the age of 65!
***Creativity doesn’t diminish with age: Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t publish Little House in the Big Woods until sixty-five, and Millard Kaufman didn’t publish his first novel until he was ninety.
***Between 2015 and 2050, the number of people older than 65 will rise from 900 million to 2 billion, a jump from 12% to 22% of the total world population. (Facts on Aging and Health)
Just thought I would give you a little bit to think about today. Have a good one.