Society of Certified Senior Advisors

America250: Time to Celebrate!

2026-03-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

Fireworks are just the beginning. The United States celebrates a major birthday this year with events for every American.

Boomers may remember where they were during the U.S. Bicentennial observances held in the summer of 1976. Cities across the nation hosted huge fireworks displays. An international fleet of tall ships set sail on July 4 from New York City to Boston. Johnny Cash presided as Grand Marshal of the U.S. Bicentennial parade in Washington, D.C. Small towns got together and celebrated the country’s 200th birthday in their own styles.

This year, the Declaration of Independence is turning 250. The occasion has been dubbed America250, the U.S. Semiquincentennial (in other words, halfway to 500), and the Quarter Millenium. Planning at the federal level started a decade ago, and a year-long celebration began on July 4, 2025. But the big day, the anniversary itself, is coming up on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

What memories will we make this time around? There’s plenty to choose from: birthday bashes, reenactments, concerts, exhibitions, and, of course, some of the most explosive fireworks displays in history.

Sail250

If you missed the fleet of tall ships in 1976, now you have another chance! Sail250 will gather tall sailing ships and military vessels from around the world for portside celebrations. New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, the port of New York and New Jersey, and Boston will host the ships and stage airshows, concerts, and parades. This “largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world” will feature 15,000 sailors from 32 countries. Lines are sure to be long, but those who plan ahead will have the opportunity to tour tall ships and meet the crews. The flotilla is set to arrive in New Orleans on May 28, in New York on July 4, and in Boston on July 11.

Freedom Plane National Tour

A project of the National Archives, the Freedom Plane tour is inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, which traveled the country in 1976 like a mobile museum of Americana. The Bicentennial train carried Jesse Owen’s four Olympic gold medals, Judy Garland’s dress from the Wizard of Oz, a replica of the Apollo lunar rover and real moon rocks, and some of the country’s founding documents. This year’s Freedom Plane will focus on the documents–it will carry original engravings of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other handwritten letters, treaties, and voting records from 250 years ago. The Freedom Plane will land in eight U.S. cities including Denver, Los Angeles, Dearborn, and Seattle, starting this month.

Commemorative Events at Revolutionary War Sites

Wherever traces of the American Revolution remain, expect to find Americans marking the 250th anniversary this year. Mount Vernon will open two floors of George Washington’s home to visitors after years of renovations, along with a new exhibit on the founder’s life and Revolutionary times. In Philadelphia, The President's House will host special interpretive events within a recreated foundation of Washington’s house, with exhibits investigating the paradox between ideals of liberty and the reality of slavery. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, home of Valley Forge, will host interpretive readings throughout the battlefield and surrounding towns. Plus, the FIFA World Cup will be in town, with 16 matches scheduled for July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field. Start planning now if you want to experience Philly in early July!

Opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library commemorates and brings to life a different era of American history. The enormous library, museum, and cultural center will open July 4 in Medora, North Dakota after breaking ground three years ago. The non-profit foundation spearheading the project hopes that, in the spirit of the 26th President, “every visit will inspire bold action and fearless participation In the Arena” of American life. With sweeping architecture that blends into the North Dakotan landscape, the library is sure to become a must-see destination for fans of history and sustainable design.

America 250, Colorado 150

Colorado is celebrating America's semiquincentennial, and their sesquicentennial, Colorado 150. Since September, the state has hosted what will amount to almost 150 community drone shows celebrating the state’s history. The Centennial State will brim with fun events this spring and summer, from group hikes to special exhibitions and parades.

America’s Potluck

Sunday dinner is one of the great American traditions. The America250 Commission, which is organizing observances at the federal level, is promoting a nationwide event called America’s Potluck on July 5. According to the organizers, “America's Potluck is an opportunity for neighbors to join with one another to share a fun, communal meal, creating a sense of connection and belonging and fostering interactions among people from all walks of life.” Families and local groups can sign up to start or join a potluck on the website.

True to the diversity that has strengthened America for 250 years, the Semiquincentenninal will bring something for everyone to enjoy. Whether or not you had the chance to celebrate the bicentennial 50 years ago, don’t sit this one out–it’s sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/ten-of-the-most-exciting-ways-to-commemorate-americas-250th-this-year-180988106/

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/17/nx-s1-5544582/u-s-education-dept-unites-conservative-groups-to-create-patriotic-civics-content

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bicentennial#1976_events

https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-presidents-house-slavery-exhibit-removal/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Train#1975%E2%80%9376_American_Freedom_Train

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous and 65

2026-03-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

March 4

This American lightweight boxer rose to fame in the early 1980s with an aggressive, crowd-pleasing style and a blue-collar image that earned him the nickname “Boom Boom.” When he captured the WBA lightweight title in 1982, he became a national sports figure and a symbol of pride for his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. His career, however, is forever linked to one of boxing’s most tragic moments: a 1982 title defense against South Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim, who later died from injuries sustained in the bout. The fight led to lasting changes in boxing regulations, including shorter championship bouts and improved medical oversight.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

March 11

A Malibu-born heartthrob with molded hair and an ever-evolving wardrobe, this iconic guy has held countless careers over the decades: from astronaut and doctor to rock star and beach bum. He debuted in the early 1960s as the longtime companion to the world’s most famous fashionista, and rapidly became a pop culture fixture in his own right. Recently, he’s enjoyed renewed attention and fandom thanks to a 2023 film, in which he comes to realize that he really doesn’t have anything to prove. On his “birthday” this month, he’ll celebrate 65 years of devotion to his leading lady.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

March 29

This comedian, actress, and writer has built a cult following through her offbeat humor and delightfully strange sensibility. She first gained wide recognition on the sketch series Strangers with Candy with her portrayal of the morally bankrupt Jerri Blank. A frequent collaborator with fellow surrealists, she’s brought scene-stealing energy to films like Elf and television shows like Broad City and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She’s also an author, co-writing books that blend comedy and faux etiquette; for example, her hilariously-named I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. Her legacy may be that she elevated awkwardness to an art form.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Sources:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Honoring the Wisdom of Black Elders Through Financial Literacy

2026-02-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

A commentary on Aging While Black by Raymond Jetson

During Black History Month, we celebrate the profound contributions of Black elders—individuals who, as author Raymond Jetson reminds us, are “too often seen only through the lens of vulnerability, when in truth they are pillars of ingenuity and wisdom.” His insightful work with the Aging While Black initiative challenges us to look past stereotypes and acknowledge the strength, creativity, and resilience that older Black adults continue to embody in every community.

Jetson’s 2025 book, Aging While Black: A Radical Reimaginging of Aging and Race in America, issues a clear call to action: institutions, advocates, and policymakers must recognize not only the inequities that shape the lives of Black elders but also their enduring leadership. This recognition must be paired with intentional strategies that affirm their value and transform the environments in which they age.

He further emphasizes, “I believe one of the greatest opportunities before us today is engaging older adults as resources to respond to many of the challenges impacting communities across the country while simultaneously making space for and listening to the wisdom that is emerging in younger generations.”

As a Certified Senior Advisor and financial literacy educator, I believe one of the most powerful forms of affirmation is access to financial knowledge. Many Black seniors spent a lifetime overcoming systemic barriers—limited access to wealth-building tools, discriminatory lending practices, and unequal earnings opportunities. Today, for Black seniors, financial literacy education serves as both an empowerment tool and a bridge:

- A bridge to confidently navigate retirement decisions

- A bridge to protect their assets and avoid financial exploitation

- A bridge to pass down generational wisdom and financial stability

Financial literacy honors the legacy of Black elders by giving them the information, resources, and support they deserve to thrive at every stage of aging. When we invest in their financial well-being, we strengthen entire families and communities.

This Black History Month, may we uplift not only the stories of the past but the elders who continue to shape our future—ensuring they are seen, heard, and equipped with the tools that affirm their dignity and economic security.

Author Bio:

Dr. Brenda Oldham, Ed.D., CFF, CSA, is the CEO and Owner of RAM Insurance & Financial Services and the Founder of RAM Educational Business Solutions, where she leads initiatives focused on financial literacy education, workforce development, and financial equity for individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations. Dr. Oldham serves on the Georgia Advisory Board for the Financial Educators Council and is a Business-to-Business Partner Provider with Oakland Thrive in Oakland County, Michigan, where she coaches entrepreneurs and delivers educational workshops to support business growth and sustainability. A sought-after speaker and media contributor, Dr. Oldham has appeared on Detroit’s WJR Radio station as a guest on Ann Thomas’ Women Who Lead weekly radio program. Brenda also hosts the

monthly podcast Rock Your Finances with Dr. Oldham, where she shares practical financial strategies and inspirational insights.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Applying the Montessori Method to Dementia Care

2026-02-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

The person-centered approach to dementia care prioritizes independence and choice.

A music therapist by training, Leslie Sedille started her career as an activities director at a senior living community. There she found her calling serving seniors and their families. But when she became director of memory care at another company, she struggled to witness how their policies affected older adults with dementia. The facility wasn’t staffed correctly, Leslie recalls, to allow aides and residents enough time to engage at each resident’s own pace. Residents who felt rushed to shower, for example, would refuse to do so because they felt scared.

“This is just not the way it’s supposed to be,” she remembers thinking. When Leslie found the Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional® certification, “I was like–that’s me and what my principles are.”

In addition to being a CSA, Leslie is now a CMDCP®.

A CMDCP certification represents an additional level of training for health care professionals, educators, elder care attorneys, care managers, and other professionals who serve people with dementia. The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) offers the certification program as an online or in-person course and exam.

Montessori care, like Montessori education, is person-centered. “You’re meeting the person where they’re at and adapting what you want to be done to where their skills are,” says Leslie, who is also a member of the Senior Spirit editorial board. “It’s a common sense approach, if you know dementia.”

The Montessori Method: Not Just for Kids

In early twentieth-century Italy, Maria Montessori developed and started to popularize her now-famous educational method. Today, Montessori schools operate around the world in many variations. All are known for their holistic, child-centered teaching philosophy, wherein the teacher functions as a gentle guide encouraging children’s natural explorations.

Starting in the mid-1990s, dementia care practitioners and researchers began to see and study the potential of the Montessori method for dementia care. Now, various organizations promote the Montessori philosophy and specific techniques as applied to the care of people with dementia. The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) promotes Montessori for Dementia, Disability, and Ageing (MDDA). The four key principles of the MDDA method are:

Self-esteem,
Independence,
Choice, and
Meaningful engagement.

“Always remember that there is a person behind the dementia,” AMI shares on their website. “We need to look for the person and focus on abilities rather than disabilities. To start, we can learn about their history, culture, lifestyle diversity, strengths, interests, needs, and more.” AMI offers another certification, the Montessori for Dementia, Disability and Ageing Certified Practitioner (MDDACP).

Montessori dementia care practitioners choose activities based on the individual’s interests. Activities use guided repetition and pattern recognition, which rely not on conscious recall, but rather on procedural and implicit memory. These kinds of memory tend to remain intact longer for people with dementia. For a person who was an interior designer, an activity might be to match different samples of wallpaper with borders.

To promote independence and meaningful engagement, Montessori dementia care also empowers people to do the daily tasks they can still do, given adequate scaffolding and time. For example, providing a visual template for a table setting allows a resident to set their own place by using the image as a guide. In a study, residents with advanced dementia showed more constructive engagement and pleasure after participating in Montessori-based activities as compared to regular programming.

Montessori care requires an active staff trained on the philosophy at some level, says Leslie. “You have to buy into it. You have to be patient.” Supporting people with dementia to complete daily activities at their own pace, not rushing them along, takes great time and patience. But the results, according to researchers and proponents of the Montessori method, are that the people being served will be happier, safer, and more able to live with dignity.

Both a CMDCP and CSA

Leslie is now a Family Liaison and Care Manager at Paradise Home Health Care in Boca Raton, Florida. In her current role, she uses the skills she learned as a CMDCP while getting to know families. “I’m asking questions that really get to the heart of who their family member is so we can communicate that to the aide.” That familiarity is key because, with Montessori dementia care, the person providing care needs to understand the individual’s preferences and personality. Leslie asks questions like, “What time does your mom get up?” and “How much can she do on her own?” to prepare her aides to know what the client really needs help with, and what they prefer to continue to do for themselves. In home health care, the goal is that the client still runs their own home, with the help they need.

Both the CMDCP and the CSA certifications are focused on the well-being of seniors, Leslie says. For her, having both certifications opens up access to different resources, people, and networks. The approaches complement each other. “Being a CSA, it’s not just sales and marketing. When potentials call, I’m talking to them and building a rapport, but it’s the way I talk with them.” She’s listening, providing resources, and speaking to the humanity of the family and their loved one. “Even if they don’t go with us, six months later I’ll get a call.” As a CSA and a CMDCP, Leslie’s approach is wholly centered on the best interest and well-being of her clients.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230131-does-the-montessori-method-actually-work

https://montessori-ami.org/about-ami/our-mission

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3600589/

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Five Tips for Traveling with Pets

2026-02-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Lots of seniors are bringing their best friends along on vacation. Plan ahead for a fun, safe, and comfortable trip for everyone.

More than half of Americans over age 50 own pets, and over half of those pet owners choose to take their pets along with them when they travel, according to a Healthy Aging poll. And why not? As we know, owning a dog or cat has been shown to boost brain health, and our pets are family. As long as we know they'll be safe and comfortable, it’s a joy to bring pets along on life’s adventures.

If you’re looking ahead to summer and planning a road trip, or maybe even looking to board a plane with your pet, here are some tips for making it a happy and safe journey for both two- and four-legged travelers.

1. Advance planning is key. While there’s no need to plan every pit stop, taking a look at a map for dog-friendly parks and restaurants along your route will make for smooth sailing. Plan on stopping every two or three hours, for twenty minutes or more, to give dogs a chance to get a few laps in. (More frequent breaks are a plus for most older adults, too! Having the dog along will remind you to stop and get your own body moving on long car trips.) Websites like GoPetFriendly and BringFido can help you look at your route and find pet-friendly stops you can plan around. These sites can also point you to local veterinarians at your destination.

2. Flying? Consider the pros and cons. What makes an airline pet-friendly? Most airlines will accommodate your pets, but whether they’re allowed to be in the cabin with you depends on each airline. On almost every airline, if pets are allowed in the cabin, they must be in carriers the entire flight (the one exception we found, for dogs at least, is BARK Air, described below). Consider your dog or cat’s temperament before scheduling any non-essential air travel. Total sedation is generally discouraged because it can be dangerous; most vets will prescribe a mild anti-anxiety drug for air travel. Flying is certainly stressful, but some pets will take it in stride.

For luxury air travel with your dog, consider BARK Air, a newer company that partners with U.S. air carriers to offer flights where dogs are the VIPs. Your dog rides with you in the cabin, and the whole in-flight experience is tailored to your dog’s comfort and needs. All dogs on the flight are seated (with their persons) according to trained dog behaviorists’ assessment of pre-flight pup socialization. That level of attention to detail makes for smooth sailing, albeit with a hefty price tag. BARK Air currently flies between New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Lisbon, San Francisco, and Madrid, and flights sell out months in advance.

3. Pack with care. In addition to the essentials–like plenty of familiar food and treats, bowls for water, and doggie bags–pack favorite blankets, toys, and other comfort items to help make new places feel more familiar. Be sure to pack all your pet’s needed medication and consider bringing a pet first-aid kit–here are some good ones. For long car trips in the heat of summer, a cooling mat can keep pets comfy.

Before a trip, make sure your pet’s identification tags are secure and easy to read, and make sure their harness and leash are in good repair. Same goes for any crate or pen you plan to bring along.

4. Drive pet-safe. Most dogs love a car ride. Experts caution that it’s safest for dogs to keep their heads inside moving cars to stay safe from debris and other vehicles. To cut down on distractions and protect against impacts, dogs should be in a crate or secured with a pet seat belt, and cats should be crated while cars are in motion. Dog seatbelt technology has come a long way; today’s products are comfortable and light. Many will double as a harness for walking.

While it’s common knowledge, it can’t be overstated: never leave a pet in a hot car, even with the window cracked. Heatstroke can happen within minutes. Always err on the side of caution, and keep pets with you on hot days.

5. Take lots of pictures. Your friends and family want to see you and your pet enjoying life in far-flung locales. Don’t forget to post those photos, please!

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/transportation/vacation-with-pets/

https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/happy-retirement/retirement-road-trips-with-pets-tips-for-traveling-with-your-dog-or-cat

https://www.travelnuity.com/pet-friendly-airlines/

https://www.peta.org/features/dogs-and-other-companion-animals-suffer-heat-related-deaths/#drop

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Simple Tax Strategies to Keep More of Your Money

2026-02-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Review this checklist every February to ensure you are taking full advantage of tax-saving opportunities.

Use this simple one-page guide to reduce your tax burden and keep more of your money. These strategies are easy to understand and implement for seniors, families, and small business owners.

1. Max Out Tax-Deductible Contributions

Contributing the maximum allowed to retirement accounts like IRAs and employer plans can lower your taxable income while strengthening your long-term financial security.

Increase contributions to your 401(k), 403(b), or traditional IRA.
Even a 1–2% increase can lower your taxable income.
Check if you qualify for catch-up contributions (age 50+).

2. Use Tax Credits

Tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar-for-dollar, making them one of the most powerful tools for keeping more of your money.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
American Opportunity Credit (education).
Child Tax Credit (grandparents raising grandchildren may qualify).
Energy-efficient home improvement credits.

Where To Turn for Free and Low-Cost Tax Preparation

Tax preparation doesn’t have to break the bank; in fact, many seniors are eligible for free or low-cost tax prep services. Here are a few places to look for affordable tax assistance in your community.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). For more than 50 years, the IRS has funded these volunteer-run programs at local organizations, with a focus on households making under $67,000, taxpayers with limited English, and people with disabilities. TCE specializes in tax issues important to older adults, like Social Security and pensions, but any VITA site should be able to assist with those questions. Use the locator tool to find a VITA/TCE site near you for free tax prep.
Your local library. Many library systems provide free tax prep for low-income households, often through VITA. If they don’t offer it themselves, they’ll refer you to other local providers. (Just one more reason to love your library!)
AARP’s Tax-Aide program. You do not have to be an AARP member to take advantage of their IRS-certified volunteer-run Tax-Aide program. They provide free tax assistance to anyone, with a focus on people over 50 years old who have low income.

3. Track Deductible Expenses

Keeping good records of eligible expenses such as medical costs, charitable giving, and business or volunteer mileage can significantly reduce your taxable income.

Medical and dental expenses.
Charitable donations (cash, clothing, household goods).
Property taxes and mortgage interest.
Business expenses (home office, mileage, supplies).
Keep receipts in a simple envelope or digital folder.

4. Review Withholding & Estimated Taxes

Regularly checking your tax withholdings or estimated payments helps prevent surprise tax bills and keeps your cash flow on track throughout the year.

Use the IRS withholding calculator.
Adjust W-4 if you owed taxes last year.
Self-employed? Double-check quarterly estimated payments.

5. Use Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Accounts like HSAs, FSAs, and 529 plans allow your money to grow tax-free when used for qualified healthcare or education expenses, creating smart savings at any age.

HSA: Save pre-tax dollars for medical expenses.
FSA: Use funds for childcare, medical, dental needs.
529 Plans: Tax-free growth for education savings.

April 15 always arrives before you know it. We hope that by keeping this checklist handy, you maximize your savings for tax year 2025.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Sources:

https://whatsyourgrief.com/creating-new-tradition-after-a-death/

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/23/679334018/after-the-loss-of-a-loved-one-your-holiday-traditions-change-but-hope-endures

https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/holidays

https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/supporting-your-mental-health-during-holiday-season

https://www.sdcoe.net/about-sdcoe/news/post/~board/news/post/mental-and-physical-wellness-over-the-holidays

https://truecare.org/blog/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays/

https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/tips-for-taking-control-of-the-holidays-so-they-dont-take-control-of-you/

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Don't Let Subscription Fatigue Get You Down

2026-02-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

With so many ways to subscribe, seniors need systems for tracking recurring charges.

Feeling the subscription fatigue? These days, we can subscribe to everything from shaving cream to meal boxes, online magazines to smoothie mixes, credit cards to budgeting apps. Understandably, many people are tired of keeping track of what they’ve subscribed to…and exhausted from seeing all those recurring charges on their monthly statements. Let’s review some subscription fees that commonly fly under the radar, and how to recognize and put an end to the subscriptions you don’t really want.

“Subscribe and Save” purchase options

Amazon and other online retailers now ask if you want to “subscribe and save”--meaning you’ll pay less now if you pre-order the product for delivery in another 2 weeks or one month. This offer could save you money, if you’re definitely going to need that item again at that frequency. But…are you? Ask yourself the tough questions before hitting “subscribe” to avoid a surprise charge later.

Printer ink subscriptions

Depending on your printer and your printing needs, it may make financial sense to subscribe for printer ink (more on that here–it’s complicated). The important thing for seniors and families to know is that ink subscriptions are common these days, and for those who print very little, ditching the printer and its related ink subscription could be a place to save.

Donations to non-profits or political candidates

When making a donation to your favorite charities or political candidates, choosing to “make it monthly” can be a convenient way to provide consistent support to the causes you care about. But only if that’s what you mean to do. It’s best practice for online donation platforms to make “one-time donation” the default choice, so that the individual making the donation would need to select a monthly donation on purpose. Of course, not every entity chooses this best practice, and it can be easy for people who aren’t as familiar with online platforms, including seniors, to make their donation recurring by accident.

Cloud storage

Like with printer ink, it can make sense to pay for cloud storage. The key is to pay only for what you need. GoogleOne and Apple iCloud pricing rises with the amount of storage purchased. Phone users may have seen the notice that their phone is almost out of storage and bought the recommended cloud storage right away. Review what you’re paying, how often you’re paying it, and evaluate if that cost matches your needs.

Old app subscriptions, free trial “zombie” subscriptions, and other “grey charges”

When you’re pretty sure you canceled that streaming service subscription, and then notice 5 months later that you’re still paying $12.99/month for it– that’s a grey charge. Grey charges are sneaky and sometimes illegal charges that tend to be small enough to run under the radar, and yet add up over time. If you see small, regular charges on your bank account or credit card statement that you don’t recognize, it may be that you downloaded an app that charged you a sneaky subscription fee, or it could be a fee detailed in the fine print of another service. It may be that you really did cancel that subscription, but somehow your request was never processed.

It’s in the interest of companies to make recurring fees as easy to accept and hard to detect as possible. This game is stacked against older adults, who may be less familiar with these newer online payment tricks. And for people with cognitive decline, keeping track of recurring fees can be a major challenge. CSAs and loved ones can keep this in mind and help older adults keep tabs on all their subscriptions.

Ways to Identify Unwanted Recurring Charges

Knowledge is power when it comes to these unwanted subscriptions and grey charges.

Review your bank and credit card statements every month. If you see a charge you don’t recognize, reach out to the bank or credit card company for help identifying it.
Try an app to help you audit your subscriptions. If you have a lot of active subscriptions–or a sneaking suspicion that you might–consider downloading an app to assist you in reviewing your recurring charges. Some popular ones are Trim and PocketGuard.
If you’re concerned about grey charges, set up bank or credit card alerts to notify you of charges under a certain dollar amount.

For most of the subscriptions mentioned above, the ball is in the consumer’s court: you can decide what you want to pay, and cancel the subscriptions you don’t need. But when a company doesn’t immediately cancel the subscription when you ask, or if you can’t figure out what a charge is for, don’t hesitate to contact your bank, the credit card company, and/or the Federal Trade Commission to report suspected fraud.

Sources:

https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/stop-wasting-money-subscriptions-to-cancel-today/

https://www.consumerreports.org/consumer-awareness/how-to-find-and-cancel-unwanted-online-subscriptions-a3454561625/

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2025/08/05/10162620_7-subscription-services-that-seniors-forget-to-cancel.html

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

2026-02-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

February 2

This longtime sports broadcaster has become the unmistakable voice of New York Yankees baseball for generations of fans. Beginning his career as a newspaper reporter before moving into radio, he joined the Yankees’ broadcast booth in the early 1990s and went on to call some of the franchise’s most memorable moments, including multiple World Series championships. The Bronx native is known for his signature Yankees home run call: “There it goooooes… see ya!” He’s currently the host of a popular daily sports radio show in New York that bears his name.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

February 10

This veteran journalist and political commentator became a familiar face in American media after first making his mark behind the scenes of national politics. He was a senior advisor to Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign, and then became White House communications director early on in the Clinton administration. He later joined ABC News and built a long career as a trusted interviewer and anchor. He currently hosts This Week, ABC’s Sunday morning show, and is a co-anchor with Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan of Good Morning America, the most-watched morning show for over a decade. Back in the 90s, he enjoyed some non-political media mentions on lists of the nation’s most-eligible bachelors.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

February 16

This British guitarist helped define the sound of 1980s pop-rock, the “New Romantic” era. As the lead guitarist of Duran Duran, he gave hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” and “The Reflex” their distinctive bite. During the band’s peak, he also co-founded a funk-driven side project, The Power Station. After departing Duran Duran in the mid-1980s, he pursued a solo career and later collaborated with other rock stars including Robert Palmer. He eventually reunited with his bandmates for the successful Astronaut album and tour.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

February 27

This Lakers forward became a cornerstone of one of basketball’s great dynasties. Drafted first overall in 1982, the North Carolina native spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, thriving in the high-octane “Showtime” era alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Nicknamed “Big Game James” (there’s a clue), he earned NBA Finals MVP honors in 1988. Over a 12-season career, he was a seven-time All-Star and won three NBA championships, helping cement the Lakers’ dominance of the 1980s. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, he later transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a familiar voice analyzing the team he helped make legendary.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Sources:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Monthly Internet Bills Are Hard to Read. Broadband Facts Could Help.

2026-01-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

Feeling like you need a PhD in cryptology to understand your internet bill? You're not alone.

In the past couple of years, you might have seen a portion of your Internet bill that looks surprisingly like a Nutrition Facts label on a box of cereal. These Broadband Facts are a new initiative of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended to make inscrutable Internet bills easier to understand. They include information including monthly rates, how long introductory rates last, additional charges included in the monthly rate, Internet speeds provided, and more.

Unfortunately, these labels may be easier to read, but they’re not always easy to find–some companies avoid printing them on paper bills. For those who have gone paperless, the Broadband Facts are sometimes hidden on the company’s website. And the labels themselves can be confusing as they’re currently designed, especially when a customer buys Internet, phone, and cable together. It remains to be seen whether proposed rules to streamline the labels will do more to help or hurt consumer protections.

If you’re struggling to understand what you’re paying for now, while we wait for improved billing to arrive, here are some tips to make the best of the broadband payment options we have today.

Tips to Save Money on Monthly Internet Bills

Start with doing your best to understand what’s on your bill. Some Internet service providers (ISPs) are worse than others with the tacked-on fees, including data overage charges, late fees, and equipment rentals. If you’re not sure, check to see if you’re paying a monthly fee to rent your modem and/or router (and if you need a refresher on what those even look like, refer to this Senior Spirit article). Purchasing your own equipment can be a smart financial decision in the long run.

It can also pay to research what’s out there. While ISPs have a reputation for being monopolies, there are usually at least one or two other options for Internet service for U.S. homes. The FCC offers a map where consumers can search by address for ISPs that serve their area. Broadband Now, a company that aims to help consumers find and compare Internet providers, also provides a search tool for every local option.

You’ll also want to calculate how much bandwidth you need, and pay for that tier, not a more expensive one. Broadband Now has a handy bandwidth calculator that will help you determine your needs based on how many devices are likely to be in use at one time, and for what purposes.

Consumer Advocate Paints a Picture of the Broadband Future We All Want

“Imagine what your experience with your internet service provider would be like if our government insisted on well-done consumer transparency,” writes Chayya Kapadia, Chief of Staff at New America's Open Technology Institute. Kapadia and her team advocate for consumers through policies promoting robust broadband labels and more. She paints a picture of what we should expect from the industry:

You would be able to access a label with minimal clicks on well-labeled links on every provider website.
Your label would be printed on your bill every month.
Your internet service provider would proactively mail or email you an annual disclosure of your current service's label, and a notice every time your bill or service changed with the changes clearly marked.
The label would include color-coded context to help you understand what you can reasonably expect to be able to do with your internet service plan.
The label would have reliability and downtime information as well as details on how your service might change during peak usage times.
The label would tell you when and how a provider might degrade service for video or mobile hotspots.
The label would be available in many languages.
The label would mention every subsidy program that you might qualify for.
The FCC’s broadband map—which displays the internet service available at your address—would allow you to click directly to the corresponding labels for the tiers of internet service available at that address, too.

With equitable Internet service as with anything else, we can’t build it until we can dream it. If you’re not getting the transparency you want from your ISP, advocate for yourself–politely but with a clear willingness to cancel if necessary. Getting the change you want, on your own monthly bill or in the broadband industry as a whole, will take persistence.

Additional Sources:

https://broadbandnow.com/guides/save-money-internet-bill

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandlabels

https://broadbandnow.com/blog/internet-billing-mistakes-to-avoid

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

It's All in the Timing: Buying and Using Long-Term Care Insurance

2026-01-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

What's the best age to buy a long-term care policy? And how do you know when it's time to start using it?

A person turning 65 these days has a 70% chance of needing long-term care (LTC) in their lifetime. Commercials during open enrollment may lead viewers to think that Medicare will cover that long-term care; but that’s misleading. Depending on your plan, Medicare may or may not cover short-term home care, like a one-hour bath visit, after a hospital stay. But it definitely does not cover long-term care.

The sky-high cost of long-term care, and the burden that caregiving can place on a family, both contribute to some people’s decision to purchase a long-term care insurance policy.

But no one in their twenties or thirties has long-term care insurance (LTCI). So, when’s the right age to start investing in a policy? And for those who bought LTCI and have been paying the premiums, another question arises: how do you know when the time has arrived to actually use it?

What does a long-term care policy cover?

First of all, let’s be clear what we’re paying for when we’re paying between $150 and $500/month for LTCI. A majority of long-term care policies require medical underwriting, but they cover mostly non-medical services. LTC policies generally cover personal or custodial care; that is, support with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Most also include medical services like skilled nursing care or occupational therapy. LTC coverage may provide accommodation in a skilled nursing facility, and/or provide for a home health aide. Bottom line: policies vary, so it’s essential to review exactly what is covered before signing on.

When is the best time to buy a long-term care policy?

Most experts recommend buying a long-term care policy in your mid-50s to mid-60s. At that age, most people are likely to qualify for a lower premium, but will avoid paying it for a lot longer than they need to. As women have longer life expectancies, they’ll pay more than men at every age.

Don’t wait until after 70 to purchase a policy. At that age, your chances of getting approved at all drop by 50%, and waiting until age 75 could mean your premium is 91% more than that of a 55 year old. (Of course, that 55 year old has been paying their lower premium for an extra 20 years.)

A new offering that could be a solid choice, especially for those who are older and have pre-existing conditions that would make traditional LTCI prohibitively expensive, is hybrid LTC and life insurance. These policies are not exactly use-it-or-lose-it, as unused LTC benefits will be paid out to family members in a death benefit.

For some people, LTCI may not make sense as an investment if it interferes with other financial goals. Other forms of savings may amount to “self-insurance,” for example, if you have saved enough in retirement accounts or can access equity through a reverse mortgage to pay for long-term care. Always do the math and talk to a financial advisor to determine your specific needs.

How to tell when it’s time to start using the policy?

Unlike with a whole life insurance policy, there’s no cashing out a LTCI policy. In other words, it’s “use it or lose it” when it comes to those benefits. But what’s the right juncture to start drawing on your coverage?

One thing to be aware of is the elimination period of 30, 60, or 90 days between the time that a benefit trigger occurs, and being able to receive payment. A benefit trigger is defined by the insurance company and determined by a nurse or social worker. Most often, a benefit trigger is defined through ADLs or cognitive impairment. For example, when a policy holder needs help with two or more of six ADLs, and/or when they’re diagnosed with cognitive impairment, the LTC benefits are triggered.

If you think it’s likely that you or your loved one will want to start using a LTCI policy soon, keep in mind that there will be 30, 60, or 90 days during which you’ll have to pay for services–at home or in a skilled nursing facility–out of pocket. The length of the elimination period is one factor to consider when choosing a policy.

When the policy holder qualifies to file a claim, based on the benefit triggers in place, it can still be difficult to decide that now is the time to use the benefits. Most policies have a lifetime limit of a set number of years, and the policy will be exhausted after the limit is reached. These questions can help with decision-making:

Would I rather preserve benefits for later, or reduce financial strain now?
How much longer do I expect to live? (How many years or months do I likely have to draw down the benefits?)
Will delaying compromise my independence or safety?
Are family caregivers becoming exhausted? Are tasks like bathing or mobility becoming unsafe for caregivers?
If I delay, will I be able to financially cover the weeks/months of care during the elimination period?
Would it help me to have a case manager to review whether or not a benefit trigger has occurred? (Starting the inquiry doesn’t obligate you to proceed with a claim.)

None of these LTCI decisions are easy–not for the policy holders, nor for their family members and care partners. But at any stage in the process, it can be a relief to step back, take a look at the big financial picture, and plan together with a financial expert.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Additional sources:

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance

https://acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-will-you-need

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance/what-long-term-care-insurance-covers

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/when-to-buy-long-term-care-insurance/

https://www.agingcare.com/questions/when-do-you-start-using-ltc-plan-to-pay-for-care-492398.htm

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance/receiving-long-term-care-insurance-benefits

https://www.agingcare.com/questions/when-do-you-start-using-ltc-plan-to-pay-for-care-492398.htm

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

10 Surprising (and Free) Services Libraries Offer

2026-01-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

Across the country, public libraries are continuously reinventing themselves to meet patrons' needs.

How long has it been since you slapped your library card on top of a pile of books and DVDs at the library counter? In this era of ebooks and online research, many people don’t visit the library as often as they used to–at least, not to check out a physical stack of books.

As librarians get creative about ways to keep these public spaces relevant and exciting, people of all generations are finding new reasons to love their local libraries. Here are ten services that libraries are offering now.

1. Co-working space. In a way, libraries were the original co-working spaces; that is, places that provide comfortable, open, Wi-Fi-connected desk space for working away from the home or office. These days, co-working spaces are big business, and libraries are jumping on board to offer similar amenities, for free. The Palo Alto City Library system upgraded their buildings to provide more outlets, meeting rooms, and seating for people to bring their computers and work for a few hours. Many libraries provide free or low-cost booking of rooms for community meetings or book clubs.

2. Career and small business services. Librarians know how to find you the information you need, and that includes guidance on job searches, resume and cover letter resources, and interview techniques. Some libraries, like the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, offer job and career coaching, small business counseling, and special workshops like “Content Creation for Social Entrepreneurs.”

3. Lending more than just books. Some libraries are expanding their mission and the definition of “lending library” to include not just books and media, but also other in-demand objects. Some libraries lend tools like sanders, electric drills, and toolboxes, saving homeowners and hobbyists money on a tool they might only use once or occasionally. The Harris County Public Library in Katy, Texas runs a seed library, where patrons can browse seeds and take home what they need for their gardens. The Philadelphia Library system even lends out birdwatching backpacks with binoculars and field guides.

4. Printing, and help with printing. For those without a printer at home, libraries offer printing, usually at a per-page rate lower than a print shop ($.10 cents/page rather than $0.25, for example). And librarians, those renaissance men and women, are available to help troubleshoot tech issues with printing, document layout, and more. (Plus, they’ll never make you change an ink cartridge.)

5. Free or discounted tickets to local events and attractions. Dust off that library card to access free or reduced-price tickets to theater productions, sporting events, festivals, and state parks. Libraries and local cultural institutions collaborate to cross-promote their offerings and make tickets available to the families and individuals who wouldn’t otherwise be able to pay full price. Seniors may be able to get especially good deals–it’s worth asking if your local library has a discount ticket program.

6. Tech classes for different skill levels. For many years now, libraries have provided essential computer labs, Internet access, and tech support to their communities. Many libraries also offer free classes on digital literacy topics from beginner to advanced, like using Microsoft Office, making a website, staying safe online, and using social media. Depending on where you’re located, these classes could be quite intergenerational, with people from many different walks of life joining in. That makes for a fun learning environment, in person or online.

7. Volunteer opportunities. Libraries often need volunteers for seasonal projects or ongoing programs. In some towns, Friends of the Library groups associated with a library branch or system raise money together through book sales or special events. These groups can be a great way to give back and get to know other local book lovers.

9. Makerspaces. Ever wanted to try a 3D printer, record and edit a video, or step into a podcasting studio? Some libraries host makerspaces where artists of any experience level can use tools and devices to express their creativity in all kinds of media. Sometimes called “hack labs” or “hackerspaces,” makerspaces gained popularity about 15 years ago and have since become a whole sub-discipline of library science.

10. Fitness classes. Yet another way libraries are reinventing themselves: many branches now offer fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, pilates, and mindfulness. In keeping with the mission of public libraries, these classes are meant to be accessible to everyone, so expect a library-based fitness class to cost little or nothing.

11. Research assistance. Yes, everyone knows librarians can help you do research. But be honest: have you taken full advantage of this incredible free service? Librarians can set you on the right track with databases and research tools you never knew existed, to answer questions like: What stories can I find in my family tree? What do I need to know before I buy a house? What’s the history of the street I live on? Not every question is Google-able. Make a librarian’s day and bring a thoughtful research question to the reference desk.

We could go on! Libraries are also places to learn a language, vote, see an art exhibit, get help doing your taxes, and talk to a social worker. Every library can’t offer all these services, but if you haven’t checked out your own library’s website in a while, take a look. You might save some money and have fun in the process.

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/16/1199885817/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-library

https://www.neh.gov/article/complicated-role-modern-public-library

https://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/central/job-career-information-center

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Five Wishes: An Accessible Advance Directive

2026-01-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

You don't need a lawyer to create a legally-binding advance directive. And CSAs can make this resource a meaningful value-add for their business.

It may be mid-January already, but it’s not too late to make a New Year’s resolution. As Senior Spirit reported this past summer, most Americans have not named a health care proxy–that is, the person they want to make health care decisions for them in the event that they can’t make them on their own. If you’re among that majority, resolve to fill out a Five Wishes® document this winter. And CSAs: once you’ve done it yourself, consider how your clients might appreciate a compassionate nudge to do the same.

Five Wishes is a 20-page booklet, available in print and as a digital document, that walks a person through the way they want to be treated if they become seriously ill. Five Wishes has been around since 1997, and today, there are more than 40 million copies in circulation in the U.S., in more than 30 languages. It’s widely praised, in part because it’s so easy for most people to use and understand. And, when completed correctly, it’s legally binding in 46 states.

The Five Wishes

The document is also generally accepted and loved because it leads with compassion and emotion. Before Five Wishes, advance directives were cold legal documents, but Five Wishes includes statements such as “I wish for my family and friends to look at my dying as a time of personal growth for everyone, including me. This will help me live a meaningful life in my final days.” The statements, written in first person throughout the document, can be acknowledged or crossed out by the person, depending on whether they agree with them or not. The Five Wishes are:

Wish 1: The Person I Want to Make Health Care Decisions for Me When I Can’t Make Them For Myself.
Wish 2: My Wish for the Kind of Medical Treatment I Want or Don’t Want.
Wish 3: My Wish for How Comfortable I Want to Be.
Wish 4: My Wish for How I Want People to Treat Me.
Wish 5: My Wish For What I Want My Loved Ones to Know.

Branding Five Wishes for Your Business Practice

When ordering paper booklets, you have the option to promote your organization on the back panel. Five Wishes cites a number of reasons to do so.
The positive and compassionate messages reflect positively on your business.
Most promotional materials are used and discarded, but a Five Wishes booklet is kept and shared over years.
By distributing the booklets, especially along with counseling on how and why to use them, you’re providing a valuable service to clients.
To see samples and get a quote, see Custom Print at Five Wishes.

For each Wish, the booklet provides statements and space to expand and make specific requests. Even if the person doesn’t add anything, but simply marks off their preferences from the lists, the document will still provide valuable guidance to families and health care providers if it ever needs to be used.

Who is Five Wishes For?

As a legally binding advance directive, Five Wishes is for seniors, of course, and their families and caregivers. But it’s also for adults of any age. Experts recommend that everyone name a healthcare proxy, and Five Wishes lets you record that person along with all the information that person would need in order to make decisions on your behalf with your best interests, and personal wishes, in mind.

Healthcare professionals also appreciate Five Wishes because it clearly defines their patients’ desires. Health and Human Resources Departments distribute Five Wishes to their employees as a form of employee wellness assistance. The organization that distributes Five Wishes, Aging with Dignity, states on their website that widespread use of advance directives can even help lower an organization’s healthcare costs.

Important Legal Considerations

The document lays out a few important steps that must be followed, depending on your state, in order to make it legally binding. Here are some of them–see the document itself or Five Wishes FAQ for all the information you need.

The document must be signed by the person. The person laying out their wishes must sign and date the document. If you don’t, or choose not to, the document still has value as a guide to your wishes for family and health care professionals–but it won’t supplant any existing advance directives you may have, unless signed.
It must also be signed by two witnesses who are not related to the person. The two witnesses should not have any conflict of interest with the person, and in most states, that means they should not be related to the person by blood, marriage, or adoption; be a healthcare provider for the person; or be a beneficiary of their will or any other account. They should also be at least 18 years old (19 or 21 in some states). And in certain states, there are special witnessing rules for people who live in long-term care settings.
In four states, the document must be notarized. Those states are Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. In other states, it’s not necessary to notarize it.
In some states, the person using the document has to take an extra step in order to make it legally binding. Those states are Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas. Other states (Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin) require an addendum. Visit this page https://www.fivewishes.org/states/ on the Five Wishes website to find out more if you live in one of these states.

Filling out Five Wishes yourself is something you can do for your family and the future you. Providing it for your clients shows you care about them and their families’ well-being, too. What better way to start a new year?

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Celebrities are Caregivers, Too

2026-01-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

As rewarding and essential as being a care partner is, the experience can also feel isolating and anonymous. Celebrity caregivers give voice to common joys and challenges.

Bryan Cranston, of Breaking Bad fame, lost his mother to Alzheimer's disease twenty years ago. Cranston was moved by the care his mother received in her dedicated Alzheimer's community. “The caregiver is the unheralded hero of humanity,” Cranston said. “I revere caregivers as I do first responders.”

Earlier this year, Senior Spirit featured celebrities making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This month, we’re looking to famous personalities to learn about their experiences as care partners for loved ones.

Queen Latifah

The actress and musician, famous for her roles in Girls Trip and Bringing Down the House, has shared about the ups and downs of her caregiving experience. In 2018, she lost her mother, Rita Owens, to interstitial lung disease (ILD). In 2020, she appeared in a TV program on A&E, Beyond Breathless, about the disease, along with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams, who also lost a parent to ILD.

Queen Latifah described her mom as “funny, stylish, fly, cool, and beautiful too.” During the time she was her mom’s caregiver, Queen Latifah said she was working a lot, and the strain was real. She prioritized taking time for herself by going for a walk, watching a sci-fi show, or getting her nails done.

“We appreciated being able to be helpful to her, but we knew we had to be able to take care of ourselves too,” she told SELF magazine. “Because we’re in it: We’re in it with the people we love, and we want to have a positive outlook. We’re in for this fight, for them.”

Henry Winkler

“The Fonz” was a long-time caregiver. After Winkler’s mother suffered a stroke in 1987, he and his sister became her caregivers for the next 10 years until her death. As his mother was dealing with chronic pain due to limb spasticity, Winkler was there to ease her way. “My hat is off to caregivers. My respect is at full tilt for caregivers,” Winkler shared. “The dedication, the patience, just the wear of it all to consistently take care of somebody else—that’s a hero.”

Taylor Swift

Superstar Taylor Swift was by her father’s side, along with her family, for weeks in the summer of 2025 after he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. “My brother, my mom and I were each taking shifts in the ICU and staying with him 24/7,” she told AARP. Once her father was able to return home, he needed a lot of new equipment to help him move around at home during his recovery. “I’m building his shower chair and his walker and his bed,” Taylor said. “It’s just surreal, man. We just all moved in with him the whole summer, pretty much.” She says he’s now doing very well.

Rob Lowe

In his thirties, actor Rob Lowe and his brothers cared for their mother through her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. He often felt overwhelmed dealing with medical paperwork and coordinating in-home care. Since then Lowe has made it a mission to raise awareness about the challenges caregivers face. He’s partnered with the nonprofit Embracing Carers to promote fair workplace policies for care partners, and has authored op-eds in U.S. Today and elsewhere.

“When you’re caring for a loved one,” Lowe writes, “there’s nothing you won’t do (or sacrifice) to give them as much comfort and peace of mind as you can possibly provide. Often, that means you’ll skip your social obligations, wreck your diet, suffer sleep deprivation, and even risk your career, all to help a loved one through the most difficult time of their life.” Self-care and supportive networks are essential, he says, for individual care partners, the people they care for, and the whole community.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

2026-01-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

January 12

This distinguished British stage and screen actor is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical performers of his generation; in fact, was knighted for his services to drama. A longtime mainstay of the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, he has delivered acclaimed performances in roles ranging from Hamlet and Macbeth to Ariel in The Tempest. He earned a Tony Award for his tour-de-force performance in The Lehman Trilogy. You might recognize him from T.V. series such as Penny Dreadful, Vanity Fair, or, most recently, House of the Dragon. His film career has accelerated recently as he nears the traditional retirement age of 65–he appeared in two feature films in 2025, including Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, and has two more movies in post-production.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

January 13

Anyone who has ever asked the person in the adjacent bathroom stall if they could “spare a square” knows whose birthday we’re talking about here. She achieved legendary status as Elaine on Seinfeld, where she has too many iconic moments to count as the slightly misanthropic but wholly relatable New Yorker. She later led the ensemble of The New Adventures of Old Christine, and then, in Veep, she starred as the caustic, ambitious Selina Meyer, Vice President. She’s won more Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards than any other actor. She received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2018 and, in 2021, the National Medal of Arts. In 2023, she started a podcast, Wiser Than Me, on which she interviews women older than her for their life perspectives and views on getting older. It was one of the top 3 podcasts in the U.S. in 2024.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

January 18

This legendary NHL forward had a 25-year hockey career. Beginning with the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s, he helped capture five Stanley Cups alongside a roster of future Hall of Famers, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most complete and competitive players. Later, he joined the New York Rangers and led the team to its first championship in 54 years. A six-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Hart Trophy winner, and one of the highest scorers in NHL history, he was known for elevating both his own play and that of everyone around him. His son, Lyon, followed in his footsteps to become a celebrated NHL player in his own right.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

January 26

Two of hockey’s greatest-ever players were born just a few days apart. This Canadian hockey phenom is known for his uncanny vision on the ice and staggering career records. After breaking into the NHL as a teenager, he dominated the league with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s (alongside his birthday month buddy above), capturing four Stanley Cups and redefining what offensive excellence looked like. Later stints with the Kings, Blues, and Rangers added to his legend. By the time he retired, he held more than 60 NHL records—including most career goals, assists, and points—many of which are considered untouchable. Nicknamed “The Great One,” he became the first player in NHL history to have his number, 99, retired league-wide.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Sources:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

The Latest AI-Powered Trend: Surveillance Pricing

2025-12-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Are you paying more for plane tickets or hotels because of your browsing history?

Corporations have long used personal data to target ads to specific individuals. Now, with AI-enabled surveillance pricing, two people might be seeing the same targeted ad, for the same product–with different prices.

Unlike dynamic pricing, which is a feature of open markets and involves prices rising for everyone at peak times based on demand, surveillance pricing involves companies setting a personalized rate for each consumer based on that person’s collected data. That data can reveal your location, income, purchase history, and more.

This practice is already in place, and companies are now using it more frequently. A Federal Trade Commission report from January found that companies can even use your mouse movements on online retailers to infer your buying habits and purchasing power, and use those as factors in setting your personalized price. With this tactic on the rise, it’s time to learn how to recognize surveillance pricing and what you can do about it.

Where Price Point Meets Pain Point

In July, Delta Airlines said that they used artificial intelligence to determine 3% of their domestic fare pricing. By the end of the year (now), their goal was 20%. What does it mean for an airline to use AI to set prices? Delta, and likely other airlines, are going beyond just incorporating general factors that affect anyone–like holidays, storms, and fuel prices. Instead, AI enables them to tailor a price to each individual based on their personal data.

Hotels and online travel agencies are taking the same approach. SFGate reporters found that online travel sites priced the same New York City hotel room at $829 for someone with a Bay Area IP address, and $318 for someone located in Kansas City. Most likely, the logic behind that $500+ difference in price is that a person who can afford to pay Bay Area rent can, and will, pay the higher rate for the hotel room.

Another example of surveillance pricing already documented in action is on ride-sharing apps. “It’s not entirely clear,” said former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, “but researchers ran tests and found that riders with lower battery life on their phone were charged more.” She says that through surveillance pricing, companies assign individuals a “pain point”: in other words, the maximum that person is willing to pay for the product or service in their specific moment of need. Companies that can identify and charge a person’s exact price (pain) point will increase their revenue.

The Near-Future of Surveillance Pricing

Consumer advocates argue that marking up prices due to personal misfortune is deeply unethical. “Imagine this,” writes policy analyst Jay Stanley of the ACLU. “A family member has died, and attending their funeral is very important to you. Somehow—you don’t know how—the airlines know this about you, so when you go to buy a ticket they jack up their prices, forcing you to pay more for the same flight than other people.”

Yet Aradhna Krishna, a Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan, doesn’t see this new capability as all bad. What if companies charged the wealthy more and poorer families less for the same service–wouldn’t that function as a “private-sector progressive tax system” and contribute to wealth equality? As she points out in The Conversation, it’s all about how surveillance pricing is regulated and implemented. As with so many AI-powered technologies, state and federal agencies are only just mapping out the new landscape, and policies will follow.

How to Avoid Paying More

For now, consumers can take a few steps to guard against exploitative surveillance pricing. First, share less data. One way to do that is to use a personal VPN, or virtual private network, which masks your physical location. Use Incognito or Private mode so your browsing history isn’t saved. You can also clear your browsing history regularly to make it harder for surveilling companies to read.

If surveillance pricing practices take root, comparison shopping will become essential. That means checking prices on your phone in one browser and on your computer in a different browser, or asking your friend in another city to check the price for you.

Whether or not surveillance pricing becomes yet another price we pay for the convenience of online shopping, time and legislation will tell.

Additional Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/10/15/surveillance-pricing-why-you-might-be-paying-more-than-your-neighbour

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/23/nx-s1-5550264/should-surveillance-pricing-be-banned

https://www.investopedia.com/surveillance-pricing-11701007

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Three Senior Living Trends for 2026

2025-12-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

In 2026, as demand climbs for affordable senior living options, the industry is prioritizing wellness, technology, and integrated community living.

In 2026, experts expect senior living to be in high demand. According to the most recent Senior Housing Analyst Review and Outlook (SHARK) report, by the end of 2026, demand for senior living is expected to meet or surpass the record levels of 2008. At the same time, due to rising costs and labor shortages, many care communities are struggling to keep their doors open. In 2024 there were 63,000 fewer beds available in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities as compared to 2020, according to the American Health Care Association.

Heather Tussing, president of the Aspenwood company, expects that 2026 will be a transitional year for the industry. “While 2026 holds a lot of promise for new development, the headwinds of high interest rates and elevated construction costs will likely remain.” Supply chain issues and labor shortages will persist, too. These industry pressures, combined with the growing population of older adults, will amount to a gap of 370,000 senior housing units by 2050, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC). As a result, depending on their area of the country, boomers may have a hard time finding affordable options.

Even so, the senior living industry needs to woo these clients. In fact, since new construction will likely remain expensive for the time being, many communities are opting to attract new residents with amenities and updates that appeal to the boomer sensibility. Experts predict three trends for senior living in 2026: wellness-centered, technology-rich, and integrated community living.

Wellness-Centered Living

Boomers are concerned with wellness, and communities are responding by designing spaces and programming for the whole person. "A holistic approach to wellness is becoming a central design pillar” in senior living, says Laurie Schultz, co-founder of Avenue Development. Meditation spaces, yoga and mindful movement classes, and holistic therapies will continue to be popular in 2026, along with nutrition coaching and stress support.

Technology-Rich Living

Next year, industry experts expect the tech trends of 2025 to accelerate as AI-assisted smart home devices take up permanent residence in senior housing. It goes without saying that boomers are the most tech-savvy seniors in history, and many of them welcome advances in technology that make aging in place, or in senior housing, safer and more convenient.

In 2026, expect to see continuing advances in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), including smartwatches and other wearables that connect older adults to their care teams. These devices monitor blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and other vital signs, and can detect falls in real time, leading to faster responses and, research shows, fewer hospital admissions. The most up-to-the minute senior living communities will feature smart technologies like motion detectors and AI-powered systems that track habitual movements to notify the care team or families if a resident’s routine seems off. We can also hope that the industry continues to prioritize privacy along with safety in 2026 and beyond, as companies integrate these AI tools in the daily routines of senior living.

Community-Based Living

One trend that’s expected to pick up steam in 2026 is integrated community-based living. Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe, says that as a cohort, boomers are very active. “As part of their active lifestyles, they’re seeking accommodations…that incorporate intergenerational living.” In 2026, Serenbe will start constructing a village-style community with 97 units. “The design emphasizes social life within the club while placing most services along the street, creating an active and engaging streetscape,” Nygren says. “This stands in contrast to the conventional institutional model where all services are centralized under one corporation.”

The senior living industry knows that most boomers prefer to age in place, and that preference is motivating a movement toward creating senior living communities that are integrated into existing towns and cityscapes. Local governments are taking note, too. “Many municipalities are now including senior living in their strategic plans,” says Laurie Schultz of Avenue Development, because they recognize “a well-planned continuum of senior housing” as essential to the big-picture success of the town.

In 2026 and beyond, expect the challenges of rising demand and construction pressures to spur more innovation in the senior living industry.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Additional Sources:

https://www.nic.org/resources/shark-series-second-segment/

https://seniorhousingnews.com/2025/05/19/senior-living-occupancy-growth-outperforms-other-real-estate-sectors-for-first-time-in-years/

https://www.newsweek.com/americas-best-continuing-care-retirement-communities-2026-survey-2103160

https://mhseniorliving.com/assisted-living/preparing-for-the-aging-population-what-to-expect-by-2026/

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2025/10/05/10167525_7-senior-living-trends-that-will-redefine-retirement-culture-by-2026.html

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Prioritizing Mental Health Around the Holidays

2025-12-09T08:23:00.000-08:00

Feeling bereft of holiday spirit? That's perfectly normal. Here are some ways to light up this darkest month of the year.

The holiday blues: for many people, they’re a familiar part of the year’s end. Financial stress, grief, and a lack of sunlight can all be factors that influence our holiday moods–especially when the cultural narrative informs us that we should all be feeling like magical elves during this “most wonderful time of the year.”

For older people in particular, the holidays mean looking back on past seasons with loved ones who are longer present. Social isolation and financial stress, which disproportionately affect older adults year-round, can feel even more acute during the holidays. And among people, including seniors, with a diagnosed mental health issue like anxiety or depression, 40% report that the holidays make their condition somewhat worse.

“Dying isn’t really the focus of hospice care,” Angela Novas, chief medical officer for the Hospice Foundation of America, told AARP. “The focus of hospice is to live well for the remainder of your time, however long that is.” To support people in maintaining that focus, hospice care is palliative care that emphasizes pain and symptom management.

First of all, it can help to remember that many, many people don’t find this to be the most wonderful month. And if you’re missing loved ones this holiday, please acknowledge the feelings as normal and healthy–not an indication that you’re a grinch.

Mental Health Resources for the Holiday Blues and Beyond

These online resources can help inspire you or a loved one to new forms of self-care or professional support this winter.

988 Helpline. https://988helpline.org/ This free, confidential, 24/7 hotline is available throughout the U.S. and staffed by mental health professionals.
Mental Health First Aid’s Holiday Toolkit. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2023/12/managing-your-mental-wellbeing-during-the-holiday-season/ Free to download, this up-to-date resource includes information and activities to guide readers through making a holiday budget, scheduling down time, embracing gratitude, and seeking support.
Deconstructing Stigma https://deconstructingstigma.org/older-adult has a portal with resources on mental health tailored to older adults, including mental health screenings in the form of online tests, and in-depth reading guides.

But we’re not fated to feel down during December. Taking time for true self-care, reaching out for support, and leaning into gratitude are all ways to lighten the darkness so many people feel during the holidays.

Keep up healthy habits. Don’t jettison your exercise, diet, and sleep schedules during the busy holiday season. All the healthy habits you cultivate during the rest of the year will support your mood through holiday stress. Indulge in the treats that you really enjoy while keeping the big picture in mind. This can look like eating a healthy snack before going to a holiday party or leaving an event when you feel tired.

Schedule time for yourself, and use it for reflection and creativity. Downtime can be scarce during the holidays, and solitude helps recharge social batteries. Not all alone time is created equal, though. During a time of year when emotions surface along with memories of Christmases and Hanukkahs and Kwanzaas past, it may not be enough to decompress by scrolling or watching T.V. To process these emotions and give them an outlet, try doing something creative. The National Council on Aging suggests building creativity and journaling into your holiday season. Write down a few sentences about your day and see where it takes you. Try a new recipe or coloring book, or take time for your favorite craft. By doing something creative, we interrupt negative thought patterns and redirect our minds to the present moment—a recipe for improved mood.

Make new traditions with loved ones. Alone time is essential during the holidays, and so is meaningful time with family and friends. Grief for missing loved ones is part of the holiday season, always, but especially after a recent loss. During this time, remember that it’s okay not to carry on with holiday business as usual. Talk with loved ones about what you need from them, whether it’s conversation, space, or material support. And it’s important to feel free to make new traditions that both remember those we’ve lost and celebrate the life that’s still to live.

Bahby Banks of North Carolina told NPR that, before she died the day after Christmas in 2007, her mother’s house had started to look like Santa’s workshop. Creating new traditions around a holiday her mom had loved so much was difficult at first. "It's taken quite some time, but I decided the best tradition to honor my mother is to celebrate life and do what brings me peace,” she says. “This may vary from year to year and that's okay! I may spend a holiday by myself, or join a friend's family, or spend time with my mother's family."

Give yourself permission to decenter gift giving. The amount of money you spend on gifts this holiday season says nothing about how much you love and care about your family. Many people are experiencing financial stress this year. It’s okay not to give gifts, period. And it’s okay to give a poem or an act of service like making a meal.

Remember that the holiday blues are temporary. Melancholy around the holidays is just as temporary as it is normal. Looking ahead to what you’re excited about in the new year may help alleviate the feelings of sadness in the moment. In the same vein, consider if what you’re experiencing could be treatable as symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition triggered by the shortening days and a lack of sunlight. Medical help is available for SAD, including medication and therapy.

From all of us at Senior Spirit, please accept our best wishes for a warm and meaningful holiday season this year.

Sources:

https://whatsyourgrief.com/creating-new-tradition-after-a-death/

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/23/679334018/after-the-loss-of-a-loved-one-your-holiday-traditions-change-but-hope-endures

https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/holidays

https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/supporting-your-mental-health-during-holiday-season

https://www.sdcoe.net/about-sdcoe/news/post/~board/news/post/mental-and-physical-wellness-over-the-holidays

https://truecare.org/blog/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays/

https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/tips-for-taking-control-of-the-holidays-so-they-dont-take-control-of-you/

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Urgent Care, ER, or Freestanding ER? How to Choose

2025-12-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

Freestanding Emergency Departments are growing in popularity. What are they, and what factors should people consider when deciding where to go for care?

Most people have had to visit an emergency room or urgent care center for immediate medical care. A cut that might need stitches; shortness of breath; a cold and fever that keep getting worse: these could all require a visit to the doctor right now. But which doctor? The one at the urgent care center, or the ER? And what about Free-Standing Emergency Departments?

The choice hinges on two key factors: first, the capacity of the location to treat the issue the patient is experiencing. And second, how they will bill insurance. Understanding the factors before an emergency comes up can save precious time as well as money in the moment.

Sometimes it’s clear that the issue can wait for an appointment with a primary care provider; for example, with a bothersome muscle ache or strain, ongoing gastrointestinal issues like heartburn, or a sore throat that’s persistent but unaccompanied by fever. Waiting to make a PCP appointment can save money and means talking with a provider you know and who knows you.

But other times, it’s clear that someone needs immediate medical attention, or the issue is ambiguous enough that the person wants to get care right away. In these cases, there are three main kinds of options for care.

Urgent Care Facilities are walk-in clinics, usually open 10-12 hours/day and on weekends. They’re often located in retail areas.
Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs), or Freestanding Emergency Rooms, are not attached to a hospital, but otherwise function like an ER. Most are open 24/7. Like Urgent Care centers, they’re often located in high-traffic retail areas.
Emergency Rooms (ER) are located within hospitals and are open 24/7.

Medical Capacity at Each Type of Location

The locations and hours of these three options differ, and so do the medical staff and equipment capacity. In short, urgent care facilities are equipped to handle non-life threatening conditions and injuries. If the person is in immediate danger, it’s important to call 911. The person will be transported to an ER or, less often, a FSED.

Urgent care centers are not necessarily staffed by physicians, but will have nurses and nurse practitioners on staff. They’re not required to have the same life-saving emergency equipment as ERs. Urgent care facilities are well-equipped to treat mild to moderate illnesses and injuries, including urinary tract infections, strep throat, pink eye, mild to moderate cuts or sprains, and mild to moderate cold symptoms that could be COVID, RSV, or flu. People who don’t have PCPs may also use urgent care centers as their preventative care providers, and some urgent care centers are leaning in this model.

FSEDs, in contrast, are staffed by qualified emergency physicians, just like a regular ER, and they have all the same equipment. In an emergency, either facility will be able to treat severe allergic reactions, serious injuries, chest pains, and other life-threatening conditions.

The benefits of an FSED over an ER vary based on timing and location; an FSED will always be better if it’s closer, and sometimes they have shorter wait times than ERs. A benefit of ERs is that, if a person requires hospitalization after initial treatment, they’re already at the hospital for an extended stay, whereas a person treated at an FSED will need to be transported to a hospital in an ambulance. Keep in mind that urgent care centers also have relationships with hospitals and will be able to transfer a patient in need of ER care to the nearest ER or, in some cases, FSED.

How Will They Bill Insurance?

Cost is the other major factor. Urgent care centers are more affordable, in general; the insured patients may only be charged a co-pay for treatment and prescriptions filled at the center.

Freestanding Emergency Departments, since they have all the staff and amenities of standard ERs, have a similar pricing structure. FSEDs started in the 1970s as a trend in rural areas where hospitals are few and far between. More recently, they’re becoming common in urban areas, too. States are still catching up with the trend, and regulation of FSEDs–from staffing to service to hours of operation–still differs from state to state. Similarly, pricing at FSEDs differs depending on location, your insurance, and type of treatment.

There’s probably no financial incentive to go to the nearest FSED over the nearest ER, unless the FSED is in-network with your insurance provider, and the hospital isn’t. It’s a good idea to know which FSEDs and ERs in your vicinity take your insurance, before an emergency strikes. If you’re traveling, the situation may not permit time to do this research–but if possible, try to call either your insurer or the facility to find out if they’re in-network before being admitted.

Many FSEDs are owned by hospitals in that region, in which case they most likely are in the same networks as that hospital system. Others are privately owned, and their network status will vary. It’s important to know that these private FSEDs aren’t eligible to accept Medicare or Medicaid on their own; but, increasingly, they’re partnering with hospitals or even building out their own hospitals in order to meet Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services requirements.

If you’re located far from the nearest ER, or if ER wait times are out of control in your area, the increasing prevalence of FSEDs could be good news in your neighborhood.

Additional Sources:

https://familyfirster.com/understanding-the-different-types-of-medical-treatment-facilities/

https://csg-erc.org/regulation-of-fast-growing-freestanding-eds-varies-among-states/

https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/when-to-go-to-the-emergency-room-vs-an-urgent-care-clinic

https://www.communityfirster.com/blog/freestandingvser

https://www.acep.org/patient-care/policy-statements/freestanding-emergency-departments/

https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/when-to-go-to-the-emergency-room-vs-an-urgent-care-clinic

https://www.emergencyphysicians.org/article/er101/emergency-care-vs.-urgent-care-whats-the-difference

https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/should-i-go-to-urgent-care-or-a-freestanding-emergency-department

https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/urgent-care/the-difference-between-freestanding-and-hospital-ers

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Best of 2025: Movies By, For, and About Seniors

2025-12-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Get the popcorn ready for these four 2025 films featuring older adult protagonists and themes about family and aging.

An Italian family’s culinary dreams. A dystopian sci-fi odyssey. An intergenerational friendship in Florida. An ill-conceived art heist. In some of the year’s top films, older adults aren’t pigeonholed into stereotypical roles–they’re starring in diverse stories about late-in-life heroes.

Nonnas

Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella, a Staten Island would-be restauranter. But the real stars are the nonnas, or grandmothers, whom Joe enlists instead of professional chefs to cook for the guests at Enoteca Maria –a real-life restaurant still in operation. After his mother dies, Joe wants to honor both her and his nonna, and their famous cooking, by opening a restaurant where the chefs are only nonnas and where the customers feel like they’re eating at their childhood dinner table. Things don’t go according to plan, as the nonnas initially fail to get along, a kitchen fire sets back the opening, and a key food critic won’t deign to review a Staten Island establishment. But this is a comedy best described as heartwarming, and you can rest assured that it all works out in the end. The film also stars Susan Sarandon as one of the nonnas. Find it on Netflix.

The Blue Trail

Tereza is a 77-year-old lifelong resident of a small Brazilian town. When the government knocks on her door one day to tell her it’s time to relocate to a senior housing colony, she declines–but it’s not optional. What ensues is a dystopian odyssey along the Amazon river, and an expertly-plotted tale of one woman’s search for freedom from authoritarian rule. The Blue Trail (O Último Azul) stars Denise Weinberg as Tereza, who escapes the government’s “wrinkle wagons”--or cages on flatbed trucks that haul away the noncompliant elders–to embark on her increasingly magical journey. “What’s remarkable about The Blue Trail and makes it such a delight,” according to the Hollywood Reporter, “is that despite all the oppression in the air, it’s a movie filled with hope and faith in human resilience at any age.” As of this writing The Blue Trail wasn’t yet streaming, but keep an eye out for it!

Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut stars June Squibb, 96, who last year made her first star turn (after a career of supporting roles) in the comedy Thelma. In Eleanor the Great, Squibb plays 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who recently moved in with her daughter in New York City after the death of her best friend and longtime roommate, Bessie, played by Rita Zohar. Looking for companionship, Eleanor finds herself by accident in a Holocaust survivors’ support group. She didn’t survive the Holocaust, but Bessie did. When Eleanor shares her friend’s story as her own, it takes on a life of its own and brings her into contact with a grieving journalist, a news anchor, and a suite of characters played by actors including Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. “The film may trip over its own contrivances,” writes Lindsey Bahr in her review, “but their performances will leave you moved.” Eleanor the Great is available on major streaming platforms.

Any Day Now

This one is just plain fun. Like Nonnas, Any Day Now is based on a true story, but a very different kind–this is the tale of one of the world’s great unsolved art heists. It’s 1990, and Marty Lyons (Paul Guilfoyle, 76) is a career criminal who targets hapless twenty-something security guard Steve (Taylor Gray) to join the gang that will lift 13 paintings from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The multi-million-dollar scheme involves a motley crew of other semi-retired criminals, whom Steve is never sure if he wants to trust. Critics describe Any Day Now as predictable genre fare: not all that original, but enjoyable for the performances. And the way the plot unfolds, the characters–Marty in particular–are often one step ahead of the audience. Guilfoyle, an accomplished character actor, brings an atmosphere of mystery and comedy that makes the movie a fun diversion. Find it on streaming.

Are you watching any of these movies over the holidays? Let us know what you think! And remember to send us your favorite 2026 movies featuring late-in-life protagonists for next year’s movie roundup.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

2025-12-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

December 3

Because this actor’s given name–Julie Smith–was already in use by another actor of her generation, she became famous by a stage name that’s a portmanteau of both her parents’ names. A North Carolina native, she got her start on the daytime soaps before starring in an impressive number of turn-of-the-millenium hits: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Boogie Nights (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), The End of the Affair (1999), Hannibal (2001), Far from Heaven (2002), and The Hours (2002). In 2014, she won an Oscar for her portrayal of a linguistic professor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Still Alice. Her most recent projects include the limited series Mary & George (2024) and Sirens (2025). And, she’s authored a children’s book series with a main character who shares her signature red hair: Freckleface Strawberry.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

December 3

Born the very same day as the subject of the previous clue, this American actor is almost as well known for her environmental activism as for her film and television career. She’s been arrested multiple times since 2006 for taking action in defence of an urban farm in Los Angeles, in protest of mountaintop removal in West Virginia, and in front of the White House demonstrating against the Keystone XL pipeline. While she protests for environmental and peace causes in real life, on screen she’s known for playing violent characters. Her acting career started at age 17 in the horror film The Fury (1978). She did her own stunts as a homicidal android in Blade Runner (1983), and then became famous for playing the one-eyed assassin Elle Driver in the Kill Bill franchise.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

December 10

Born in Belfast, this actor and director is famous for interpreting Shakespeare for modern audiences. He both directed and starred in Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Othello (1995), Hamlet (1996), and As You Like It (2006). In 2019, he directed a biographical film about Shakespeare’s life, All Is True–and starred as the playwright himself. When asked why he keeps returning to Shakespeare, he replied: “The words have always moved me, from the moment when I was 17 and went to see King Lear…I’ve loved working on something where you really have to justify and prove that it still can matter.” He’s collaborated on several films with director Christopher Nolan as a supporting actor, including Dunkirk (2017), Tenet (2020), and Oppenheimer (2023). He won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his semi-autobiographical Belfast (2021).

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

December 26

A comic strip can be more than just a comic strip, and that’s true of this cartoonist’s internationally-synicated Sherman’s Lagoon. The artist, a native of Virginia, says the strip combines his lifelong loves of art and the sea. Since 1991, the strip has featured characters including a lazy great white shark named Sherman, his volatile wife Megan, and their friends and neighbors under the sea. Aimed at teens and adults, the series has earned a reputation for its funny characters and environmental themes, and is now syndicated in over 150 newspapers. In 2000, Sherman’s Lagoon won an Environmental Hero Award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) "for using art and humor to conserve and protect our marine heritage."

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kenneth-branagh-talks-returning-shakespeare-all-is-true-1209161/

https://jimtoomey.com/bio.html

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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How Decades of Nicotine Addiction Complicate Recovery in Later Life

2025-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

Nicotine addiction gradually rewires the brain, making daily routines and habits strongly linked to smoking. Older adults who have used nicotine for decades face harder withdrawal symptoms and prolonged cravings compared to younger adults. Over time, the brain adapts to the constant presence of nicotine, creating persistent urges even after attempting to quit. Long-term smokers experience slower recovery rates and higher relapse risks, especially in later life. Cognitive changes, mood fluctuations, and heightened stress can make quitting feel overwhelming. With this in mind, understanding how decades of nicotine addiction impact both body and mind is essential for planning effective cessation strategies. Awareness and structured support improve the chances of lasting recovery.

Understanding the Long-Term Grip of Nicotine

Nicotine slowly changes brain chemistry, creating strong habits that link smoking to daily routines. Older adults who have smoked for many years often notice cravings intensify in stressful situations or after meals. These patterns make breaking habits difficult. Another key point is that the brain relies on nicotine to regulate mood, energy, and focus, which reinforces dependence. Research shows that older adults struggle more than younger adults to quit successfully, largely because the body adapts over decades. Repeated exposure also strengthens associations between triggers and smoking, making avoidance more challenging. Recognizing these habitual patterns is crucial for planning cessation. Tracking triggers, timing cravings, and replacing habits with healthier behaviors improves success. Understanding the long-term grip helps older adults approach quitting realistically and with patience.

Identifying Triggers in Later Life

Smoking triggers often hide in familiar routines, such as morning coffee, evening relaxation, or social gatherings. These associations form over decades, making them difficult to recognize. For this reason, older adults must observe patterns closely and note situations that prompt cravings. Mental cues, like stress or boredom, often appear before physical urges. Avoiding triggers can reduce relapse risk, but replacement strategies also work well. Walking, light exercise, or breathing exercises help redirect attention. Similarly, mindfulness practices increase awareness of cravings and improve control over responses. Tracking progress, journaling episodes, and celebrating small successes can reinforce behavior change. Over time, older adults gain confidence in resisting triggers. Awareness of personal patterns strengthens recovery plans and highlights the importance of proactive strategies, increasing the likelihood of lasting cessation.

Physical and Mental Impacts of Nicotine on Older adults

Older adults often underestimate the physiological role nicotine plays beyond habit. Nicotine isn’t just addictive—it actively influences mood, alertness, and overall health. Over decades, it gradually damages the cardiovascular system, weakens the lungs, slows healing, and reduces immune responses. At the same time, it contributes to cognitive decline, heightened anxiety, depression, and increased stress levels. These physical and mental effects interact, creating a cycle that shows how it affects you, your daily activities, and overall well-being. Energy levels drop, focus diminishes, and emotional resilience decreases. Recovery plans must address both body and mind to succeed. Understanding these challenges helps older adults develop realistic expectations and strategies. After decades of use, the combined physical and mental toll makes quitting uniquely difficult, highlighting the importance of tailored support and structured cessation methods.

The Role of Support Systems for Older adults

Recovery becomes easier with strong social support. Family, friends, and caregivers offer encouragement, monitor progress, and provide accountability. Professional support, like counseling or senior-focused cessation groups, improves outcomes. Peer connections reduce feelings of isolation and provide tips from people facing similar challenges. Support also helps manage stress, which often triggers relapse. Emotional encouragement boosts motivation, while practical advice guides daily routines. In short, combining social, emotional, and professional support creates a comprehensive recovery environment. Older adults who engage actively in support systems report higher success rates. Encouragement from others fosters confidence, reinforces healthier habits, and reduces the sense of struggle. Structured support becomes particularly valuable after decades of nicotine addiction, helping older adults navigate withdrawal, cravings, and lifestyle adjustments.

Medical Interventions and Senior-Specific Treatments

Many people struggle with quitting their long-term struggle. Approximately 8.3% to 14% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older struggle with nicotine addiction. However, there are effective solutions. Nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gums, or lozenges, ease withdrawal symptoms for older adults. Prescription medications can also reduce cravings but require monitoring for side effects. Then again, older adults often have other health conditions, so consulting healthcare providers is important. Holistic approaches like stress management, gentle exercise, and mindfulness support overall recovery. Treatment plans work best when customized to age, health status, and smoking history.

Besides, combining medication with behavioral therapy improves success rates. Gradual reduction methods often suit older adults better than abrupt quitting. Tracking progress and adjusting treatment based on individual response increases adherence. These interventions make recovery safer, more manageable, and sustainable. Awareness of medical options empowers older adults to choose strategies that complement lifestyle changes and social support, improving the chance of long-term cessation.

Nutrition and Exercise: Enhancing Recovery

Nutrition and physical activity strengthen the body during recovery. Foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins support lung health and immune function. Hydration helps reduce cravings, while consistent meals prevent blood sugar dips that trigger urges. Light exercise, such as walking, stretching, or swimming, improves cardiovascular health, mood, and energy. Older adults benefit from routines tailored to physical abilities and limitations. Combining nutrition and exercise reduces stress and enhances mental clarity. In like manner, staying active promotes discipline and structure, which reinforce quitting habits. Adequate sleep further supports cognitive function and emotional balance. Implementing small, consistent lifestyle changes creates a strong foundation for recovery. Hence, older adults can improve physical resilience and mental stability, making quitting more achievable.

Overcoming Mental Barriers in Later Life

Mental challenges often hinder quitting the addiction. Fear of failure, discouragement from past attempts, and low confidence can reduce motivation. Setting small goals helps older adults experience consistent success. Visualization, journaling, and positive reinforcement strengthen determination. Managing stress through meditation, deep breathing, or social engagement reduces relapse triggers. On the other hand, building resilience requires patience and repetition. Cognitive strategies like reframing urges and rewarding milestones support sustainable habits. Celebrating small victories reinforces progress and maintains morale. Understanding that setbacks are normal prevents discouragement. Older adults who approach recovery with awareness and realistic expectations manage cravings effectively. Above all, mental perseverance, combined with physical strategies and social support, significantly increases the chance of lasting cessation after decades of nicotine use.

Celebrating Milestones and Staying Committed

Recognizing achievements motivates older adults to continue recovery. Tracking smoke-free days, health improvements, or reduced cravings highlights progress. Celebrating milestones strengthens confidence and reinforces habits. Sharing accomplishments with peers or family provides accountability and encouragement. Even small successes prevent feelings of stagnation and support long-term commitment. Structured reward systems, such as enjoying a favorite activity, reinforce positive behavior. Older adults who maintain consistent routines and stay mindful of triggers reduce relapse risk. Recovery becomes more sustainable when effort and achievement are acknowledged. Long-term commitment, awareness, and support form a strong foundation for quitting. Celebrating progress promotes lasting health improvements and encourages resilience.

Overcoming the Challenges of Decades of Nicotine Addiction

Quitting after decades of nicotine addiction is challenging but possible. Older adults must address physical health, mental resilience, triggers, and support systems. Consistent effort, tailored strategies, and patience improve recovery success. Understanding these long-term effects helps older adults approach cessation realistically, empowering them to regain health and maintain a smoke-free life.

Author’s Bio: Pat Crilley is the executive director of a recovery center in Palm City, Florida. With a background in healthcare leadership, he guides the organization to bring the best quality services

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Gift Ideas to Help Seniors Stay in Touch Over the Holidays

2025-11-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

Spread the love and stay connected with adaptive phones and remote tech support subscriptions.

When parents, grandparents, and older loved ones are spread across the country or globe, family members find creative ways to stay in touch–and that’s especially important around the holidays. Hearing or vision loss can make keeping in contact more challenging, but the technology is out there to help any older adult use a phone to communicate via audio, text, and video.

The Ooma Senior Phone Bundle uses your home internet to provide a home phone experience with features tailored to older adults. It includes large backlit buttons, photo-dial keys, a loud ringer, visual ring indicator, and hearing aid compatibility. There’s built-in scam blocking thanks to the extra device, called Ooma Telo, that connects to the Internet and blocks common scams. You can also set it to send all unknown callers directly to voicemail. For family members worried about older adults living alone, Ooma’s address-based 911 will be a welcome feature; while cell phones only give a general idea of the caller’s location to 911 operators, the Ooma provides a registered home address. It will also place automated alerts to family if the Ooma user calls 911. Their customer support is well-reviewed and trained to provide service to older adults; users can call the “Concierge” service 24/7 for setup or help. But this service costs $14.99/month. The Senior Phone Bundle, which includes the adaptive Clarity phone and Ooma Telo Internet-connected device, sell for $159.99.

The company Hamilton Captel offers captioning telephones that can be game changers for people with hearing loss. One user shared, “I now initiate telephone conversations instead of requesting my spouse to speak for me.” One of their best sellers is the CapTel 2400i, a captioning landline phone that displays word-for-word captions of everything said on a call, in real time. It features a large, backlit touchscreen display with adjustable font sizes, colors, and the ability to scroll through captions. The phone amplifies audio with tone control and hearing-aid compatibility, and includes a strong speakerphone for hands-free calls. It also includes a built-in answering machine that captions messages, a directory that can store more than 90 contacts, and speed dial and “dial-by-picture” features. The phone itself and the captions service is free for eligible users, funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Users can choose between Auto Captions (computer-generated) and Assisted Captions (human-assisted) modes.

The Jitterbug Smart4 from Lively is a smartphone tailored for ease of use. It presents a single, simplified list menu with large, readable text so the user isn’t overwhelmed by many icons or nested menus. But it runs on Android and can download apps from Google Play store–it’s still a smartphone, just easier to use. The Jitterbug supports voice typing, which makes text messaging easier for people with limited hand mobility. There’s also real-time call captioning, so during phone calls, spoken words appear as text. The device has loud, clear dual speakers, long battery life up to 37 hours of talk time, and fast charging. The phone itself costs $119.99 from Lively (cheaper prices may be available from box stores like Best Buy), and users need to choose a Basic, Preferred, or Premium Lively plan, starting at $19.99/month plus data. A nice thing about these plans is that they all come with 24/7 emergency assistance and transportation support in the form of agents available to answer tech questions or schedule users a ride with Lyft.

Adding Tech Support Makes for a Truly Thoughtful Gift

Remember, you can make remote support and setup assistance part of any gift. If it’s available but not already included, make the first call/setup session part of the present. Depending on the gift and the senior’s level of tech savvy, you can also create a written quick guide to accompany the new gift (e.g. “To call grandkids: press green button, then choose name”). This is especially thoughtful if you can’t be there in person to present the gift.

There are also services that provide tech support that meets the specific needs of older adults. Here are three:

Cyber Seniors is an international non-profit that pairs young people with older adults for personalized tech support. The youth gain experience with tech and tutoring, seniors gain free help with tech problems on their own schedule, and everyone benefits from the intergenerational connections. Seniors can link up with volunteers for free through local Area Agencies on Aging or other nonprofits that license with Cyber Seniors.
Candoo Tech has featured in this newsletter before because it’s one the best-known tech service attuned to the needs of older adults. Plans start at $19/month for unlimited tech support for a wide variety of devices. Subscribers also gain access to Candoo’s library of tech support workshops and videos.
The Smarter Service offers customized memberships to meet the needs of individuals, senior centers, and senior living communities. Plans start at $20.83/month and can include device support, help with travel planning and online ticketing, help with smart home monitoring and security, and help with password management, social media, and more. Depending on your area, they can even offer in person support.

We want our loved ones to be able to pick up the phone and call. All these gifts have the potential to help make it happen: less frustration and more connection this holiday season.

Additional Sources:

https://cyberseniors.org/free-tech-help/

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

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Resources That Make a Difference for Veterans

2025-11-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, here are veterans benefits that every CSA should know about.

Some CSAs grew up in military families or served in the military themselves, and others aren’t as familiar with the challenges and unique needs of military families. As CSAs, our clients almost certainly include veterans, and possibly veterans who are eligible for a suite of services that they aren’t yet taking advantage of. Only 45% of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries use more than one VA benefit.

This Veterans Day, make it your business to get to know some of these benefits. For certain clients and their families, they could be life-changing.

In a 2024 CSA Journal article, Carmen Perry-Tevaga provided readers with a guide to the Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension available to eligible active-duty veterans and their surviving spouses through the VA. The A&A Pension is designed to help veterans cover the cost of long-term care, whether that’s in-home nursing care or assisted living. In 2024, the maximum annual pension rates under this program were:

Single veteran: $27,549
Married veteran: $32,433
Surviving spouse: $17,935

A person may be eligible if they need assistance with activities of daily living, are housebound, live in a nursing home, or have severely limited vision.

The A&A pension is a needs-based benefit, meaning the VA evaluates applicants based on financial need to determine eligibility. As of last year, an applicant’s net worth needed to be $150,538 or below; this number changes every year.

According to Perry-Tevaga in her recent article, the A&A pension can provide financial relief, improved quality of life, and support for surviving spouses–and yet, many people who may be eligible don’t try to take advantage.

Through the Disability Housing Grants program, the VA offers veterans and service members “with certain service-connected disabilities so they can buy or change a home to meet their needs and live more independently.” A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant provides financial assistance to veterans who need to retrofit their home to allow them to live there with certain service-connected disabilities. In 2025, the maximum grant amount is $121,812, and other related grants are available for people who meet additional eligibility requirements.

Help for Caregivers

The VA also offers programs that provide essential support to the caregivers of veterans. Respite Care provides short-time care for veterans who live at home, to provide a break for family caregivers. The Home Respite Care program pays for short-term in-home care of a few hours, and Nursing Home Respite Care pays for the veteran to stay in a care community for a few days while the family is out of town.

In some locations, Adult Day Health Care may be available for veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living. These programs provide a place for older adults to go during the day for companionship and recreation, while allowing caregivers to work at their jobs or rest.

Help with All the Paperwork

With all these and other benefits, the paperwork involved can feel overwhelming and constitute a barrier to accessing the service or grant. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can assist with the paperwork, for free. Indeed, it’s highly recommended that veterans take advantage of this service in order to avoid delays in the application process. They’ll also help with tracking applications and appeals processes, when necessary.

Applicants will need to provide their service record and all the other documents that determine eligibility–a Veteran Service Officer can help you determine what those documents are and where to find them. The National Veterans Foundation provides a list of federal, state, and independent agencies that provide Veteran Service Officers.

More Non-VA Benefits

Most veterans are probably aware of the Wounded Warrior Project, but it’s worth taking a look at all the many resources they offer, including peer support groups, financial counseling, and the Independence Program, which can provide direct care and support to eligible wounded veterans who served post-2001. Similarly, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) serves veterans and their families by assisting them with accessing VA benefits plus counseling, transition services, and entrepreneurship support.

Here are two other non-governmental resources that many veterans and their families may not know about: First, VetTix honors service members by offering free tickets to a variety of sporting events and concerts–all donated by the venues. Their mission is to help veterans “reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build life-long memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life.” In 2024, they gave out 6.6 million tickets to veterans and their families, and they have over 3,500 open events on their website. The tickets include NFL, MLB, theater, stadium concerts, comedy tours, and more. Second, GOVX supports a variety of nonprofits that serve veterans and families, and they also host a clearinghouse of discounts available to servicemembers, from event tickets to gym memberships to streaming subscriptions.

While there’s no doubt that older veterans and their families need even more benefit options at the federal, state, and local levels, many of our clients aren’t taking advantage of the benefits that are already out there. CSAs can help make sure these clients aren’t missing out on thousands of dollars.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Additional Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/disability/veterans-aid-attendance-benefit/

https://www.ncoa.org/article/18-benefits-for-veterans-helping-our-nations-heroes/

https://nvf.org/veteran-service-officers/

https://www.va.gov/service-member-benefits/

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Understanding RSV

2025-11-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

Flu season is in full swing, and that also means an elevated risk of RSV, especially for older adults.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) only recently entered the public consciousness in a big way, but it’s been a major concern for doctors and researchers around the world for decades. Children and healthy adults who contract the RSV virus will usually experience mild cold-like symptoms. But infants, adults with weakened immune systems, and older adults are at risk of developing life-threatening illness, similar to a severe flu. RSV hospitalizes 159,000 adults over 65 in the U.S. each year, and between 10,000 to 13,000 die from RSV infection.

What should older adults know about RSV and the vaccines that are now recommended to prevent RSV infection and severe illness?

RSV Risk and Symptoms

RSV is a common virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It causes upper and, in severe cases, lower respiratory infections.

According to the CDC, adults with the highest risk for contracting severe RSV include:

Adults ages 75 and older

Adults with chronic heart or lung disease

Adults with weakened immune systems

Adults with certain other underlying medical conditions

Adults living in nursing homes

In mild cases, people will notice cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and a low-grade fever. In severe cases, RSV spreads the lower respiratory tract and causes symptoms including:

Fever
Severe cough
Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Unfortunately, RSV is just as easy to catch as a common cold. It passes from person to person through the air or direct contact, and can also survive for hours on hard surfaces. It enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth. Best practice for preventing RSV infection is the same as the common cold or flu: wash your hands often, avoid sharing drink or food with others, and keep surfaces clean. And, just recently, there’s also an effective vaccine available for RSV.

A New Vaccine Option

The RSV vaccine is quite new: two RSV vaccines were approved by the FDA for the first time in 2023. In clinical trials, the vaccine had a 94% effectiveness rate in preventing severe disease in older adults. In the trial, severe disease was defined as needing a ventilator or supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The 2023 approvals were at least 60 years in the making. “RSV has been one that’s taken us a while to be able to unlock its mysteries and secrets,” said Dr. Steven Varga, a researcher and dean at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital whose career has been devoted to the search for an RSV vaccine. “It’s a really exciting time,” he told CNN. “It’s been a long time coming.”

The CDC recommends that everyone over 75 get an RSV vaccine, and that adults over 50 talk with their healthcare provider about their risk factors and consider getting the shot. The three vaccines available are Abrysvo, Arexvy, and mResvia. The CDC does not recommend one over the others.

Unlike the flu and COVID shots, the RSV vaccine is currently a one-time shot. So, if you already got it in the last two years, there’s no need to get another one. With more research, this recommendation may change in the future, when CDC determines how long effective protection from the vaccines lasts.

Side effects from the vaccine are similar to those associated with other vaccines: most commonly, mild redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, and fever, headache, and nausea may also occur.

The best time to get an RSV vaccine, if you’ve never had one, is in the late summer or early fall. But the incidence of severe disease peaks in December and January, so there’s still time to talk with your healthcare provider about getting shot before the holidays.

If you do catch RSV during the holidays, and symptoms are mild, at-home remedies for the common cold will likely help: drink plenty of water, use throat lozenges, and get as much rest as you can.

Additional Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/index.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/index.html

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/understanding-rsv-in-older-adults-risks-symptoms-and-barriers-to-vaccination

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/dont-wait-new-data-backs-rsv-vaccines-ahead-fall-surge-2025a1000q3s

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/study-highlights-elevated-rates-hospitalization-icu-care-death

https://www.medpagetoday.com/resource-centers/routine-vaccinations-context-acute-chronic-disorders/rsv-hospitalizations-older-adults-nearly-match-flu-cases/5980

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/why-are-rsv-vaccine-rates-so-shockingly-low-2025a1000joe

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/rsv.html

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

For a Longer Life, Give Thanks

2025-11-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

An "attitude of gratitude" may be a cliche, but the truth is, having one can actually lengthen your life.

Before digging in to the turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, many families will pause and share something they’re grateful for. According to scientists, bringing that Thanksgiving spirit and practice into the everyday can help people live longer and healthier lives. Here are some research-backed reasons for cultivating an attitude of gratitude year-round, and how to commit to the practice.

Gratitude Is Powerful

When scientists study the health and longevity benefits of gratitude, they’re usually referring to a practice of focusing on what we have, rather than what we don’t have. In other words, practicing gratitude means emphasizing what is, rather than what is not. Like a mindfulness practice, a gratitude practice is about bringing our attention to what’s around us in a non-judgemental way.

In a recent study of female nurses between 69 and 96 years old, researchers found that those who felt gratitude more often had a 9% lower risk of mortality within three years. That effect emerged after adjusting for other factors like physical and mental health, social connectedness, socioeconomic status, and religion. One of the authors of the study, Tyler VanderWeele, is co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge," VanderWeele told Harvard Women’s Health Watch. "But what's remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what's around them and express thanks to others for what's good in their life."

Indeed, for such an accessible intervention, gratitude’s positive effects on health are pretty amazing. Experiencing gratitude on a regular basis has been shown to support cardiovascular health; in one study, people with a gratitude practice experienced an improvement in symptoms like inflammation, and were more likely to stick to treatment goals. In a meta-analysis of 64 clinical trials, researchers found that individuals who practiced gratitude had lower rates of anxiety and depression.

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas studies well-being at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is unfair to demand gratitude from anyone if they’re feeling particularly impoverished,” she said in an interview with CNN. “But it’s not unfair to point out some of the simple and easy immediate factors that are actually a source of goodness. It could be the feeling of warm sun through a window on your shoulder…it’s just a matter of really noticing that there are things around you, even in moments that are difficult.”

How to Cultivate Gratitude Daily

Everyone feels gratitude spontaneously sometimes, but the real health benefits emerge for those who cultivate gratitude with intention. Here are a few ways to practice.

Stopping and Noticing: LIke Dr. Simon-Thomas suggests, pausing to notice the goodness in everyday moments is a form of gratitude practice. Any mindfulness technique will bring the same effect. To remind yourself to stop and look for the good, try connecting this new habit with something you already do everyday. For example, instead of using your morning coffee time to doomscroll or watch the news, use that time consistently to pause and notice the good things your senses are telling you. The smell of coffee, the sound of birdsong, the chill of the autumn air, the comfort of your favorite chair… all these are available for the noticing.

Ask Yourself Three Questions: Pick three questions to ask yourself every day to generate a sense of gratitude.

What sensations am I grateful for in this moment?

Who has given me something recently–a gift, kindness, their time?

What is bringing me comfort?

What art/book/movie/media gave me happiness today?

What am I looking forward to?

You might decide to keep a gratitude journal: writing down your answers can help you remember to practice, and re-reading weeks of entries can bring back grateful feelings all over again. It’s also fine to simply write the questions on a post-it note and place it in a spot you’ll see every day. To improve health and well-being, the important thing is consistency, to build up an orientation of gratitude.

Write a Thank-You Note: When a particular person comes to mind during your gratitude reflection, consider letting them know you’re thankful for them by writing a note or email. VaderWeele, one of the recent study authors, says, "I do think writing a thank-you note or gratitude letter gets your mind to dwell on something positive for a longer period, to think more deeply about it, because you have to put it not just in words, but in writing." Plus, "It also deepens the relationship and builds that bond."

Gratitude doesn’t cost a thing, and it makes a real difference. This Thanksgiving season, take a few moments out of the busyness to let that gratitude in.

Additional Sources:

https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-many-gifts-of-gratitude/

https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/gratitude

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/12/health/gratitude-benefits-longer-life-wellness

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors