Director's Message
Plan for the Future September 2007September 2007: Plan For The Future None of us know for certain what the future holds. But many of us fret over it. Will we stay healthy? Will we have enough resources? Where should we live? Planning for the future requires a combination of research, vision, and flexibility. It also necessitates conversations with your family. The concept of retirement and social security are said to have been introduced after World War I, when older workers needed to move aside to make jobs for young veterans. At that time, life expectancy was about 10 years after retirement. People who could retire had a few years for leisure and then became frail and elderly, cared for by family or in nursing homes. Today, the picture is rather different. People retiring now can expect to live 30 years past retirement. There is much greater anxiety about whether resources will last, and families live farther apart. Many people live for many years with chronic health conditions. We live in a diverse community, with a wide range of cultural expectations about aging and family roles. As we look ahead, research indicates that the Baby Boomers, now nearing retirement, have not saved what they need, and expect to work for several more years, but not full-time. They are particularly anxious about health care, and are seeking new retirement activity and living options. Your plan for the future should include: · A financial plan: how will you pay your bills · A legal plan: a will, financial powers of attorney, advance directive for health, and estate plan · A plan for where you will live, and how to live there safely · A plan for where you will get help if and when you need it: yard, house, and personal care A back-up plan: options you are willing to consider if Plan A does not work out, due to health, finances, family, social or other factors. As part of PSRC’s effort to provide education about these issues, we are offering our third Plan for the Future Day conference on Saturday, September 29. The keynote speaker will be Brian Duke, Executive Director of the New Jersey Foundation for Aging. Brian has worked on the local, state and federal level to improve awareness and services for older adults and caregivers. The workshops will be facilitated by professionals we know, responding to questions we are often asked. During lunch, there will be a resource fair, with numerous providers of various services for you to talk to. All of this for FREE! thanks to our sponsors. We are envisioning this day as a valuable resource for people already in retirement, those contemplating retirement, and family members who want information so they can help both parents and themselves. For more details, see the Special Events listings. We are also starting a new venture this fall, called Engaged Retirement. The goal of this program is to help local employers prepare their employees for retirement by offering workshops on various aspects of retirement, helping people find opportunities for volunteering in the community, and helping employers consider ways to retain experienced workers with part-time and flexible positions. We hope that this program will introduce new people to the programs and services of the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Please let us know if you would like more information about this program. We are also very excited that our new website should be available by the time you read this. We hope you find it informative and easy to use to find out about our programs and resources that are available in the area. Susan W. Hoskins LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |
