Programs

Do we wait too long?

To look….

At ourselves and see ourselves as we really are? Not as we still think we are.

Our housing and does it fit the life we will live in the future? Will we age well and safely where we are?

Our income? Do we have enough? Will the money last or will we outlive our savings?

Our own fragility? How will we manage and cope? When will we speak up and say I’m no longer safe on my own?

We have a tendency to wait too long to “live” as well. We say, “We’ll travel when we retire”, “We’ll downsize and move when we retire”, “Oh, I’ll figure that out after I retire”

Let’s revisit all of that. Let’s start planning today how we will live our lives to the fullest. Don’t put things off. Make modifications to your home as the years go by. Have most of it done before you retire. Start traveling as soon as the kids are independent and some of your money is freed up. Travel while you are healthy and able to. It’s a whole lot more fun to explore the world before you experience health issues.

Start now thinking about what you’ll do each day, all day once you are not working. You’ll have a lot of hours and days to fill up. Do you want to learn new skills? Watch your grandchildren? Volunteer and where will you volunteer? Find a new job? Start a new career?

Don’t wait too long. Life can pass us by. We can only wish once those days and years are behind us. Live life to the fullest and start that living right now!!

Just what are we? And are you paying attention to us??

A search for a term that doesn’t offend is taking place. Trying to avoid terms like senior citizen, retiree, elder and the elderly. The question becomes what do we call everyone 55+?

Terms are materializing that are perhaps more appropriate and appealing.

The term, Baby Boomer was created and has been used since all those World War II babies were being born. This group has changed and revolutionized the United States as the have passed though each phase of aging. And they will and are changing and redefining the term senior each day. Just look around – they are not stationary, boring or old.

The title, Perennial has been around for several years now and refers to blooming again and again. And yes, we do that again and again during our lives. We become young adults striking out on our own. We become homeowners, parents. So forth and so on as we parade along the paths of our lives. Ever changing and blossoming into the “new” me.

Active Ager is a newer term and defines seniors as young at heart, tech-loving, gym-using, trend setting, fun-seeking marketer’s dream. This term might be the best fitting so far as each generation is truly younger than the generation before them.

Whatever term you use 55+ adults are strong, happy, healthy. They are using and buying what they choose. They want the same products all ages want and use. They are not to be overlooked as they are living longer, working longer, staying healthier and maintaining their independent as well.

Call them what you will but remember they spend $2.9 trillion on products and services each year.

We get up each morning. Begin our routine. Bathroom. Coffee. Read the paper. Watch the news. Shower. Dress. And so, the day begins.

In those moments are you living or existing? Me at that point I’m existing. Getting going in the morning is a real chore for me. I’m not a bright bubbly person at the start of the day.

Soon I’m living! I’m doing a job I love. Enjoying my husband and our beagle. Interacting with others. Planning what’s next. Enjoying the grass getting green, the beginning of leaves and flowers. Spotting my first Hummingbird of the year!

I hope all of you are LIVING as well!

Break your routines! The same old thing is boring!

Do something new and out of your ordinary.

Be the best you can be.

Let SeniorCenterCt.org assist you in your “out of the ordinary” journey.

Visit.

Plan.

Schedule.

Invite others.

Start doing!

Don’t ponder. Stop all that thinking and all those what ifs.

LIVE!

-Judy Jencks.5.2018

We hope you’re enjoying this newsletter and the information you get on SeniorCenterCt.org. “Like us on Facebook” and you’ll see a great number of articles covering a wide range of topics. We’re also on Twitter and LinkedIn. And we just started doing Instagram!

We’re everywhere and growing! For the first quarter of 2018 we have 3,936 users on 5,620 sessions with 18,907 pageviews! Watch on Facebook for the chart that shows our growth from the time we started in 2016.

Tell your family and friends about SeniorCenterCt.org and to “like us on Facebook” so they are up to date too.

Thanks for your support – Judy

Be on the lookout for your new Medicare Cards and tell everyone else to look for theirs. Your neighbors, your family, friends and strangers even! The new cards will have a randomly generated number. No longer will it use your Social Security number! Great thing and it will help protect all of us from identity fraud.

“We’re taking this step to protect our seniors from fraudulent use of Social Security numbers which can lead to identity theft and illegal use of Medicare benefits,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “We want to be sure that Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers know about these changes well in advance and have the information they need to make a seamless transition.”

Be very cautious and on the alert for scammers. If anyone calls you about your replacement card they are not from Medicare or Social Security! Officials will NEVER ask you for personal or private information or ask for money as part of the new card process.

It looks like Connecticut and the rest of New England will be getting theirs after June of 2018. To be sure you get your card make sure Social Security has your correct address. You can check your address by visiting ssa.gov/myaccount or by calling 800-772-1213.

Just make sure you don’t throw it out with the junk mail!!