“I’m not sure what’s wrong or what kind of surgery you need, but we have to operate right now.”

If you heard this from your doctor, you’d jump off the examination table and run for the door. Yet that’s essentially the approach the President and Congress used three years ago to pass a bill, optimistically called the Affordable Care Act, that was the largest transformation of the U.S. health care system in our lifetime.

During the frenzied debate our elected leaders made many promises as to the amazing benefits this legislation would bestow on Americans. After listening to speeches from President Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and President of the Senate Harry Reid, I recounted those promises in this blog on March 21, 2010.

Let’s revisit those promises.
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As a young adult, what could you spend money on that would be a wise investment in your financial future? A home? A college education? A money management class?

All of these may be good ideas, but there’s something else you can buy that could make an even greater difference in your long-term financial health: counseling.

What does psychological counseling have to do with money? Sometimes, a lot. I was recently interviewed by a reporter for an article about money disorders. The conversation reminded me just how many problems can result from dysfunctional money beliefs and behaviors. Money disorders can impair people’s functioning and disrupt their lives just as significantly as disorders like alcoholism or other addictions.

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“Are any of you concerned that you may be experiencing signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s?” A social anthropologist recently asked this question of a group of us who were all aging Baby Boomer professionals. Almost every person in the room slowly raised a hand. She then told us we could all relax. The human brain was not designed to multi-task or retain the flood of information and data we experience daily. The sighs of relief were audible.

Information overload aside, some memory loss is normal as we age. Having some trouble remembering names or thinking of the right word to use in a sentence is a normal part of the aging process. Forgetting where you left something, not remembering why you came into a room, and taking longer to learn new things are also normal and not signs of more serious problems.

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Does $40 a month for a fitness center membership seem beyond your budget? Do you cringe at the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables? Is your wallet too lean to let you buy lean protein? And the cost of a medical checkup is something you don’t even want to think about.

At first glance, the cost of staying healthy might seem way too high.

Certainly, maintaining good health comes at a cost. Yet in the long run, maintaining poor health will cost far more. Let’s look at some of the ways it pays financially to take care of your health.

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What’s at the top of your retirement bucket list? If you are like most folks that I help prepare for retirement, travel is high on that list.

As I’ve grown older, my views on retirement travel have changed. I used to buy into the dream of retirement as the “Golden Years.” I thought of it as the time in life when people are free to do what they want, when they want, with whom they want.

Working with older clients has taught me that my younger views of the glory of retirement were a bit naïve. While certainly some people do experience years of unlimited and unfettered travel, many more don’t find it so easy.

Doing “what you want, when you want, with whom you want,” assumes three things we often take for granted: good health, adequate finances, and meaningful relationships.

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We’re pleased to feature a guest post from Tom Simmons, a partner with the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP.

There is a great deal of ruckus about the rights of our country’s elderly citizens to be free from abuse and exploitation.

The most recent cloud of dust was raised when the Elder Justice Act was being argued and considered by Congress.  Mickey Rooney, age 90 and the beloved Hollywood star of films like Boys Town, testified in March of this year before the Senate Aging committee.  Coincidentally, Rooney had to obtain a restraining order against his stepson on account of allegations that the stepson had been financially abusing his stepfather.

So what is elder abuse and what can or should the U.S. Congress do to eliminate it? Continue Reading »

We’re pleased to feature a guest post from Tom Simmons, a partner with the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP.

A Caregiver Agreement is a formal written contract, usually between family members, to provide housekeeping, meal preparation, medical supervision, bill paying, transportation and other services for a fee.  Typically, for example, an adult daughter may enter into an agreement that specifies what care she will provide for her aging mother.  In most circumstances, family members may provide varying degrees of care and assistance to their parents without a formal agreement.

So when would a formal written agreement be necessary or advisable? Continue Reading »

“The health care bill was primarily about insurance reform and coverage, not health care delivery reform.” This statement was made by Jamie Orlikoff, of Orlikoff and Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in healthcare issues. He addressed a gathering of community leaders in Rapid City, South Dakota, in December. Continue Reading »

Reforming the health care system isn’t new. Many presidents and Congresses have tried and failed, most recently Bill Clinton. Why, then, did health care reform pass under this administration?

According to Jamie Orlikoff, of Orlikoff and Associates, who addressed a gathering of community leaders in Rapid City, South Dakota, in December and whose consulting firm specializes in health care issues, past attempts may have failed simply because the status quo was still acceptable. This time around, the broad view was that the status quo was unacceptable and the American economy would eventually collapse if nothing were done. Continue Reading »

A new eBook just published cuts through the chaff and tells you what you need to know to beginning planning for the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Health care reform is again in the news in recent weeks, since September 23 was the starting date for some of its key provisions. Given its incredible complexity, many people don’t understand the health care law. This new iBook can help you get to the bottom line of many of these issues.  Continue Reading »