COLA Lift for Social Security

 Not Enough, Say Critics, 

as Trump Economy Makes 

Life Harder for Seniors

Social Security recipients will get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), but critics say the increase won’t be enough to keep up with rising living costs. For millions of seniors, higher prices for groceries, housing, healthcare and other essentials continue to strain already tight budgets. As the Trump economy puts more pressure on household finances, many older Americans are questioning whether their Social Security checks can keep pace with the cost of living.

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A one-time treatment

 may fix damaged adult retinas 

— and reverse vision loss

A potential breakthrough in eye treatment could one day help adults repair damaged retinas and regain lost vision with a single treatment. Researchers are exploring ways to restore retinal cells that are essential for sight, raising hope for people affected by certain forms of vision loss. While more research is needed to determine how well the treatment works in humans, the findings could open the door to new possibilities for adults living with damaged eyesight.

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Having a sense of purpose 

may protect against dementia

Having a sense of purpose may do more than give life meaning as we age. Research suggests that older adults who feel their lives have direction and meaning may have a lower risk of developing dementia. Staying engaged with family, friends, hobbies and activities that make life worthwhile could benefit brain health as we grow older. While a sense of purpose cannot guarantee protection against dementia, it may be an important part of healthy aging.

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Why Travel Agents 

Love This City

for Fall Travel

Fall is one of the best times to travel, with cooler weather, colorful foliage and fewer summer crowds. Travel agents are pointing to one city that stands out during the autumn season, offering visitors a mix of seasonal beauty, attractions, great food and memorable experiences. For older travelers looking for a fall getaway, it may be worth adding this destination to your travel list.

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We Made It to Old Age. 
Too Bad Nobody Prepared Us

"I know not all that may be coming,

but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing."

—Stubb in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick"

The truth is, we seniors were never prepared for old age. We were prepared to grow up, get a job, raise a family, pay our bills and retire. What nobody prepared us for was living long enough to face another 20 or 30 years after retirement.

In 1945, life expectancy was about 63 years for men and 68 for women. By today’s standards, that was a relatively short life. Today, Americans can expect to live into their late 70s or early 80s, and reaching 65 often means another 20 years or more lies ahead.

Nobody back then imagined that so many of us would still be around in 2026. But here we are. We beat the odds, outlived expectations and entered an era few people were prepared for.

Surprise! We made it. But we weren’t ready for what comes next.

What They Should Have Taught Us

Schools taught us reading, writing, arithmetic and how to prepare for a career. Parents taught us to work hard, save money and take responsibility. We were told to plan for retirement, but retirement was generally presented as the finish line, not the beginning of another long chapter.

Nobody explained how to deal with the gradual loss of independence, the deaths of friends and loved ones, changing family relationships or the possibility that our bodies would no longer cooperate with our plans.

We weren't taught how to handle loneliness, find new purpose after leaving a job, or adapt when driving, walking or even getting out of a chair became difficult.

And while money certainly matters, it cannot buy everything we need to grow old successfully. It cannot guarantee good health, meaningful friendships, a sense of purpose or someone who will check on us when we haven't been heard from in a while.

We should have been taught that preparing for old age means preparing for life, not just retirement.

What We Can Teach the Next Generation

As seniors, we have something today's children and young adults don't have: experience. We know that life rarely follows a straight line, that circumstances change and that the things we take for granted today may become precious tomorrow.

We can start by talking openly with our children and grandchildren about aging. Not to frighten them, but to help them understand that growing old is a normal part of life, not an unfortunate surprise.

Teach them to save money, but also to invest in friendships. Encourage them to take care of their health, learn new things and develop interests beyond their jobs. Remind them that relationships need attention, that family connections matter and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Show them that retirement doesn't have to mean sitting on the sidelines. There can be new interests, volunteer work, travel, learning and opportunities to contribute to the lives of others.

Most importantly, teach them to remain flexible. The future will bring changes nobody can predict. The ability to adapt may be just as valuable as a healthy bank account.

We also need to set an example ourselves. Stay curious. Maintain relationships. Share our stories, including the mistakes and lessons that might help someone else.

We cannot prepare the next generation for every challenge of old age. But we can give them a better understanding of what lies ahead.

We made it this far without much of a road map. Let's make sure the people who follow us have one.  ...BWC

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- Some animals can slow their heart rate dramatically. 

During hibernation, an animal’s heart rate, breathing, and metabolism can drop significantly. A hibernating ground squirrel, for example, may have a heart rate that falls from hundreds of beats per minute to just a few.

- Bears don't hibernate quite like smaller animals. 

Bears enter a state of deep winter dormancy in which their metabolism slows, their body temperature drops modestly, and they can go months without eating, drinking, or eliminating waste. Unlike many small hibernators, bears can wake up relatively quickly.

- Hibernation isn't always one long, uninterrupted sleep. 

Some animals, including ground squirrels and bats, periodically warm up and become more active before returning to their low-energy state. These brief awakenings can use a surprising amount of energy.

- Animals prepare for hibernation months in advance.

 Many hibernating animals eat heavily in the weeks or months before winter, building fat reserves to fuel their bodies when food is scarce. Some also prepare sheltered places, such as burrows, caves, or protected tree cavities.

- Not all animals that hibernate do so in winter. 

Some animals enter a similar state of dormancy during hot or dry conditions. This is called estivation. Certain frogs, snails, and other animals use it to conserve water and energy when their environment becomes too harsh.

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Does Adding Rocks to Plant Pots

 Really Help Drainage?

Adding rocks to the bottom of a plant pot seems like a simple way to improve drainage and prevent soggy roots. But does this popular gardening trick actually work, or could it do more harm than good? Before you reach for the gravel, here’s what gardeners need to know about keeping potted plants healthy and helping excess water drain properly.

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20 Things Our Generation Still Does Right

Our generation may do some things differently than younger people, but we still have plenty of good habits worth holding on to. From valuing hard work and keeping our word to fixing things instead of throwing them away, we learned lessons that haven't gone out of style. Here are 20 things our generation still does right—and why they continue to matter today.

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I'm a matchmaker for people over 50. 

The couples who end up in the happiest relationships

 don't look for chemistry first.

For people over 50, finding a happy relationship often means looking beyond that instant spark or feeling of chemistry. After years of life experience, many older adults know that lasting love requires more than butterflies and physical attraction. According to one matchmaker who specializes in this age group, the happiest couples focus on something else first—and it could change how you approach dating later in life.

English Muffins

This delicious and easy English Muffins recipe 

uses simple ingredients, 

with no kneading, and no oven required!

With grocery prices still putting pressure on household budgets, finding ways to save on meat can make a real difference. You don't have to give up beef, pork, or other favorites to spend less. Some lesser-known cuts are flavorful, versatile, and much cheaper than popular choices. Here are 12 underrated cuts of meat worth looking for the next time you shop.

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Aging doesn’t mean giving up on looking good, feeling good, or enjoying life. It means embracing who you are, taking care of yourself, and recognizing that confidence and beauty don’t have an expiration date. Aging Like a Goddess is about growing older with grace, strength, wisdom, and a healthy dose of self-confidence. Because getting older isn’t something to apologize for—it’s something to own.

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As we get older, managing medications can become more complicated. Some drugs that are helpful when taken as directed can cause serious problems when used too often, for too long, or in combination with other medications. Older adults are especially vulnerable to side effects and dangerous drug interactions. Knowing which common medications may be overused can help seniors protect their health, avoid unnecessary risks, and have more informed conversations with their doctors and pharmacists.

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Turning 50 doesn’t mean you owe anyone an explanation about your age, appearance, lifestyle, or personal choices. Yet people over 50 often hear questions that are intrusive, insulting, or based on outdated ideas about getting older. Whether it’s comments about retirement, relationships, health, or how someone looks, some questions are better left unasked. Here are seven questions people should stop asking anyone over 50—and why a little more respect goes a long way.

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After decades of living, many older adults find themselves surrounded by years of accumulated possessions. Closets are packed, basements are full, and drawers hold things we may not have used in years. Deciding what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away can be overwhelming, especially when belongings carry memories and sentimental value. The key is to start small, focus on what you really need, and make room for the things that matter most today.

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Your smartphone is only useful if its battery lasts long enough to get you through the day. Fortunately, you don’t need a new phone or expensive accessories to keep it charged longer. A few simple changes to your settings and everyday habits can help extend battery life, reduce unnecessary charging, and keep your phone ready when you need it most.

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Some foods taste even better the next day, but did you know that certain leftovers may actually be healthier than when they’re freshly cooked? The secret lies in how some foods change as they cool and are stored. These changes can affect how your body digests them and how much you benefit from their nutrients. Can you guess which popular food gets a health boost after spending a night in the refrigerator?

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Getting a full night’s sleep doesn’t always mean you’ll wake up feeling rested. If you regularly feel tired, sluggish, or ready to go back to bed after seven or eight hours of sleep, something else may be going on. From poor sleep quality and stress to medications and underlying health problems, several factors can leave you exhausted despite spending enough time in bed. Understanding the possible causes can help you take steps toward waking up feeling more refreshed and ready for the day.

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        ◦ Supermarkets are designed to influence what you buy.

Stores often place essentials like milk and eggs toward the back, encouraging shoppers to walk past other products they might be tempted to purchase.

        ◦ Your shopping cart is bigger than it used to be.

Modern shopping carts are much larger than the original designs. A bigger cart can make a small number of purchases look insignificant, encouraging shoppers to fill it up.

        ◦ The bakery smell may be no accident.

The smell of freshly baked bread can make a store feel welcoming and stimulate your appetite. Some supermarkets deliberately position bakeries where enticing aromas can reach shoppers.

        ◦ Supermarkets make money in more ways than you might think.

In addition to selling groceries, many supermarkets earn revenue by charging food manufacturers for promotional displays, preferred shelf placement and advertising space.

        ◦ The supermarket barcode changed shopping forever.

On June 26, 1974, a pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum became the first retail product scanned using a Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio. The technology helped speed up checkout and improve inventory tracking.