The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 3.5 percent in the 12 months through August

Millions of Social Security recipients now have a much clearer picture of how large their 2027 cost-of-living adjustment could be after the federal government released the second of three inflation readings used to calculate next year's increase.

Recent advancements have made a significant impact in  senior care, which is a sector that’s getting the most out of developments in AI and big data tools. It’s only a matter of time before retirement communities adopt new approaches in dealing with the needs of the elderly and their families. Here’s a quick list of the trends that will continue to shape the field of senior care for years to come.

Some aging adults can’t imagine living anywhere but their own home. But living alone can become challenging as people get older. Home maintenance tasks, transportation needs and other challenges can make it difficult to stay at home safely.

Here are their tips for handling some common challenges of aging at home.

Many Americans dream of relocating in retirement to stretch their nest eggs, and they often do it by moving to low-tax states.

Choosing a state with no income tax, like Florida, or lower tax rates promises relief for retirees tapping 401(k)s. But such moves are rarely just about savings. For some, total spending remains almost the same, or even rises, but funds shift toward upgraded amenities or travel.

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Lasagna sheet pasta with tomato sauce and cheese on plate...

What kitchen tasks can you accomplish in five minutes? You could boil a soft egg, hand-wash a few dishes, or wipe your counters and high-traffic surfaces—or you could prepare a simple yet satisfying meal that only requires three ingredients and will have your tablemates asking for seconds. 

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    • Popcorn is thousands of years old. Archaeologists have found evidence that people in Mexico were popping corn as far back as around 3,600 BCE.

    • Not every corn kernel can pop. Popcorn comes from a special variety of corn with a hard outer shell and just the right amount of moisture inside. When heated, that moisture turns to steam and makes the kernel explode.

    • Popcorn can pop up to 3 feet into the air. When a kernel bursts, the expanding starch can send the popped corn flying several feet upward.

    • It isn't just a movie-theater snack. During the Great Depression, popcorn was relatively inexpensive, making it a popular treat when many other snacks were too costly.

    • Popcorn can be good for you—before the extras. Plain, air-popped popcorn is a whole grain and provides fiber. The butter, salt, sugar and other toppings are what can quickly turn it into a much heavier snack.

California income tax (up to 13.3%), property taxes on a pretty average three-bedroom, healthcare supplements, and just the general cost of existing in Southern California – they were blowing through $85,000 a year. That’s a 7.1% withdrawal rate. At that pace, they’d be broke by their mid-70s. So they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee.

A study published today in the journal JAMA Network Open reports that living a healthy lifestyle, even after the age of 80, can help people live to be 100.

Researchers reported that the participants with the highest healthy lifestyle scores – based on smoking history, exercise routines, and dietary diversity – had a significantly higher likelihood of living to 100 compared to those with the least healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Six is the average number of grandchildren the typical American grandparent has today, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis published September 9, just days before Grandparents Day. Some have a lot more than six: 14% of grandparents report more than ten grandchildren, while 24% have just one or two. Averages flatten a  family reality that, up close, looks wildly uneven from household to household.

He turned 100 in December 2025, and Dick Van Dyke is not slowing down one bit. Van Dyke told ABC News that he goes to the gym three times a week. And he thinks that habit has made a real difference. “I think that saved me from the pain,” he said. “That’s good advice for anybody.”

Older individuals generally have better emotional well-being than younger people, despite experiencing more negative events. Nevertheless, the psychological factors underlying this so-called well-being paradox remain poorly understood. Older adults perceive their future as more limited, shifting towards the present-moment focus. In contrast, younger people are more future-oriented and perceive that they have a substantial amount of time ahead of them.

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- Elevators are much older than you might think.

   Ancient Greeks and Romans used simple lifting platforms powered by people, animals, or water.

- The modern elevator changed cities forever.

   Before safe passenger elevators, buildings rarely went much higher than five or six stories. Elevators made skyscrapers practical.

- Elisha Otis made elevators safer.

   In 1854, Otis demonstrated a safety device that prevented an elevator platform from falling if its lifting cable broke. His dramatic demonstration helped convince people that elevators could be safe.

- Elevators don't actually use as much energy as you might think.

   Modern elevators can use regenerative braking systems that send some of the energy produced while slowing down back into a building's electrical system.

- There are no buttons for every floor in some elevators.

   In certain high-rise buildings, you select your floor before entering the elevator. The system then directs you to the elevator that will get you there most efficiently, reducing unnecessary stops.

Social Security is moving closer to a funding deadline that could affect millions of retirees, yet Democrats and Republicans rarely agree on how to address it. One idea now has support from senators on both sides of the aisle: Make high earners pay Social Security tax on more of their wages. 

Your last will and testament is one of the most important legal documents that you will ever make. It allows you to direct where you want your property, guardianship and debts to go after you die, and allows you to appoint an executor to act out your wishes. But too many Americans don’t have a will right now. 

Practices for reframing the past and building meaningful lives in the present. Unless we die prematurely, we will all face the challenges of old age. What we could long deny through the magical, invincibility-fraught delusions of youth will become inescapably real.

According to LiveScience, superfoods are natural foods that are rich in nutrients and offer numerous health benefits. They are typically low in calories but high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats.

Here are eight essential superfoods to include in your diet or your loved one’s diet for healthy aging:

Modern technology offers solutions that go way beyond simple security cameras. Today’s smart monitoring tools are designed to be effective while still respecting residents’ privacy. Non-intrusive sensors can pick up motion, falls, or unusual inactivity in a resident’s room and automatically send an alert to a caregiver’s phone. These systems can even learn a resident’s typical routine and flag anything out of the ordinary that might signal a problem.

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The Hundred Years’ War lasted from May 24, 1337, until October 19, 1453, totaling about 116 years. This lengthy conflict was disputed between the kingdoms of England and France, and centered around English claims to the French throne. In 1328, France’s King Charles IV was succeeded by his paternal cousin Philip VI, though Charles’ nearest male relative was actually his nephew, Edward III of England. Tensions rose as some viewed Edward as having a stronger claim, and in 1337, war broke out after France confiscated the English-held duchy of Guyenne. In 1340, the first true battle of the war occurred at the Battle of Sluys, where England destroyed nearly the entire French fleet. Fighting lasted for decades, with each side exchanging ground until the decisive French victory at the Battle of Castillon in 1453. The war ended in October that year, though no formal peace treaty was ever signed.