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Aging-Quote-300x200Aging isn’t easy, but we all have to do it. Contrary to the myth our culture tries to sell us, there is no escaping the march of time and the changes it brings to our bodies, minds, and lives. And these days, understanding how to age well is increasingly important since our golden years stretch out for much longer than they used to. In the last hundred years or so, the average life expectancy has increased by almost thirty years.

The key, as it turns out, to being happy during the latter part of life is to discover and embrace the concept of positive aging.

This can be tricky, especially in a country like the United States, where getting older is something most people either ignore or fight. But science is proving that while aging may not be a bed of roses, there are lots of things we can do to make the process more enjoyable and ensure greater happiness and better health along the way.

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Yes, 2020 was a year unlike any other. So many challenges. So much negativity. But if we slow down and really think about it, hopefully we can identify some good things learned.

Hopefully, we can place a renewed focus on what’s truly important.

Preparing for your future is one of those things. Making things easier for your loved ones, is another. Take some time in the coming weeks to make sure your estate plan is done and that it’s current. Make it a point to get it done!

Why?

You may think once you’ve had it drafted that, like the old infomercial tagline, you can just “set it, and forget it.”

Wrong!

Even a plan that is only a few years old can be seriously outdated. Continue reading

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FamilyBored-264x300Once the holidays are behind us and winter proper has settled in, we will likely find ourselves with some extra time on our hands.

In years past, trips and getting together with friends and family helped to break up the long, dark season between New Year’s and springtime. But the travel and social restrictions that are necessary to keep us and our loved ones safe from COVID will make it necessary to find other ways to entertain ourselves.

In case you’ve already watched all of Netflix (or are just looking for something beyond the latest binge-worthy show), we’ve put together a starter list of fascinating lectures, talks, and podcasts.

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AdobeStock_208851607-300x212Use it or lose is the old adage, and it applies to your brain as well as your body. In this post, we’re going to give you a long list of things you can do to use your brain and keep it healthy.

Consider the alternative – succumbing to Alzheimer’s. This may sound draconian, but here are the harsh realities:

  • In 2020, Alzheimer’s affected 5.8 million people – that’s one in every 10 people age 65 and older
  • By 2050, unless there’s a cure or other medical interventions, that number will reach 18 million!

Happily, we may be able to do something about it. Continue reading

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Have you ever considered what happens to your pets if they outlive you?

The Humane Society estimates that between 100,000 and 500,000 pets end up in shelters every year after their owners die or become incapacitated.

Our pets provide us a lifetime of companionship, and Connecticut law provides us as pet owners with an estate planning tool to plan for our pets’ care at our death or incapacity.

Since 2009, Connecticut has allowed pet owners to establish trusts for the sole purpose of caring for their pets. In layman’s terms, we call them Pet Trusts. Continue reading

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pinecone-300x300All across the country, the pandemic numbers are trending steeply in the wrong direction. Epidemiologists have long warned of a difficult winter season, and we certainly seem to have arrived on the threshold of that prediction.

Sadly, this rise in cases coincides with the winter holidays, traditionally a time for friends and family to gather in year-end celebrations that begin at the end of November and run through the New Year. This means that families will be facing some very hard decisions about get-togethers in the upcoming weeks.

The problem is that COVID-19 doesn’t recognize holidays. And while people may be exhausted by the grueling experience that we’ve all been in since March, now is not the time to relax our guard.

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It has been an extraordinarily long haul since the first lockdowns in March. We’ve all had to adjust to the “new normal” as it has affected how we work, learn, play, and go about our daily rounds. Most of us have gotten pretty good at adapting; but the hardest test is yet to come.

With the holidays right around the corner, our patience and willpower are going to be severely tried. This is the season of friends and family, of gathering together in celebration and thanks. The thought of having to forgo long-held traditions is almost too much to bear.

Despite the heartache that comes with staying apart, many families have committed to doing just that. Instead of traveling to be together, they are planning holiday dinners that will take place over Zoom – virtual gatherings are, of course, the safest choice during a pandemic.

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The words Power of Sharing on a white billboard, banner or outdoor sign to encourage you to give, share, donate or volunteer to help provide relief or assistance others in need
It may be true what they say about not being able to “take it with you.”

It’s also true that – with the right planning – your assets can continue to support the organizations and causes you care about.

Charitable bequests help you extend the reach of your legacy through planned giving that defines specific gifts in your Will. But, you need to be diligent about how you structure a bequest if you want to ensure that your money and other gifts are used according to your wishes.

Types of bequests

• A bequest can be general (providing funds to help an organization with its general purposes) or specific (providing funds that are earmarked for a clearly defined use).

• They can be simple – the donation of a designated amount Continue reading

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SocialSecurityIf you make the wrong choices about filing for Social Security, you may reduce your income for the rest of your life.

Did you think that at a certain age, you just automatically file and receive a certain amount? That’s not always the case.

Social Security is pretty straightforward if you’ve never been married and you’ve accumulated at least 40 quarters working in jobs where federal employment tax (FICA) was deducted from your paycheck. When you reach your “full retirement age” (FRA) you will receive a benefit based upon the amount you paid into the system. If you begin receiving benefits before your FRA, you will permanently reduce your benefit.

But, for every year (starting with your FRA year) that you postpone the start of Social Security, you will Continue reading

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The day your loved one enters a nursing facility is not a great day. Aside from your own emotional strain you will try valiantly to let your loved one know that you will stay close and advocate for his or her needs.

And then there’s the paperwork. Lots of it.

Should you sign the nursing home agreement right then? Do you understand what it all means and that if you’re not careful, you could end up in nursing home litigation?

Consider this story…

Robert, a family man in his fifties, agreed to bring his wife’s Uncle Jack to the nursing facility and to get him settled in.

When they arrived, Jack was brought to his room and Robert was shepherded to the admissions office where he sat down in front of the admissions coordinator.  Sitting in front of Robert, stacked a couple of inches thick, were admissions documents Continue reading

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Simsbury, CT 06089
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New Milford, CT 06776
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