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We’re All Ears

There is an old saying about growing sweet corn. If it’s knee high on the Fourth of July, there will be a bounty of corn for August. My husband reminds me of that every time we pass fields of corn each summer. Of course, there are fields of corn grown simply to feed livestock and then there is the much-sought-after sweet corn to feed consumers like us. Knowing the difference is important if you plan to raid your farmer’s fields. A few people I know learned that the hard way a few decades back. As for the sweet corn, my spouse appears to be a self-proclaimed expert at selecting ...

With Social Security Uncertainty, Should You Claim Benefits Early?

Dear Savvy Senior, I turn 62 early next year and plan to retire soon after. Most advice says I should wait to claim Social Security because my monthly benefit will be higher. But with all the recent news about Social Security’s financial problems, I’m wondering if taking benefits early might be the safer choice. Is there ever a good reason to claim at 62? – Ready to Retire Dear Ready, You’re definitely not alone in asking this. The latest Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund could be depleted around 2032 if Congress doesn’t act. If that ...

An Ode to August

Today is not Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas. However, retailers are ready for all three holidays today. Just look at the shelves in any store and you will find signs of any and all of those special days. I have gotten used to seeing candy corn among the circus peanuts and other summer-type candies as early as July. But poor August is losing its identity. I feel sorry for the month of August. Over the years, it has gotten bypassed more and more. Society today has no respect for the month of August. Of course, we know it as the eighth month of the year. Yet my trusty dictionary ...

Robotic Pets Can Provide Comfort to Elderly Seniors

Dear Savvy Senior, My mother, who has dementia, recently moved into an assisted living facility that doesn’t allow pets. I’m thinking about getting her a robotic pet to cheer her up. Are they worth it, and if so, which one do you recommend? – Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring, It’s completely natural to want to bring a little furry joy into your mom’s life. Moving into a new home without her pets can be tough, and sometimes even a small companion can make a big difference. Robotic pets – lifelike, interactive companions – can brighten the days of seniors with ...

How Families Can Find Lost Money After a Loved One Dies

Dear Savvy Senior, After my mom passed away, we discovered a few small accounts and an old insurance policy we didn’t know she still had. It made me wonder how often families uncover forgotten or unclaimed money like this after a parent dies. Is it common, and where should I start looking? – Searching Sarah Dear Sarah, It’s actually quite common. After a parent or spouse dies, families often come across small, forgotten accounts, uncashed checks or old insurance policies that slipped through the cracks over the years. In many cases, paperwork was misplaced, accounts were ...

Are You On the Calendar?

Anyone who has followed my columns over the years, knows that I come from a large family. Twelve children, two parents and assorted dogs, cats, rabbits and snakes were part of the household when I was growing up. As the family grew with added sons- and daughters-in-law, my mother would add their names to various calendars she kept. She also had a notebook-style address book in which she kept not only names and phone numbers, but also the all-important birthdates. That included the birthdates for her bridge partners and fellow choir members, too. I recall a church calendar hanging in ...