Elder Law Prof Blog

Is the Ability to Retire Becoming a Luxury?

The Tampa Bay Times ran an editorial about the fact that some folks will not be  able to afford to retire. Retirement is a growing luxury in the US  offers that, for various reasons, older workers are returning to the work force after retirement, or not retiring at all.  The editorial discusses a recent survey from AARP, New AARP Survey: 1 in 5 Americans Ages 50+ Have No Retirement Savings and Over Half Worry They Will Not Have Enough to Last in Retirement "shows that "20% of adults ages 50+ have no retirement savings, and more than half (61%) are worried they will not have enough money to support them in retirement. The findings also reveal a decline in overall sense of financial security among men, 42% of whom describe their financial situation as “fair” or “poor,” up from 34% in the beginning of 2022. However, roughly 40% of men who are regularly saving for retirement believe they are saving enough, compared to just 30% of women."

Keep in mind, the editorial cautions, there is a difference between older  Americans who continue to work because they enjoy it compared to those who keep working because they can't afford to retire.  Thee article also discusses the different savings behaviors when the employer offers a plan to help workers save for retirement. 

Is the Ability to Retire Becoming a Luxury?

The Tampa Bay Times ran an editorial about the fact that some folks will not be  able to afford to retire. Retirement is a growing luxury in the US  offers that, for various reasons, older workers are returning to the work force after retirement, or not retiring at all.  The editorial discusses a recent survey from AARP, New AARP Survey: 1 in 5 Americans Ages 50+ Have No Retirement Savings and Over Half Worry They Will Not Have Enough to Last in Retirement "shows that "20% of adults ages 50+ have no retirement savings, and more than half (61%) are worried they will not have enough money to support them in retirement. The findings also reveal a decline in overall sense of financial security among men, 42% of whom describe their financial situation as “fair” or “poor,” up from 34% in the beginning of 2022. However, roughly 40% of men who are regularly saving for retirement believe they are saving enough, compared to just 30% of women."

Keep in mind, the editorial cautions, there is a difference between older  Americans who continue to work because they enjoy it compared to those who keep working because they can't afford to retire.  Thee article also discusses the different savings behaviors when the employer offers a plan to help workers save for retirement. 

Is the Ability to Retire Becoming a Luxury?

The Tampa Bay Times ran an editorial about the fact that some folks will not be  able to afford to retire. Retirement is a growing luxury in the US  offers that, for various reasons, older workers are returning to the work force after retirement, or not retiring at all.  The editorial discusses a recent survey from AARP, New AARP Survey: 1 in 5 Americans Ages 50+ Have No Retirement Savings and Over Half Worry They Will Not Have Enough to Last in Retirement "shows that "20% of adults ages 50+ have no retirement savings, and more than half (61%) are worried they will not have enough money to support them in retirement. The findings also reveal a decline in overall sense of financial security among men, 42% of whom describe their financial situation as “fair” or “poor,” up from 34% in the beginning of 2022. However, roughly 40% of men who are regularly saving for retirement believe they are saving enough, compared to just 30% of women."

Keep in mind, the editorial cautions, there is a difference between older  Americans who continue to work because they enjoy it compared to those who keep working because they can't afford to retire.  Thee article also discusses the different savings behaviors when the employer offers a plan to help workers save for retirement. 

Laura Tamblyn Watts Publishes Advice for Kids About Aging Parents

I have my copy. Have you purchased yours yet?

Baby Boomer Asset Transfers Doesn't Mean Millennials are financially set

The New York Times ran an article, A Wealth Shift That Could Leave Some Younger Americans Behind,  The article discusses a significant wealth transfer that will occur as boomers reach the end of their lives, but notes some boomers and families do not fit that narrative.

Baby boomers have trillions of dollars in wealth that some economists predict will have a significant impact on their millennial-aged children when they inherit the cash, homes, stock portfolios and other assets their elders hold. But experts say that the narrative of millennials’ paying off debts and wielding greater spending power over the next two to three decades is complex — and leaves out families without enough assets to pass along.

In addition, there seems to be a lack of sharing of financial information between the generations which can lead to misconceptions, among other things. And there is always a chance that the boomer parent may need to pay for long term care for a length of time.  Yes there is going to be a significant wealth transfer as the boomers reach the end of their lives. But it is not going to be across the board; instead it will depend on the circumstances.

What Services Are Provided by ALFs?

Might want to advise clients to check the admissions contract to see if the ALF will pick up a resident if they fall.  According to an article in the Washington Post,  not all facilities will do so.  Senior homes refuse to pick up fallen residents, dial 911. ‘Why are they calling us?’ "Lift-assist 911 calls from assisted living and other senior homes have spiked by 30 percent nationwide in recent years to nearly 42,000 calls a year, an analysis of fire department emergency call data by The Washington Post has found. That’s nearly three times faster than the increase in overall 911 call volume during the same 2019-2022 period, the data shows."  The article notes this is prevalent in Illinois.  Why is this happening? To avoid liability and cost the article offers. Further, facilities may have a policy against lifting a resident, so examine the contract for a "no lift" clause. 

"The dispute over lift assists comes as improvements in fire safety and the nation’s aging population have changed the nature of a firefighter’s job. Today, fire and EMS agencies are more likely to deal with an older adult fall victim than a fire victim... and [l]ift assists are now the seventh most common type of 911 call...."

Excellent Efforts To Improve Care In Connecticut

The Connecticut Mirror reported on a bill that overwhelmingly  passed the Connecticut House that does a lot to improve care for older Connecticut residents. House passes broad bill overhauling aspects of elder care sector notes that this " legislation overhauling the state’s elder care system, including requiring more oversight of home care workers, creating a speedier process for accessing Medicaid, and launching a registry to make it easier for consumers to find caregivers." Further it "creat[es] an online registry of employees, requir[es] home care workers to wear badges with their name and picture, and creat[es] a presumptive eligibility program for people who need to access Medicaid quickly and want care at home."

Nice to see some positive legislation.

 

P.S.

Leaving the East Coast of the U.S. to the Midwest, did you happen to catch this story from Wisconsin?  The Associated Press ten days ago reported on this story Republican Wisconsin Senate candidate says he doesn’t oppose elderly people voting. This story arose as a result of an interview where the candidate was opining about residents of nursing homes having the ability to vote.  The background and more details can be found here.