Today's Retirement Journey
Forget those stereotypes. Stay active, stay involved, and prepare for what may be your best years yet
Turn back time
Exercise. Eat better. Lose weight. If there's one mantra about aging, it's that even a little more fitness and health can go a long way. Many baby boomers will reach retirement feeling younger and fitter than previous generations. But this is also an increasingly obese and sedentary nation. Killer medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease--abetted by too many calories and too little exercise--are on the rise.
But the fountain of youth isn't reachable only by sweating and eating right. Studies suggest that simply spending more time around younger people can work like a B-12 shot to renew your energy, stimulate your mind, and keep you feeling young. That's one reason college towns are hot retirement destinations. Health clubs can provide a similar mix of the ages, exposing people of all generations to one another while they get in shape.
Many retirees wouldn't mind living out their years like former President Jimmy Carter. Sadly, though, many will end up like former President Ronald Reagan, with debilitating illnesses that require constant care. Medicare doesn't cover the costs of such long-term care or nursing home stays that AARP says can run an average of $4,700 a month. So you might want to consider long-term-care insurance, although this is still an evolving product that is both expensive and highly confusing.
Whatever your fate, though, it is better to prepare for it as best you can.
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