Introduction
When I envisioned this post “Retirement Resources for Seniors”, I thought I could provide a comprehensive resource to my readers, aggregating retirement resources from across the internet in a single, convenient location. That ultimate goal has not changed, but the implementation has evolved as I have found a wonderful website that frankly does much of the work for us. This post will therefore begin with a trip to “seniorliving.org”.
Retirement Resources
Senior Living.Org
This website was quite a find. It provides a substantial amount of information covering a variety of retirement topics of interest to seniors. I am not affiliated at all with this organization and do not benefit from posting their information. That said, this site frankly has done quite a bit of the research work for us, so why not take advantage? Note that this is an affiliate marketing website, which means that if you make an online purchase utilizing one of their links, they will receive a small commission.
“From senior housing to health, technology, safety, retirement and estate planning, and more, our mission is to empower older adults and help them age with ease. SeniorLiving.org also has the most comprehensive directory of senior living options, hands down. Our guides, reviews, and other articles are written by a team of editors and senior care experts with diverse backgrounds. This team features senior tech experts, senior safety experts, audiologists, home care experts, senior mental health experts, and senior financial law experts, to name a few.
Our resources and reviews are backed by data from reliable sources, including government sites, senior care studies, and our own expert-led research team. We use real facts and figures, along with hands-on testing, to inform our advice and recommendations. We’re known as a compassionate resource for senior living articles, reviews, guides, and studies, and we never compromise on publishing objective, unbiased information. Our 10 core ethics are at the heart of everything we do:”
- Honesty
- Transparency
- Accuracy and up-to-date information
- Empathetic
- Compassionate
- Informative and helpful
- Inclusive and respectful
- Trustworthy and credible
- Authoritative
- Objective and unbiased
A Guide to Finance for Seniors
“Good money management is essential for all ages and stages of life. As older adults, our financial needs (along with spending and saving patterns) change. The thought of living on a fixed income can certainly be scary.
Financial security and preparedness come in many forms. This guide covers essential financial topics for older adults, including ways to ensure you’re cashing in on tax credits, deductions, and senior discounts. We’ll also detail important ways to prepare for taking Social Security, building your retirement portfolio, and ensuring your estate is in order.”
- Financial Planning Resources
- Trusts, Wills, and Estate Planning Resources
- Social Security
- Retirement Planning
- Retirement Accounts
- Planning for Insurance and Medical Expenses
- Tax Credits and Deductions for Seniors
- Making Your Money Stretch in Retirement
- Important Financial Milestones for Older Adults
- Housing Expenses
- Will and Estate Planning Essentials
Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Seniors
“While we cannot prevent the unexpected, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones by making smart insurance decisions. In this guide, learn about the wide range of insurance options available, from medical and dental to life and long-term disability. Get familiar with crucial details on insurance eligibility, cost savings, and types of coverage.”
- Additional Resources for Different Types of Insurance
- Our Recommendations for the Best Insurance Plans
- Our Latest Medigap Reviews
- Medigap Insurance
- Medicare Advantage
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Auto Insurance
- Burial Insurance
- Travel Insurance
- RV Insurance
Planning for Housing in Retirement
“Retirement housing isn’t just about location. One of the many wonderful aspects of being a retiree is the freedom to explore the wide range of senior living options available.
Whether you choose to stay in your current home, downsize, or relocate to a retirement community, it’s essential to understand how much each option costs. Armed with this knowledge, you can decide which choice is best for you and your retirement budget. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about retirement housing, including the different types of senior living available, their costs, and how to choose the right place for you.”
- Discuss Your Vision for Retirement Housing
- Downsizing vs. Staying in Your Current Home
- Types of Retirement Living Options
- Retirement Housing Planning Resources
Frankly, what I have provided above is just the core information of what seniorliving.org provides. I would recommend visiting their site if you wish to investigate further.
Additional Senior Organizations
Administration for Community Living
The aging and disability networks are made up of local, state, and national organizations and committed advocates working to support older adults and people with disabilities. Some organizations focus on a particular type of disability, age group, or type of service, whereas others have a more comprehensive mission.
ACL helps support these networks and the programs and services they provide, including the following:
- Aging and Disability Resource Centers – These centers provide information and counseling to help individuals make informed decisions about long-term services and supports and help accessing programs.
- Americans with Disabilities Act National Network – This program funds 10 regional centers for providing information, training, and technical assistance to individuals, businesses, and agencies with rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Area Agencies on Aging – These agencies address the needs of older adults at the regional and local level through services and supports (like home-delivered meals and homemaker assistance) to support independent living.
- Assistive Technology – These programs support making assistive technology devices and services more available and accessible to individuals with disabilities and their families.
- Centers for Independent Living – These centers provide tools, resources, and supports for integrating people with disabilities fully into their communities to promote equal opportunities, self-determination, and respect.
- Protection and Advocacy Systems – These state systems work to protect individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf to defend their personal and civil rights.
- Senior Centers and Supportive Services for Older Adults – This program provides grants to states and territories that fund multi-purpose senior centers that coordinate services for older adults, such as congregate meals, community education, health screening, exercise and health promotion programs, and transportation.
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities – These self-governing organizations identify and address the most pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities in their state or territory through conducting advocacy, facilitating systems change, and capacity building efforts to promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion.
- State Units on Aging – These state-level agencies develop and administer plans to provide assistance for older adults, families, and in many states also adults with physical disabilities.
- University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities – These grants are affiliated with universities to serve as liaisons between academia and the community for advancing research, information sharing, and community services.
There are many similarities in the services and supports older adults and people with disabilities need in order to live independently. Increasingly, the aging and disability networks are working together at state and local levels, and ACL is frequently asked for help in forging these new collaborative relationships. Together, the communities have a larger voice and are more successful advocates than any of the networks on its own. At the same time, the networks retain the unique elements of their individual missions.
There are issues that affect both people with disabilities and older adults, and we join forces to address them. However, there also are issues that affect only older adults, or only people with disabilities, and ACL continues to develop and manage programs and advocate for the individual populations, as well.
Healthy Aging
HealthinAging.org is a trusted source for up-to-date information and advice on health and aging, created by the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation.
Through the Health in Aging Foundation, we advance a commitment to helping older adults and caregivers maintain health, independence, and quality of life. HealthinAging.org features education materials for older adults and caregivers, as well as information on finding a geriatrics healthcare professional in your area. These tools have been reviewed by geriatrics healthcare professionals and members of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS)—a community of experts in the care we all need as we age.
Health & Welfare
Resources for Aging Adults With Disabilities and Their Families – National Library of Science
The resources listed in this reference guide are designed to assist adults over the age of 55 with disabilities, as well as their caregivers, in handling new physical, psychological, and financial challenges.
Additional Retirement Resources
Below, I have provided links to several additional sources of retirement information under a variety of categories:
- 5 Great Websites for Retirement Planning
- This is actually an accounting services website, but provides a quick list of key retirement planning websites.
- Ultimate Guide to Retirement – CNN
- What are the best Web sites on retirement? Here is a link to CNN’s opinion.
- Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement
- This is a pdf provided by the US Department of Labor that provides key retirement planning tips and links to additional resources.
- Great Retirement Planning Tools and Software for 2023 – US News
- “If you’re looking for ways to track your savings and financially map out your retirement years, there are many digital options available. Some are free, while others come at a cost or charge ongoing subscription fees. The right fit will depend on how deep of a dive you want to take into your retirement plan, as certain tools offer a great overview, while others walk you through every step at a very detailed level.”
- 100 Best Retirement Blogs and Websites – Feedspot
- And if all of this is not enough, here is a long list of resources. My personal goal would be to have optimalretirementliving.com make this list at some point.
- Senior Organizations: List of Groups for Older Adults – Griswold Home Care
- A very detailed list of numerous senior organizations
- Alzheimer’s Association
- The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest national voluntary health organization supporting Alzheimer’s research and care. On this site, you’ll find information about the disease, our programs and services, and our advocacy efforts.
Government Resources
Lastly, here are a few useful government websites for critical retirement issues:
- Social Security
- Learn about Social Security, including retirement and disability benefits, how to get or replace your Social Security card, and more.
- Medicare
- Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).
- Medicare & You
- Medicare Costs
- This is a pdf provided by Medicare to give you a summary of Medicare costs for 2023.
- NIH – National Institute on Aging
- NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer’s disease research.
- U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development – Housing Resources for Seniors
- There are many resources to help seniors with housing needs, including programs to make it easier for you to stay in your home.
- Looking for housing options for yourself, an aging parent, relative, or friend? Do some research first to determine what kind of assistance or living arrangement you need; what your health insurance might cover; and what you can afford. Then check here for financial assistance resources and guides for making the right choice. Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor if you have questions about your situation.