Senior Citizens

During their youth, religion was more of a part of life, and they were also not educated enough to think it through for themselves; if something is told to you as the truth for your entire life, you are not likely to change that view quickly.

Yah! sure.

Senior Citizens' Equity Act -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary The Senior Citizens' Equity Act removes financial burdens on American senior citizens to (1) allow them to earn more income without losing Social Security benefits and (2) reduce the percentage of Social Security benefits on which they must pay taxes to the level before they were increased by the Clinton Administration in 1993. The bill provides tax incentives to encourage individuals to buy private long-term care insurance and makes it easier for seniors to reserve retirement communities for adults only without facing lawsuits. Increase of the Social Security Earnings Limit Threshold Under current law, senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 69 lose one dollar in Social Security benefits for every three dollars they earn above $11,160. This earnings test amounts to an additional 33 percent marginal tax rate, on top of existing income taxes, and punishes seniors who choose to remain productive beyond age 64. Over five years, the bill raises to $30,000 the amount which seniors can earn before losing Social Security benefits. The limit will be raised according to the following schedule. By January 1, 1996 seniors can earn $15,000 without losing Social Security benefits. By January 1, 1997, $19,000 By January 1, 1998, $23,000 By January 1, 1999, $27,000 By January 1, 2000, $30,000 Repeal of Clinton's Social Security Benefits Tax The 1993 Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA 1993) requires senior citizens who earn more than $34,000 (singles) or $44,000 (couples) to pay income taxes on 85 percent of their Social Security benefits. Over five years this bill returns the amount of Social Security benefits subject to income tax to 50 percent, the level of benefits taxable before OBRA. The percentage of Social Security benefits subject to income taxes will drop from 85 percent to: 75 percent for tax year 1996, 65 percent for tax year 1996, 60 percent for tax year 1997, 55 percent for tax year 1999, and 50 percent for tax year 2000. Tax Incentives for Private Long-Term Care Insurance The bill includes several provisions pertaining to the tax treatment of long-term health care included in the Affordable Health Care Now Act (H.R. 3080), the House Republican health reform package: allows tax-free withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k) plans and other qualified pension plans in order to purchase long-term care insurance; allows accelerated death benefits to be paid from life insurance policies for individuals who are terminally ill or permanently confined to a nursing home; and treats long-term care insurance as a tax-free fringe benefit and the same as accident and health insurance for taxation purposes. The bill also allows deductions for long-term care premiums, limited to the following amounts (indexed for inflation annually): Age 40 and under $ 200 Age 40 to 50 $ 375 Age 50 to 60 $ 750 Age 60 to 70 $1,600 Age 70 and older $2,000 Senior Citizen Retirement Communities Current law is vague on what constitutes senior housing. Consequently, lawsuits have been brought against real estate agents and retirement community board members. The bill allows housing communities to meet the Fair Housing Amendment Act's "adults-only housing test" if those communities can prove that at least 80 percent of their units have occupants age 55 or older. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 prohibits discrimination based on familial status, although it does include a vague definition of adults-only housing. Under current law, senior communities are exempt from the 1988 law's anti-discrimination provisions if at least 80 percent of the units in a senior community are occupied by those 55 and over, and the community has "significant facilities" such as support rails and transportation vans. The law, however, does not specifically state what must be present to merit exemption. This current vague definition has posed problems for many retirement communities and has resulted in law suits against real estate agents and retirement community board members. This provision of the bill repeals the significant facilities test and exempts real estate agents and community board members from liability for monetary damages in lawsuits if they acted on a good-faith belief that the community was exempt. Thus, senior communities must only meet the 80 percent test to be awarded an exemption. Background Americans over the age of 65 number more than 30 million and constitute more than 12 percent of the population. Two important areas of concern for them are Social Security and the cost of long-term care. The Social Security Earnings Test Congress passed the Social Security Act in 1935 as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal, establishing a program to provide income to older Americans. The program has always included an earnings test. There have been many proposals to alter or end the earnings test, but none has been enacted. Social Security benefits are intended to compensate for income lost because of retirement, but many seniors have complained theat it is unfair to punish those who keep working by not allowing them to collect Social Security benefits when they have paid into the system all their working lives. Social Security Benefits Tax The other provision of the bill affecting Social Security deals with a relatively new phenomenon. Social Security benefits were not taxed at all until 1984. It was then that a system was established whereby individuals with total income of $25,000 or more and couples with a total income of $32,000 or more would have to pay taxes on up to 50 percent of their Social Security benefits. In 1993 President Clinton sought to tax up to 85 percent of Social Security benefits. Although the House approved this provision as part of the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation bill (OBRA 1993), the provision was modified in conference. The final version of the bill increased the maximum percentage of benefits that could be taxed to 85 percent, but also created a second set of thresholds at $34,000 for individuals and $44,000 for couples. OBRA 1993 created a complicated system whereby recipients who had to pay taxes on 50 percent of benefits continue to do so, and those whose income exceeds the new threshold have to pay taxes on up to 85 percent of benefits. Long-Term Care The cost of long-term care concerns senior citizens and others. About 7.1 million of the elderly need long-term care, and estimates indicate 13.8 million may need it by 2030. Most long- term care is paid for by private individuals and Medicaid. Many elderly do not need constant medical attention, but do need assistance with daily activities. Medicare and most other health insurance plans do not cover most services associated with long- term care. In order to qualify for Medicaid assistance for long- term care, individuals must first "spend down" a significant portion of their own savings and other assets.

Another name for elderly is "infirmed"

In addition,

ancestor, ancient, fore bearer,

golden ager, matriarch,

old, patriarch, senior,

senior citizen, and veteran.

to find the northwest passege

Make a user friendly survey form, explain the meaning behind your survey, and many caring seniors will raise their hand to assist you.

Source: Experience with www.GoldenReviews.com

acts to enhance oxygen utilization and thus improves memory, concentration, and other mental faculties. The herbal extract is used to treat Alzheimer's disease.

The bottom line is "yes, with some exceptions."

If they couldn't, it would open the nursing home up to charges of false imprisonment and/or kidnapping. Now, if the person is mentally or physically incapable of caring for themselves and/or they're "a danger to the community," it's a different story, and such people may well be under restrictions. But a person who is simply old but otherwise in reasonable physical and mental health and who happens to live in a "nursing home" can leave any time they choose, with or without "signing themselves out" (the "signing out" procedure is probably part of a contract with the nursing home, but failing to do it means the worst that happens to you is that the nursing home tells you you're no longer welcome there and will need to find a new place to live ... it's not actually illegal to leave without telling them).

People work with the elderly for various reasons, including a desire to make a positive impact on their lives and improve their quality of care. Many are motivated by personal experiences, such as caring for aging family members, which fosters empathy and understanding. Additionally, careers in gerontology and elder care can be fulfilling and offer job stability due to the growing elderly population. Lastly, working with seniors often allows individuals to build meaningful relationships and learn from their rich life experiences.

Health care is the primary concern of older Americans. Some are struggling with a loss of income after retirement and have to work part time to make ends meet.

any and every person convicted of a crime can go to jail ...

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The age limit for elderly life insurance will depend on the life insurance carrier with whom you are applying for coverage. Individual carriers establish this limit as a matter of company policy. Some carriers will not issue beyond 75, some 80. There are many carriers that will offer coverage up to age 90.

Physical and psychological assessments and a detailed history of bowel habits are especially important when an elderly person complains of constipation.

Yes, of course!

One can choose to consult a local insurance agent of choice. Referrals from friends or neighbors is always a good start. Also, searching the yellowpages in the local area could prove beneficial.

"Uncharacteristic" or "inappropriate" behavior definitions have their roots in social norms, or in other words, how we expect people to act. However, people must be cautious in labeling any "different" behavior as being "inappropriate" since many age groups or persons can have personal habits, quirks, or preferences that differ from our own or even clash with society's usual expectations. For example, people who lived through World War II became used to "rationing" the resources they used in daily life. They may collect and hoard food in a nursing home, for example, in case of an "emergency", rationing, or scarcity. Although food hoarding is "inappropriate" in society's thinking, in this population it is simply based on years of deprivation and fear. Or, as another example, a bedridden 75-year old woman requires home health care. The workers report that the patient "keeps her house totally dark and never opens window curtains", as being "inappropriate" for what most people expect. However, the home is dark and curtains closed simply because the woman is unable to get up herself to turn on lights and open curtains. Therefore, based on her situation, these behaviors are not inappropriate.

An uncharacteristic behavior in an older person is any change from their routines. For example, Mrs. S. has always been frugal. She still uses the same dish towels she bought 50-years ago, and wears the same 5 house dresses year after year. However, her son dropped by and saw dozens of shipping boxes in the kitchen, containing everything from a back yard grill, make-up, frilly baby dresses, art supplies, etc. New fancy dresses and other clothing is thrown about the living room. When he asks his mom about all the 'stuff', she talks fast and is incoherent. She's appears unkept, ungroomed, and "wild" according to her son. He manages to get her to a doctor, who diagnoses "mania" which occurred from medication interactions and dehydration.

An inappropriate behavior is different than uncharacteristic. For example, society has certain "norms". We expect people to relieve themselves in a bathroom, to be clothed in public, and we expect that an adult would not "talk crazy" or walk up and bite us. We don't expect someone to be inappropriate sexually, for example, we don't expect a 89-year old man to drop his pants in the hallway and try to seduce a visitor to a nursing home. (However, an 89-yr old can be sexual with another adult in privacy.) We expect that adults control their emotions; for example, we don't expect someone to yell incoherent sentences or lash out to strike someone. We don't expect an adult to spit on us, or to throw body waste at us.

Most often when older people live at home, family members notice inappropriate behavior before it becomes severe. It may be a small thing that sets off alarm bells. Family says, "this is not how my mom / dad acts normally. If inappropriate behaviors continue, families often choose to place the relative for safety and for treatment. Medication management along with around-the-clock care can help reduce the inappropriateness and help the person return to normal behavior. However, some patients cannot recover so they remain institutionalized for safety, supervision, and to increase the public's comfort.

Pernicious anemia because the stomach mucosa atrophied with age

The best country for young people would be Australia given its Youth Development Index of 0.86.

Responsibility when moving and handling elderly?

of course. unless they do not want gifts. but they are still happy to get married and to start a new life. they still should deserve a nice gift. even if it is small.

Gerontophobia for growing old and the fear of the elderly. From the Greek 'Geron' meaning old man and 'phobia' meaning fear

TurboTax and TaxAct both offer free efiling for federal returns for seniors or anyone else. The US government also offers a help line to help seniors with tehir federal returns.

They all smell the same because they are all elderly, and that means that they are all attracted to the same perfumes and stuff. That means that they all buy the same stuff at the store, and use it.