Retirement stresses us out, especially those who have saved
he 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey (“RCS,” a joint venture between the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute and research firm Greenwald & Associates) is out, and about two-thirds of Americans feel confident or at least somewhat confident in their ability to retire comfortably. Yet nearly the same share say that preparing for retirement makes them feel stressed.
You may think that these feelings arise because so many have saved very little. Among respondents who are still working, 45 percent report that the total value of their household’s savings and investments, excluding the value of their primary home and any defined benefit pension plans, is less than $25,000. Announcements of items of interest for the Senior Scene may be emailed to editors@timesherald. com. Information should be sent as text (no fliers or PDFs, please) at least two weeks prior to the event. Please include “Senior Scene” in the subject line.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
The Birches at Harleysville is pleased to invite the public to attend a free monthly caregiver support group meeting on Monday, May 14 at 2 p.m. The Birches offers a support group to family members and caregivers on a monthly basis to provide participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to a family member experiencing natural cognitive and/or physical decline due to aging. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Gary Kozick, will facilitate the meeting and has extensive experience in working with support groups. His years of clinical practice and administrative experience include working in home care, assisted living, personal care and skilled nursing facilities. He is the sole proprietor of Gary Kozick Elder Care Solutions, L.L.C. The Caregiver Support Group is open to anyone in the community, including families who have residents living on campus. Meetings will be held on the second Monday of each month and Nine percent report totals of $25,000 to $49,999, 11 percent have $50,000 to $99,999, 15 percent are at $100,000 to $249,999 and 21 percent have $250,000 or more.
But when many of those who have saved very little call my radio show or podcast, they don’t actually seem stressed. They are clear-eyed about their priorities and seem to know what they need to do. But for those who have managed to accumulate some money, usually $100,000 or more, that’s when the worries seem to start.
Perhaps the stress comes from not knowing or fearing what lies ahead. According to RCS, although so many are anxious about the future, a whopping 62 percent of refreshments will be served. If you can’t make this meeting but are interested in learning more about caring for your senior loved one, please join us next month on Monday, June 11. The support group meeting is free and open to the public. Care is provided for the loved ones while the caregiver is in the meeting, pre-assessment required. If your loved one needs care during the meeting, please RSVP by calling 215-5413700. The Birches at Harleysville is an all-inclusive personal care & memory care community that promotes a vibrant, healthy lifestyle for seniors. Services include delicious home cooked meals served in our beautiful dining room, activities and social events, exercise and wellness programs, trips and transportation, housekeeping services, 24-hour personal care services and much more. The Birches at Harleysville offers residents a month-to-month lease with no long-term contracts or entrance fees. For more information, please call Alyssa Barndt, marketing director, at 215-541-3700, or visit www.thebirchesatarboursquare.com.
LITERACY COUNCIL OF NORRISTOWN
Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer experience, which will impact the lives of adult learners and their families? If so, LCN needs you! LCN matches adult volunteer tutors with other workers have not actually calculated how much money they will need to have saved so that they can live comfortably in retirement.
It’s hard to feel confident about reaching a goal when you have no idea what it would take to do so or what your options might be to achieving that goal. There are a zillion retirement calculators available on line, and I encourage everyone to try them out, but before you do you may want to ask yourself, “What am I so afraid of?”
If you are worried that you will not have enough, then doing nothing only makes the problem worse. Maybe the issue is that the process of projecting your retirement needs means you actually, finally, onceand-for-all adults needing help with reading, writing, math, GED preparation or English as a Second Language (ESL). Volunteer tutors attend a 1.5 hour Orientation and 12 hour Tutor Training Workshop before being matched with a student. The pair is then expected to meet at a public place twice weekly for 1.5 hours per session for a minimum of six months or until the student goal is met. For more details call 610-292-8515 or visit our website: www.LcnLit.org.
VETERANS SOCIAL GROUP
Calling all local Veterans! Are you looking to get together with other Veterans to have some great discussions? Join The Birches at Arbour Square Personal Care & Memory Care for a free monthly Veterans’ Social Group at the community. This group meets at The Birches, located at 691 Main St., Harleysville. Join this monthly social group for Veterans and meet other area Veterans to discuss a variety of topics including history, personal experiences, current events, and more! Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Gary Kozick, will facilitate this social group. He has experience working in home care, assisted living, personal care and skilled nursing facilities. He is the sole proprietor of Gary Kozick Elder Care Solutions, L.L.C. This event is free and open to Veterans; however, space is limited. RSVP requested by Feb. 2. For more information or to RSVP, please call 215-5413700. need to figure how much you are spending right now. That alone might deter many from addressing their retirement needs. And for some, the retirement planning process may surface feelings of financial inadequacy.
But in my experience, I have found that the retirement planning process can be enlightening and help you get on a path forward, but it can also raise tough choices. You may find that to hit your goals, you need to either save more today, reduce your income during retirement or work longer. Each has inherent upsides and downsides.
Saving more today sounds virtuous, but then you think, “Who knows what will happen? I should live for today!” Reducing
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SENIORS
The members meet at the parish’s former convent on Buttonwood Street, the first and third Tuesday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. Bingo, refreshments, speakers and bus trips are offered. Newcomers are welcome. The following trips have been schedule: • June 13,2018, Wednesday, A Day in NY. This is a free day to do what you wish in the lively city. Central Park, (Strawberry Fields, The Hallett Nature Sanctuary, The Zoo, THe Arsenal, Alice in Wonderland, The Dairy, the Carousel and more) 9⁄11 Memorial & Museum or Metropolitan Musuem. Or simply take in a show. Restaurants to consider, Ellen’s Star Dust Diner, (singing waiters perform here), Carnegie Deli, Carmine’s to name a few.Cost is $50. Includes transporation, tax, & driver gratuity. Departs 9:00am from rectory. Flyer available. • September 10 to 14, 2018 Mountain Escape, Asheville, NC Includes 4 nights, (2 Wytheville, VA & 2 Asheville) cont. breakfasts w/ hot choices at hotels, lunch @ Deerpark Restaurant at Biltmore Estate, 4 dinners, audio tour of Biltmore Estate & Mansion, Antler Hill Village, admission to Chimney Rock State Park w/ photo opps of Lake Lure & Hickory Nut Gorge, musical entertainment at Chimney Rock Park, guided tour of income needs in retirement is a possibility, but then there’s the risk that when you actually are in retirement, it’s harder to downsize than you think.
Finally, working longer may sound like a great idea when you are 45, but 20 years in the future it might not be an option. The RCS found a startling disconnect in the survey between workers’ expectations about relying on income from work in retirement, compared to retirees’ actual experience: 68 percent of workers expect income from working to be either a major or a minor source of income in retirement, whereas only 26 percent of retirees say that this income is a major or minor source.
For most, the retirement Asheville and St. Lawrence Basilica & more. Cost: $779 pp double, $999. pp single. Travel insurance $75. Deposit $100 f/reservation pp Complete itinerary of this trip is available. You do not have to be a member of our parish to join us. • October 3, 2018 Sight & Sound Theatre, Lancaster, PA “JESUS” *Show starts at 11 am. We will be going to Shady Maple complex for late lunch. You may want to shop at the Farm Market before we leave complex. Cost $95. Includes show, tax, transportation, and driver gratuity. **Important** This trip is on a first come, first served basis for best tickets. Contact Jane Caruso @ 610-539-1681.
SENIOR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Foster Grandparent Program of Montgomery County is in need of dedicated senior volunteers to enhance the lives of children throughout Montgomery County. Volunteer Foster Grandparents must be 55 years of age or older and be willing to work a minimum of 15 hours per week. Volunteers receive a small tax-free stipend, free transportation, paid training and an annual physical exam. For information on the Foster Grandparent Program, call 610-630-0201.
ARBOUR SQUARE INDEPENDENT LIVING
Seniors, enhance your balance and strength with some Tai Chi exercises at planning process requires us to get real about what we are willing to do today in order to secure our future. The answers are rarely simple, but one thing is certain: doing nothing is the worst option. Arbour Square, 695 Main Street, Harleysville, PA 19438. Arbour Square Independent Living is pleased to invite seniors to free Tai Chi classes, every Friday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is an exercise that was originally developed for self-defense. It has since evolved into a form of exercise, used for stress reduction, balance, and strength through gentle, flowing movements. Daryl Bryant, from Ho’s Academy of Tai Chi and Kung Fu, will be leading this free, weekly Tai Chi class to help seniors remain healthy. After class, take a tour of the community and see what makes the Arbour Square campus so great! This event is free and open to the public; however, RSVPs are appreciated. Please RSVP by calling 215513-4250. Art Class for Seniors: Seniors, enhance your artistic abilities with Arbour Square! Arbour Square Independent Living is pleased to invite seniors to free Art Class, every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 1 p.m. Seniors, pick up a new hobby or enhance an existing one when you join the residents at Arbour Square for a Watercolor 101 class. Local artist Louisa Wismer will be guiding attendees through the class. After class, take a tour of the community and see what makes the Arbour Square campus so great! This event is free and open to the public; however, RSVPs are appreciated. Please RSVP by calling 215-5134250.