It's my clear preference to travel alone, especially for big trips, the ones with oodles of things I want to do. I can avoid late starts because someone takes a long time getting ready or has the audacity to think vacations are for sleeping in.
The Godafoss waterfall in IcelandMy first solo trip to Iceland came in early January 2019. I didn't have to convince anyone it was a good idea to visit a place touting coldness in its name during the time of year it was covered in extended darkness. I had one goal: to see the northern lights. Darkness was integral to the plan.
Being an introvert, I chose to visit Iceland in late May, hoping to improve my chances of seeing the early birds while avoiding the crowds of people known to flock European destinations.
On the only night tour operators decided conditions were suitable, I boarded a bus and stood in a thin blanket of snow in empty fields miles from anywhere, staring at black sky. At one stop the guide casually said, "This would be the perfect place for a murder." There were no deaths, but no swirly streaks in the sky either. Goal unmet.
Strategically Timed Puffin Hunt
Nonetheless, I planned a return with a new goal: puffin pics. Images of these black-and-white sea birds with distinctive bright orange beaks and feet, had been as common as trolls and Vikings on T-shirts in the souvenir shops of Reykjavík, the capital and largest city. But puffins don't winter in Iceland. They spend eight months flying over the Atlantic before coming ashore in summer.
Being an introvert, I chose to visit Iceland in late May, hoping to improve my chances of seeing the early birds while avoiding the crowds of people known to flock European destinations.
I'd already completed the compulsory tourist agenda: the Blue Lagoon, a bus tour of The Golden Circle — Gullfoss (a waterfall), Strokkur (a geyser),  Þingvellir National Park (a valley walk between tectonic plates) — and, most memorable, a glacier hike at Sólheimajökull.
I had also loaded up on culture in the capital: nine museums, including the Punk Museum, housed fittingly in what once was a below-ground men's restroom.
Seeking Solitude on an Island
The bulk of this weeklong adventure would be in places where sheep, horses and hopefully puffins outnumbered humans. At the outset, I had decided I did not want to lose time on shopping and dining.
As a vegetarian, fish and chips were not a draw and, while geothermal hothouses grow vegetables, I was content to grab crispbread, skyr and other munchies in grocery chains like Hagkaup and Bónus.
Reykjavik, IcelandMy travels involved driving counterclockwise on the Ring Road (Route 1) along the country's perimeter but, only two hours from Reykjavík, I deviated, taking a ferry to the town of Vestmannaeyjar on the island of Heimaey.
Puffin Paradise Promised
On the ship, I nabbed a pamphlet touting the destination as having "THE LARGEST PUFFIN COLONY IN THE WORLD." Score! Once docked, I headed to what Google Maps marked as Puffin Lookout on the far end of the island, a mere nine-minute drive.
I walked a path to a wooden shelter providing protection from high winds but, alas, no puffin sightings. Along a cliff, I gazed at lush green landscapes, black-sand beaches and the deep blue ocean below. I saw countless gulls and flocks of sheep, with every ewe seeming to have a black or white lamb hop-running behind.
Closer to town, I walked the rim of Eldfell, a volcano that last erupted over six months in 1973, forcing the urgent evacuation of the island's 5,300 residents. The rust-red ground contrasted with the white houses of town.
The next morning, I ascended stairs and paths to Dalfjall, which AllTrails had the nerve to call a "hill." I walked the ridge as much as I dared. A five-minute drive brought me to the base of Heimaklettur ("Home Rock"). As I climbed, fierce winds shattered the screen of my mobile phone when my jacket pocket clanged against a steel ladder.
I stopped, ostensibly to snap photos of craggy rock formations piercing the ocean's surface, but really to let a local pass. I retreated, thankful to be alone, with no one to say, "Let's not" at the outset or bemoan my, "Let's stop" when my caution button sounded.
Free to Explore
Back on Ring Road, I committed to stopping as often as I wanted. The hours of extended light eliminated any pressure of reaching a night's stay before dark. I walked along Reynisfjara, a popular black-sand beach with a cliffside formed by jagged basalt slabs.
The view from Dalfjall, IcelandI then backtracked to walk the clifftops of the Dyrhólaey Peninsula, another purported puffin-palooza spot. I saw a sand beach extending forever toward the west, an austere white lighthouse and a rock arch jutting into the ocean, but no orange-beaked birdies. Only three hours from Reykjavík, crowds thinned dramatically hereafter.
I drove along the south coast to two glacier lagoons, Fjallsárlón and, 15 minutes east, Jökulsárlón. Icebergs populated both. In the latter, seals popped their heads above the surface as ice floes drifted through a waterway to the North Atlantic.
Few People, Fewer Puffins
The sun did not hit quite right for optimal photos, so I backtracked thirty miles the next morning for retakes, with no one riding shotgun mumbling, "Been there, done that."
I maintained a healthy concern over gasoline. The eastern half of the country is sparsely populated, Egilsstaðir being the largest town, with 2,500 residents. I topped up the tank wherever possible. Very few signs stated the distance to towns that popped up without warning. Restrooms were even rarer, the couple I found requiring the tap of a credit card to pay the 200 krónur (about $1.50) fee.
A basalt cliffside at Reynisfjara black beachI traveled for miles without seeing another vehicle. Occasionally, I wished I had someone to share the sights — "Can you believe this?!" — but it felt reverential letting the ever-changing landscape speak for itself. My contact with the rest of the world was limited to one radio station that broadcast extended Icelandic monologues between unknown pop songs.
Volcanoes, Active and Not
While volcanic eruptions sometimes make international headlines, there are plenty of inactive ones to explore. In the northeast, Hverfjall is a broad black volcano that begs a detour off Ring Road for a half-hour ascent yielding a panorama of nearby mountains and Lake Mývatn.
Nearby is Leirhnjúkur, considered an active volcano (though it's been 40 years since it last erupted). The rocky lava fields have easily walkable paths, allowing closer looks at the otherworldly landscape with steam continuing to escape from fissures. Viti, an explosion crater of the expansive Krafla caldera, is another quick climb, the reward being stunning views of the aquamarine-colored lake that fills it.
Waterfalls are commonplace. Any mountainside may offer narrow trickle, sometimes much more. At one point in eastern Iceland, I stopped to watch a small herd of reindeer near the shore. A 360-survey offered Iceland's greatest hits: ocean, beach, mountains and multiple waterfalls. It was so ridiculously beautiful, I laughed.
Godafoss is a must-stop in north-central Iceland, a broad waterfall interrupted in places by rocky sections which, according to legend, represent pagan statues tossed in when Iceland adopted Christianity.
Iceland's Second City
On my fourth night, I reached Akureyri (population 19,000) in north-central Iceland, the largest city outside the capital region. Come morning, I walked the city's center as a cruise ship navigated Eyjafjörður Fjord below snow-draped mountains. I snapped photographs of marine activity and oddities like knitted coverings for trash receptacles. I yearned for good coffee (which I found) but not conversation.
The Viti crater in the Krafla volcanic regionInstead, I strayed from Ring Road, driving an hour northeast among charming farms to Húsavík, a town renowned for whale watching opportunities. I gazed at the various whale watching vessels but opted out. Leaving town, I stopped at a sleek Nordic-styled viewing shelter I'd spotted on the way in. Puffins, I had read, made cameos in the area. Alone, I took in the vista, perfectly content even without glimpsing the elusive bird.
Throughout my visit, I couldn't shake the notion I should pack more into each day. Nature didn't offer a lights-out to signal turning in. Each night, I kept the windows unobstructed, frequently awakening as if to catch the skies gone dark. Didn't happen. On my final night before returning to Reykjavík, I drove from my cabin to the village of Hvammstangi at 12:30 a.m. to see a fjord view of what was technically sunset. Still, a degree of light lingered.
A 360-survey offered Iceland's greatest hits: ocean, beach, mountains and multiple waterfalls. It was so ridiculously beautiful, I laughed.
Trying a Puffin Tour Boat
On my last day beyond Reykjavík, my incredible trip felt slightly incomplete, still puffin-less. I opened my laptop and searched for puffin tours in the capital. Sure enough, there were one-hour sailings on an "old wooden boat," Skúlaskeið, from Old Harbor with "100% guaranteed" puffin sightings at two offshore islands. Ticket booked! The excursion required sharing space with 32 other people, but the tour guide's commentary filled the time until the captain cut the engine.
We watched in silence as hundreds of puffins floated on the water, flew above and nested on the islands' cliffs. We communicated in camera clicks, smiles and finger pointing as the birds' whirring calls provided a soundtrack.
With only my phone camera at hand, none of my shots proved frame-worthy. I pocketed it and watched in delight as the birds busied themselves, oblivious to our presence.
As things turned out, I didn't have to drive in one big loop around the island to get my puffin fix but, oh, what I would have missed.


Iceland for Introverts

Gregory Walters

When it comes to insurance, most people are on autopilot; once in place, they just keep paying the premium.
Reviewing and reconsidering all of your insurance every few years is a financially smart practice. Requesting quotes from competitors every few years can save money and help you to understand your policies better.
When it comes to long-term care insurance — do not shop solely for the best price. This product is not just about costs, it is also about benefits.This is particularly important after you turn 60, when changing circumstances make it worth your while to reconsider what kinds of insurance you no longer need and maybe some new types you should look at.
If insurance seems overwhelming or too dry to bother with, think of the topic in terms of saving money. As you head into retirement, the more money you save, the more you have for fun years.
Why Now: Understand Your Risks
The risks you want to cover with insurance are different when you are 60 than they were when you were 35 — perhaps your children are grown, or your mortgage is paid off, so life insurance is less important than it was 25 years ago. Now you might want to address risks in your future by considering long-term care (LTC) insurance. Even if you've had these policies for decades, they may not be appropriate as you age and retire.
Life Insurance
When you're older and have acquired the assets needed to pay for your burial and final estate details, you may no longer need life insurance, for example. Most life insurance premiums are age-related, so the older you are, the more it costs. Many folks are wasting money on life insurance, thinking of leaving their children money and forgetting they have other assets for their heirs.
The risks you want to cover with insurance are different when you are 60 than they were when you were 35.
Life insurance is designed to pay for the needs of your dependent children and spouse when you die. The amount that is purchased often includes enough to cover any debts you may have. If you have built considerable assets to cover all your family needs, you do not have to maintain life insurance.
As always, there are exceptions. If you have dependents who are young or unable to care for themselves, your policies may be essential to care for their lifetime needs. Or, if you have a high net worth and want to keep some of your assets intact, such as a business or property, you may want life insurance to cover the estate taxes at your death.
In either case, seek objective information from your financial planner, lawyer or accountant to understand how to designate the beneficiary of your life insurance policy to serve your purpose. For example, if you have life insurance to aid a disabled child after you are gone, you may need to designate a Special Needs Trust to be the beneficiary.
Disability Insurance
Disability is typically an employee benefit; therefore, the coverage comes with your employment. Those who are self-employed or professionals, like doctors and lawyers, often have their own policies. If you are paying for disability insurance, this is the time to reconsider the details. Most policies only pay until age 62 or 65.
Consider what would happen if you had a disability. Would you be able to withdraw from your retirement plans?
Consider what would happen if you had a disability. Would you be able to withdraw from your retirement plans? Do you have debt that needs to be covered? How long could you sustain your disability without drawing on Social Security retirement?
If your professional disability premiums are high, then do a cost analysis of what it covers and for how long. Could you cover your disability needs without the policy? Or are the premiums so high at 61 that the 18 months of coverage you would receive are way overpriced. Even if you choose to keep your policy, be sure to set a reminder about reviewing it each year, especially as your retirement comes closer.
Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC)
Do you need LTC insurance? There is not one right answer for everyone, and different professionals have varying perspectives. Typically, though, LTC annual premiums are too expensive for those who need it most because they do not have the assets for annual payments for decades to come.
LTC is much talked about as essential for aging population. Some companies even provide policies as an employee benefit, which you may be able to take with you when you retire if you are willing to pay for it yourself.
When you are healthy and young, these polices cost less. As you age, even if you have a policy in place, the premiums rise consistently, putting a dent in retirement income. There is so much to know and understand before buying LTC.
First understand if LTC insurance is necessary for your situation. This involves a deep dive into your financial and personal situation. Clarify your details by reviewing the following before making a final decision by reviewing your assets, needs and goals.
If you do decide to buy this insurance, do not shop solely for the best price. This product is not just about costs, it is also about benefits. Do not make this an emotional choice based on aging or pressured selling of an insurance agent. Before you choose a policy based on the assumption that you may need assisted living or care at home, a little research will help you learn that the Centers for Disease Control says only 7% of older Americans need help at home.
The three kinds of insurance you are likely to want are: home insurance, whether you own or rent; automobile insurance; and health insurance. 
Some pre-retirement folks set up an account simply for long-term care needs in the future. By saving ahead without insurance, they feel ready to face whatever comes their way.
Three Basic Kinds of Coverage
The three kinds of insurance you are likely to want are: home insurance, whether you own or rent; automobile insurance; and health insurance. They may want to update their coverage and compare their company to others. Finally, they can adjust their deductible to make coverage more financially feasible.
Homeowner (or Renter) Insurance
No matter where you live you will need home insurance. Even if you have downsized to a condominium and are told that the homeowners association pays for condo insurance, you need your own insurance. This insurance pays for what is your property inside the condominium, including personal property and appliances along with liability.
If you decide to rent in your older years and feel you have little property or furnishings, take the time to consider if you had to replace all your clothes, furniture, kitchen utensils and appliances. These costs add up fast. Renters' insurance also can pay for a place to live if your residence is uninhabitable due to a hurricane or other disaster.
Automobile Insurance
If you own a car, you will want car insurance. This is the time to sit down with your insurance agent and review how much coverage you need. If you retire or change work habits, you are probably driving less and thus should pay less. Work from home means many people are commuting less and driving overall less, which often qualifies for a discount.
For both your home and car insurance, this is a time to reconsider your premiums and deductibles. If you have built enough assets, raising your deductible from $250 to $500 or even $1,000 will lower your premium.
However, do this cost saving move only if you have the resources to cover an insurance claim for the amount of your deductible. By taking on more of the costs of damage, the insurance company considers you less likely to make smaller claims that cost them money.
Private Health Insurance
Certainly, at age 60, you know you need private health insurance, unless you qualify for Medicare. Did you know that you need health insurance even with Medicare at age 65? There are gaps in coverage, and you are responsible for those out-of-pocket expenses.
You also need to consider the prescription medications you are on, where you live and what you can afford to pay if you fall ill.


Rethink Your Insurance

Christine D. Moriarty

You may have heard about the "Great Resignation" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But guess what? Younger people aren't the only ones leaving their jobs. Many older Americans are departing the workforce — for good.  
According to the Pew Research Center, in the third quarter of 2021, about 50% of U.S. adults 55 and older said they were out of the labor force due to retirement, compared to about 48% in the third quarter of 2019. In addition, roughly 67% of 65- to 74-year-olds were retired, compared with 64% during the same period in 2019. 
With an influx of newly retired Americans, this is a good time to take a look at how to save and pocket more money during this next phase of your life, especially as running out of money is often a big concern. To that end, we've compiled a list of the top ways to save money in retirement. Some of these might surprise you.  
1. Take Advantage of Property Tax Relief Programs  
Many municipalities offer property tax breaks to older Americans who meet income and residency requirements. The borough of Palmyra, N.J., for example, offers a $250 annual deduction for homeowners over 65. And, Boston offers a $1,500 property tax work-off program for older American homeowners who volunteer for a city organization.  
Pro tip: Your city will not typically automatically offer you a tax break. You'll need to research this online or make a phone call to your city tax office. If you need help, you can also seek assistance from Sagewell, a personalized financial platform that offers banking and financial services exclusively for older Americans.  
2. Consider Getting Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) 
No one likes to think about what will happen if you get sick and can no longer live at home. Yet, long-term care can quickly drain your savings if you're not prepared. According to insurance company Genworth, the median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is about $105,000, and it's almost $55,000 for home health aide services. 
"Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and supports in their remaining years," according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.  
This is why long-term care insurance (LTCI) is helpful. LTCI is private insurance designed to offer coverage for activities you can no longer do for yourself, like getting dressed or taking a shower. This type of insurance coverage can save you a ton of dough in the long run. For example, if you don't have LTCI, you could end up spending your savings to pay for your ongoing care. And, if you run out of savings, you may need to seek out a nursing facility covered by government assistance.  
Yet, if you have LTCI, you can rest easy knowing that you'll get access to quality care faster, the insurance will cover some or all of the costs, and you can hold onto your savings.   
Insurance can be confusing and for this reason, we recommend turning to a Sagewell Retirement Success Advocate (RSA) to help you navigate the best insurance plan for you. 
3. Shop for Auto Insurance Savings to Lower Your Bills 
Did you know you can get lower auto insurance by shopping around for better rates or switching companies? It's true.  
In addition, you may be able to lower your insurance premium by taking a mature driver's course or bundling your home and auto insurance. If you live in California, for example, you can take the online DMV-approved California Mature Drivers Improvement Course for adults 55 and older and get up to 15% off on car insurance.  
Need help saving money on your auto insurance? Sagewell makes it easy for you to get the lowest rates possible by shopping for you every six months.  
4. Pocket More Cash with Savings Programs for Older Americans 
Did you know there are a myriad of savings programs available just for older Americans? In fact, there are more than 10,000 ways to save, including discounts on over-the-counter medications and utilities. 
For example, if you're a New Jersey resident, you may be eligible to save money by filling out a simple application. This could allow you to take advantage of programs that pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium (which costs most people $134 a month); cover your prescription medication, including premiums and deductibles; offer a yearly $225 benefit for your electric and gas bills and give you a $100 reimbursement to offset payments for hearing aids.  
Besides government savings programs, you may also be able to save money at restaurants, clothing stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, hotels, cruise lines, car rental agencies, cell phone providers and even museums — simply by asking for discounts. Here is a sampling of where you can save money, according to U.S. News & World Report: 
Denny’s and IHOP offer a 55-plus menu with discounted prices Outback Steakhouse offers 10% off to AARP cardholders Amazon Prime offers a discounted membership to those with a Medicaid card Kohl’s offers a senior discount of 15% every Wednesday Michaels offers 10% off most purchases, including sales items, every day for those age 55 and older Marriott offers a 15% discount or more to those 62 and older on stays at participating locations Best Western gives older Americans 15% off when booking reservations Amtrak offers 10% off on most rail fares for older Americans Don't Forget to Enroll Properly in Medicare 
In addition to the savings listed above, it's also important to enroll properly in Medicare if you are 65 or older to avoid penalties (more than 700,000 people pay a Medicare penalty each year because they didn't enroll correctly!). 
5. Postpone Claiming Social Security if Possible 
With so many older Americans retiring early, it might be tempting to start taking Social Security at age 62, the earliest you're eligible.  
Yet, if you can hold out until full retirement age (between 66 and two months and 67, depending on when you were born), this will yield you more money over the course of your retirement years, according to Charles Schwab.  
In fact, if you receive your Social Security check up to 36 months before your full retirement age, your benefit is permanently reduced by five-ninths of 1% for each month, according to Charles Schwab. 
And, "if you start more than 36 months before your full retirement age, the benefit is further reduced by five-twelfths of 1% per month, for the rest of retirement," states a Charles Schwab article. 
Schwab illustrates this with an example of someone who started receiving benefits at age 62 but had a full retirement age of 66 and 2 months. "In this case, the reduced benefit calculation is based on 50 months. This means that the reduction for the first 36 months is 20% (five-ninths of 1% times 36) and 5.83% (five-twelfths of 1% times 14) for the remaining 14 months. Overall, your benefits would be permanently reduced by 25.83%." 
6. Switch Banks 
Changing banks is probably not at the top of your mind when it comes to saving money, right?  
Yet, if you want to avoid fees and actually hold onto more of your cash, this may be a wise idea, since many banks charge fees for checks, overdrafts and other services. 
You may want to consider Sagewell, a bank account with no monthly fees, free checks and ongoing guidance. Sagewell is also the only banking company offering MyPaycheck, a build-your-own retirement paycheck. 
MyPaycheck is a no-cost feature that turns your Social Security, pension, IRA withdrawal and any other monthly or lump-sum income sources into one predictable paycheck that you'll receive bi-monthly — and early! Better yet, your Retirement Success Advocate will help you get started.  


6 Surprising Ways Older Americans Can Save Money in Retirement

Sam Zimmerman

You're an empty nester and suddenly your four-bedroom home on a half-acre seems like too much … too much space, too much work and too much of a money pit. With retirement on the horizon, now may be the perfect time to think about downsizing your home. 
The Upsides to Downsizing 
Going smaller may seem like a step backward when you first think about it. If you're like most folks, you've been primed all your life to aim higher: bigger is better and square footage certainly counts when it comes to showing how successful you are. And, as we all know, there never seems to be enough space for all our stuff these days. 
So why do so many soon-to-be retirees talk about downsizing? Clearly, they are enjoying some rewards for paring down. The first step to understanding those rewards is simply a matter of focusing on what you'll gain rather than what you'll lose. 
The second step is understanding how to downsize without turning your life upside down. Read these 5 tips for staying sane when downsizing your home for retirement. 
In other words, once you see all the upsides, you might find yourself thinking differently about the whole idea. 
Here are some of those upsides, the main reasons older Americans are pushing to downsize their homes. 
Freeing Up Your Time 
Downsizing your home doesn't mean downsizing your lifestyle. In fact, most people find that, after moving to a smaller home, they have a lot more time for doing the things they love. The reasons range from less time spent on maintenance and cleaning to fewer possessions to keep organized. 
You may not have realized it, but the time you spend each week keeping your large home in tip-top shape can really drain your schedule. Instead of cleaning all those extra rooms, wouldn't it be nice to travel more or try a new hobby? And instead of spending your Saturday afternoons tidying up your yard or dealing with contractors for repairs, wouldn't it be nice to jet off on some new adventure for the weekend? 
Recirculating Treasured Items 
You've been in your current home for years, maybe decades now. Chances are, you've accumulated more than a few treasures or family heirlooms that now seem to be gathering dust. You can't really throw them out, so wouldn't it be nice to find a new home for them… with someone close to you who might treasure them as you once did? 
Downsizing is the perfect opportunity for recirculating some priceless items that no longer give you the satisfaction they once did. That leather-bound collection of Mark Twain's best work? Maybe your son-in-law would love it to add an old-world look to his new den. That set of lace tablecloths you never use? Your crafty niece might be able to turn them into something amazing with her skills. Or that oil painting you bought while in Aruba in 1976 — it would look perfect hanging in your grandchild's bedroom.
Offloading What You Don't Want 
Right up there with family heirlooms, there's another collection of yours that's probably grown over the years: things you no longer need or want. Downsizing is the perfect time to weed them out of your life. 
Unlike the treasured items, however, you may feel just fine about giving them to goodwill or simply throwing them away. Getting rid of things you don't want is a huge process itself and there are lots of online guides to downsizing your stuff. 
You'll be surprised at how light and free you feel once this is done. 
Upgrading Your Decor 
While you're sorting through your things and deciding what to keep, don't forget the larger items in your home. Rugs, furniture, and other decor items can be sorted according to how happy they make you feel. Imagine your new home full of only your most-loved decor items. It's your chance to curate your own collection and come out with a whole new look! 
It's also a chance to save some money while upgrading your décor. Read about the hidden cost of homeownership to see if you could be saving money,  
Going Green(er) 
Now for the more practical benefits of downsizing. For starters, you'll be using fewer resources in your new, smaller home. Less energy for heating and cooling and less water for lawn and garden upkeep are a few of the obvious factors that come into play. 
Plus, consider the age of your new home. Newer building materials are far more efficient than those typically used in older homes. Newer homes usually have better energy performance on the following: 
Insulation Windows Roof Appliances HVAC Bottom line: if you're moving to a smaller home, you're already greener. If you're also moving to a newer home, your energy consumption will probably go down even more. Consider it a "green upgrade"! 
Saving Money 
We saved this one for last, not because it's the best reason for downsizing but because it's a no-brainer. Some people downsize because it usually results in significant budget-boosting effects. As a retiree, you may be living on a fixed income, and it's nice to know you're not over-spending on your home. 
Smaller homes are not only cheaper to heat and cool, you will likely save money on property taxes and rent or mortgage as well. If you move to a homeowner association, your lawn care, leaf raking, snow shoveling etc., will all be taken care of, plus the cost will probably include most of your current utilities and bills.  
Everyone wants to retire comfortably, but do you really know what that means? Read this article and learn what you need to retire comfortably.  
You Should Think About It 
A final word: where and how you live are deeply personal choices in life. Not everyone benefits from the act of downsizing, so you should consider your own unique set of circumstances carefully and without pressure. 
Finding time for self-reflection isn't always easy, but in this case it's well worth it. You may discover that you too could dramatically change your life for the better by downsizing — not because you have to, but because you want to. 
Want to learn more? Check out these 8 tips on conquering the task of downsizing, plus advice on what to keep. 


Thinking About Retirement? Think About Downsizing First

Two years ago, Edgar Maxion, 54, stepped away from his position as chief facilities officer at Stanford University. After more than two decades in facilities and construction management, he was burned out. "I was doing eight projects at once," he said. "I wasn't seeing straight. I couldn't even sleep at night."
Edgar Maxion, an Encore Fellow helping prevent hunger and homelessnessBut he wasn't ready to retire. "In my heart of hearts, I wanted to be in a position where I felt like I was helping someone, as opposed to just getting a paycheck," Maxion said. "I'm thinking: 'How do I help if all I only know about is building systems?"
"I had a lot to contribute and this organization wanted my skills."
While exploring job and volunteering postings on the nonprofit job site Idealist, he discovered Encore.org (a nonprofit that taps the skills and experience of people in midlife and beyond) and its 11-year-old Encore Fellowships program. That program matches skilled professionals looking to transition their skills to assist social sector organizations. They generally do it full-time for six months or part-time for twelve months, earning a stipend of $25,000 for 1,000 hours.
"Encore Fellowships were created as a way to re-engage adults who had retired or been displaced from their previous jobs, providing them with a way to use their experience and earn a modest income while giving back," said Jim Emerman, Encore's vice president and national director of Encore Fellowships.
Boy, has the last year accelerated the need for programs like this one. 
And Encore Fellows like Maxion, Harriette Cole and David Pfeifer, featured below, have been finding novel, meaningful ways to assist nonprofits during COVID-19.
"The job loss and social isolation during the pandemic has increased the number of older people looking for both work and purpose," Emerman said. "Simultaneously, nonprofits have never been hungrier for affordable strategic guidance. It's a win-win situation that will, hopefully, allow many seasoned professionals to pivot into the social sector and continue using their experience to drive social and environmental progress long beyond COVID times."
Since the program started, more than 1,200 nonprofits have tapped the skills of nearly 2,000 Encore Fellows. The pandemic has seen 133 Encore Fellows assisting 111 nonprofits. 
Edgar Maxion: Making an Emergency Assistance Agency COVID-19 Friendly
After Maxion filled out his application and met with an Encore counselor, he was matched with Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS), a Silicon Valley emergency assistance agency working to prevent hunger and homelessness. SCS wanted an Encore Fellow to manage the overhaul of a multimillion-dollar warehouse property the group had recently purchased. It was a perfect fit.
A month into Maxion's fellowship, the pandemic hit and his assignment, by necessity, turned into a full-time facilities managing job.
"While I was still trying to project manage this construction project, that actually fell off the wayside," Maxion said. "The construction industry shut down for a bit, and rightfully so. Clients needed more help and SCS employees needed a safe space to work."
Maxion retrofitted SCS' 12,000-square-foot space for social distancing. He and his team fine-tuned the HVAC to increase outside air, bumped up janitorial service, bought personal protective equipment for the nonprofit's essential workers, adjusted space allocations for social distancing and established building response procedures after discovering that COVID-19 had spread among staff.
In July 2020, Maxion's fellowship led to a full-time job overseeing the new 36,000-square-foot building renovation. The biggest reward: "It's a joy to help establish formats for the organization that will help them in the long run."

Harriette Cole: Using Her Essence at AARP
For Harriette Cole, 59, an Encore Fellowship with AARP to help the mammoth organization for people 50+ develop relationships with Black talent for live events was a natural segue.  
Cole, who lives in New York City, has held editorial leadership roles at Essence and Ebony magazines and spent years coaching recording artists about public speaking, including Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Oscar-nominated Andra Day. Cole has written seven books and runs DreamLeapers, a coaching platform helping people make life transitions.
When her longtime friend, Encore.org board member Lester Strong, heard that AARP was looking for someone to help it grow its presence in the African American community by leveraging live events and accessing Black celebrity talent, he reached out to Cole.
Her biggest concern: Can I commit the time? "Some people who participate in the Fellowship are retired or between jobs," Cole said. "I was going. But it felt right. I had a lot to contribute and this organization wanted my skills."
Harriette ColeCole started her fellowship on March 9, 2020. "What I was supposed to be doing was helping to find talent for three huge music festivals that AARP was sponsoring," she said. "Then the whole world shut down, so there were no more festivals. The Encore team asked AARP if they wanted to put my fellowship on hold."
The answer was no. AARP decided to make a huge pandemic pivot and create an hour-long broadcast called "Real Conversations with AARP" through the group's Black Community Facebook page. Cole designed it, hosted and helped launch the hour-long talk show in June 2020 with guests including author and fashion journalist André Leon Talley, OWN's "Fix My Life" host Iyanla Van Zant and singer/writer/producer Anthony Hamilton.
"I started my career at Essence, which is the biggest Black publication in the country. I was there for eleven years and learned how to develop stories and interview talent. I developed a broad base of contacts there. So, doing an on-air broadcast is easy for me," said Cole.
In August, after her Encore Fellowship ended, AARP asked Cole to stay on as a temporary staffer working as a multimedia producer for diversity, equity and inclusion. She agreed.
She has had to learn some things along the way, like "a new kind of patience," Cole said. "Because I've been an entrepreneur since 1995, working with a company as large as AARP is completely different for me. In this case, I became part of a team and a very large organization that has systems and protocols; I had to learn how to follow those."
Cole noted that the Fellowship and the AARP job that followed have given her  a new approach to work. 
"When you come from an entrepreneurial background, you're boots on the ground and you do whatever it takes," Cole said. "You make things happen fast and almost by any means necessary. To then go and work in an organization that has thousands of employees and is hierarchical, you have to figure out how to navigate that. That was probably the hardest thing for me."
David Pfeifer: Finding Purpose Without Being the CEO
David Pfeifer, 60, is well acquainted with the entrepreneurial mindset. He had a successful career running small and medium-sized businesses. Two and a half years ago, after selling his last business (an online apparel company), Pfeifer was trying to decide what to do next.
His wife mentioned an article she'd read about Encore.org and urged him to check it out. That's as far as it went, until…
"I used to be the technology guy, but all of a sudden now, it's the younger folks in the office who were taking the lead."
"I was called in for grand jury duty and assigned to be the jury foreman," Pfeifer said. "I was about a week into it and I found I was really looking forward to going down to grand jury duty. I thought: 'Why am I enjoying doing this? Because, clearly, it's not about the money.'"
When he dug down, Pfeifer realized it was the grand jury's sense of purpose that appealed to him. "I thought maybe I don't have to run a company in my next job," he said.
After jury duty wrapped up, Pfeifer circled back to Encore.org and decided to apply to its Fellowship program. It wasn't an easy skate.
"I found the application process and the questions they asked fascinating," he said. "It's more than just: 'Here's my résumé and I'm a smart, smart person, hire me.' The questions asked: 'What do you want to do? Why do you want to do this? What would you enjoy? What environments do you like? What can you contribute?' The application took on its own life in my mind. You really have to think about those questions."
Then, Encore connected him with several organizations for interviews. It was Futures and Options, a nonprofit career development and paid internship program for New York City youth in underserved communities, that clicked.
"I knew how important an internship job was to my son when he got it and how much that meant to him," he said. "I can only imagine looking through the eyes of other kids in New York who maybe don't have the level of support he had and how great it would be to be part of something that could possibly make something like that happen for them."
The match wasn't a slam-dunk, though.
"I met with the executive director a couple of times. I met with her whole team after that," said Pfeifer. "They got to look at me and I got to look at them."
Ultimately, Futures and Options and Pfeifer realized they were made for each other.
Pfeifer started his fellowship in January 2020 as an operations manager, primarily responsible for handling payroll for the group's 20 full-time employees plus over 200 student summer interns, as well as managing other bookkeeping duties, such as billing and benefits. "I was working on the gears behind the operation, so the staff can go out and work with students," he said.
The pandemic meant transitioning the group to electronic financial transactions and some reciprocal mentoring, where Pfeifer would learn from younger employees and they'd learn from him.
"I used to be the technology guy, but all of a sudden now, it's the younger folks in the office who were taking the lead. They're much more familiar with remote calendars and scheduling. I've learned more from them," he said.
David PfeiferWhen the fellowship ended in September, Pfeifer accepted a full-time job with the organization and is now its director of finance and administration. "The biggest reward is that the nonprofit's work is making a difference in getting high school kids internships," Pfeifer said. "If you want to address inclusiveness and diversity in the workforce, you've got to start out with getting kids in the workforce and giving them the support."
Pfeifer's decision to become an employee, rather than a job somewhere as the top executive, fascinates me. It reminded me of what I so often hear when I interview or meet with people over 50 looking to get back in the workplace.
"I realized that one of the things that was becoming less appealing to me at this point in my career was being the CEO," Pfeifer said. "At this point, I had come to realize that I would be a really good support to a CEO, because I've walked in their shoes. I know what that's like. I'm also not afraid of rolling up my sleeves."
His advice to others thinking about making a similar switch: "It's important to bring your opinions in, because that's what they're hiring you for. And it's important to bring those skills that you have in, because that's what they've hired you for. But be sensitive, or strategic, on how you do that, especially during the learning part of it. Because there is a lot to learn before you run too strong in any direction."
My 4 Tips to Switch to Nonprofit Work
And now four tips from me about transitioning from the corporate to the nonprofit world during the pandemic:
Look for an organization whose mission you're zealous about. Search for volunteering prospects at AARP's Create the Good and Volunteer Match.Or seek out nonprofits that need your expertise through Taproot Foundation or Executive Service Corps-US.
The nonprofit Bridgespan also runs an online job board for nonprofit positions. And Idealist has a searchable database of volunteer and paid positions. Also, Catchafire is a good source for volunteering for professionals.
The federal government's RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) — one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over — has a deep-rooted interview vetting process to help make the volunteer effort a success for both parties.
Investigate local nonprofit matchmakers. Many big cities and states have connectors for volunteer opportunities. For example, there's Spark the Change Colorado and NYC Service in New York City.
Look for places that let you interview before committing. A conversation with a nonprofit manager can give you a feeling for the group's program and needs so you can assess the fit.
Opt for a short-term assignment. Then, if you're not finding the volunteering rewarding, graciously move on.


Finding Your Purpose by Helping Nonprofits in the Pandemic

Kerry Hannon

Scientific research and the indisputable issue of climate change has broken down a few barriers around the classic burial. Boomers want less to do with shining caskets and high-priced funerals, and instead crave a way to be returned to the earth they love.
Some choose to be buried in hand-woven caskets. Others opt for a future life as a tree.
A handcrafted casket made from biodegradable materialsIn a 2021 report by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), 60.5% of those surveyed were interested in green burial options. Some cited reasons such as cost or a desire to be more environmentally friendly.
Green burials are allowed in all 50 states. 
And yes, it's legal. Green burials are allowed in all 50 states. But each state has its own regulations regarding transport, burial on private property, preparation, and other factors.
"The only prohibiting factors are the cemeteries themselves," says Ed Bixby of Destination Destiny Memorials in Steelmantown, New Jersey and Green Burial Council president. "They may require an outer burial container or vault."
Natural Graves 
The Green Burial Council has certified ten conservation burial grounds across the country where guidelines forbid heavy machinery use. That means that graves are hand dug, and there are no paved areas. Only native plants are allowed as memorial bouquets, the grave markers must be made of unpolished, natural stone, and any wrappings or coffins must be biodegradable.
"I think green burial is the best form of body disposition; no embalming, biodegradable container, no vault and relatively shallow burial is basically composting yourself, putting all the nutrients in your body right back into the system," says Chuck Lakin of Waterville, Maine. "It has a positive effect on the environment."
Lakin, a retired librarian and woodworker, offers resources about alternative burial on his website, Last Things. He tells of his personal experience with the death of his father, and the disconnection he felt after the funeral director was contacted and the ashes were unceremoniously returned a few days later.
"There are more and more green burial cemeteries and products available than there were ten or twenty years ago."
"When I learned what I could have done, I started talking about home funerals, not trying to convince anyone, but to give those interested the information they would need," Lakin writes on his website. Today, he helps others by sharing alternative end-of-life resources. He also builds wooden coffins; lists Maine-based coffin, urn and shroud makers; and offers free plans for building coffins on Last Things.
Alternative Burials 
"There are many factors when it comes to a family's decisions to choose green and natural burial practices for their loved one. More and more families are choosing natural burial practices simply because they are more readily available at this time," says Jimmy Olson, owner and funeral director of Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service, and spokesperson for the National Funeral Directors Association. 
"There are more and more green burial cemeteries and products available than there were ten or twenty years ago," he says. "Every funeral home has the ability to provide products and services now which they did not have in the past. This means that they have more options to give to families now than they ever did before."
Cremation is touted as being more eco-conscious than a typical burial. However, some say that is still up for debate. 
With more interest in environmentally friendly burials, new methods of burials are emerging. Recompose, a licensed green funeral home in Seattle, Washington, specializes in human composting, or "natural organic reduction," which allows the body to return to the earth naturally using a similar process to household compost. The company says this process requires only a fraction of the energy that is needed to cremate or bury a loved one in the traditional way. The resulting compost is returned to the family or used to feed conservation land in the Puget Sound area of Washington State.
Not yet on the market, an Italian company, Capsula Mundi, plans to offer egg-shaped pods that will hold a body in the fetal position, buried, and topped with a mature tree that will use the nutrients from the degrading body to grow. The company currently sells an egg-shaped pod that holds cremains and is buried in the same manner.
The Option of Cremation 
Cremation is touted as being more eco-conscious than a typical burial. However, some say that is still up for debate. Although cremation reduces the need for land as well as the effect of embalming fluids used in the body, cremation emits carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air while using fuels to reach high temperatures. It is difficult to pinpoint the carbon emissions as factors such as size, container and even time of day factor into the data.
Resomation Ltd. was founded in Scotland in 2007 to offer water cremation as a smart ecological choice. The body is placed in a biodegradable shroud or coffin, and then placed in a water chamber. The process uses water and alkali-based solutions to speed up natural decomposition to a few hours. The remaining ash is placed in an urn and returned to the family. Natural water cremation is available in the United States but is not approved in every state. Contact your funeral home director for information.
Eco-Friendly Urns 
Eco-friendly cremation urns have become more and more available, made from sustainably sourced, recycled, or recyclable materials.
American Willow Caskets, based in central New York, is one of a number of basket companies that turn their skills to making environmentally friendly caskets and urns that are made following the guidelines of the Green Burial Council.Other urns use materials that dissolve after water scattering, such as this sea turtle-shaped paper urn.Sand and gelatin urns are lightweight and biodegradable.Urns made from Himalayan salt dissolve a few hours after they are placed in water, and this company even offers a GEO-code on their company’s memorial map, so loved ones can visit the scattering spot.Birdhouse urns are a way to remember a loved one after their ashes are scattered.If you prefer to have a memorial tree, The Living Urn offers a complete planting system including one of a selection of tree species to plant with the cremains. Another option is to have cremains mixed with soil and planted with a tree in a memorial forest, such as Better Place Forests.

Back to the Earth: Non-Traditional Burials

Rosie Wolf Williams

Do you get the sense that disasters like blizzards, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes and other catastrophes are increasingly common? Well, you're right. The number of billion dollar-plus events has been on the rise, largely due to global climate change. And while disasters are traumatic events at any age, older adults are especially at risk — especially ones living isolated at home.
A firefighter tries to put out the wildfire on August 19, 2020 in San Mateo, California."What we found is that the older population isn't as prepared as others. They are particularly vulnerable," says Natasha Bryant, managing director/senior research associate at the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, and an expert in climate-related disaster preparedness.
If you have one or two parents in their 70s, 80s or 90s, you'll do them (and yourself) a huge favor by helping them become more prepared in case of a disaster.
"Our public health system is really not supported for older adults."
Whether natural or manmade, catastrophes disrupt everyday life. Electric power may go down, cell towers may not work, water could be contaminated, and homes might be evacuated. As a result, routine chores, such as having medications delivered or trips to the grocery store, are suddenly impossible. And finding a place to live can be an urgent, difficult decision. 
Problems Older People Face in Natural Disasters
The biggest concerns revolve around older people without internet connections and smartphones or living in rural areas and lower-income neighborhoods or those coping with cognitive decline and physical infirmities.
"Some people are not really connected to any kind of network," says Victoria Funes, associate state director, AARP Florida.
Even older adults who are well-prepared can find disasters difficult.
Barbara Day, 78, and her 81-year-old husband live in Lynn Haven, Fla. and three years ago, the region was hit by a hurricane. They stayed in their home, battled to keep the water out and lost electricity for about three weeks. (They had a backup generator, fortunately.) Their house is still being repaired.
 "It was heartbreaking," Day says. "So devastating to the mind."
Day is the local AARP chapter president in north Florida and recommends disaster prevention through attending educational meetings with local emergency management teams.
She has plenty of advice of her own, too. Day counsels older people to realize it will take time for insurance claims to be processed. And she warns against doing business with fraudulent contractors who often swarm through damaged neighborhoods right after a hurricane. 
Another of Day's tips: sign up with the special needs registry with your local county emergency management agency if you need assistance during disasters with evacuations and sheltering due to their physical or mental abilities.
The necessity of connecting older adults with community disaster preparedness plans is rising in importance with the aging of the U.S. population. (The ranks of people 85+ are projected to nearly triple to 19 million by 2060.) Equally significant is the trend toward aging-in-place, jargon for staying in your home in your 70s, 80s and 90s.
Invisible Until Disaster Strikes
Yet many older adults can find themselves socially isolated in communities designed around cars, while their family and relatives are scattered. These residents are often invisible locally until a major disaster harshly reveals their existence.
"People muddle through every day. Then we get a climate event, a natural disaster. It flags the way we care for older adults," says Debra Saliba, professor in geriatrics and gerontology at UCLA and senior natural scientist at RAND Health.  
The emergency response system is better for those living in congregate living situations, such as nursing homes, assisted living and continuing care communities. Such facilities typically have emergency plans in place.
That said, the reality is planning for natural disaster catastrophes isn't always a top priority for them, especially during the pandemic.
"Disaster planning falls off the radar in the competition for attention and resources," says Saliba. "They're trying to get through the day-to-day challenges in the congregate settings."
A Biden Initiative That Could Help
A potential initiative by the Biden administration could provide additional resources for disaster preparedness across the country.
"Many times, our parents think they are perfectly capable of dealing with the situation they have dealt with many times before."
It's considering adding as much as $10 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) budget to better protect people, homes and communities from the severe weather consequences of climate change. FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which came into existence in 2018, is designed to help communities establish a range of pre-disaster mitigation strategies. But the Trump administration only put small sums into the program.
Even if FEMA gets additional funding for it, the money would mark a small down payment on the much larger challenge of improving disaster planning and preparedness for older people.
"This is really a public health challenge," says Robyn Stone, senior vice-president research at LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services and co-director of LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston. "And we know our public health system is really not supported for older adults."
Disaster-Planning Advice for Family Members and Friends
While policymakers (hopefully) stumble toward ways of better integrating older people into disaster planning, there are a number of critical steps families and friends can take.
Top of the list: talking about the risks with older loved ones and planning in case disaster strikes. The conversation may take several tries and follow-ups.
"Many times, our parents think they are perfectly capable of dealing with the situation they have dealt with many times before," says Funes. Her advice: "Don't wait. Be persistent."
For example, ask if they have a basic emergency supply kit ready to go in case they have to be evacuated. The kit should include things like medicines, eyeglasses, charging cords for mobile phones, some cash, key papers like insurance policies, as well important contact numbers.
"People often have to leave the home in a hurry," says David Ghilarducci, EMS medical director and deputy public health officer for Santa Cruz County in California. "Often they don't have a kit ready. Having the kit prepared beforehand is super important." (You can find information about what to put into a kit at FEMA's Ready website.)
Other key questions to ask: What is their transportation plan if they must leave in a hurry? If they're reliant on medical equipment at home, do they have a back-up generator? Where is the nearest shelter?
Maybe the most important one: How will family members connect with you during a disaster?  "A plan to connect with family is important," says Ghilarducci. "Family will try to get hold of you."
Answers to questions like these aren't only smart for people living on their own. Those living in congregate living situations and their families should also know about the institution's emergency preparedness plans. Grill staff for detailed information.
There's a wealth of information available for guidance.
Aside from FEMA's Ready.gov site, AARP has its Create the Good site with general and state-specific information, including its Operation Emergency Prepare Toolkit for planning.
The Next Avenue article, "How to Prepare Loved Ones for Severe Weather and Emergencies," goes into depth on how to help ensure older people in your life are well-prepared.
Emergency responders and public health officials need to play an important role, too. "The key is making sure older adults are well integrated into the community," says Saliba. "A lot can flow from there."


Disaster Planning for Your Parents

Chris Farrell

Serita Jones hasn't given much thought to her career.
"Mostly I'm thinking about my feet," she says. "I don't even know if you'd call what I got a career. What I got is a job. Two jobs, to be honest."
Jones is a direct-care worker at a long-term care (LTC) facility in Glendale, Ariz. After a day spent delivering lunch trays and supervising singalongs, she drives a half-hour to a big-box store where she has a job as a cashier. Neither of her employers has ever mentioned career advancement.
"They're not that kind of jobs," says Jones, a 37-year-old Black woman. "Anyhow, you have to have a college diploma or something to be a manager at the facility. I only finished high school."
Natasha Bryant has heard stories like this before. "They're the result of a disconnect in the LTC industry," says the managing director and senior research associate at LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit aging-services providers. "We have diverse frontline staff, but our leaders are predominately white."
Where Are the LTC Leaders of Color?
A just-published report from PHI, an authority on the direct-care workforce, backs that up. It found that workers in the industry are well represented by people of color, but only about 12% of long-term care leaders are people of color.
"Frontline staff were largely people of color who often had to work two or three jobs to make a living wage. We found few opportunities for advancement."
Marvell Adams found similar biases with a more casual investigation.
"My colleagues and I Googled the CEOs of the top 200 LTC service providers in the country," reports Adams, COO of Kendal Corp., a nonprofit elder-care services organization in Pennsylvania. "And then we threw in the top ten percent of the board chairs from those organizations and we came up with nine or ten people of color."
A 2020 report from the U.S. Census Bureau says Americans 65 and older will number more than 77 million by 2035. As the population grows more ethnically diverse, the need for an ethnically diverse elder-care system is a must.
Winds of Change?
It can happen, according to principal players in the LTC industry who claim things are changing on the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) front. 
Leaders are gearing up to address issues of compensation for lower-lever caregivers; the need for mentoring and career-laddering; more and better internships and college-incentive programs that will promote leadership-level courses by people of color.
"It's a lot to go after," admits Adams, who's also a LeadingAge board member. "And because a lot of this is new, we're all still in the talking and organizing stages. Nothing will happen overnight. But it's got to happen, because our workforce is increasing."
"When you start out with no diversity in leadership and your CEO retires, your board of directors will usually bring in a search firm to locate candidates. Are both of these groups made up of white men? Probably."
He isn't kidding. The PHI report found that 4.6 million workers were employed in facility and private-care jobs last year, up from 3.1 million just 10 years before. The study projects another 1.3 million direct-care personnel will join that workforce in the next decade, creating more new jobs than any other single occupation. 
But will direct-care workers be led by more ethnically diverse leaders?
It's possible, says Adams, who points out that other American industries have mastered workplace diversity. But it won't happen in long-term care, he believes, until the industry cops to its own systemic racism.
"When you start out with no diversity in leadership and your CEO retires, your board of directors will usually bring in a search firm to locate candidates," Adams says. "Are both of these groups made up of white men? Probably. So you can guess who they're going to hire when there's no history of diversity among those doing the hiring. It's this insane cycle."
Adams knows that insanity firsthand. He's been in the long-term care field for 20 years, yet only once has a recruiter who was a person of color reached out to him. 
Another time, a white recruiter confided the worst. "She told me I wasn't being considered for a position because I'm Black," Adams recalls. "The employer used words like 'wouldn't be a good fit' which, when you're Black, usually means 'He's not white.' And this was a recruiter whose recruitment package promoted diversity."
A Big Time Blind Spot
Christopher Laxton, executive director of a group known as the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) and The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, acknowledges that long-term care groups fill executive positions with mostly white candidates found through less-than-diverse search firms. 
"It's a blind spot," admits Laxton. He found out firsthand when AMDA presented a summit last December on the impact of racism on long-term care.
"We focused on facility residents, frontline staff and leadership," Laxton says, "and found stark disparities. Frontline staff were largely people of color who often had to work two or three jobs to make a living wage. We found few opportunities for advancement."
Solutions to the DEI Leadership Problem
Bryant believes placing term limits on board positions is a good first step in creating diversity. "Also, expanding the number of board members would create more intentionality in the industry," she says, "and prevent a decision-making board from being the same white faces year after year."
Paying LTC workers a living wage wouldn't hurt, either. That PHI report found that direct-care workers continued to struggle in poverty-level jobs across all long-term care settings. Fixing that might be the best place to start, says Janet Coffman, an associate professor at University of California, San Francisco. That's because it could reduce job turnover and make the industry more attractive to people of color, who might then be more likely to stay and advance into leadership positions. 
"We've got to start with these difficult, messy conversations with our boards and our leaders."
But neither Coffman nor others interviewed for this story are sure where money for better wages will come from. 
"This is an industry largely dependent on Medicaid for funding, and Medicaid is already strung pretty tight," Coffman points out. Bryant has heard of private-pay facilities charging more in order to pay staff a higher wage but says that doesn't address wage issues at Medicaid facilities.
"While we figure out where more money is coming from, we need leaders to invest in staff development by partnering with community colleges," says Coffman, who co-authored a 2018 report on racial and ethnic diversity in the LTC workforce. "Let's clear pathways for people of color to progress educationally and professionally within their LTC workplace."
Incentivizing education for LTC workers is a new frontier, reports Adrienne Ruffin, LeadingAge vice president of Strategic Initiatives. Toward that end, her organization is launching numerous diversity initiatives and programs aimed at inspiring college students to consider LTC work.
"We worked with twenty-nine students over ten weeks at our recent Summer Enrichment Program," Ruffin says. "About half of them were people of color. We gave them a variety of work opportunities and a mentor to ensure their success, and onsite training and networking opportunities. The students saw the lack of diversity in leadership and wanted to work on that."
"This is a change in culture, and it's going to be a long journey that's just getting started."
LeadingAge has a range of further initiatives planned, including learning modules on LGBTQ+ inclusion; how to engage residents in dialogues about racial justice and why unconscious bias shows up in the workplace. 
The organization's late-October LTC leadership conference will emphasize ways to bring more people of color into management roles and offer sessions on diversity in aging services through seminars with titles like "How to Start Talking about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" and "Creating Brave Spaces for Conversations about Diversity."
Ruffin is all for initiatives, sessions and seminars. "But once we get qualified people of color into leadership roles, we have to support them," she cautions. "I talked to a leader of color who felt lonely in her job. Support from her colleagues would have prevented that. White men are accustomed to support at the leadership level, but we've got to learn to offer it to leaders of color, too."
In the meantime, diversity in the LTC workplace is still mostly just being born. 
"We've got to start with these difficult, messy conversations with our boards and our leaders," Bryant says. "Because this is not a one-size-fits-all thing, and there's no checklist of what to do. This is a change in culture, and it's going to be a long journey that's just getting started."
It's a journey that Serita Jones can't fathom.
"I'd love to get better paid," she admits with a laugh. "I'd love to wear something other than scrubs and have a nice office and not have to soak my feet in ice when I get home at night."
She shakes her head. "But I don't know. Where will I find time to go to school and learn how to be a manager or whatever? And who's going to pay for that? You know what I'm saying?"
This story is part of The Future of Elder Care, a Next Avenue initiative with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation.

Where is the Diversity in Long-Term Care Leadership?

Robrt L. Pela

(Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by Acts Retirement-Life Communities.)
You’re an empty nester and suddenly your four-bedroom home on a half-acre seems like too much… too much space, too much work, and too much of a money pit. With retirement on the horizon, now may be the perfect time to think about downsizing your home.
The Upsides to Downsizing
Going smaller may seem like a step backward when you first think about it. If you’re like most folks, you’ve been primed all your life to aim higher: bigger is better and square footage certainly counts when it comes to showing how successful you are. And, as we all know, there never seems to be enough space for all our stuff these days.
So how come so many soon-to-be retirees talk about downsizing? Clearly, they are enjoying some rewards for paring down. The first step to understanding those rewards is simply a matter of focusing on what you’ll gain rather than what you’ll lose.
The second step is understanding how to downsize without turning your life upside down. Read these 5 tips for staying sane when downsizing your home for retirement.
In other words, once you see all the upsides, you might find yourself thinking differently about the whole idea. 
Here are some of those upsides, the main reasons older Americans are pushing to downsize their homes. 
Freeing Up Your Time
Downsizing your home doesn’t mean downsizing your lifestyle. In fact, most people find that, after moving to a smaller home, they have a lot more time for doing the things they love. The reasons range from less time spent on maintenance and cleaning to fewer possessions to keep organized.
You may not have realized it, but the time you spend each week keeping your large home in tip-top shape can really drain your schedule. Instead of cleaning all those extra rooms, wouldn’t it be nice to travel more or try a new hobby? And instead of spending your Saturday afternoons tidying up your yard or dealing with contractors for repairs, wouldn’t it be nice to jet off on some new adventure for the weekend?
Recirculating Treasured Items
You’ve been in your current home for years, maybe decades now. Chances are, you’ve accumulated more than a few treasures or family heirlooms that now seem to be gathering dust. You can’t really throw them out, so wouldn’t it be nice to find a new home for them… with someone close to you who might treasure them as you once did?
Downsizing is the perfect opportunity for recirculating some priceless items that no longer give you the satisfaction they once did. That leather-bound collection of Mark Twain’s best work? Maybe your son-in-law would love it to add an old-world look to his new den. That set of lace tablecloths you never use? Your crafty niece might be able to turn them into something amazing with her skills. Or that oil painting you bought while in Aruba in 1976…it would look perfect hanging in your grandchild’s bedroom.
Offloading What You Don’t Want
Right up there with family heirlooms, there’s another collection of yours that’s probably grown over the years: things you no longer need or want. Downsizing is the perfect time to weed them out of your life.
Unlike the treasured items, however, you feel just fine with giving them to goodwill or simply throwing them away. Getting rid of things you don’t want is a huge process itself and there are lots of online guides to downsizing your stuff.
You’ll be surprised at how light and free you feel once this is done.
Upgrading Your Decor
While you’re sorting through your things and deciding what to keep, don’t forget the larger items in your home. Rugs, furniture, and other decor items can be sorted according to how happy they make you feel. Imagine your new home full of only your most-loved decor items. It’s your chance to curate your own collection and come out with a whole new look!
It's also a chance to save some money. Read about the hidden cost of homeownership to see if you could be saving money, while also upgrading your décor.
Going Green(er)
Now for the more practical benefits of downsizing. For starters, you’ll be using fewer resources in your new, smaller home. Less energy for heating and cooling and less water for lawn and garden upkeep are a few of the obvious factors that come into play here.
Plus, consider the age of your new home. Newer building materials are far more efficient than what was typically used in older homes. Newer homes usually have better energy performance on the following:
• Insulation
• Windows
• Roof
• Appliances
• HVAC
Bottom line: if you’re moving to a smaller home, you’re already greener. If you’re also moving to a newer home, your energy consumption will probably go down even more. Consider it a “green upgrade”!
Saving Money
We saved this one for last: not because it’s the best reason for downsizing but because it’s a no-brainer. Some people downsize because it usually results in significant budget-boosting effects. As a retiree, you may be living on a fixed income, and it’s nice to know you’re not over-spending on your home.
Smaller homes are not only cheaper to heat and cool, but if you’re renting or mortgaging one, you’ll save money there, too. If you own your current home, consider the lower taxes. If you move to a community, rejoice you’re your lawn care, leaf raking, snow shoveling, etc., will all be taken care of, plus the cost will probably include most of your current utilities and bills.
Everyone wants to retire comfortably, but do you really know what that means? Read this article and learn what you need to retire comfortably.
You Should Think About It
A final word: where and how you live are deeply personal choices in life. Not everyone benefits from the act of downsizing, so you should consider your own unique set of circumstances carefully and without pressure.
Finding time for self-reflection isn’t always easy, but in this case it’s well worth it. You may discover that you too could dramatically change your life for the better by downsizing — not because you have to, but because you want to.
Want to learn more? Check out these 8 tips on conquering the task of downsizing, plus advice on what to keep.


Thinking About Retirement? Consider Downsizing

Here are two eye-popping facts: Someone turning 65 will have a nearly 70% chance of needing long-term care in the future. And the annual cost of a private room in a nursing home (national median) is over $100,000 a year, according to the recent Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Yet only about 10% of Americans 65 and older have long-term care insurance.
If you’re 50+, should you consider buying a long-term care insurance policy, which can often cost between $2,000 and $5,000 a year?
The new episode of the Friends Talk Money podcast, hosted by personal finance experts Terry Savage, Pam Krueger and me, helps answer that thorny question. You can listen to it below or find it on all major streaming platforms and on Friendstalkmoney.org.
Long-Term Care Costs: The Financial-Planning Topic People Hate
Paying for long-term care is the “one financial planning topic most people would love to avoid,” says Savage, author of The Savage Truth on Money, on the podcast. But, she adds, “it pays to plan ahead.”
"Whatever you have accumulated in savings could be gone in a blink of an eye if you don't plan for long-term care."
That’s for sure. Medicare pays very few long-term care costs and Medicaid coverage for long-term care is only available for people with minimal incomes and assets. So that means many of us will need to finance any long-term care expenses ourselves, either from savings or a long-term care insurance policy, or both.
“Whatever you have accumulated in savings could be gone in a blink of any eye if you don’t plan for long-term care,” says Phyllis Shelton, president of LTC Consultants in Nashville, on the podcast.
One reason many older adults don’t buy long-term care insurance is because they fear the cost of premiums could skyrocket, as has often been true in the past.
Hybrid Long-Term Care Insurance Policies
That’s why some people are gravitating to so-called hybrid long-term care policies, which combine traditional coverage with life insurance coverage. With the hybrid combos, long-term care policy beneficiaries receive a death benefit.
If you’re considering buying a long-term care policy of any kind, the best time to do so is in your 50s or 60s. After that, there’s a decent chance you won’t be approved for one, especially if you have a “pre-existing condition.”
Even in your 50s or 60s, you could be denied. As I note on the podcast, I learned this personally while looking into buying a long-term care policy a few years back. At the time, I was told by a major insurer that because I had diabetes, that the company didn’t sell the coverage to people who’d had diabetes for 20 years or more.
Finding a Policy
Krueger, creator and co-host of public television’s MoneyTrack and founder of Wealthramp.com, a service which lists vetted, independent fiduciary advisers, advises on the podcast: “All insurance companies are not created equal. Look at the strength of the company because the long-term care insurance contract is only as good as the strength of the company to make good on the claim.”
Savage also urges finding a good insurance agent who specializes in long-term care policies and can help you compare them.
Adds Krueger: “Get the most unbiased help you can, from a real expert.”


LISTEN: What to Know About Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

Richard Eisenberg

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