Whether someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or is simply getting older — or even if you are the one facing these decisions — end of life plans are an uncomfortable but necessary conversation. After all, people who take the time to plan their end-of-life care have a higher quality of life in their last days and tend to stay less time in the hospital. Discussing plans at this point is the best way to ensure your loved one passes away with dignity and peace of mind.
 
Bringing It Up
 
Many people prefer to take control of their own end-of-life arrangements and will feel confident enough to bring up the matter themselves. However, most people are not comfortable contemplating their death. A survey found that 60 percent of people feel it is important to spare their family from making tough choices, yet 56 percent had not yet broached the subject. If they are not forthcoming, it may be up to you to start the conversation. However, do not sideline them. Delicately say you think the subject needs to be discussed and ask whether they would rather do so now or at another time. If they say another time, schedule the conversation for a specific date and time.
 
What You Need to Talk About
 
Everyone will have different things they need to consider, but here are a few subjects most people will need to discuss.

• Money: How are you paying for end-of-life care and for funeral arrangements? You may want to discuss selling a life insurance policy to free up some cash for this. Just remember that in order for your policy to have a cash value, it needs to be a permanent life insurance policy (but it is possible to convert a term policy into a permanent policy). Also, if your loved one owns a house, you may need to sell the property to afford the cost of long-term care.
• Location: Where do they want to spend their last days? The vast majority would prefer to die at home, which has been shown to lead to more peace and less grief, but this involves more complex care and considerations.
• Care: What kind of care do they want to receive? Talk them through the multiple options (chest compressions, breathing and feeding tubes, etc) so they can get a clear idea of what they want.
• Funeral Arrangements: Do they wish to be buried, cremated, or another option entirely? Who would they like to be invited? What would they want to wear?
• Documentation: Have they made the necessary legal arrangements? According to the AARP, a living will and power of attorney are the minimum that they should have in place. If they don’t, what can you do to help them get this in order?

 
Making the Conversation Productive
 
There is no doubt that this is an incredibly difficult conversation to have. It is almost inevitable that you will feel overwhelmed at some point, but you will need to strike a balance in terms of how emotional you get. It is okay — and even healthy — to cry or express sadness. However, remember that the conversation should be about the person whose plans you are discussing, and their emotions should take precedence. Do not make it about you and your feelings.
 
You will also need to stick to the point. It is useful to enter the conversation with a list of points you need to hit. The Conversation Project, which works to facilitate end-of-life planning within families, has an excellent starter kit that can help with this. This document allows you to put your thoughts in order before approaching your loved one and gives you a frame of reference for the conversation.
 
Remember that if you do not get the answers you need now, it will only get harder. Making the conversation productive and keeping it on-topic means you don’t have to have it again and allows everyone to make the most of the remaining time.
 
Making end-of-life plans can be one of the hardest conversations you have, but that is no reason to avoid it. The bottom line is that these decisions must be made at some point. Talking about it now means your loved one gets to be included in the decisions surrounding their own death and you won’t have to worry about wondering whether you’re getting it right in a time of crisis. 

For many seniors, those who are retired, or those close to retirement , a trip to the dentist can be quite scary. Many of these people are afraid of something being found that will be expensive or will cause problems in the future that they don’t want to deal with, or don’t feel able to do anything about it. Because of this many rarely find their way to the dentist office.

As a result, they end up living with pain, discomfort, and dental conditions such as crooked or missing teeth, which can cause serious health concerns, but can also impact self-confidence and self-esteem. Thus, when things get bad enough to make a dental appointment a necessity, many people fail to go about choosing a dentist in the best manner.

When this happens, a number of things might occur, such as having procedures go horribly wrong, thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, or other unpleasant surprises. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, here are some of the biggest dangers that may be encountered when choosing the wrong dentist.

Unexpected Costs

While many people who are retired have some sort of dental insurance, they still make numerous mistakes when choosing a dentist. One of the biggest involves choosing a dentist that is not within the dental insurer's network, which can lead to hundreds or thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. This can be extremely difficult as the access to such information can be somewhat obscured, and hard to find.

However, many people fail to realize this when they choose a dentist, and only find out when they are presented with the bill. To keep this from happening, always check with any dentist you are considering using to see if they participate in your dental insurance network, or check with your employer before contacting any dentist. Dental offices will treat you with respect and will do everything they can to help you, so answering these sorts of questions isn’t a problem!

Past History of Problems

Before using any dental professional, always make sure you thoroughly check out their credentials, as well as seeing if they have a reputation for having had past problems with patients regarding faulty procedures or other issues. It’s also essential to learn how they treat older adults. Some doctors and dentists have bad habits of not listening to the concerns of what they see as “elderly people” thinking they are too sensitive or weak. Which is why it’s absolutely vital to find one that has a good relationship with their older patients.

While any dentist will likely be licensed to practice in your state, they may have had numerous complaints lodged against them by patients for performing unnecessary or incorrect procedures. Also, if once you're in the exam chair they start suggesting you have various types of procedures done, it's always best to seek a second opinion. In many situations, they are either trying to run up your bill as high as possible, or may be working with a specialist, such as an orthodontist or periodontist, to steer unsuspecting patients their way.

Improper Training

In some dental offices, neither the dentist nor the staff has been thoroughly trained in today's state-of-the-art dental technology. As a result, once a patient sits down in the exam chair, it can become a very dangerous situation. Dentists are held to the same standards as doctors and when they mess up it is also a form of medical malpractice.

For example, an error with anesthesia might result in the wrongful death of dental patients. In another instance, instruments used have not been properly sterilized, causing infections. And in other situations, materials may have been improperly prepared, leading to cavities that are not properly filled, resulting in additional problems. To keep this from happening, always find out about the training of the dental staff, including dental assistants and dental hygienists.

Since these people will be providing much of your treatment during your visit, making sure they are trained, experienced professionals can make all the difference.

Outdated Technology

While a decade or so ago x-rays were done by radiography, today's modern dental offices rely on digital x-ray technology to get a better look at patient's teeth. Since this updated technology can detect cavities that in years past would not have been detected by traditional x-rays, it can prevent numerous problems from occurring.

Therefore, if you choose a dentist and then find they don't use digital x-rays or other types of modern equipment or techniques, excuse yourself and find a dentist who does, since your dental health will be at stake.

Lack of Respect for Patients

If you arrive for your dental appointment and feel very uncomfortable around the dentist and staff, you need to look elsewhere. For example, if the staff or dentist lectures you, belittles you, or attempts to pressure you into agreeing to expensive treatments that may not be necessary, you've chosen the wrong dentist. Like stated before, this is doubly important for those who are retired or seem older since sometimes people in this situation can be mistreated.

To make sure you have the right dentist and staff for your needs, always make sure you are not kept waiting long periods of time after you arrive for your appointment, are treated with the utmost respect, and are kept well-informed about any procedures you may need, as well as the costs associated with your treatment.

The Takeaway

Perhaps most of all, always trust your instincts when trying to choose a dentist. If you don't, you'll regret it in regards to cost and the quality of treatment. For example, if you find the dental equipment and supplies they are using are not from the U.S., or they try to sell you extras such as dietary supplements, chances are they are simply interested in getting as much money out of your pocket as possible. By following the above-mentioned advice, your oral health will be put in the hands of dental professionals you can trust.

Here are a couple articles we think you’d also enjoy:

• Health Tips to Help You Skip Dentures After 80
• The 5 Kinds of Insurance You Need in Place Before Retirement

Your real estate investments and the choices you make regarding them will largely affect the quality of your retirement. In the past decade, we have seen countless retirees watch their retirement savings go down the drain due to poor real estate decisions, or real estate scams. Be sure to take time to educate yourself regarding these common scams. 

Hacking

One of the biggest problems regarding real estate these days is hacking. Hackers have gained the ability to enter into complex computer networks and do things such as stealing your down payment. Fraud prevention expert Robert Siciliano says, “a hacker could fool you into thinking he's your agent and trick you into sending him money, which you'll never get back. It's so bad the FTC even sent an alert warning consumers that real estate agents email accounts are getting hacked.” Be sure to do your due diligence, and keep your guard up regarding hackers. 

Bait and Switch Scam

If selling a home is part of your retirement plan, then beware of the classic “bait and switch” scam, which has plagued real estate for quite some time. This involves the prospective buyer placing an offer which is well above the market value. The seller of the home, in their excitement, signs off on the deal. However, the “buyer” has no true intentions of purchasing the home. After the contract is signed, the seller is locked into the deal for weeks or months, unable to speak with authentic buyers. 

The scammer then tells the seller a story as to why the price no longer works for them. They proceed to make an offer far below market value. More often than not, the seller, under the pressure of time and ongoing costs, agrees to the lower offer. You can avoid this scam by confirming the buyer has adequate funds before they sign the contract. Also, refuse to grant extensions or reductions in price. If the scammer attempts to lower the price based on the condition of the home, remember to request an inspector to verify these claims. 

Loan Modification Scams

Usually, a homeowner seeks for a loan modification in order to prevent foreclosure. If the homeowner gets behind on their mortgage payment, they are approached by someone who claims to be affiliated with a government organization which isn't true. This person offers to help for an upfront fee. No legitimate source of help will ask for an upfront fee or for financial information right away. These offers should be turned away. If you find yourself in this type of situation, contact your lender to work with them directly to prevent foreclosure.

Conclusion

When making decisions regarding real estate, especially if your retirement is concerned, it is important to deal with verified real estate professionals. Be open with them about your process and allow them to assist you. Many people, when they finally realized they are being scammed or led into a sour deal, are embarrassed and ashamed. In their embarrassment, they try to hide their mistakes. Doing such can cost you your retirement, so always be transparent with your real estate professionals.

For more advice for planning your retirement, check out our wonderful homepage!

References:
Real Estate Elevated | How Real Estate Investors Can Protect Themselves From Scams
Scam-Detector | 10 Real Estate Scams That You Need To Avoid Today
Bankrate | Avoiding mortgage modification scams

 Click here for an instant Term Life Quote

Many people live on a very tight budget that leaves little to no money available for saving or investing. You may be aware of the financial recommendations to begin saving and investing for the future as soon as possible, but this may seem impossible based on your current circumstances. Each person has a unique financial situation (personal finances can be pretty tough), but most may be able to make a few changes to free up money that can be used for investment purchases.

Pay Off Debts

One of the primary reasons why many people live on a tight budget is because they are financially overwhelmed by high debt payments. Keep in mind that eliminating your debts would free up a substantial amount of money that can be used for investments in the future. More than that, some people could benefit from an increase in income to them get through their tough times. Develop a debt reduction plan as a first step toward finding money to invest.

Adjust Your Budget

Regardless of whether you need to start your financial improvement process by paying off debts or you are ready to begin investing right away, adjust your budget to free up extra cash. The best budgetary adjustments are focused on reducing fixed expenses. For example, sell one of your cars to get rid of an auto loan payment, or shop for cheaper insurance. By making budget adjustments, you may free up a few hundred dollars or more each month that may be used for debt reductions or investments.

Use the Right Online Trading Platform

Once you are ready to begin contributing money toward your investments regularly, look for an online training platform to use. While it is easy to assume that all platforms are the same, they usually vary in significant ways. For example, the trading fee can differ substantially. The types of investments that you have access to as well as the research tools offered through the platform may also vary.

Check for ROI

You can't dive into investing by throwing your money at the first thing that looks good — this is a good way to lose a lot of money and never see it again. Whether you're investing in real estate, franchising, or stock, you need to double check its return on investment (ROI) potential. If you're purchasing a franchise, for example, calculate ROI by dividing projected annual profit by the total investment cost. Do this several times for different possibilities to determine which one has the best likelihood for success.

It may seem like you cannot feasibly start investing at this time, but this may not be the case. You can see now that there are several steps that you can take to begin improving your financial situation and to free up cash that could be used to purchase investments regularly. Initially, you should review your case with debts and create a realistic budget. By doing so, you can better determine the steps that you need to take to start investing more money on a regular basis.

References:
https://money.usnews.com
https://www.powerfinancetexas.com
http://www.africamoneyskills.com
https://www.franchisegator.com

​
For a Free Instant Term Life Insurance quote click here!