​Choosing a care home for you, or for a loved one, can be a daunting experience if you don’t know where to begin. Whether searching for care homes in London, up north, or anywhere in between, the decision is an important one regardless, and getting this right is vital for ensuring comfort in later years. The question remains, however - how do you go about doing just that? We’ve pulled together this simple guide to help you through the decision-making process, so you can ensure that you or your loved one is comfortable in their new home.

There are a number of different types of care on offer in homes around the country, and understanding which is needed is the first step to knowing where to begin your search. These are as follows:

• Residential Care – This is ideal for those that need around-the-clock care. It’s possible to retain independence here while receiving any support that may be needed with day-to-day activities.
• Nursing Care – Residential care often comes with nursing, but some will have a nurse onsite 24/7. This is ideal for those with medical conditions or with physical disabilities.
• Dementia Care – While most care homes will now offer dementia care as standard, some may specialise in the care, treatments and personal needs of those with Dementia.
• Respite Or Short-Stay – If the primary carer is away, or if you or your loved one is recovering from an illness where specialist care is required, a short-stay care home may be ideal.
• Intermediate Care – This is an alternative to a hospital stay, usually following surgery, a fall, or while recovering after illness. Intermediate care can either be provided within a care home, or in your own home.
• Specialist Care – Care homes will often have specialist areas, so if you or your loved one is in need of a specific type of care, then it’s important to research what help and specialist care may be available.
• Palliative/End-Of-Life Care – Palliative care is carefully designed to provide support and care for those who are usually within 12 months of death. This kind of care aims to ensure individuals are comfortable by managing pain and distress where possible. They will also offer support to family members and carers.

​While it’s not impossible to find a care home that has it all, determining your priorities from the offset can make your search much simpler. Some individuals need to stay locally to family or friends, others might need to give up locality in order to receive the best care for a certain condition or illness, and others may want something small and cosy. Deciding on the priorities can help you whittle down the hundreds of care homes across the country to just those with exactly what you need.

​When you begin to research, it’s important not to settle on one care home and one care home only. Make a shortlist of some of your top choices, and then list out what each one has on offer. When researching a number of homes, you can easily forget good and bad points, so making a shortlist and then expanding on why you should and shouldn’t choose each one can clear your mind and make the decision-making process much easier. Work out the costs, what you can afford, what they have on offer and what could potentially cause an issue in the future – all of this will play a huge part in your later years, so making a careful decision is paramount.

The final thing you should do is visit your shortlisted homes. While you may have picked one out that is perfect on paper, you may visit and find that it isn’t at all how you pictured and that you aren’t comfortable there at all. Similarly, a care home that may not appear to have much on offer could actually prove to be much more comfortable and viable to live in. 
Only you or your loved one will truly know what it is you need from your care home, but hopefully with our simple guide you have a good starting point to get you going. Most importantly, it’s vital to remember that a good care home will do exactly what the title suggests – care. It’s just up to you to decide which one suits your needs more. 

​After retirement, there are number of considerations which you must keep in mind when it comes to your home. As you age, manoeuvring around can become difficult, whether you’re losing your balance, or your joints begin to cease up to make climbing stairs more challenging. In order to ensure that you remain healthy in your home, there are a few different points that you may want to think about which you may not have considered before. Here, we’re taking a look at how you can adapt your home in order to remain as healthy as possible. 

​One of the areas in the home that many people forget about as they begin to age is their garden. Ensuring that your garden is completely manageable when your mobility becomes reduced, or you’re simply not as able to carry out as much gardening as you may have once been able to, is important. Making sure you have a comfortable area to sit down in if you become tired of walking around your outdoor area is also important. There are plenty of aesthetic options to choose from, from teak benches to garden furniture sets. With outdoor benches, little maintenance is required, so you can enjoy the sunshine in the summer months, and feed the birds in the spring, in comfort. Having a comfortable resting place is always important, and can be key to maintaining good health particularly if you enjoy being outside. 

There are numerous adaptations which you can implement in your home to ensure you remain as healthy as possible as you age. From transforming your bathroom into a wet room so you no longer have to climb into the bath, to adapting your bedroom to have it on the ground floor so you don’t have to keep walking up the stairs, there’s plenty to consider. However, ensuring your health is optimum is particularly important, and protecting your home from adverse conditions such as damp and mold can ensure that you remain healthy. Learning how to treat rising damp in your home can help. Hiring damp proofing specialists London can allow you to spot any potential problems, before they cause irreparable damage in your home. Damp can lead to numerous health problems, which can be particular dangerous for young children but also for the elderly. Ensuring that your home is completely protected, and adapting your home appropriately is extremely important. 

Once you’ve carried out any renovation work in your home, and adapted your garden to suit your requirements, you may want to consider investing in different types of technology and equipment which can help to make home tasks much easier. If you need help simply accessing your home, you may want to consider installing outdoor lights so you can see where you are going much more easily. Alternatively, you may want to consider a ramp or handrails to provide you with better access to the front door. 

If, however, you need help moving around the home, then second banisters, or newel rails can help you to better maneuver the stairs. In the kitchen, a kettle kipper, one handed chopping board, or board with a clamp to help secure any tins as you are opening them are all small investments which can help to make simple home tasks much easier for you. 
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There are many different ways in which you can adapt your home as you age, some more drastic than others. Ensuring that your home meets your requirements can help to maintain your independence and ultimately ensure that you are as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible. 

There are many wonderful benefits of practicing meditation in general. However, there are five really great benefits of meditation for boomers and retirees. They are:

1. Increased Health and Wellness. Meditation has been scientifically proven to help decrease heart rate, stress and inflammation while increasing immunity, mood and emotional stability. In fact, Dr. Michael Irwin, the head of psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA found that breast cancer survivors partaking in a certain type of meditation experienced significant down-regulation of the genes that lead to inflammation, and up-regulation of the genes that help protect the body from viral infections. According to Dr. Irwin’s research, the lower the body’s inflammation levels were, the lower the risk for cancer recurrence was in his female test subjects. 
2. Refashioning Neural Pathways. We sometimes forget how much power we have as human beings to control the thoughts that shape our everyday realities. According to recent neuroscientific findings, certain types of meditation have been shown to actively rewire the brain’s neuroplastic networking. “Neuroplasticity” refers to how our brains decode incoming stimuli to conform to our expectations for how reality looks and functions. Rewiring our neural pathways can help boost mental awareness and foster a more empowered, positive outlook on life. This can not only lead to increased cognitive awareness, but also an appreciation for many little things in life we might have taken for granted for most of our lives up until now.
3. Learning to Live in the Moment. Many people spend their entire lives working toward something, but not necessarily appreciating the moments they spend doing said work. As we age, we see more and more people who have worked so hard for what they have lose the ability to enjoy what they have earned for one reason or another. Certain types of meditation can help block out external influences that keep people focused on the future, in order to help them fall totally in the love with the present moment(s) they are given instead. 
4. Projecting Our Thoughts into Reality. Certain types of meditation can directly affect physical reality outside of one’s own head…. Seriously! In numerous clinical trials, Stanford Physicist William Tiller’s test subjects altered the electromagnetic frequencies of electrical devices they were not in the same room as, nor in any direct contact with at any point. This means their minds were able to physically affect matter outside of their own heads. Think about the implications of being able to project thoughts into conscious reality, and then realize how much power we actually have to control the realities outside of our own heads in kind.
5. Meditation Helps Increase Global Cultural Awareness. We live in a world that grows smaller and more intimate everyday. This is a trend that will only increase as technology keeps bringing people closer together. People who choose to open their minds and hearts to other cultures, ethnicities, religions and social backgrounds are better positioning themselves for happiness and harmony inside, as well as with their human neighbors near and far alike. In fact, a clinically validated experiment in Washington D.C. during the summer of 1993 demonstrated that those who partake in certain types of meditation can positively affect their human brethren by the thought intentions they emit where the reduction of social strife is concerned.

​There are many different types of meditation. The only way to know which type of meditation is right for you is to try different types until you find the one you feel works best. There are many organizations and groups that instruct people just like you in meditation techniques. 

One of these organizations is The Human Radio Educational Research Project. The Human Radio is dedicated to helping its students work on their own evolutionary development through a proprietary, deliberately scaffolded visualization meditation curriculum. This organization works with folks of all cultural, religious, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds promoting human empowerment and compassion both inside of one’s self, as well as with one’s human brothers and sisters near and far alike. They rely on donations and the money they bring in from their services to sustain their global presence. You can learn more about The Human Radio by clicking here. You can also try out their introductory visualization meditation exercise in the comfort and privacy of your home on their website, or on YouTube by clicking here. 

No matter what person or organization you choose to help you learn meditation, or what type of meditation you find works best to enhance and enrich your life, the mounting body of scientific evidence only keeps bolstering what many people have intuitively known for thousands of years…. that we are all the masters of our own destinies. People who choose to take the reins of their own destinies with the help of meditation are facilitating their own holistic health and happiness above and below, inside and out alike.

​Whether because of a temporary injury, a side effect of an illness, or simply a consequence of aging, many seniors may need to spend a lengthy period of time lying down in a bed. Naturally, anyone would prefer their own house rather than the impersonal atmosphere of a hospital, but this location comes with its own set of unique challenges. If you find a loved one or friend in this position, don’t miss the follow tips for improving their quality of life:

​Spice up your loved one’s room up with beautiful decorations and stimulating imagery to combat boredom and feelings of depression. Display funny posters or photos specifically chosen by your bed-limited patient (think animals, hobbies, family etc), and rotate these pictures regularly. Even more importantly, ensure the room gets as much natural light as possible, and open a window every day if possible.

Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by plants and flowers? By inviting the fresh scent of nature into the room, the four surrounding walls will feel much less claustrophobic, and you can even encourage a bit of indoor gardening! Research has even shown that viewing roses inside a room can improve comfort levels and induce relaxation.

​Inactivity and boredom may wreak havoc on your loved one’s mind. In addition to a TV, you can help combat this with puzzles, books, music, or DVDs. Also consider purchasing a tablet device, which will allow your bed-limited friend to play video games, listen to audiobooks, or surf the web during this monotonous downtime. 

​In the same breath as diverting their attention out of their heads, it would be even more beneficial to encourage the patient to use this bed as a space of creativity, which will help them feel more useful in this frustrating break. Example suggestions include: catching up on writing letters, making a photo album, learning a new language, learning an instrument, knitting, researching a topic they’ve always found fascinating, or perhaps becoming an origami expert.

There are various products you can invest in to make everyone’s life easier. A multi-tasking bed tray can help mealtimes move faster and provide an accessible surface for books or laptops. Extra absorbent underwear or a waterproof bed pad can keep the mattress dry and free of odors. A bed pan is also essential for those who can’t make it to the bathroom, and installing a bed rail will grant certain patients the option to sit up on their own, if applicable. 

​This point seems obvious but always speak to the patient’s doctor for nutritional advice first, as certain foods can interfere with some medications. Beyond that, talk to your bed buddy about what they feel like eating, and as long as it’s reasonably healthy, treat them from time to time. Keep a record of every meal, discuss any curious patterns with a professional, and don’t forget the hydration! 

​A clean body is a happy body, whilst minimizing the risk of any germs running rampant. Give the patient a good sponging every day using a no-rinse body wash, and change their clothing to keep them fresh and odorless. Brush their teeth as often as you brush yours, trim their fingernails and toenails to stop accidental scratchings or ingrown nail infections, and keep their hair/beard tidy for that warm finishing touch. 

​If the buttocks, legs, or thighs spend too long pressed up against the same surface areas, tissue can break down and form painful ulcers. These are very dangerous, so prevent them by carefully repositioning the patient's body every few hours, whilst checking for any developing sores as you do so, and contacting the appropriate care team members if you do find any.

​You should be replacing the bedding every 2 - 3 days. This will not only reduce the chance of infection but will also keep the bed smelling nice as a happy place to rest a head. Don’t forget to regularly ask your loved one if the linen is soft enough for them, and ensure that they feel warm throughout the night.

​Finally, it is important to remember that everyone needs human contact, which is why you frequent visits or phone conversations are important. Keep topics focused on happy matters whilst inviting friends and family over whenever they get a chance. This is also another reason why you should fill the room with interesting items, as these will allow for easy conversation starters regardless of who has come around.

​According to the most recent statistical data available for the 2016 calendar year, over 85% of folks aged 50 - 64 and 65% of folks over 65 are regular internet users. With the constant push toward online banking, shopping and social communication, the amount of boomers and retirees will only continue to grow in the coming years.

If you have a hobby, skill, or any kind of product or service you want offer for the benefit of other people, then owning a website in retirement can help build a solid bridge between you and your desired audience. Specifically, owning a website in retirement can provide the following benefits:

1. A website provides you with a dedicated, professional showcase to advertise and offer your ideas, expertise and/or goods and services for sale
2. Building off of #1, a website gives you the potential to increase your retirement income to supplement your living expenses and enjoy life even more
3. A website can even help create a healthy emotional bond between you and your visitors, especially when dealing with personal subjects and ideas

There are three main types of websites that are common on the Internet today:

1. Personal. A personal website is simple. It usually has an introduction (or home) page, a biography page, a contact page, and a blog article section. A blog is very similar to a journal, in which you can post articles detailing your life experiences, ideas, skills, expertise, or anecdotal stories that can help add value to other people's’ lives.
2. Business. A business website is more in-depth than a personal website. It usually has all of the components of a personal website, but also has one or more pages to outline/detail the goods and/or services your business offers. The blog article section on a business website usually has articles on specific goods, services or anecdotal information demonstrating your industry expertise.
3. E-Commerce. An e-commerce website generally involves all of the components of a business website, but it adds a dedicated section where you can list individual goods or services for sale. Most e-commerce websites also have some sort of checkout function that includes a way for customers to pay for your offerings directly through the website (either through a platform like PayPal, or a credit card processing company).

The kind of website that is appropriate for you depends entirely on you individual reason(s) for having a website. What is more, choosing a website development platform that allows you to change or expand your online exposure/presence as your desires or needs change ensures your website can always be expanded or customized to grow as you do. 

A website development platform is the software program you choose to either build your website yourself on, or to have a professional construct your website for you on. ​

• Some platforms are very limited. This means if you decide to start with a simple, personal or business website you will not be able to add an e-commerce section to it without building a new website that is e-commerce capable. 
• Other platforms are very expandable, meaning you can start with a simple personal or business website and add many different customizable features as your online presence and/or personal desires grow. 

It is very important to make sure you choose a website development platform that has the capability to grow with you, so that you never need to change platforms because doing so can take time and money you would not need to spend with a bit of foresight and planning.

Besides building a website, you should consider the following things in order to construct your safe, professional online presence:

1. URL Domain Privacy Registration. In order to have a website, you first need to purchase a domain name. A domain name is what a customer types into a search engine like Google to be taken to your website, like www.joepublicswebsite.com. When you purchase a domain name, your personal information is automatically registered in WHOIS, an international database of domain name owners. However, many companies like Google allow you to add privacy registration. This means that your name and personal information remains private with a Google based address and contact information put in its place. This is totally legal, and strongly recommended. 
2. A Reliable Website Hosting Company. Just like a URL, every website requires a host. The host is the connection point between the development software and becoming a live site on the world wide web. It is important to choose a website hosting company that provides its clients with personalized customer service, and is not so large that it treats its customers like ID numbers instead of individuals. It is also important to make sure its pricing is straightforward, and its service does not experience periodic maintenance that causes the websites it hosts to go offline at inopportune times. 
3. A Professional Email Address. This uses your domain name in the address instead of Gmail, Yahoo mail or another free personal account. For example, a professional website would be something like “[email protected].” This allows you to have a public email address that is seperate from the personal address you use with family and friends. For businesses, it is also a way to present yourself as a professional, which can help your visitors feel comfortable trusting you.
4. A VOIP Phone Number. If you plan to provide your website visitors a way to reach you by telephone, a VOIP phone number allows you to have a dedicated phone number that is separate from your personal one. Many VOIP numbers even allow you to download an application on your smartphone to make and receive calls through that number than you give your family and friends. This turns your smartphone into a two-line phone without having to purchase two seperate phones to conduct personal and professional business. This also helps protect your privacy by allowing you to have a dedicated, professional voicemail message to help your visitors feel comfortable trusting your business experience and acumen. 

​It is important to understand that just having a website is not a guarantee for online success personally or professionally speaking. After all, there are over 1 billion websites on the internet today. Therefore, you should make sure that your website looks professional and functions flawlessly if you want visitors to be impressed with the presentation of your idea, goods or services versus the many other websites they might choose to visit instead. 

1. Self built websites are usually the lesser expensive option, but they can tend to become overwhelming to some folks who are not computer savvy, or do not have previous web design and build experience
2. Professionally designed websites can cost more to create, but can lay a solid foundation for you to grow online from because you are trusting a team of professionals who design successful websites for a living.

Additionally, a professionally designed website can provide you with specific features like search engine optimization.

• Search engine optimization involves structuring a website for Google to be able to scan, index and recommend the most efficiently and effectively. This includes using keywords that potential visitors search for in Google, Yahoo and other major search engines when searching online for the goods, services or ideas you offer on your website. 

It is important to keep in mind that today, just about every business, and many private citizens, have a website or at least an online presence of some sort. This makes websites as common as listings in the White or Yellow Pages phone books used to be. This is why it is extremely important to trust a professional with creating a new, or reformulating an existing website. 

A professional website developer who is versed in design and search engine optimization can build you a visually appealing, psychologically appropriate, emotionally engaging, and fundamentally solid website separating you from other websites and/or businesses in less time, and with less hassle, than you could build a website yourself. This combination of factors significantly increases your chances for sustained, prominent online success. 

seOdona offers professional website development services to a diverse array of people of all ages, professional backgrounds and general walks-of-life. Although seOdona began in Arizona, their dedicated team now operates satellite locations in Southern California and Washington State that allows their team to serving clients throughout the United States. 

The seOdona team specializes in designing elegant, intelligent and engaging websites that are organically search engine optimized to help clients achieve a prominent online presence personally or professionally. With very fair fees for their expertise and services, as well as a straightforward pricing policy, seOdona believes in educating and empowering its clients while positioning them for long-term online success. 

The seOdona team welcomes you to visit their beautiful, informative website by clicking here, and to contact them if you would to discuss your ideas and visions…. as well as set up a free, no-obligation consultation to help you decide if they are the right professional website development company for you! 

There are three types of lift chairs you can choose from, each with its own benefits.

The first is the two-position lift chair. It is ideal for watching TV or reading. It will provide the option of a 45º recline, and the footrest will flip up. However, the design is made for the casual user, so the backrest will not work independently of the footrest. The advantage of the two-position chair is that it does not occupy as much space as the other two types. While it is comfortable and helpful, it is not suitable for people who need more support.

The three-position lift chair has the benefit of reclining almost all the way. It is the best choice for people who want to replace their regular recliner. The backrest does not operate independently of the footrest, but unlike the two-position chair, the occupant can easily use it for naps and relaxing. Some models even have special features, like massaging and heating, which make the three-position chair ideal for seniors.

Occupant weight is another aspect that you must take into consideration. Most models can hold a person who weighs 300 pounds. However, if the occupant is heavier than that, you need to read the fine print and make sure that the lift chair can hold that much weight. Otherwise, the motor (or motors) will not handle it.

Occupant height is particularly important because of the exit strategy and because the lifting must be executed in the safest way possible. It’s all about the distance a chair needs to lift off of the ground. A lift chair that was designed to lift a person who measures over six feet will require a higher lift than the one that was designed for a five-feet tall person.

*Retired Brains does not offer lift chairs for sale, nor do we recommend any one particular type or brand of lift chair to our readers. Like any investment you make, we highly recommend researching the brand, cost and any other factors relating to your purchase, in order to ensure you have chosen the product that best meets your needs.

It’s a well known fact that many seniors like to travel when they retire. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. After all, you have the power to choose where it is you want to be, your children and grandchildren are busy with their own lives, and you have a lot of leisurely time on your hands. Traveling is the best way to spend your golden years.

A lot of boomers, seniors and retirees choose to go on cruise ships. It’s convenient, it’s not very expensive, you have everything you need on board, and you can have a lot of fun. Entertainment is not an issue. But have you ever thought of breaking out the mold a bit by doing something more exciting?

A trip to India is definitely something everyone should do at least once in their lives. It’s a spiritually rich country that has a lot to offer. Check out the 5 best destinations for retirees below, and get ready to pack a bag or two!

In Old Goa, you will find the beautiful Basilica of Bom Jesus. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. The baroque architecture is just breathtaking. The destination has won a Traveler’s Choice Award in 2017, and it wasn’t for nothing. The sandy beaches will provide a quiet and relaxing place where you can enjoy some curry and drink some Kingfisher beer. You will come back with beautiful pictures and great memories. At Christmastime, the East and the West come together culturally, and you will be enjoying a wonderful religious ceremony.

In Old Goa, you will find the beautiful Basilica of Bom Jesus. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. The baroque architecture is just breathtaking. The destination has won a Traveler’s Choice Award in 2017, and it wasn’t for nothing. The sandy beaches will provide a quiet and relaxing place where you can enjoy some curry and drink some Kingfisher beer. You will come back with beautiful pictures and great memories. At Christmastime, the East and the West come together culturally, and you will be enjoying a wonderful religious ceremony.

You can’t say you went to India without seeing the Taj Mahal. The whole trip is incomplete without it. It’s the biggest token of love known by man. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The beauty and the architecture of the palace are world famous, which is why it is considered one of the eight wonders of the world. In Agra, there are two other World Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO, the Fatehpur Sikri, and the sandstone Red Fort.

If you want to have beautiful spiritual experiences, then Rishikesh is the place to go. It is located at the base of the Himalayas, and it is a very important cultural and spiritual location for the Hindus there. Sacred rivers are flowing through the mountains, and the yoga spots look as if someone cut them from a magazine. The Beatles went there in 1968 to get in touch with their Eastern spiritual side and wrote several songs at a local ashram.

Bengaluru is also known as “The Silicon Valley of India.” It is a geek’s paradise but is also know for its cultural riches. You can visit plenty of gardens, museums, palaces, and temples. The natural features of the city are absolutely stunning. You can go to Cubbon Park and Ulsoor Lake of Bangalore. You will love the boating facilities. Also, Bengaluru has a lot to offer regarding music. It is one of India’s classical music and dance centers. There a lot of concerts you will surely enjoy.

Keep in mind that these 5 locations represent only a small portion of what India has to offer, but they are all worth visiting and are very popular with retirees. You’ll go back home with wonderful memories and stories to tell your grandchildren. You will also feel enriched in every possible way. Namaste!

Retired Brains is not a travel service, and does not offer direct travel support assistance. The purpose of this blog article is to provide helpful information on some popular locations in India should you choose to travel there. As with any international travel you undertake, we recommend researching local customs and other demographic data to ensure you are prepared for cultural immersion. You may also want to contact a travelers bureau in your area to find out about any international circumstances or situations, including safety concerns, that might affect your decision to travel abroad. 

While this reduces your total taxable income in the present, you will be forced to pay taxes on your retirement savings later in life when you go to withdraw. On the other hand, if you invest in a private pension fund, the likelihood that you’ll invest from your net-income (or post-tax income) is high, and your withdrawals during retirement will be completely tax free. Regardless of which fund you choose, having tax benefits on the front or back end of your investing is a definitive benefit of pension fund investing.

Another advantage to pension funds is that, in many cases, an employer will contribute an equal amount up to a certain percentage of your pay towards your pension fund. These match programs can drastically increase your overall retirement savings, and if you contribute wisely at the beginning of your career, you’ll be able to earn interest on a greater amount of funds invested for a longer period. These extended earnings have the potential to set you up nicely in your retirement.

While pension funds do offer a secure way to invest and save for retirement, they can also be disadvantageous. The most notable disadvantage of pension funds is the lack of flexibility in when you can access your money. In most cases, you won’t be permitted to withdraw funds from your pension until you’re 55, and even then you’re subject to taxation. For those who are interested in possibly retiring early or taking an untraditional retirement in which they start a second career, go back to university, or choose to live internationally, these pension fund withdrawal limitations may be restricting.

Additionally, the performance of pension funds depends entirely on the investment of your assets. If you invest poorly, or in too conservative a way, your funds may not grow much, if at all. This means that your pension fund is essentially a glorified savings account with employer contribution and better than average interest. Still, for many, this isn’t enough for them to live the way they want to during their retirement.

When you choose to invest your retirement funds in property rather than a traditional pension fund, you have significantly more flexibility when managing your investments. For example, you can monitor the real estate market to select the perfect property investment, and from there you can choose to either live there full time, use the property as a vacation space, or make even more money on your investment by setting it up as a rental property. If you ever want to sell your property, it is a physical asset and you have the capability to do so. Whether you’ve decided you’d like to use your funds earlier than planned, or you are ready to invest them in another market, selling property is much easier than cashing out your pension fund early.

Additionally, the property market has more flexibility with the levels it can fluctuate. You can purchase a property in a buyer’s market and sell for significantly more in a seller’s market, often making much more on your investment than you would have made had you put the same funds in a traditional pension fund.

Admittedly, property investing is much less stable than pension funds. Property markets tend to fluctuate with some regularity and little to no warning. There are also more maintenance expenses and up front taxes involved with a property investment. These upfront expenses can often be a deterrent to those looking for investment opportunities, and few view an expensive property as a viable means to save for retirement as a result. Despite the inherent volatility of property investing, it can often be an excellent vehicle for those looking to invest or to access the return on their investments sooner than a pension fund would allow.

The answer to that is a glowing “yes, absolutely”. If you are going to go with property investing in spite of the inherent risk you should consider doing so abroad. Some countries like Romania can offer staggering returns of 7, 8 or even 9% annually. You could potentially diversify your overseas property investments over 4-5 developing countries (in which homes are very cheap in, with high annual rental yield) and minimize the risk, and be much better off upon pension.

​To each his or her own. Both options are valid, it just depends on how risk averse you are, and of course, your financial status. No matter whether you choose to invest in property or a pension fund, be sure to consult a qualified adviser who can help you make the wisest choice based on every factor affecting your decision. 


Retired Brains does not offer direct financial investment advice, nor do we affiliate ourselves with any particular financial advisers or firms in the United States or worldwide. Rather, the sole purpose of this article is to present educational, helpful information that can help you decide what kind of investing strategy is right for you in your retirement. If you are interested in learning more about property or pension fund investing, we recommend seeking out a reputable adviser or firm in your area for assistance.

Here at Retired Brains, we love helping you find activities that add value to your life. This includes leisurely pursuits that keep you socially active and mentally sharp. In this spirit, we are going to discuss the benefits of playing bridge, in order to help you decide if bridge might be a good activity to partake in. Some of the many benefits of playing bridge include:

Now, it is no secret that playing bridge is akin to mental gymnastics. In this regard, stimulating your brain regularly is believed to be an important component in warding off diseases including Alzheimer’s and Dementia. However, boosting immunity to ward off illness was not necessarily considered to be one of the benefits of playing bridge until the early 2000’s, when Professor Marian Diamond (no pun intended!) undertook an experiment at the University of California Berkeley with 12 ladies in their 70’s and 80’s.

​Professor Diamond began by taking a blood sample from each lady, and then had the group play bridge for 90 minutes. After that, she took blood samples again. She found that 8 of the 12 ladies had increased levels of T Cells in their bodies as a result of play. T Cells, of course, are used by the human body to fight infection. Professor Diamond’s hypothesis, that using the dorsolateral cortex of the brain by playing bridge can boost the immune system, was proven correct. Isn’t that neat? What is more, advances in modern technology mean you do not even need to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy the benefits of playing bridge!

Bridge is a natural game of choice for retirees, because retirement allows you to have more time on your hands to enjoy leisurely pursuits. For example, duplicate bridge typically allows for 7-8 minutes per hand, with anywhere from 22-26 hands per session. This means one session can take almost 3.5 hours to complete! Some people enjoy leaving the house to play bridge in community clubs.

• However, retirees who enjoy surfing the internet, or those who have disabilities that make going out for extended periods of time difficult, can play online bridge from the comfort and safety of their homes.

If you choose to play online bridge, you can rest assured that your mental sharpness will still benefit from the strategy, deduction, concentration and visualization required. Furthermore, many online bridge sites have a ‘chat’ function, which means you are able to communicate with your partner and other players in live-time. This allows you to experience meaningful social interactions, and even make some new friends in the process. Another benefit, should you choose to play online bridge, is that many platforms are open for play 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. So unlike a community hall with set hours of play, if you choose to play online bridge, you can do so whenever you wish!

Retired Brains has found a fun, interactive and easy-to-use online bridge platform called Funbridge. Funbridge is an established bridge site that connects bridge players from all over the world. Funbridge has individual games, as well as many different kinds of tournaments you can participate in.

To use Funbridge, you need to sign up for an account and download their free, easy-to-use application program for your desktop computer, laptop or mobile device. Once you sign up, you will automatically receive 100 free ‘deals’. You can use these free deals to help you decide if playing online bridge is the right fit for you. If you decide that it indeed is, you can purchase monthly packages, including unlimited play. Please visit the Funbridge website to learn more, and to see if their platform is right for you.

No matter what leisurely pursuits you choose to partake in, we hope this article helps you find stimulating, meaningful activities that are right for you...and that add tremendous value to your retirement years!

*The purpose of this article is to provide helpful information that allows you to make an informed decision as to whether or not playing online bridge is right for you. As with any online or in-person gaming platform, you should always do your research to make sure you understand the terms, conditions, costs and any other stipulations associated with membership. If you have any questions about the Funbridge platform specifically, we recommend contacting them directly.

Image Credit: The image of British nobility playing bridge is used with the permission of Creative Commons licensing, and is courtesy of the MCAD Library. The image was originally created by Charles Dana Gibson in 1903 for Collier’s Weekly.

No matter your reasons for wanting to find temporary and part time jobs, it is important to know that you have more options than ever before when it comes to landing the perfect retirement job.

More and more are opting to turn to workers with a more mature, loyal outlook on employment. Some of the reasons employers are gravitating toward retired workers to fill temporary and part time job positions include:

This shift in attitude is plainly seen in the steady increase of retired workers in the job force. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), retired workers currently comprise over 8% of the workforce. This number is expected to increase to 11% by 2022. Additionally, recent data from the USBLS shows that as life expectancy continues to increase, so does the amount of older retired workers in the workforce. Specifically, since 1985, the number of retired workers over the age of 75 has more than doubled from 3.6% to 8% currently.

Although some retirees decide to continue working a full time career into their retirement years, we feel this is a decision best left to your individual needs and situation. There is something to be said for allowing yourself to enjoy your retirement as you see fit. The responsibility and, many times, stress accompanying full time career occupations can become more difficult to successfully manage as we age. However, the job can accentuate and compliment your leisure time, and not take away from them in any regard.

Many temporary and part time retirement jobs allow you the freedom to make your own schedule, as well as the other benefits of employment we have discussed already. What is more, many temporary and part time retirement jobs allow you to help other people in various capacities, which is always a wonderfully effective way to be involved and feel great doing it!

You might be asking yourself how you can go about finding jobs that allow you to choose your own schedule, and provide you the opportunity to embark on employment that compliments your retirement living? Well, let’s discuss that right now. ​

Retired Brains has found a company that takes a uniquely effective approach to helping retirees find part time or temporary retirement jobs. Since 2012, Shiftgig has helped match businesses in the hospitality and service industries (so people-based businesses) with people seeking flexible, fun and fulfilling part time or temporary jobs.

Shiftgig helps make finding part time or temporary retired jobs easy. First, you fill out an application on their website. From there, a member of the Shiftgig team will reach out to you via email to set up an in person interview. If hired, you'll use their mobile app to browse available work and other specifics relating to the job you choose.

Shiftgig is currently located in 12 cities around the country: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tampa. However, their popularity means you should be on the lookout for them to put roots in your city soon. No matter where you look for and find part time or temporary retired jobs in your area, we hope that you find it. What is more, we hope it increases your quality of life by adding value to your retired years, while having some fun in the process!


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*Retired Brains is not an employment service, and does not offer job counseling or personalized employment advice. We simply strive to help boomers, seniors and retirees of all ages find resources that help add value to their lives. Retired Brains is not affiliated with Shiftgig, but find their platform to be unique and potentially helpful when looking for part time or temporary retirement job opportunities. Therefore, we always recommend doing your homework to make sure the job resources you choose are a good fit for your wants, needs, situation and of course, technological abilities. ​

Worry not! You don’t have to be reading War and Peace every day to get your brain the exercise it needs to stay sharp. Try these 10 fun activities and hobbies instead:

1. ​Exercise: From low-impact activities to heart-pumping sports, physical fitness isn’t just a great way to keep your bones and muscles strong. The boost in blood circulation and increased balanced, flexibility and coordination all call on some serious action from your brain too. Daily exercise should include activities that help get your heart rate up and stretch your muscles - brisk 20 minutes walks, moderate hikes, bicycling, swimming, playing tennis or golf, tai chi, even mowing the lawn.
2. Coloring: The peaceful, artistic nature of coloring translates easily from child to adult. Coloring has been shown in adults to improve mood, lower stress levels, and help stimulate brain activity. Free printable coloring sheets showcasing beautiful flowers, symmetrical crosses, animals and other symbols can be found online.
3. Playing Music: Energize brain function with a high-demand cognitive task like learning a new instrument or singing music. Studies have shown that the reasoning and recall required in learning new skills like this enhance episodic memory in older adults. Weary of picking up a guitar? Try regular karaoke dates with your friends instead.
4. Cooking: Hungry for combating dementia and Alzheimer’s? Cooking and baking feed your mind just as much as your stomach. From using your memory in recalling recipes, to measuring, counting, and employing fine motor skills in chopping, stirring, and mixing, your brain is stimulating neural pathway connections. Cooking also employs the use of other senses like smell and taste which are important brain stimulation too!
5. Games: In addition to your tried and true favorites like Bridge or Rumicube, playing games like Trivial Pursuit and Charades promote active recall and tap into your cognitive reserve. Digital games like Pokemon Go, where you use your mobile device to capture virtual characters in real-life settings, have been shown to not only amuse players young and old, but help seniors exercise their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
6. Yoga: A gentle exercise that fosters mindfulness as much as it involves physical activity, gentle yoga (and chair yoga) serves seniors well. With a focus on meditation, deep breathing, and self-actualization, gentle yoga helps reduce stress levels, fight memory loss, stretch muscles and practice balance and flexibility.
7. New Hobby: Take up a new hobby that requires you to use fine motor skills - like crocheting, painting, quilting, or scrapbooking. Regularly engaging the small muscles that control the hand, fingers and thumb is vital to keeping that function strong as you age.
8. Conversation: Engage in regular conversations to help keep your mind sharp. Talking, listening and problem solving are the type of stimulation that lights up many key areas of your brain, and sharing stories from your past, with your grandkids for example, sparks memory function too.
9. Origami: The ancient Japanese paper-folding art form is an inexpensive hobby where seniors can explore the creative sides of their brains and work out their fine motor skills. Free instructional videos and origami guides can be found online, and this is a great activity to do with your grandchildren.
10. Learn a New Language: Becoming fluent in a new language is much harder as you age, however, learning basic vocabulary, phrases and conjugation of a foreign tongue is a sure-fire trigger of brain stimulation. Free digital apps like Duolingo help you learn language on the go, especially beneficial if you plan on visiting another country.

As grandparents, we want to help our grandkids make all the right decisions in life. You may sometimes feel like you are powerless to do so for a variety of reasons, but there are still positive effects that you can have on these younger relations. 

You might feel like you are too far away from your grandkids, either with a large location gap or with the distance between your generations. These shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to making a connection though, as you can still relate to your grandkids on a personal level. At the end of the day, you are their family and they can turn to you when they need to.

​As a grandparent, you can bridge the gap between parents and their kids, as they can see their parents as stricter and more reactive to these kinds of things. As someone slightly removed from the situation, you can provide balance and show kids that their parents have a side too. There’s nothing better than a listening ear after an argument, you can even offer them a place to stay to cool off.

If you cultivate a good relationship with your grandchild, then you will naturally be someone that they can turn to. Because you’re not the authority figure that they are around most often, in most cases, you can shed light on situations and be a person that they can turn to. When it comes to a drug addiction, having that support there can prevent a lifetime of problems. 

It’s not just hard drugs that you can help your grandkids with, you can provide information about stimulant abuse and the effect this can have on their health. Stimulant addiction treatment is becoming more popular because of grandparents, parents and even kids themselves realizing their dependence on things like caffeine and alcohol. If you think they have a serious problem, then you can always pass over details of an addiction treatment center that they could look into.

Identifying these kinds of problems is half the battle, especially if the grandchild is having a difficult time at home. They could be in serious need of time in an addiction treatment center but just not know who to reach out to. This is not the situation that you want them to be in, as it’s a slippery slope towards drug abuse.

It has been shown in numerous studies that those who have close relations that they can turn to will be statistically less likely to fall prey to abusing substances. Family counseling can even help to address the root of these problems and figure out why they are occurring in the first place. You can advise your children and in laws about any potential problems and give them advice that comes from an impartial place. They can spend so long attempting to police the behavior of their child that they may not realize their own failings. 

The main job of a grandparent is to listen, no matter what the scenario. If you create a safe space for your grandkids to discuss everything that they have going on. Don’t judge or make them feel like they don’t want to come back to you for more advice. In many cases, you don’t even need to give advice if it is unwanted, you can just provide an outlet for any frustrations and a place to talk.

We’re facing an epidemic when it comes to battling drug addiction, anything you can do to help your grandkids is a positive step. Just be there for them and you’ll be ready to help when needed.
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Retired Brains does not offer drug rehabilitation programs, or substance abuse counseling. Rather, we strive to provide you with educative information that can add value to your life, as well as the lives of your loved ones. if you or a loved one is experiencing substance abuse issues, we recommend consulting a professional for help immediately.