Older adults may be even more vulnerable to fraud and scams than previously thought, according to an NIA-funded study that mimicked a real-world government imposter scam. The results suggest that a sizable minority of older adults, including those without cognitive impairment, are vulnerable to fraud and scams. The study results were published in JAMA Network Open.

Previous research on the vulnerability of older adults to financial fraud and scams has largely relied on self-reported data. To assess a more real-world response, researchers from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago, in collaboration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, conducted an experiment that mimicked imposter scams. The participants — 644 older adults (on average, age 85) in the Rush Memory and Aging Project — were contacted by a fictitious government agency about unusual activity on their Social Security and Medicare accounts that required verification.

Researchers classified how the older adults responded to the scam into three groups: no engagement (did not answer the phone or call in), engagement (answered or called in but raised skepticism and did not provide personal information), and conversion (answered or called in without skepticism or provided personal information). Most of the participants did not engage (68.5%). However, when they answered or called in, more of the participants engaged without skepticism (16.4%) than with skepticism (15.1%), and 12% of the participants even provided personal information.

The researchers also compared key characteristics across the engagement groups and found differences in cognition, financial literacy, and scam awareness. Older adults who engaged but raised skepticism scored the highest of all three groups on cognitive and financial literacy tests. This group also had the fewest number of people with dementia.

Those in the conversion group had the lowest scam awareness. When participants with dementia were excluded from the analysis, cognition and financial literacy differences were no longer statistically significant, but those in the conversion group still scored lowest in scam awareness.

The generalizability of these findings to the general aging population may be limited, as participants were majority White, women, and highly educated. Because of the high levels of education among participants and the use of less intensive tactics than actual scammers, there is likely even more conversion among older adults in real-world scenarios. Increasing scam awareness and further exploring factors associated with vulnerability are important steps to decrease the risk of fraud victimization for this population.

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Retirement Will Be Different in 2024

Memorial Day is a time to pause and reflect as a nation

At 3 p.m. local time, Americans are asked to take part in the National Moment of Remembrance, a time to pause in a moment of silence to honor those who have died serving the U.S.

Originally established during the Civil War, Memorial Day honors those who have died in military

service for the U.S. In recent history, Memorial Day has meant the unofficial start to summer. Families BBQ on the grill, the local pool announces its opening day, retailers promote big sales. While everyone has the freedom to celebrate as they choose, Americans should also remember that this holiday is really a somber occasion to pause and reflect as a nation.

Over 1.3 Million Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.” In 1869, the head of an organization of Union veterans, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, established Decoration Day as a way for the nation to honor the graves of those who died in the Civil War with flowers, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, placing it as the last Monday in May. According to the VA, the day was expanded to hon-or all those who have died in American wars. Congress in December 2000 passed, and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” to ensure those who sacri-ficed their lives for the country were not forgotten.

Benefits of having a Medicare Consultant

Having a Medicare Consultant readily available can provide many benefits to healthcare providers. Medical groups and healthcare providers can benefit from their specialized knowledge and support, ultimately improving patient care, financial performance, and overall operational efficiency.

Expertise in Medicare regulations

Medicare regulations can be complex and constantly changing. A Medicare consultant stays up to date with the latest rules and guidelines, ensuring compliance minimizing the risk of penalties or audits.

Medicare education and training

Medicare consultants can provide education and training to healthcare providers and staff, ensuring they have a thorough understand-ing of Medicare rules, requirements, and best practices.

Identification of revenue opportunities

Medicare consultants can identify potential revenue opportunities, such as participating in value based care programs or implementing chronic care management services, to enhance financial performance.

Patient eligibility and enrollment assistance

Medicare consultant can assist patients in understanding their Medicare eligibility , enrollment options, and coverage benefits, Ensuring they receive the appropriate care and services.

Collaboration with payers and networks

Medicare consultants can facilitate collaboration and negotiations with Medicare Advantage plans, ac-countable care organizations (ACOs), and other payer

“Juneteenth National Independence Day,” or “Emancipation Day.”

Juneteenth is Wednesday, June 19, 2024! Juneteenth is the old-est-known celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States, first recognized by the state of Texas. It is also known as “Freedom Day,” “Juneteenth National Independence Day,” or “Emancipation Day.”

“Now I’ve been free, I know what a dreadful condition slavery is. I have seen hundreds of escaped slaves, but I never saw one who was willing to go back and be a slave.” –Harriet Tubman (1820–1913), American abolitionist and political activist.

“Every year, we must remind successive generations that this event triggered a series of events that one by one define the challenges and responsibilities of successive generations. That’s why we need this holiday.” –Texas Rep. Albert Ely Edwards (1937–2020), sponsor of Texas House Bill 1016 (1979), which made Emancipation Day (“Juneteenth”) a statewide paid holiday.

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While melon seedlings can sometimes be found at garden centers in spring, these fruits are so easy to grow, so there really isn’t much reason not to plant them from seed. You’ll save money and have a much more extensive selection of honeydew varieties to choose from. Order your seeds early; the best honeydew melon varieties often sell out quickly.

Honeydews, like many cucurbits, can have issues with wilts and mildews. Fortunately, disease-resistant varieties are available to help mitigate the issue. If your area commonly has problems with powdery mildew or bacterial wilts, choose varieties specifically bred to be resistant. If unsure, ask your local master gardener’s chapter or the County Extension agent near you.

Honeydews love light, slightly sandy, well-drained soil but still need moisture. A neutral pH of about 7.0 is ideal. Add a bit of compost for some fertility–melons are heavy feeders.

Plant them in a sunny spot in the hills, with room to spread. Alternatively, they can be trained to climb a trellis, but you’ll want to support the melons as they form. Vertical melons make a dramatic garden focal piece and save space.

When to Plant Honeydews

Plant honeydew melons about two weeks after your last frost once the soil has warmed. If starting seeds indoors, 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost is sufficient. Trying to transplant melons older than four weeks can stress them, and you don’t want melons crawling all over your seed starting area.

How to Plant Honeydews

Honeydews are typically direct-seeded right into the garden, but you can also start them inside a few weeks before your last frost to give them a head start.

To plant honeydews:

• Prepare the soil by adding some compost and working in, building small hills a bit bigger than a dinner plant and several inches tall.
•  Sow seeds ½-1 inch deep in hills, 3-4 seeds per hill.
•  Space hills about 36 inches apart.
• Thin to 1-2 plants per hill after the first true leaves have shown. Use scissors to snip them off and avoid damaging the remaining plants’ root systems. 

Growing

• Honeydews will spread and sprawl around like other melons. Be sure to give them enough space.
• Mulch under/around your melons to keep the weeds down and the soil moist. A layer of mulch will also reduce soil splash, which can carry wilt diseases, and give your melons a nice dry spot to lay on as they grow. They’ll be clean and attractive.
• Keep the soil moist when the plants are young. Dig your finger under the mulch. If the soil feels dry and warm, turn on the irrigation.
• Don’t provide extra water after softball-sized fruits (unless the vines are wilting or you’re in a drought). Overwatering can lead to bland fruit.
• Honeydews are ready to harvest when they have turned a creamy white–for white versions–or a bright yellow for other varieties.

Harvesting

• They should be firm and heavy for their size, and the stem end should yield slightly when pressed.
• You’ll need a knife to cut the stem. Honeydews don’t pull free or “slip” from their vines until they are overripe.
• Honeydew melons can be stored after cutting for a week or more in the refrigerator or cut up and frozen in freezer bags for mood-lifting winter smoothies and treats.

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Published by: AARP

Year-to-year changes in areas key to retiree life — Social Security benefits, Medicare premiums, tax and savings policies geared for older adults — can greatly impact that balance, especially as they interact with economic shifts such as higher inflation or a market downturn. Here are seven things to know about your retirement money for the coming year.

1. Social Security payments

Social Security recipients will see their monthly payments rise 3.2 percent as the 2024 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) kicks in. The estimated average retirement benefit will increase by $59 a month, from $1,848 to $1,907.

2. Medicare costs

After coming down by 3 percent in 2023, standard premiums for Medicare Part B are going back up in 2024, from $164.90 to $174.70 per month, a 6 percent increase.

Most Medicare enrollees have their premium payments for Part B, the portion of original Medicare that covers doctor visits and other outpatient treatment, deducted directly from their Social Security payments.  For this group, the premium increase takes a $9.80-a-month bite out of the COLA benefit boost.

3. Retirement plan contributions

If you are 50 or older, you can put up to $8,000 into an individual retirement account (IRA) for the 2024 tax year. That includes the $1,000 catch-up contribution available to older savers. The cap for people under 50 is $7,000. In both cases, the contribution limit has been bumped up by $500 from 2023.  (By the way, you can still make your contributions for the 2023 tax year — the deadline is April 15, 2024.)

4. RMDs

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are a fact of later life for holders of most types of retirement savings accounts. (The notable exception is Roth IRAs, which are not subject to annual required withdrawals while the owner is alive. Starting with the 2024 tax year, this exception will also apply to Roth 401(k) and 403(b) accounts.)

5. Standard tax deduction

Most taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing on their tax returns. For the 2023 tax returns they must file by April 15, 2024, married couples in that majority can take $27,700 off their taxable income, up from $25,900 the year before. For individual taxpayers (single or married filing separately), the standard deduction increases from $12,950 to $13,850. Those filing as a head of household can deduct $20,800, up from $19,400 the previous year.

6. Full retirement age

Congress voted in 1983 to gradually raise the Social Security full retirement age (FRA) from 65 to 67.  Four decades on, the change is nearly complete, with FRA reaching 66 and 8 months in the latter half of 2024.

7. Social Security earnings test

If you claim Social Security retirement benefits before reaching FRA and continue to do paying work, your benefits may be temporarily reduced. That depends on whether your annual working income exceeds a set limit called the earnings test.

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Published by: AARP

Sometimes we forget to think things through before wrapping up our financial year. That’s why AARP is offering this unusual year-end advice list to retirees: financial moves you should not make before the end of 2023.

Much of the list is solid advice about financial moves you’d be smart to hold off — for tax purposes — until 2024. In other cases, it’s simply a reminder that while the end of the year is typically a terrific time to review your portfolio, that doesn’t mean you should make a bunch of financial moves just for the sake of making them.

1. Don’t realize capital gains before the year-end unless you use them to offset losses. “It’s the biggest mistake people make,” says Tom Balcom, a certified financial planner in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida. By patiently waiting until the calendar changes to January, you can delay paying taxes on these gains until 2025, he says.

Most people don’t even think about this, and if they need cash for, say, college tuition or a car payment, they sell without considering the potential tax implications, Balcom says.

2. Don’t take home a workplace bonus in December that you can possibly delay and accept in January. If you delay the bonus until January, that relieves you of any tax implications for a full year, Balcom says.

While it’s true that many companies won’t delay the year-end bonus until the following year, it’s worth asking because the worst they can say is no, he says.

3. Don’t spend money you don’t have. While retired folks, in particular, might like to give generously to kids and grandkids at holiday time, don’t give or purchase anything that you can’t pay off within a few months, says Crystal McKeon, a certified financial planner in Houston.

4. Don’t get divorced in December. Instead, for the best tax filing outcome, it’s usually best to wait until January, says Sara Stolberg Berkowicz, a certified financial planner in Skokie, Illinois.

She knows this very personally because that was the advice she received — and heeded — two decades ago when she divorced. After all, married couples typically receive better breaks on their taxes, and their filing status is determined on Dec. 31. So, for example, if your divorce is finalized on Dec. 30, your tax status for the entire year will be single — not married — even though you were married for 99 percent of it.

5. Don’t pay all bills exactly when they are due. For example, many folks have property taxes due or want to give sizable charitable donations at the end of the year. You might, instead, choose to make two property tax payments (or two “annual” charitable deductions) in one year, Berkowicz suggests.

This way, instead of receiving the standard deduction, if you bunch the payments into one year you might qualify for a more tax-advantageous itemized deduction. That’s ending the year tax-smart.

6. Don’t let unused services follow you into 2024. Use the end of the year as a reminder to review your recurring bills and make certain that you are using all of the services for which you’re paying, McKeon says.

7. Don’t forget to take your required minimum distributions (RMDs). The actual age for RMDs seems to be a moving target. In 2023, the federal government raised the age at which you must begin taking RMDs to the year after you turn 73.

If you fail to take the RMD — and the IRS catches you — it can penalize you up to 50 percent of the value of the distribution. “It’s really crazy that the IRS charges that high a fee,” says McKeon, so it’s critical to remember to take the distributions.

8. Don’t buy mutual funds in December. If you purchase mutual funds in December, there’s a good chance you’ll be on the hook for a capital gains tax payout for 2023, notes Balcom. If you buy today and get a capital gains distribution next week, you’ll owe taxes on money you didn’t earn.

9. Don’t forget to choose the appropriate tax filing status. This might sound simple, but there can be a more nuanced approach, says Sullivan. Your filing status is determined by your status as of the last day of the year. If your marital status has changed or one of your kids has aged out and there’s a change in the number of dependents in your family, you want to ensure that’s clear on your tax form.

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Published by: AARP

The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) gets the headlines, but multiple aspects of Social Security change annually to reflect national trends in prices and wages, affecting the benefits paid to tens of millions of Americans and the taxes paid by nearly all U.S. workers. Here are five important ways Social Security will be different in 2024.

1. COLA benefit boost

Inflation cooled considerably in 2023, but consumer prices still went up, producing a 3.2 percent COLA for Social Security beneficiaries. That will raise the estimated average retirement benefit by $59 a month, from $1,848 to $1,907, starting in January, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

2. Medicare premium offset

If you are enrolled in Medicare, chances are you have premiums for Part B — the part of the federal health care program that covers doctor visits and other outpatient treatment — deducted directly from your Social Security payments. That means an increase in Medicare premiums can undercut your cost-of-living adjustment.

3. Social Security taxes

Social Security benefits are primarily funded by a 12.4 percent tax on most workers’ incomes. If you have a job, you pay half of that rate (via FICA withholding from your paycheck) and your employer covers the rest. If you’re self-employed, you pay both shares as part of your annual tax return.

4. Social Security earnings test

If you collect Social Security and continue to work, a portion of your monthly payment may be temporarily withheld. This earnings test applies to people who collect retirement, survivor or family benefits; have not yet reached full retirement age; and have earnings above a certain level.

5. Qualifying for benefits

You become eligible for retirement benefits by collecting Social Security credits, which you get by doing “covered” work — a job or self-employment in which you pay Social Security taxes on your income. In 2024, you get one credit for earnings of $1,730, $90 more than the 2023 level.

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Every fall, hawks put on quite a show as they take flight by the thousands for their annual migration. Where are the hawks going? Learn more about this amazing natural spectacle—and how to help migrating hawks.

Do Hawks Migrate South for the Winter?

Most hawks migrate south in autumn, though not all hawks. You’ll see Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s hawks, Sharp-shinned hawks, and many others start streaming through the air. 

Migrating hawks travel southward out of Canada and the northern United States, along both coasts of North America, around the Great Lakes, over the Great Plains, down the Appalachians and the Rockies, pressed together into the funnel of Mexico. Some pour down into Central America.

When do Hawks Migrate?

Most hawks migrate in October, though timing can range from September to mid-November based on weather and other factors.

When to Watch Hawks

The best times to watch hawks are in mid-morning (10 to 11 am) and mid-afternoon (3 to 4 pm). Why? This is the peak thermal activity in the skies, which gives the quickest ride for migrating birds!

In autumn, hawks are especially attracted to a sunny day after a cold front passes with northwest winds about 15 to 20 mph for good speed!

Where to Watch Hawks

If you’d like to join a hawk watch, the best sites are generally on mountain ranges and shorelines throughout North America are places where hawks concentrate in significant numbers. Hawk migration counts are conducted at many locations where raptors are known to be abundant. The Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) lists over 1,000 hawk migration sites in North America.

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Published by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why are older adults more prone to heat stress?

• Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that affect the body’s ability to control its temperature or sweat.
• Stay cool, stay hydrated
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
• Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside.
• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
• Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Follow additional tips on how to prevent heat-related illness.
• Stay informed
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.
• Seek medical care immediately if you, or someone you know has, symptoms of heat-related illness like muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, or vomiting.

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Birth flowers have been around for many generations, similar to birthstones. The flower designated each month usually ties to the season when it blooms; many flowers also have cultural or religious associations from ancient times. For example, the hawthorn was known as Mary’s Flower of May.

In our lives today, birth flowers are a wonderful way to mark an occasion, from birthdays to marriages to funerals. For example, a simple bouquet of birthmonth flowers makes it more thoughtful if you are struggling to find a gift.  

January ~ Carnation & Snowdrop

January’s primary birth flower is the carnation and the secondary flower is the snowdrop.

February ~ Violet & Primrose

The February primary birth flower is the violet and the secondary flower is the primrose.

March ~ Daffodil & Jonquil

The March birth flower is the daffodil referred to as the jonquil (which is simply a type of daffodil).

April ~ Daisy & Sweet Pea

The primary April birth flower is the daisy, and the secondary flower is the sweet pea.

May ~ Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn

The May birth flowers are the lily of the valley and hawthorn.

June ~ Rose & Honeysuckle

The primary June birth flower is the rose and the secondary flower is the honeysuckle.

July ~ Larkspur & Water Lily

The primary July birth flower is the larkspur and the secondary flower is the water lily.

August ~ Gladiolus & Poppy

The primary August birth flower is the gladiolus and the secondary flower is the poppy.

September ~ Aster & Morning Glory

The primary September birth flower is the aster and the secondary flower is the morning glory.

October ~ Marigold & Cosmos

The primary October birth flower is the marigold and the secondary flower is the cosmos.

November ~ Chrysanthemum

The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum.

December ~ Narcissus & Holly

The primary December birth flower is the narcissus (such as the paperwhite narcissus) and the secondary flower is the holly which has small white berries that give way to the festive red berries that we see at the holidays.

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Make the flowers of summer last a little longer! Discover plants that bring colorful flowers to your gardens throughout September and October. Here are 50 fall flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants that welcome the season with a blaze of color.

Foxgloves that were cut back after flowering this summer are putting out second spikes of bloom. The rugosa rose is still producing blossoms as well.

But we can add an extra season of interest with fall-blooming flowers, colorful shrubs, and other plants that are at their best in the fall.

Make the flowers of summer last a little longer! Discover plants that bring colorful flowers to your gardens throughout September and October. Here are 50 fall flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants that welcome the season with a blaze of color.

Foxgloves that were cut back after flowering this summer are putting out second spikes of bloom. The rugosa rose is still producing blossoms as well.

But we can add an extra season of interest with fall-blooming flowers, colorful shrubs, and other plants that are at their best in the fall.

Annual Flowers

Lots of annuals that can take some cooler temps will still be pumping out the blossoms into fall.

These include nasturtiums, zinnias, calendula, marigolds, and rudbeckias.

Perennial Flowers

Fall-blooming perennials often showcase the jewel tones of the season with beautiful reds, golds, and russets.

Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is a reliable native perennial that blooms from late summer through the first few frosts. The large, purple, clustered flowers grow on plants that can be over 6 feet tall in the right place. Where is that place? Since this plant likes moist soil, many wild ones grow along stream beds and riverbanks in full sun. Pollinators love Joe-Pye weed, so add a couple to the back of your sunny border.

Hylotelephium (formerly Sedum) ‘Autumn Joy’ is truly a joy this time of year, when deep-pink blooms emerge from its fleshy foliage. ‘Matrona’ is another variety that produces tall stems.

Yellow heliopsis are in full flower in fall.

Surprise lily, Lycoris squamigera, is known by several names, each more revealing than the next. Its genus honors the mistress of the ancient Roman Mark Antony, while it is more commonly called resurrection, surprise, and magic lily because its straplike foliage appears in spring and dies back in late summer. And just when you think that it has failed you, its flower stem rises between 18 and 24 inches to burst forth with 4 to 7 trumpetlike, rose-pink blooms that have exceptional fragrance.

Asters are the queen and king of the fall garden, deserving of several entries. They are easily grown from seed, but this time of year, the garden centers offer a wide range of colors and heights to choose from.

New England asters; despite their name, they grow throughout the US and Canada. They can get quite tall if not chopped back by half in early summer. That quick pruning encourages them to branch, giving us even more flowers on more manageable-sized plants. They have also had a name change, being moved from the crowded aster family to their own separate genus Symphyotrichum.

Snowbank’ false aster, Boltonia asteroides, only sounds chilling; in fact, its billowing profusion of daisylike flowers with their gold centers spreads sunshine. Evocative of aster (hence its nickname: false aster), coreopsis, and cornflower, this North American native begins to flower in August and continues well into September (the first frost will bring its show to an end). A compact plant, it grows just 3 to 4 feet tall and needs no staking.

Other favorite perennials for fall color include:

• Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
• Blue monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii)
• Hardy chrysanthemum ‘Venus’, ‘Sheffield’
• Boltonia asteroides ‘Snowbank’
• Black cohosh (aka bugbane) (Cimicifuga racemosa) ‘Hillside Black Beauty’
• Lycoris (Lycoris squamigera)
• Bugbane ‘Hillside Black Beauty’

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