Let me be, perhaps not the first, but probably not the last to wish all of you a very happy new year.

As 2026 draws near, dear seniors, here are some words to take you through the coming months

Your wisdom lights the path. You faced hard times. Life changed again and again. Now you guide with calm grace.

Keep hearts light. Hug grandkids tight. Let their laughs chase worries away. Share stories from your young days. Those bonds heal the soul.

Chase small joys. Stroll crisp park paths. Laugh at old memories.

Rest deeply each night. Flash real smiles daily.

Gather family close. Share meals together. Swap stories.

And, raise your glass high. Toast bright new days! ....Bruce.

First 2026 

Social Security check 

reveals 7 budget-related 

surprises

By Tobi Opeyemi Amure

Your first Social Security check of 2026 will probably look a little bigger — but that doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting ahead.

Net Worth for Retirees: 

How To Tell Whether 

You’re Poor,

 Middle Class or Rich

By Josephine Nesbit

Poor retirees are in the lower 20th percentile and may have a net worth of around $10,000. This is often without property ownership, forcing many to rely mainly on Social Security or minimal pensions.

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* * *

Is Social Security

 going bankrupt? 

What you need to know.

By Maurie Backman

The program is facing some serious financial challenges in the coming year.

Read more

* * *

Scientists Identify 

Five Distinct Eras of 

Human Brain Development

By Claire Cameron 

By mapping the brain’s connections over time, the scientists detected four turning points in brain structure over the course of a human life: at age nine, 32, 66 and 83.

Read more

* * *

4 Expert Doctors 

Told Us This Is 

the One Body Part 

That Impacts 

Healthy Aging

 the Most

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, MS

Your gut produces compounds that regulate inflammation, immunity, and even brain function—all of which influence how well you age.

As baby boomers start turning 80, America enters a historic age shift: more seniors, fewer kids, and rising economic strain that could reshape work, caregiving and social programs.

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Why is January 1, New Year’s Day?

Historically, the Roman calendar originally began in March, aligning with the vernal equinox. However, in 153 BCE, the Romans officially designated January 1 as the start of the new year. This change was made by the Roman Senate to honor Janus, the Roman god of gates, doors, and beginnings, who had two faces symbolizing looking forward and backward.

The adoption of January 1 as New Year's Day was further solidified with the spread of the Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. Later, the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582 maintained January 1 as the start of the new year, and it has remained the standard date in most countries ever since.

Next edition
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper

 Inflation Reduction Act

 to put long-term care

 pharmacies in jeopardy

By Rob Frankil

 The Inflation Reduction Act allowed the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to determine “maximum fair prices” on certain expensive brand-name drugs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, But there’s a problem: the law is about to bankrupt the very pharmacies these seniors depend on to stay alive.

Read more

* *

Are GLP-1 

weight-loss drugs 

safe for older adults?

By Bridget Balch

The emerging data on the broad effects of GLP-1 medications may support a more holistic approach to treating diseases that tend to exacerbate with age.

Read more

* *

 

Virtual reality 

opens doors 

for older people 

to build closer 

connections in

 real life

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE 

Within a matter of minutes, the headsets can transport them to Europe, immerse them in the ocean depths or send them soaring on breathtaking hang-gliding expeditions while they sit by each other. 

Read more

* *

High-fat cheese, cream

 linked to 

lower risk of dementia

By Dr. Veronica Danquah

However, the study did not find similar benefits for low-fat cheese, low-fat cream or butter. Milk consumption, whether high- or low-fat, also did not lower dementia risk. 

Read more

extra 

Travel for seniors

 can be costly: 

8 reasons why

By Hannah Kowalczyk-Harper 

Seniors can't assume they can spend as little money as it took to backpack through Asia after college, when you slept in hostels, had zero health issues, and didn't have a house to think about.

Snow fall? No Problem

Snow fell hard across the Northeast this weekend. Not as much as the forecasts promised. Still, it blanketed everything in white. Here in Westchester County, four or five inches piled up fast. Roads turned slick. Cars spun out. Sidewalks iced over. Frozen flakes mixed with sub-zero cold. That combo always spells trouble. Shovels came out. Salt trucks rumbled by. Drivers crept along at a crawl.

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As the clock strikes midnight, Spaniards eat one grape for each of the 12 chimes, symbolizing good luck for each month of the year.

On New Year’s Eve, Danes throw plates and glasses against friends’ doors. The bigger the pile of broken dishes, the more luck and friends you’ll have in the coming year.

Philippines families display round fruits and coins to attract prosperity, as round shapes symbolize wealth and success.

In Ecuador, wearing yellow underwear on New Year’s night is believed to bring good luck and positive energy for the year ahead.

Some South Africans burn old possessions or write down bad memories and burn them, symbolizing letting go of the past and starting fresh.

↓

The holiday season is mostly behind us. We’ve put away all the gifts, decided which ones we will re-gift next year, and saved any wrapping paper that wasn’t torn to shreds. Any non-perishable food we were gifted—like that dried nut assortment—has gone in the pantry, as have the strange scented bath oils, pill crushers, and a calendar featuring cats in hats we’ll never use. Soon the reality of it all will pop up in our mailbox or email: the bills. Cold, hard numbers that remind you the days of carefree spending are behind you. Now you have to think long and hard about where and how you will spend your money. What follows will not make you rich. It might just help you keep what you have a little longer.   …bwc.

6 Times 

You Should Never Use 

Buy Now, Pay Later, 

Experts Warn

By Kali Coleman & Dana Schulz

BNPL can be a slippery slope, financial experts warn, putting you into a cycle of debt and at risk of potential penalties or interest fees. 

Read more

* *

I have nothing saved 

for retirement 

— what now? 

By Phil Osagie

6 easy steps to help you turn things around

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* *

Financial fraud 

cost older adults 

up to $81.5 billion in 2024,

 FTC estimates —

 more are losing 

at least $100,000

By Sarah O’Brien

Adults age 60 and older are more likely to report losses of $100,000 or more due to financial fraud, according to the Federal 

Read more

* *

Retiring on 

Social Security Alone 

in 2026? 

Here's the Monthly Income 

You May Be Looking At.

By Maurie Backman

 Before you retire, it's important to take a close look at your financial picture and make sure you're truly ready.

Read more

* *

10 High Inflation 

Winter Costs 

Seniors Can Still Control

Understanding which expenses are flexible helps retirees stay financially confident.

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* *

Working 

while collecting 

Social Security:

 The 'slow fade' to retirement

 more people are choosing

By Kerry Hannon

Claiming Social Security while still working isn’t an outlier these days.

A recent report … found that 2 in 5 people combine work and benefits for at least some period of time.

Read more

* *

Senior Citizen 

Banking Behavior 

Statistics 2025:

 Surprising Trends 

You Need to See

By Steven Burnett & Kathleen Kinder

Banking behaviors among senior citizens are shifting noticeably today. As more older adults engage with digital and traditional banking services, their habits reflect both long-standing preferences and evolving demand for convenience.

“Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars 
for the ten-dollar haircut 
you used to get for five dollars 
when you had hair.’

Frequent Nightmares 
Linked to Faster Aging,
 Early Death, Study Finds

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- The Great Seal of the United States, featuring an unfinished pyramid with an eye at the top, appears on the back of the $1 bill. The pyramid symbolizes strength and durability, while the eye represents divine guidance.

- : Benjamin Franklin is the only non-president featured on U.S. paper currency. His portrait appears on the $100 bill, highlighting his importance as a founding father and inventor.

-  The first U.S. coins were produced in 1793 and included denominations like the cent, half-cent, and dollar. They were made of gold, silver, and copper.

-  Although most U.S. bills are traditionally green, modern bills like the $20 and $50 feature subtle color-shifting inks and background colors to prevent counterfeiting.

-  The highest denomination ever printed was the $100,000 bill, which featured Woodrow Wilson. However, these bills were used only for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks and never circulated among the public.