MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026



KEY NEWS FOR YOU TO USE



Flu Recovery After 65: 
Why It Can Take Longer
—and How to Protect Yourself




From the crushing fatigue to aching muscles, the flu can be a downright miserable experience. This seasonal menace can come on like a freight train and knock you right off your feet for days.

Read more


* * *


Medicare Plans 
to End Most 
Telehealth Coverage Soon


By Crystal Lindell

Telehealth access was greatly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that expansion is slated to end this month for many older patients. 

Read more


* * *

10 Budget-Friendly
 Health and Wellness Items
 Smart Seniors
 Should Buy in January


By Rafaela Stalbalk Klose

This time of year also brings seasonal discounts as retailers clear out older inventory, creating opportunities to invest in health-supporting items at lower prices.

Read more


* * *

2026 Tax Season 
Brings Needed 
Financial Relief 
for Seniors




“This year’s tax season is bringing meaningful financial relief to older Americans. In addition to the existing standard deduction, filers who are age 65 and older can qualify for a new senior bonus deduction of up to $6,000"

Read more



extra



Food insecurity 
could be problem
 for older adults
BY ELLIE EVANS 


Read more


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


Entering My 80th Year 
With Intention: 
Why This Milestone
 Feels Energizing – 
Not Diminishing
By Kathleen M. Rehl 



Read more




Quote________________________

“If I could explain it to the average person,
 I wouldn't have been worth the Nobel Prize.”

― Richard Feynman
_____________________________









Trump says we need to have Greenland under U.S. control because of its strategic location. Of course, that’s a truckload of bulls--t

Continue reading >>>.




IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

What to Do in Retirement: 
Finding Purpose
 Beyond the Numbers

read more


>><<

Surging screen time:
 Psychologists warn of
 rising digital dependence 
among older adults
By Denise Dador 

read more


>><<

Vaccines for adults: 
Which do I need?

read more


<<>>

Have You 
Attained Happiness?
By Meredith White
Read more


>><<

Why You’re Probably Not 
Getting Enough Potassium

Read more

<<>>

DECADES-OLD LEAD POLLUTION
 LINKED TO MEMORY PROBLEMS
 IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY FINDS
   
Read more





Interesting facts about the Nobel Prize

- The Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who left his fortune to fund awards in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace after his death in 1896.

-  The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, five years after Nobel's death, in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace.

- The Nobel Peace Prize is the only award given in Oslo, Norway, while the other categories are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

- Some individuals and organizations have received the Nobel Prize more than once. For example, Marie Curie won Nobel Prizes in both Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).

- Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17.






Next edition
MONDAY, JANUARY 19 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper



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FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026


KEY NEWS FOR YOU TO USE



Governor Hochul 
Unveils Proposals 
to Increase
 Support and Resources
 for New York’s Older Adults




Doubling Investments in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities - Renewing $35 Million Investment in Non-Medical In-Home Services for Older Adults and More

Read more


* * *

The New Old Age


By Alice Park


Today, life expectancy in the U.S. stands at 79 years, compared with 68 in 1950. 

Read more


* * *


The Quest for Immortality: 
Can You Really Reverse 
Biological Aging?





Welcome to the world of biohacking, where high-tech gadgets, strict routines, and experimental therapies are used in the pursuit of longer life and, some hope, biological immortality.

Read more


* * *


Let’s take a look 
at the
 economics of aging
 — and ageism —
 as we start 2026



It seems timely to take a look at 2025 to highlight “happenings in aging.” Here are a few areas I selected to discuss some challenges, trends as well as advances.

Read more


extra

Should older adults
 who are re-marrying 
have a wedding registry?

By R. Eric Thomas




Read more


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Sip, Smile and Repeat:
 Hydration Hacks 
for Your Fabulous 60s

By Kaylin Render 


Read more




Quote________________________

“Don’t think for one second you can’t be 
anything you want to be— 
a warrior, a goddess, a queen-bee.”

Melody Lee
_____________________________








Moving to assisted living marks a big step for seniors and their loved ones. Families often weigh this choice with care. It can bring peace of mind. Here are key reasons people make this shift.

Continue reading>>  




IN CASE YOU MISSED IT


Playing an Instrument 
Could Protect Against
 Cognitive Aging,
 Study Reveals

read more


<<>>

From painkillers to antibiotics:
 five medicines that could 
harm your hearing
By Dipa Kamdar

read more


<<>>

Socially isolated
 older adults 
more likely 
to develop diabetes
By Michael Monostra

read more


<<>>

How do I get 
out of debt 
while on Social Security?
By Angelica Leicht & Matt Richardson

Read more


<<>>


Older adults aren’t children:
 Why repurposing
 child-focused tools falls short
By Cameron Huddleston

Read more







Queen Bee Facts


- The queen bee's primary role is to lay eggs and ensure the hive's reproduction. She can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day during peak season.

-  Queen bees typically live for 3 to 5 years, which is much longer than worker bees that usually live only a few weeks to months.

-  Queen bees mate during a special flight called a "mating flight," where she mates with several drone bees in mid-air and stores sperm for her entire life.

-  Queens are larger than worker bees and have a longer, more elongated abdomen. They also have different pheromones that help regulate the hive.

-  The queen produces pheromones that keep the worker bees organized and prevent the hive from swarming or raising a new queen unless necessary.









Next edition
MONDAY, JANUARY 19 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper



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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026



KEY NEWS FOR YOU TO USE


3 IRA and 401(k) Rules 
Quietly Changing in January


By Zachary Mack


As a new year kicks off, there are a few significant differences you might want to be aware of so you can plan accordingly. 

Read more

* * *

How fulfillment 
shapes older adults’ 
well-being 
and care needs


By Brian Justice

Fulfillment for older adults is a concept that encompasses a sense of wholeness, fit, and value towards oneself, one's life, and one's impact.

Read more


* * *


How to find a geriatrician: 
10 questions older adults and
 loved ones should ask


By homas Haferkamp, MD

Contacting a geriatric specialist doesn’t have to be daunting. Here is what I recommend when getting started:

Read more


* * *

Research finds 
persistent prescribing
 of risky medications 
to older adults with dementia



Despite years of clinical guidelines warning against the practice, one in four Medicare beneficiaries with dementia is prescribed brain-altering medications linked to falls,

Read more


extra

12 Tiny Habits
 For The New Year 
That Won’t Wear You Out
By Tammy Strobel



You can create any kind of change by harnessing the power of tiny habits. While you can create your own tiny habits, the 12 listed below will help you get started and simplify along the way.



Quote________________________

“January is the calendar's ingrown hair.”

― Stewart Stafford
_____________________________







Lately, you've likely seen many of my opinion pieces zero in on our government's current politics.

You might wonder why a blog focused on seniors comments on today's mess. That includes the president's tricks, shady deals, selfish schemes, and his bumbling cabinet crew. The answer has many sides.

If you are reading this blog, you are a living, breathing, thinking human being.

As a generation, you have a more than just a spectators stake in our nation’s approach to domestic and foreign affairs.
In the years following WW2, our generation brought  this country from obscurity to the leader of the free world. We stood for something, We accepted all. We had compassion for the helpless. Although we were not perfect, at least our leaders knew the right path we must follow. Now we are saddened to see what we strove for during the sixties and seventies, slip away.

Seniors feel this mess most. Changes in health care rules squeeze fixed incomes. Tax shifts drain savings built over years. Vote rules block older voices at the polls. All this ties straight to daily life for those over 65.

The reason runs deep with several angles. Politics shapes benefits like Social Security checks. It decides drug costs under Medicare. Bad moves now mean less security later. Readers ask if I should stick to tips on grandkids or recipes. But silence lets problems grow. Speaking out guards what seniors earned. As always, this blog will stay true to the real needs, not just light topics. …bwc




IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

When Your Spouse Dies 
Do You Get
 Their Social Security?

Read more

>><<


Should Your Next Bike
 Be an Adult Tricycle?
By Ellen Ryan

Read more


>><<


83% of U.S. adults use
 streaming services, 
far fewer subscribe to
 cable or satellite TV
By Eugenie Parkand & Colleen McClain

Read more


>><<


Many boomers
 are open to passing on 
an early inheritance
 — but their adult kids 
are too afraid to ask
By Kelsey Vlamis

Read more


>><<


The 2 Shocking Reasons
 Alzheimer’s Affects Men 
and Women Differently, 
Scientists Say
By Dana Schulz

Read more





Facts about 
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

-  SAD is a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of year, most commonly in the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter, and often improves in the spring and summer.

- Symptoms of SAD include low energy, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, changes in sleep and appetite, and social withdrawal, similar to major depression.

- Reduced sunlight exposure during the colder months can disrupt the body's internal clock (circadian rhythms) and affect serotonin and melatonin levels, contributing to SAD.

- People living in northern latitudes, where winter daylight is limited, are at higher risk. Additionally, women are more commonly diagnosed with SAD than men.

-  Common treatments include light therapy (phototherapy), medication such as antidepressants, and psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Increasing exposure to natural light and maintaining a routine can also help manage symptoms.









Next edition
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper



-30-



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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026





KEY NEWS FOR YOU TO USE


Scientists find 
eating refined foods 
for just three days 
can impair
 memory in the aging brain


By Eric W. Dolan 

The removal of dietary fiber... may trigger rapid disruptions in brain cell energy production...

Read more


* * *


Medicare Advantage
 Can No Longer Cover 
These Items in 2026



By Christy Bieber 

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you need to know which items can no longer be covered.

Read more


* * *

7 Clothing Items
 People Over 65 
Should Avoid
 in Snow and Ice


By Lauren Gray

We spoke to experts to find out which seven clothing items those over 65 should avoid when it snows.

Read more


* * *

7 Lying Lies About
 Aging for Women


By Eileen Kilgore

 ...nearly two thirds of women age 50 and older say they are regularly discriminated against, and those experiences take a toll on women’s mental health. 

Read more



extra


6 Foods to Stock Up On 
This January 
for Healthy Aging,
 According to Dietitians

By Amy Brownstein, M.S., RDN  



Stocking up on nutrient-rich foods provides antioxidants, healthy fats and essential vitamins that can help protect against inflammation, support vision and maintain healthy bones.


Quote__________________

“For behind all imperialism 
is ultimately the 
imperialistic individual, 
just as behind all peace 
is ultimately the
 peaceful individual.”

Irving Babbitt
________________________







In 1933 under Hermann Göring, a government agency, was set up within the German state. Their function was to maintain political control by suppressing dissent, using surveillance, interrogation, and "protective custody" (arrest without trial). They operated outside the normal judicial system, allowing them to arrest and send people “away” with impunity. They became a symbol of Nazi terror. They were known as the "Gestapo."

I don't care what you saw or think you saw in those videos replayed nonstop on TV. The issue isn't if Renee Good's car hit ICE officer Johnathan Ross. What counts is armed federal agents patrolling streets in an American city to grab "dangerous criminal illegal aliens." They killed a citizen for protesting out-of-control agents whose only reason for being there ws to exert the federal governments power over local authorities.



IN CASE YOU MISSED IT


10 Positives of 
Being a Single Boomer

Read more

<<>>

5 Ways to Downsize 
Without Becoming 
a Small Person
By Ginny McReynolds 

Read more

<<>>

Terrible night’s sleep? 
Here’s how to make it
 through the day – 
and maybe even enjoy it 
– one step at a time
By Joel Snape

read more

<<>>


Doctors Warn 
This Popular Med Is
 “The Most Dangerous 
OTC Drug”
It's probably in your
 medicine cabinet right now.
By Lauren Gray

read more

<<>>

Americans want 
stronger safety net 
for older adults
By James Dean

read more





Interesting facts about Greenland:

- Greenland is the world's largest island that is not a continent, covering about 2.16 million square kilometers.

-  About 80% of Greenland's surface is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet, which contains around 8% of the world's freshwater.

-  Despite its massive size, Greenland has a small population of around 56,000 people, mostly Inuit and descendants of early Norse settlers.

-  Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, gaining self-rule in 1979 and further autonomy in 2009.

-  Greenland hosts unique Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, muskoxen, and Arctic foxes, and is an important site for climate change research due to its melting ice sheets.









Next edition
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper



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MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026




KEY NEWS FOR YOU TO USE


Full List of New 
Social Security Rules 
Taking Effect This Month



By Suzanne Blake

In the new year, many Social Security rules are taking effect, affecting Americans' benefit amounts, the full retirement age and more.
Read more


* * *


More than 22 million 
older Americans live alone,
 are unmarried
 and don’t have kids. 
But they’re struggling 
with rising costs



By Will Kenton

As inflation continues to reshape the American economy, a quiet demographic shift is compounding the financial pressure on older adults.

Read more

* * *

Downsizing in Retirement?
 The Big Question: 
Rent or Buy?


By Jessica Gibson 

The decision to rent or buy will be based on your needs and preferences. In general, renting offers more flexibility, and buying offers more security. But this can change.

Read more

* * *

How longevity 
is reshaping work, 
wealth, and well-being


By Damien Ng

Increasing longevity is forcing a rethink of public policy, individual lifestyles, and private finances. Yet it is crucial not to overreact or grow unduly alarmed about shifting population dynamics.

Read more


/\/\/\/

extra
 Food and Nutrician

Researchers Made One Change
 to Seniors’ Meals 
— With Striking Results

The study points to an easy and approachable path for older adults looking to support healthier aging through food.

By Stacey Leasca 


Read more



---- Quote of the Day -----

“When you're in a position
 to have gotten so much,
 the gift at this point is giving back.”

Paul Stanley
________________________







If you think the kidnapping of Maduro or regime change had anything to do with drug trafficking, oil, or saving Venezuela's people from a dictator, then you know nothing about what really fills Trump's gut. He may eat copious amounts of fast food. But the real fuel that drives him is his need for attention and recognition. He also craves a spot in history. What better way than to lead a precise, secret operation against what he sees as an international bad guy? Just like his nemesis Barack Obama did when they killed real terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Trump despises two people most: Joe Biden and Barack Obama with Hillary Clinton a close third.

Trump scorns Biden over his wild idea that Biden stole the 2020 election. So he blasts Biden at every chance. He did it at Saturday's news conference too. He should have explained sending in troops. Instead, he took shots at Biden's failures. His anger at Biden is mild next to his hate for Obama.

Trump dislikes Obama because our 44th president had everything Trump doesn’t. Among which are respect and admiration from the citizens of the United States. But even more compelling for Trump is the one thing he wants more than anything. The object that has eluded him and will continue to elude him. The Nobel Peace Prize. Trump knows he will never get it, so he does the next best thing he can do to emulate the Prize winning Obama. And that is to have his photo-op moment in a "war room", sitting with his generals and Secretary of State watching, in real time, “Operation Absolute Resolve.”  Exactly like Obama did when we found and killed Osama bin laden. Which, by the way, was code named Operation “Neptune Spear.”

We all saw the photo which was shown world-wide of President Obama, with Hillary at his side, (in a real “war room”), intently watching the bin Laden strike unfold. Trump wanted a moment like that. And the only way he could get it was to manufacture a villain, plan an attack and kidnap a duly elected president of a sovereign nation.  Unfortunately for Trump, while he may have those situation room photos to fawn over, he will never have accomplished anything of great importance, nor will he garner any esteem or regard. And, no mmatter how he tries and how much he wants it,  he will never have his “Obama Moment.”   … bwc




In Case You Missed It 


Older adults 
now outnumber
 children in 11 states
By Tim Henderson 

READ MORE


>><<

Older childless Americans
 worry about who'll
 care for them 
— do these 4 things 
if you’re 50-plus 
with no kids
By Maurie Backman

READ MORE

>><<

7 science-backed foods
 that help you 
feel younger and sharper 
into your 70s
By Renée Onque

READ MORE


>><<

Growing Younger 
With...Stress?
 The Science 
Of Good Stress & Aging
By Ava Durgin

READ MORE


>><<

How to Handle Problems
 in Assisted Living
By Danial Nasir 

READ MORE






Facts on Christmas gift returns:

- Approximately 10-15% of holiday purchases are returned, with some years seeing rates as high as 20%. 
 
- Most returns occur between December 26 and early January, peaking around December 30-31.  

- Clothing, electronics, and jewelry are among the most returned gifts.  

- Wrong size, duplicate gifts, the item not matching expectations, or defects.  

- Returns can cost retailers billions annually, with some estimates around $400 billion globally.  

- Online purchases tend to have higher return rates due to sizing issues and shipping convenience.  









Next edition
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2026
©2026 Bruce Cooper



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