As Mike Johnson 

Floats Social Security Cuts,

Trustees Report Shows 

Harm of Trump Policies

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declared in a radio show appearance that “entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and things like Social Security” need to be “adjusted and fixed,” which critics say is euphemistic language for benefit cuts, given past GOP proposals such as raising the retirement age.

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Rising Inflation

Points to Significantly Higher

2027 Social Security COLA

Based on the newly released inflation data for May, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 could be 3.8% or 1.0 percentage point higher than this year’s COLA of 2.8%, based on the May Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Brain Supplements

That Do and Don’t Work

"Improves memory." "Sharpens focus." These are just some of the claims you may see on the supplements that 25% of adults over age 50 are taking to try to keep their brains healthy. Do these products work? It's often unclear. Know about some of these popular items.

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The Most Overlooked 

Aging-in-Place Upgrade

Experts Wish Homeowners 

Would Prioritize

—and It’s Not the Bathroom

You probably already know the importance of installing grab bars near your toilet and in your shower, and you may even already have plans to invest in a walk-in shower with a built-in bench. But according to aging-in-place specialists, improving your home's lighting is one of the most impactful changes you can make to enhance the safety of every room. But unfortunately, it's often an afterthought.

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How to plan

for aging alone

in retirement

Whether you’re divorced, your spouse has passed away, you chose to stay single, you’re estranged from your children, or you never had kids — there are many reasons people age alone. Here’s how to take action so that aging alone is easier and less stressful.

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Teaching Style to 

Your Grandchildren:

Fun Shopping with

the Next Generation

Not all that long ago, women over 60 were relegated to the hinterlands of style. Phrases like “dressing like your grandma” or “dressing like an old lady” were the unkindest dig one could make about someone’s attire. Today, fashionable women in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s are showing the world a new face, our face.  And we owe it to our grandchildren to teach them how it’s done.

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How to Know

Whether to Greet Someone

With a Hug, Handshake,

or Wave

When you see someone, whether you know them or not, you have to make a quick decision: Should you give them a hug? A handshake? Maybe just a wave? Some awkward half-lean that lands somewhere in between? You’ve got maybe four seconds to decide—and if you and the other person arrive at different conclusions, things might get weird.

Let’s take a trip back to our childhood days in what was then called elementary school, covering grades K through 6. Our biggest concerns revolved around simple things, like making sure we wore the right outfit for assembly day—white shirts, red ties, and blue pants for the boys, with a similar look for the girls. And, of course, there was the ever-present anxiety about when and where the Russians might decide to send bombers to wipe us off the map. Thankfully, we had our trusty school desks, supposedly bombproof and fallout-resistant, to dive under in case of an emergency.

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Normally, this space would feature articles from our archives. Unfortunately, thanks to a mysterious collaboration between Microsoft and my computer, our archived material has vanished into the digital abyss. As a result, there won't be an "In Case You Missed It" entry for the near future.

The United States generates more municipal solid waste per capita than any other nation on Earth: roughly 292 million tons per year, or about 4.9 pounds per person per day. Trash collection in the US is a local responsibility, managed by city and county governments, often with help from private companies.

Waste flows through an industrial ecosystem that spans garbage trucks, transfer stations, landfills, and waste-to-energy facilities. As of 2018, roughly half of all municipal solid waste is landfilled, about 32% is recycled or composted, and nearly 12% is burned for energy recovery.

New York City became the first US city to implement public-sector garbage management in 1895. Around that time, less than 25% of American cities had waste management systems, but by 1910, 80% did.

Forced Into Early Retirement? 

Here’s How to Cope

Nobody plans to leave their career earlier than they wanted to. But it happens. While people often think retirement is something everyone looks forward to, that assumption overlooks how much of our identity is tied to our work.

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Questions to Ask 

Before Moving 

Somewhere New 

in Retirement

Moving somewhere new in retirement can sound wonderfully simple at first. But a retirement move is different from a vacation, and it is different from relocating for a job. Before you fall in love with a charming town, a low-tax state, or a beautiful listing online, it helps to slow down and ask a few practical questions. 

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Cognitive Decline 

an Emerging Danger 

to Retirement Savings

Many media reports list market volatility and rising costs as risks to retirement savings, but a new study by LIMRA finds that age-related cognitive decline can also jeopardize retirement security. “Decision Risk and the Desirability of Protected Income,” shows how cognitive decline can lead to decision making risk, where retirees make choices that can threaten savings, including missing payments and accidental fraud.

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Melanoma Cases and Deaths 

Highest Among Florida’s 

Older Adults 

    

Florida’s year-round sunshine and intense ultraviolet (UV) exposure help drive one of the nation’s heaviest skin cancer burdens, with older adults shouldering much of the impact. The Sunshine State has the nation’s second-highest melanoma incidence rate.

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Can tobacco damage 

your spine and bones? 

Many people do not know that tobacco has a severe effect on bone and spine health. Any kind of tobacco consumption, be it cigarette smoking, chew or other forms of tobacco, can cause harm to the bones, spinal structure, and can lead to chronic musculoskeletal health issues. 

By Robert Crickshire

Volunteering can be a wonderful activity for senior citizens. After retirement, many older adults find themselves with more free time and fewer daily responsibilities. Volunteering gives them a chance to stay active, meet new people, and continue making a positive difference in their communities.

One of the biggest benefits of volunteering is improved mental health. Helping others can create a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Many seniors feel happier and more fulfilled when they know they are contributing to a meaningful cause. Volunteering can also reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are common challenges for some older adults.

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The United States Postal Service (USPS) traces its roots back to 1775, when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General.

- The USPS serves more than 160 million addresses across the country, including homes and businesses in remote rural areas that many private carriers do not regularly serve.

- The USPS headquarters in Washington, D.C., has its own unique ZIP Code: 20260.

- The Postal Service processes and delivers billions of letters, packages, and other mail pieces annually, making it one of the largest mail systems in the world.

- Unlike most federal agencies, the Postal Service receives very little taxpayer funding for its regular operations. Most of its revenue comes from the sale of postage, products, and services.

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