Are there any services that can help families resolve caregiving conflicts? My elderly parent was recently diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and my siblings and I disagree on how to handle future caregiving and finances.

It is not unusual for adult children to disagree regarding the care of an elder parent. A good possible solution is to hire an "eldercare mediator" who can help you work through disagreements peacefully. Here is how it works.

Elder Mediation

Mediators have been used for years to help resolve a variety of conflicts, sort out legal and financial disagreements and avoid court battles. Eldercare mediation is a relatively new and specialized service designed to help families resolve disputes that are related to aging parents or other elderly relatives.

Family disagreements over an ill or elderly parent's caregiving needs, medical care, living arrangements, driving issues, legal and financial decisions are just some of the many issues that an elder care mediator can help with. It is important to note that elder care mediation focuses solely on the decision-making process and is not to be confused with family or group therapy.

The primary aim of eldercare mediation is to facilitate discussions and agreements between the family members from a neutral third-party perspective and for the benefit of their elderly loved one. Mediators can also assist a family in identifying experts such as estate-planners, geriatric care managers and health care or financial professionals who can supply important information for family decision making.

The family should know that the mediation process is completely confidential and lasts anywhere from a few hours to several meetings depending on the complexity of the issues. If some family members live far away, a conference or video call can be used to bring everyone together.

If you are interested in hiring a private eldercare mediator, you can expect to pay $175 to $500 per hour depending on where you live and who you choose. Alternatively, if available in your area, you may be able to get help through a community-based nonprofit program that offers free or low-cost services by volunteer mediators.

Finding a Mediator

To locate an eldercare mediator in your area, start by asking for referrals from health professionals or hospital social workers or browse online websites that have searchable directories. Some local associations also provide free or low-cost community-based mediation programs.

There is currently no universally accepted credential or professional standard for eldercare mediators, so make sure the person you choose has extensive experience with elder issues that are similar to what your family is dealing with. Also, be sure to ask for references and verify them. Most eldercare mediators are attorneys, social workers, counselors or other professionals who are trained in mediation and conflict resolution.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Can you recommend good resources for individuals with vision loss? My spouse was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration, and we are interested in information that can help us understand and adapt to the condition.

There are about 20 million Americans living with macular degeneration. Over time, this progressive disease can deprive people of their central vision, making everyday tasks like driving a car, reading or watching television extremely challenging. Here are some tips and resources that can help.

Low Vision Help

The first step is to make an appointment with a low vision specialist for a comprehensive examination. Low vision specialists are ophthalmologists or optometrists with additional credentials or specialization in low vision testing, diagnosis and treatment.

A low vision exam, which is much different from a typical eye exam, will explore how the eye condition is affecting the individual's day-to-day life, how that individual is adapting emotionally and if needed, can prescribe solutions to help regain as much day-to-day functioning as possible.

The next step is to find a nearby vision rehabilitation service. These services, which are run by state, nonprofit organizations, or private eye care clinics, help people with all types of uncorrectable vision impairments. Most state and nonprofit services are free or low-cost, while private clinics typically charge a fee or may accept Medicare.

While vision rehabilitation does not restore lost sight, it helps people maximize their existing sight. For those with no vision, rehabilitation can equip them with techniques and tools to help them maintain an independent lifestyle. Services offered by vision rehabilitation specialists can include counseling, training on performing daily living tasks with low vision, and how to use visual and adaptive devices and assistive technologies all aimed at improving the overall quality of life for those affected.

They also offer guidance when it comes to accommodating your home to make it safer and easier for the individual to maneuver. Additionally, they can help locate low vision support groups. Some agencies will even send a specialist to work with the person in the comfort of their own home. To find a vision rehabilitation service near you, ask a primary eye doctor for a referral.

Online Tools

Another convenient and beneficial way to get help is to search online for resources that are specifically designed for adults with vision loss. These websites provide information on eye diseases and disorders, along with dozens of practical tips and instructional videos on living with vision loss. Some of the resources include concepts for adapting your home to make it easier to navigate. They provide techniques for traveling safely outside the home, tips on how to manage finances, medications, cooking, cleaning, grooming, reading, writing and engaging in hobbies.

Online websites and directories also provide a comprehensive list of more than 2,000 low vision agencies and organizations across the country that are searchable by state or category. These directories list schools, agencies, organizations and programs in both the private and nonprofit sectors that provide a variety of services to those visually impaired and their families. The listings typically include the organization's contact information and a description of the services they offer.

For additional resources, research nonprofit organizations that partner together with the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program. Many of these nonprofits offer online discussion groups and free online workshops to help empower the visually impaired.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

How are Social Security benefits handled when the beneficiary passes away? My family and I are trying to navigate the financials after losing a loved one.

To help you and your family understand what Social Security benefits are available when a family member passes away, here are some key points to know.

You should first make sure that the Social Security Administration is notified of the beneficiary's death to prompt them to stop their monthly benefits. In most cases, the funeral home providing the burial or cremation can notify them on your behalf. You will need to provide the decedent's Social Security number to the funeral director so they can make the report. If they do not offer that service or you are not using a funeral home, you may call your local Social Security office or 1-800-772-1213.

When Benefits Stop

There are a couple of things to be aware of regarding the deceased beneficiary's Social Security benefits. For starters, you should know that a person is due no Social Security benefits in the month of their death.

With Social Security, each payment received represents the previous month's benefits. For example, if the individual passed away in August, the check for that month would be paid in September. If the payment for August is received, it will need to be returned. If the payment is made by direct deposit, you need to contact the bank or other financial institution and ask them to return any benefits received in the month of death or later.

Survivor Benefits

The surviving spouse may be eligible for survivor benefits based on a deceased beneficiary's work record if they are at least age 60 (or age 50 if they have a disability). Here is how that works depending on their situation.

If a surviving spouse is currently receiving Social Security spousal benefits, the benefits will automatically convert to survivor benefits when the government gets notice of the beneficiary's death. The surviving spouse cannot receive both spousal and survivor benefits at the same time.

Social Security will base the surviving spouse's benefits on the earnings of the deceased beneficiary. Survivors who are of full retirement age or older will receive 100% of their deceased spouse's benefit amount. Those who are 60 years old through full retirement age will get between 71.5% to 99% of the deceased spouse's benefit amount.

If a surviving spouse is eligible for retirement benefits and has not applied yet, he or she may apply for survivors benefits when the beneficiary passes away and switch to the other (higher) benefit later. Alternatively, if a surviving spouse is already receiving his or her retirement benefits on their own work record, they may switch to survivor benefits if it offers a higher payment. However, it is not permissible to receive both benefits.

To apply for survivor benefits, a surviving spouse will need to call Social Security and schedule an appointment. The application cannot be completed online.

You should also know that survivor benefits are available to former spouses and dependents who meet particular Social Security qualifications – visit SSA.gov/benefits/survivors for more information.

Additionally, if a surviving spouse collects a survivor benefit while working and is under full retirement age, their benefits may be reduced depending on their earnings. Visit SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for details.

Death Benefit

Social Security will also pay a one-time payment of $255 to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased spouse at the time of his or her death. If they were living apart, they may still receive this one-time payment if they are collecting spousal benefits on the deceased's work record. In the absence of a surviving spouse, the lump-sum payment can go to a son or daughter who is eligible for benefits on the deceased's work record.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I need to manage my weight and get my blood pressure under control, but I have never been physically active and I am not sure where to begin. Can you give me some tips on starting a walking program?

More than 25 years of research has shown that walking may be the single best exercise you can do to improve your health. Walking can burn about 100 calories per mile (depending on your weight and pace), builds endurance, enhances muscle tone and is relatively easy on your joints. It may also improve or prevent many age-related health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and dementia.

Walking may improve your health, can be convenient and extremely low cost. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes and enough motivation to get out and go. Check with your healthcare professional that a walking program is right for you and your health. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Start Walking: Allow yourself time to develop a walking routine. There is no need to begin walking at a record pace or for long periods of time. Start out slow. For example, you can begin by walking 10 minutes per day five days a week. When 10 minutes becomes too easy, add five minutes to your walks for the next week. Keep adding five minutes to your walks until you are walking as long as you desire. You should begin and end your walk with a few simple warm-up and cool-down stretches, which will make you feel better and help prevent injury.

How Far: Of course, walking for 10 minutes is better than not walking at all. However, most fitness professionals recommend walking 30 minutes per day five days a week. Research indicates that you can receive the same benefit even if the 30 minutes is broken up throughout the day. Another way to measure your activity level is by the number of steps you take per day. Fitness professionals recommend between 6,000 to 10,000 steps per day, which is roughly three to five miles.

How Fast: The right walking speed depends on your fitness level. The ideal speed will cause you to breathe heavily, while still being able to carry on a conversation.

Staying Motivated

Starting a walking program takes initiative and sticking with it takes commitment. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated.

• Find a Buddy: A walking partner can keep you accountable on days when you do not feel like walking. Companionship also helps the walk seem to go by quicker and a partner will provide extra motivation to keep improving your speed and distance.
• Use a Tracking Device: Fitness trackers are portable devices that can measure how far you have walked in both steps and miles. This tool allows you to see whether you have met a particular distance or step goal. Meeting a goal may give you a sense of accomplishment and will spur you to make an even more challenging goal. You can purchase these devices at most sporting goods stores or online. If you are a smartphone user, consider downloading a step tracking app.
• Join a Club: To find a walking club in your community call your local medical center, mall, health club, running shoe store or local Area Agency on Aging. Ask if there are any walking clubs or groups. If you cannot find an existing walking club in your area, you can always start your own.
• Keep a Journal: Keep a walking journal by logging how many minutes, steps or miles you have walked per day. At the end of the week determine your weekly total. This is very helpful to see how you are progressing.
• Get a Dog: Studies have shown that dog owners are much more likely to take regular walks than non-dog owners.
• Listen to Music: Listening to music can also make a nice walking companion. Check out online options to find great walking songs that will match your pace. You can use a smartphone or other music listening device.
• Have a Backup Plan: Bad weather, allergies or other factors may limit your outdoor walking. If so, have a backup plan like walking at your local indoor mall, buying a home treadmill or joining a health club.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Many questions arise when we consider the options for giving to children. Why should we give? When, what and how should we give? Will gifts impact the self-esteem and initiative of the child? Can a gift plan transfer values to children?

These are all very important questions. Clearly there are better ways to give and a prudent parent will consider carefully the manner, nature and amount of gifts. If the gifts are given in a proper way, they can be very beneficial for the child. Alternatively, gifts given at the wrong time or in the wrong amounts can lessen the initiative and even weaken the character of the child. Thus, it is important to make gifts in the optimum manner at the right time.

Why Give to Children?

There are several reasons why you may choose to make gifts to children during life. Some parents wish to start the inheritance process. If they have substantial resources, it is desirable to begin the inheritance while the children are in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Many children can use the help at that time to start careers, purchase a home and assist in the cost of raising their own children.

Another reason for making gifts is to teach conservation. Most parents who have significant resources have been careful to conserve their assets and build them up during life. By making transfers of assets during life, the parents can see how the children handle those assets and, in turn, offer advice and encouragement. In addition, when the parents have the opportunity to see the effect of inheritance on children, it helps to clarify the parents' goals. Goals for inheritance should include the amount transferred during life, the time of transfer, the principal and income amounts and times for transfer of those items to family in the estate.

Starting the property transfer process during life enables parents to understand how to plan for the optimum inheritance for children.

When Should a Parent Start Giving?

There is both an easy answer and a difficult answer to this question. First, parents should start giving to children when they reach the "age of financial responsibility." But what is that age? Some children reach the "age of financial responsibility" at 25, while others might not attain that status at age 75.

Another factor that affects the "when to give" question is the resources of the parent. Many people in our society live to age 80, 90 or even older. The parents should make certain that they have sufficient assets to provide for long-term care, if that is needed. Some parents may wish to purchase long-term care insurance prior to making gifts to children. Alternatively, other parents of retirement age may determine that they have adequate resources to provide for their long-term care and can make gifts to family members. In making this determination, you will want to consider pensions, Social Security, IRAs and other assets.

If a parent determines that there are sufficient assets and that the children have reached an appropriate age (which in most cases is when children are in their 30s, 40s and 50s), then the parent may choose to start making gifts.

What Should I Give?

In the book The Millionaire Next Door, the authors studied the impact of gifts of cash to children in their 30s and 40s. The essence of their research was that, for most children, gifts of cash are typically spent.

Furthermore, with the exception of elementary school teachers and college professors, children in other professions who received cash gifts actually had less in savings by retirement age than those who received no gifts. Those who received cash gifts not only spent the gifts, but also continued to spend other personal cash and ended up with smaller estates than those who had received no gifts.

If parents are not concerned about whether or not the gift is spent, then the gift of cash is appropriate. However, many parents make gifts to children with the hope that the child will invest and build up some reserve assets. If the hope is that children will invest and begin to build their estates, then gifts of property show much more promise.

For example, many parents hold stock and can transfer shares by gift to the children. Alternatively, some parents hold real property or have created family limited partnerships and can transfer either the real property or the partnership units to children.

If the gifts are less than the annual exclusion amount per parent, per child each year ($17,000 in 2023 and potentially higher in future years), then the gift is not subject to gift tax. It should be noted that the child takes the cost basis of the parent when property is gifted. Thus, if the child were to sell the appreciated stock or land, he or she would have to pay a capital gains tax. Many parents actually consider this as a favorable circumstance, since their intention is for the child to hold the asset. If there is significant appreciation, these parents deem it beneficial since that potential gain could dissuade children from selling the asset, paying the capital gains tax and spending the money.

How much can be transferred using annual gift exclusions? There are cases in which appreciated stock gifts were held by family members and there was significant value transferred. After a ten-year period, the stock transferred with annual exclusions may be worth several hundred thousand dollars. In one case, the parents used gift exclusions over a period of 30 years and the children held the gifted stock. At the conclusion of that gifting program, the children were all multimillionaires—and all with zero gift or estate tax!

Should I Give Different Amounts?

Most parents will attempt to treat all children equally. From the perspective of the child, the gift is viewed as a representation of the love of the parent. Thus, it seems appropriate in most circumstances for there to be equal transfers to the children.

However, most rules have reasonable and logical exceptions. The two most common exceptions in this area are the special needs trust and a family business. If one child has a disability, the rest of the family understands the need for additional provision for that child through what is commonly called a special needs trust. This is a trust with an independent trustee who has discretion to make distributions to the child, but is not normally required to do so. The special needs trust makes provision for the maximum benefit of the child and could potentially allow some beneficiaries to also receive government benefits.

The other exception to equal treatment for children may occur with a family business. If some children are involved in the business and other children are not, it is desirable to provide a substantial inheritance for all children. However, maintaining business viability may require the transfer of a majority of the business interest to the child that is involved in the business.

In addition, many parents believe that transfer is fair because the efforts of the children in the business have contributed to the overall growth of the business and the overall growth of the parents' estate. These are delicate questions to which parents should give careful thought, but in the case of the special needs trust and the family business, it is common for one child to receive a greater benefit than the other children.

Will My Gift Decrease Motivation and Self-esteem?

This is a concern of all parents. If an estate is substantial, it is a very important issue to consider. Nearly everyone knows of cases where a large inheritance was transferred to an individual and it was spent in very unhealthy ways. Indeed, sometimes the size of the inheritance contributes to tearing down rather than building up the child's character.

Perhaps the best gift most parents and grandparents should consider is education, which can be used during an entire lifetime. Because one competes with other students in the class, a gift of tuition for education is a good character-building exercise.

A second excellent gift that may not involve significant financial resources is help with a career or business. Many businesspeople are able to assist their children in starting careers or businesses through advice and financing. These opportunities are excellent because the child then has the self-esteem derived from building a career or a business of his or her own.

Another strategy is to wait for a reasonable level of maturity. Some parents wait until the children are in their 40s or 50s to start gifting programs. At that time, values are more likely to be established for the children and they are able to make productive use of the property.

Why Don't My Children Think Like Me?

This question surely has crossed the mind of nearly all parents. A parent may consider a particular property or asset and say, "If I had that property, this is what I would do with it."

As all parents know, children quite often hold different opinions. They have generally not been tested in as many different circumstances as their parents. The children need "time to learn." When transferring an inheritance to children, parents need to remember that they have quite often acquired that property over 30 or 40 years. The parents had many opportunities to learn the value of thrift, conservation, investment and careful planning.

Children will not learn these principles from a ten-minute discussion with their parents. They will need to learn some of these lessons out in the real world, operating with real money and real property. It is inevitable that some children will make mistakes. However, their parents also made mistakes along the way. This is the educational part of the gift process.

Parents should be willing to provide "opportunity to make mistakes" property to their children. This does not necessarily mean that the property must have enormous value. However, there must be some value to the property. This "opportunity to make mistakes" property can best be gifted during life. After one or two such episodes, the children may suddenly have a greater understanding of some of the values held by the parents.

How Do I Support Charity and Transfer Values to Children?

One goal of parents is to teach values to children. We all hope that our children will be honest, loving, loyal, faithful, true and upright. How do you teach those values? First, values are caught and not taught. Fortunately, many parents have shared the lesson of the importance of family and extended family with the children. The family includes children and, in some cases, nephew, nieces and other relatives. The extended family includes the wider group of individuals who are helped by charities that the parents support.

One especially effective way to teach the principle of helping others is to model that behavior through support of charities that benefit the extended family. Children realize that they are here on this planet not just to acquire the best homes, fastest cars and most exotic vacations, but also to find a sense of purpose and value through assisting others. The extended family example of the parents is one of the best lessons that encourage children to acquire values similar to those of the parents. This lesson is taught during life both through contribution of time and gifts of cash and property to charity.

In addition, a very effective teaching method is to use planned giving concepts. These planned giving opportunities can provide benefits for children and a remainder to charity. In using these gift plans, the parent teaches the child to consider both the family and the extended family in planning. If major benefit for the extended family can be realized through tax savings, this becomes a particularly powerful lesson.

Gifts to children during life can accomplish many goals and objectives. Parents need to give careful thought to the children's needs and opportunities. If your assets permit, you may have the ability to give children "time to learn," provide them the "opportunity-to-make-mistakes" property and to facilitate the transfer of values. Truly, these objectives make giving during life an important part of your efforts to "help the child become a better person."

Could you recommend some healthy meal delivery options for seniors who do not cook or go out often? My 80-year-old parent is interested in options that offer convenient home delivery at affordable prices.

There are a wide variety of healthy meal delivery options that can help non-cooking seniors who live at home. Here are several top options.

Community-Based Programs

Start by checking if there is a senior home delivery meal program available in your parent's area. Meals on Wheels is the largest program that most people are familiar with. Many communities offer senior meal delivery programs sponsored by other organizations.

To find services available in your parent's area, do an online search or call the area aging agency near your parent. You may utilize the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. administration on Aging at 800-677-1116 to get the local number.

Meal programs across the U.S. deliver hot meals daily or several times a week and are available to qualifying seniors over age 60 who have problems preparing meals for themselves, as well as those with disabilities. Weekend meals, usually frozen, may also be available for delivery. Some programs will also provide specialty meals for those with specific dietary needs (diabetic, low-sodium, kosher, and more).

Most of these programs typically charge a small fee or request a donation. Others may be free to low-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid. There are also some Medicare Advantage plans that cover limited meal service benefits.

Meal Delivery Service Companies

Another great option is to order pre-made meals online from a meal delivery service company. These companies provide a wide variety of tasty meal choices and will usually post the nutrition information for their meals on their website. For more information on these companies, pricing and their menus, search online using keywords such as "best meal delivery services for seniors."

Most companies will also cater to a host of dietary and medical needs, such as low-sodium and low-carb meals, diabetic meals, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options, making the ordering process easy and convenient.

Depending on the company you choose, the food arrives either fresh or frozen and most of them deliver across the nation. Prices vary, but generally start at around $8 and can be as much as $13 per meal, plus shipping. However, some companies may provide discounts or free shipping when you order meals in bulk. Most of these companies will also work with Medicaid and some Medicare Advantage plans to help reduce costs.

Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Depending on where your parent lives, home delivered meals from local grocery stores or restaurants may be possible. These options will likely be more expensive and will be wholly out of pocket. Some grocery stores offer a selection of pre-cooked meals and foods, including roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh soups and salads. Contact the grocery stores in your parent's area to learn more about this option.

If your parent has a favorite restaurant, check with the restaurants to see if they offer home delivery. Alternatively, your parent can download a food delivery service app onto their smartphone to order meals from local restaurants that may not offer home delivery.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Can you recommend organizations or websites for finding interesting volunteer opportunities? I have been doing volunteer work since I retired last year, but most of the volunteer work I have tried has not been very fun or satisfying.

For many retirees, finding a volunteer opportunity that meets your interests, utilizes your talents and fits your availability can be challenging. To help you find interesting and satisfying volunteer opportunities, here are some tips and online tools that can help your search.

Getting Started

Volunteering is a great way for retirees to make a positive contribution to their community, stay actively engaged and maintain a healthy lifestyle. But how can you find the right opportunity for you?

Start by asking yourself some basic questions like: What types of organizations or activities are you interested in? What kind of skills can you offer to a volunteer organization? How much time are you willing to give? What do you want to gain from your experience (i.e., meet new people, learn new skills, help those in need, exposure to a particular issue)? Once you get a general idea of the volunteer work you would like to do, there are dozens of volunteer websites that can help you search for different opportunities locally or virtually.

Most websites work like search engines. You can narrow your search by choosing an area of interest and your location. The websites will give you a list of opportunities to review and a brief description of the role. Prior to choosing a website, it is important to thoroughly review and research the volunteer website to ensure legitimacy before committing to any volunteer positions.

General volunteer websites: General volunteer websites allow you to explore a wide range of volunteer opportunities in your local community. Volunteer opportunities found on these websites can serve diverse causes relating to children, animals, seniors, education, health, the arts and more. These websites can be found through a simple online search.

Retired volunteer websites: There are also websites designed specifically for retired individuals. If you are interested in opportunities for retirees, a good option is AmeriCorps Seniors (AmeriCorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors), which matches retirees with community projects and organizations that need experienced volunteer help.

AmeriCorps Seniors offers three different programs. RSVP has a variety of volunteer activities with flexible time commitments. The Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers with homebound seniors who have difficulty with day-to-day living tasks. The Foster Grandparent Program matches volunteers with children in the community that have exceptional needs.

Niche volunteer websites: There are also websites to help you look for specific types of volunteer opportunities in your area. For example, to find natural and cultural volunteer opportunities in places like national and state parks, see Volunteer.gov. If you are interested in emergency preparedness and disaster response volunteer services, try Ready.gov. For longer-term volunteer opportunities check out AmeriCorps.gov which offers three-month to two-year programs in the U.S. and abroad.

Professional volunteer websites: If you have expertise in areas like business planning and development, marketing, communications, finance, fundraising, web and graphic design or writing and editing, there are online platforms that can connect you with organizations in need of your skills. Alternatively, you can help entrepreneurs and small business owners through specific volunteer mentoring programs. Use search engines to look for these websites utilizing keywords like "professional volunteer opportunities".

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly and will have dramatic effects on society. While AI has potential benefits in many areas including healthcare and education, there are also potential drawbacks. Haywood Talcove, chief executive of a major cybersecurity organization, cautions seniors that new AI capabilities are being used for romance scams, ransom efforts and IRS or government collection scams.

Talcove stated, "You have all of these people building this technology for good and they are working really, really hard. And you have another group working equally hard at applying their craft on the bad side." The bad actors use AI to enhance their scams and victimize seniors. Many scams have taken millions of dollars from seniors who did not protect themselves from romance scams, requests for ransom or false claims that they owe payments to the IRS.

1. Romance Scams — The new AI capabilities enable a scammer to create a visual image that appears to be real. The scammer can also craft a voice designed to appeal to a specific victim. The lifelike image and voice will encourage the victim to go on video dates. After the visual image and false voice have built a relationship with the victim, there will be the inevitable request for money.
2. Ransom Attacks — A fraudster can use a short recording to build a realistic duplicate of that voice. Many individuals have short videos with their voice on various social media outlets. The scammer may use the voice of a child, grandchild or other family member and create a conversation using their voice. Most individuals cannot tell that this is not their actual relative. The voice will claim that the relative is in serious trouble and must receive immediate funds to be rescued.
3. IRS Collection Letters — While many scammers have been using both letters and phone calls to impersonate the IRS and fraudulently collect funds, the AI capabilities greatly enhance the power of the letters. Many current AI systems can generate very realistic letters. While previous scammer letters often had typographical or grammatical errors that allowed them to be easily identified, the AI-enhanced letters look very realistic. Talcove stated, "It is very, very hard to tell. It is going to take a while for people to become aware of something like ChatGPT." Talcove warns seniors not to send money to anyone who you have not met in person.

It is important to understand the best ways to protect yourself. Lori Mars, Deputy Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse notes, "Older people are definitely targeted. The overall concept is that everyone is vulnerable. But with age can come mild cognitive impairment that is associated with poor financial decision making, as well as social isolation and loneliness."

While most financial abuse of elders is not reported, AARP estimates that individuals over age 60 lose more than $28 billion per year through elder exploitation. Approximately three-fourths of that loss is caused by an individual personally known to the senior but the other types of scams may involve up to $8 billion per year.

There are several practical tips for protecting yourself. If you receive a ransom phone call from someone claiming to be a relative, ask for specific identifying marks on their person or a special family password. Note that the IRS or other government agencies do not request payments through phone calls or email.

An excellent protection method is for a senior to have a trusted family member who will co-manage his or her accounts. If the senior is contacted by an individual requesting funds, he or she may then discuss the request with the family member. This is an excellent way to protect a senior person.

Finally, seniors are urged to have their Social Security or government checks directly deposited in bank accounts. They should not give any personal information over the phone to an unknown person. If a request for funds is made, ask the individual to send you a written request.

My 63-year-old spouse, who does not work, is on a health insurance plan through my employer. I will retire next month and go on Medicare. What are the options for getting health insurance for my spouse before they turn 65? Is there any Medicare coverage for dependent spouses?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not provide family coverage to younger spouses or dependent children when the older spouse qualifies for Medicare. No one is eligible for Medicare benefits before age 65 unless they are eligible due to a specified disability. With that said, here are some options for obtaining health coverage for your spouse.

Affordable Care Act: One option is to purchase an individual health insurance policy for your spouse through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace offers comprehensive health coverage and will not deny coverage or charge extra for preexisting health conditions.

The American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act enhanced premium subsidies for Marketplace plans through 2025. If your income falls below 400% of the poverty level after you retire – below $73,240 for a couple or $54,360 for a single person in 2023 – your spouse will be eligible for a tax credit that will reduce the amount you pay for the policy. The Marketplace also ensures that households with incomes above 400% of the poverty level will not have to pay more than 8.5% of their income for a benchmark policy.

To calculate your estimated subsidy, search online for a "health insurance marketplace calculator" and enter your family's information. To shop for Marketplace plans in your state, visit HealthCare.gov or call 800-318-2596. If you want extra help, you can search the online directory at HealthCare.gov/find-assistance to locate an agent or broker in your area.

COBRA: Another option is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) which is a federal law that would allow your spouse to remain with your employer's insurance plan for at least 18 months after you make the transition to Medicare. If the older spouse becomes eligible for Medicare and leaves their employer within 18 months of eligibility, COBRA coverage can continue for up to a maximum of 36 months. Not every employer plan is COBRA eligible. Contact your employer's plan administrator to find out if COBRA applies to your plan.

You should be aware that COBRA can be expensive because it requires you to pay the full monthly premium yourselves. But, if you have already met or nearly met your employer's plan deductible or out-of-pocket maximum for the year and do not want your spouse to start over with a new plan, it may make financial sense to keep your spouse's current coverage under COBRA. Even if your spouse is eligible to elect COBRA coverage, you should compare premiums from the Marketplace and those through a private insurer to see what is most affordable.

Short-Term Health Insurance: If you cannot find an affordable Marketplace plan and COBRA is too expensive, the next option is short-term health insurance. These plans are more affordable no-frills plans that provide coverage for up to 12 months and may be renewed for up to three years in some states. Be aware that short-term plans are not available in every state and do not comply with the ACA protections. They can deny sick people coverage, refuse to cover preexisting conditions and can exclude coverage essentials like prescription drugs.

Healthcare Sharing Ministries: One other coverage option you should know about is healthcare sharing ministries (HCSMs). These are cost-sharing health plans in which members – who typically share ethical or religious beliefs – make monthly payments to cover the expenses of other members including themselves.

HCSMs are less expensive than paying full out-of-pocket costs for traditional health insurance but are not health insurance companies. They do not have to comply with the consumer protections of the ACA. They also may reject or limit coverage for pre-existing health issues and often limit how much you will be reimbursed for your medical costs.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.