Rock Your Retirement Show

Let's talk about death.

Jonathan Braddock is our guest for today and he is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of My Life and Wishes, an education and digital planning platform with a mission to help at least one million families become “thoughtfully prepared” for the inevitable, their own death. Jon is the author of “Advisor or Vendor”, “Retire Erase”, the “My Life and Wishes Organization”, and, his most recent release, “Click Here When I Die”, is an Amazon Best Seller.

Why is planning for our death important?

Leaving your family via your death is already hard for them, planning your wake and burial will be much harder for them. Leaving them via your death with a Will help them know what you want. They will know if you want to be cremated, in-ground burial, etc. Helping them know what you want or have planned for them is a really big thing because it lessens the hardship that they will face after your death.

For Jon's family, it took them 10 months to finally finish all the paperwork left for his father-in-law. They found a bank account where the bank's name is not familiar to them. Imagine the stressful phone calls they had to make to locate the bank. It will be much easier if you prepare everything like your bank accounts, social media passwords, ATM passwords, your will, insurance policies, and many more. Jon shares a story about someone he knows where he's really guilty that he didn't have her mother cremated when that's what she really wants but he didn't know that because she didn't tell him.

What are the 5 stages of grief when there's a death?

* Denial – this is the first of the five stages of grief. It helps us to survive the loss. In this stage, the world becomes meaningless and overwhelming. Life makes no sense. We are in a state of shock and denial. Denial and shock help us to cope and make survival possible. As you accept the reality of the loss and start to ask yourself questions, you are unknowingly beginning the healing process. You are becoming stronger, and the denial is beginning to fade.

* Anger – a necessary stage of the healing process. Be willing to feel your anger, even though it may seem endless. The more you truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate and the more you will heal. There are many other emotions under the anger and you will get to them in time, but anger is the emotion we are most used to managing. The anger is just another indication of the intensity of your love.

* Bargaining – Before a loss, it seems like you will do anything if only your loved one would be spared. “Please God, ” you bargain, “I will never be angry at my wife again if you’ll just let her live.” After a loss, bargaining may take the form of a temporary truce. “What if I devote the rest of my life to helping others. Then can I wake up and realize this has all been a bad dream?” We become lost in a maze of “If only…” or “What if…” statements.

* Depression – After bargaining, our attention moves squarely into the present. Empty feelings present themselves, and grief enters our lives on a deeper level, deeper than we ever imagined. This depressive stage feels as though it will last forever. It’s important to understand that this depression is not a sign of mental illness. It is the appropriate response to a great loss. If grief is a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way.

* Acceptance – this is often confused with the notion of being “all right” or “OK” with what has happened.

What is a Movie Pass?

Movie Pass lets you watch a movie for free! You just have to pay $10 per month to get one and you can watch movies every day. Imagine 30 movies in 30 days for only $10!! How awesome is that?

 

Advantages of Movie Pass:

* You can watch new release movies

* You can watch movies every day for free

* There are no blocked out dates

* At theaters where advanced seating is available, you can select your seat in advance

* You'll save tons of $$$

I wouldn't say disadvantages but here are some things you cannot do with your Movie Pass:

* You cannot watch 2 movies in a day

* Members can't watch the same movie twice

* You can't watch 3D movies

* Tickets can be bought the same day you are going to watch the movie. You cannot buy days ahead.

* To reserve your seat, you must be 100 feet away from the theatre

Having a Movie Pass lets you save a lot of money that you can use to spend on other things. You can have a movie date every day and still have some extra bucks to spend on dinner or groceries.

Watching a movie is a great stress reliever and it's super fun! However, there are things that you might be doing in the cinema that might be annoying to other people. Here are some examples:

* Texting – this one is very common. Did you know that the light on your cell phone is distracting?

* Not putting your phone on silent mode – this one is really annoying. Imagine you're watching a movie and when it's climax, someone's phone is going to ring in maximum volume.

* Talking loudly – just like not putting your phone on silent mode.

Les and I became interested in Movie Pass when we visited my parents on the East Coast. We went to the cinema and my parents didn't pay for their ticket! And because of this, we thought, why not get a Movie Pass instead of paying $15-20 per person per movie?

We are sharing this experience because it will help you in your Retirement Lifestyle. You will save a lot of cash especially if you're a movie-goer. You can spend it on other things like one of my personal favorites, cruises. If you love gardening you can spend it on fertilizers or seeds!

CLICK HERE FOR MOVIE PASS POSTED IN COSTCO FOR $89.99

After buying your Movie Pass in Costco, you need to complete your registration. CLICK HERE for the registration page.

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Image already added

Jenna Ryan knows signs of urinary tract infection.  She used to get them all the time.

Did you know that signs of urinary tract infection include dementia?  This was a shock to me when I first found out.  I mean, what does one have to do with the other?

Jenna Ryan is with us today to educate us about signs of urinary tract infections (UTI) and why she created a drink that can prevent/cure UTI.

Jenna is the CEO and co-founder of Uqora, a company dedicated to UTI prevention. Uqora has developed a “pink lemonade with a purpose” that helps women flush out UTI-causing bacteria. She created this drink mix because she herself suffered from UTI. Jenna says she doesn't want to take antibiotics because it can develop resistance.

What is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra.

Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. Infections limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.

Doctors typically treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.

Here are some signs of urinary tract infection to watch out for:

* A burning feeling when you urinate

* A frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do

* Pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen

* Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine

* Feeling tired or shaky

* Fever or chills (a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)

The issue with older adults is that many times they don't get the same feelings of pain or burning sensations when they urinate so their UTIs often go undiagnosed.  But… then other issues can occur.

Did you know that signs of urinary tract infection can lead to misdiagnosis of Dementia?

Here are some signs of urinary tract infection that are the same as Dementia:

* Delirium

* Hallucination

* Dizziness

* Confusion

How to Prevent a UTI

Hydration is the key to prevent a UTI. If you're at risk of having a UTI, drink Uqora. If you're in the older generation, you have to drink it every day. Good hygiene can also prevent a UTI.

If you have signs of urinary tract infection, the Uqora might be able to help.  But most importantly, be sure the speak with your doctor about the possibility of your parents having a UTI if they suddenly show signs of dementia.

References:

* What is UTI? – Mayo Clinic

* Signs and Symptoms of UTI – WebMD

You may visit Uqora by clicking HERE

Jenna Ryan will give you a 15% discount when you purchase Uqora using the code “Rockit15”

Jenna's contact information:[email protected]

This post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Image already added

 

 

This post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

The post Multigenerational Living: Episode 110 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

This show is sponsored by https://CertifiedMedicareAgents.com.

Your hobby can help you in your Retirement

Kim Jamieson-Hirst is a YouTube superstar and a pretty big deal in the quilting world! I brought her on the show to not only talk about her hobby of quilting but how ANY hobby can help you in your retirement. Kim is the owner of Chatterbox Quilts in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started quilting more than a decade ago and initially thought it was boring. But after her friends encouraged her to try and enroll in a quilting course, she became addicted and started her business in 2008. Her designs and articles have been featured in Quilter’s Connection magazine, Irish Quilting, The Country Register, and Bustle & Sew ezine.

Kim is the creator of Unloved and Unappreciated: Finding the Hidden Value in Vintage Sewing Machines and is currently working on more online courses to help quilters reclaim their joy in the craft.

If you think quilting isn't for you or might “boring”, think again! We talked about the various kinds of equipment used as well as the different kinds of quilts there are. It's quite fascinating! You will also discover during this interview, that I know absolutely nothing about quilting!

We also discussed her YouTube channel called Chatterboxquilts. It teaches her followers how to quilt, how to use machines for quilting, and so much more! She's also a blogger, and Kim also works part-time at a French immersion elementary school. Busy lady! What started her project is her passion to share her knowledge with other quilters so that they could enjoy their craft more. Just like our previous guest, Ellen Williamson, Kim's quilting is more of a “jobby”.

Kim goes into greater detail in her freebie, but her tips for reclaiming joy in your hobby are:

* Join groups that have the same hobby as you!

* Exchanging ideas and earning more friends that have the same hobby as you will help you a lot.

* Don't compare yourself to others.

* Everyone is unique. You may be good at quilting and not at woodworking.

* Give yourself permission to stop working on a project.

* Sometimes, you might feel like you're not enjoying what you are doing anymore. It's okay to stop. Time is too short to work on things that you're no longer enjoying.

* Don't feel guilty about the time you spent in working on your hobby.

* You can't buy happiness. If you love what you are doing, just keep on doing it! Also, hobbies are good for your mental and emotional health.

* Stop, but don't quit!

* You might feel that you're not having fun on what you're doing. Take a break.

If you would like to download, 5 Steps to Reclaiming the Joy in your Hobby, it can be found at http://RockYourRetirement.com/Hobby

Kim's contact information is: Email: [email protected] * Website: www.chatterboxquilts.com

It doesn't matter whether you enjoy quilting, sports, cars, or even steam trains, it is important to find a hobby (or several) as your hobby can help you in your retirement. What is your hobby? Share it with us in the notes below.

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.

We are bringing our editor (and my husband) Les, to the forefront of the Rock Your Retirement show to talk about his cancer diagnosis.

Some of you may already know, but In November of 2016 (on election day), we were hit with some devastating news. We were told that Les has stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. This means he has prostate cancer in about 8 places in his bones. It has a been a journey of sadness, anger, fear, and yes, happiness. We thought we would share a bit of the journey with you.

So the fight begins

We decided Les would go through chemotherapy and hormone blocking. I have to be honest, I was against chemotherapy at first. We also changed our diet and it was very hard!  Les LOVES his cookies and he had to give them up. It has been worth it though because we both feel like the diet change has really helped. Les also did a ton of research and discovered supplements that helped fight cancer. He started taking practically all of them. He's taking a lot of supplements!

Right now, Les is starving his cancer it and keeping it from getting testosterone which stops it from growing. Over time, the cancer will become resistant to this and that is when the risk is higher. The longer the androgen therapy works, the longer Les lives. If you looked at Les right now, you would not think he was sick. For this type of cancer, the life expectancy is about  3 1/2 years. The way things are going, we both think Les will surpass this.

Everytime Les a new ache, I am not sure if it is because of his cancer or the fact that he is 73!  With the therapy, there are side effects which include:

* Numbness and swelling in the feet

* Tiredness

* Losing muscle mass

* Gaining weigh in the stomach

* hot flashes…ladies is this sounding a little familiar?

* Lack of intimacy. We thought about using tips we learned from Sue Goldstein but we haven't started that yet

Leading a less stressful life when you are fighting a disease

* Support of friends and family has been instrumental in relieving stress

* Mental attitude is important.

* Doing the things that need to get done. Throw yourself into work or activities to take your mind of things that would cause you stress.

* Declutter your house because it can be stressful having all that “stuff” around the house. Lisa Woodruff has given us lots of tips on this!

* Keep your mind busy so you are not focused on how you feel

Now what?

We are going to move forward with our lives and not dwell on his condition.

Still no cookies for Les. We are going to stay away from sugar because we both believe sugar feeds cancer

2018 will be spent making memories together. We are going to spend some quality time together and we are going to be traveling. Our first trip is in March and we are going to Hong Kong, Korea, then China. In August, we are going to Barcelona.

Do you want to come with on either of our trips? We can check into a group rate!  If so, leave a comment below or send me an email through the website.

If you would like to read the blog Les has created about his progress you can go to www.leshascancer.com

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Yes! You read that right. Religion helps you stay healthy!

What else should we discuss on Christmas Day, but religion?

Dr. Jim Brown discusses the benefits of going to church with me on this Christmas special, and they aren't all just spiritual. He is a university professor teaching Technology and Psychology (that's a weird mix…right?) and is currently the pastor of The Lake Church. Dr. Jim Brown has been a principal, superintendent, department chair at three different universities. He also served several churches and various roles from music pastor to senior pastor.

Did you know that there are benefits in the faith community to our mind, body, and spirit?

Although we still report ourselves to be a “Christian Nation”, 17% of Americans are regularly attending services (including all religions) weekly. That's about 1 in every 5 Americans go to (church/synagogue/mosque/etc.) on a regular basis. It doesn't mean that the 83% doesn't go to church at all, they just don't go on a regular basis.

Here are some of the benefits of going to church and how religion helps you stay healthy :

* Churchgoers live longer and enjoy better overall health in the general population.  Why is this?  Does this surprise you?

* According to Dr. Lynda Powell, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Rush University Medical Center, the answer may lie at least in part in the positive lifestyle choices that churches promote. Most religious organizations discourage negative habits like smoking, drugs, etc.

* Frequent churchgoers are happier than those who do not attend services.  Of course, there is always the exception, and right now churchgoers might have a particular reputation of being…well…judgmental or “churchie” for lack of a better word…  But according to research on religion, it's true.  Why is this?

* We learn (over time) to accept life as it comes.

* We learn (also over time) to love and accept one another.  No matter what the flaws are.  This can be one of the most difficult things to learn.

* A support system is built in for those hard times that we all must face.

* Regular attendance may increase lifespan.

* Many Americans go to church because it helps them stay grounded and gives them spiritual guidance.

* Tyler VanderWeele of Harvard said, “Church attendance promotes self-discipline and sense of meaning and purpose.”

* Dr. Blazer, a professor of Psychiatry at Duke University said, “The one aspect that is significant of good health is religious service attendance.”

* Couples who attend church services are less likely to divorce and have happier marriages than those who don't attend.

To get Dr. Brown's 11 Good Reasons to Attend Church, go to http://rockyourretirement.com/ReasonsToAttendChurch

Do you have any comments about today's episode?  Post them in the comments section below!

Contact information for Lake Church at Lake San Marcos:

* The Lake Church – Official Website

* The Lake Church – Facebook Page

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Lisa Woodruff was a previous guest and I brought her back for a second interview to talk about how different generation groups organize

Lisa is a professional organizer, productivity specialist, and author. She believes organization is not a skill you are born with. It is a skill that is developed over time and changes with each season of life. I am an avid listener and big fan of her podcast show at Organize365.com.

I gave Lisa an update on my personal progress and yes, I am making progress! We also talked about my ” Sunday Basket” and if you listen to Episode 88 which was my first interview with Lisa you can learn more about that.

What are the different Generation Groups? The dates can vary depending on where you look but here is a general idea:

* The Silent Generation born between 1925 and 1945

* Baby Boomer Generation born between 1946 and 1964

* Generation X born between 1965 and 1980

* Millenials born between 1980 and after

Lisa and I discuss how each generation deals with their “stuff” and what the differences are.

The Silent Generation was born and raised in the Great Depression. They had a lot available to them educationally but not a lot available to them materially. The Silent Generation typically did not have mortgages on their home and did not use credit cards. They were a hard-working and fairly frugal generation. There was not a lot of consumerism while they were growing up.

Baby Boomers were born and raised in the affluence of World War II. This is when consumerism and a lot of toys really came on the market. Barbies, GI Joe, TV's  and commercials became prevalent and advertisers started targeting teenagers.

Gen Xer's had all of the toys. They had all of the toys the baby boomers had growing up and then some. The majority of Gen Xers grew up in the 80's which was the height of materialism. In the 80's is when things cost the most and people wanted to accumulate a lot of “stuff”.

Decluttering and downsizing

These items that are in our parents and grandparents homes and attics are things that were hard earned. Baby boomers sometimes have a difficult time getting rid of their things because they worked so hard to obtain them. Take the time to go through those things with your parents or grandparents. Let them tell the stories of how the stuff was obtained and the memories that come with them. Find ways of making memories using the stuff.

Lisa has a lot going on! Below is some information on her workshops, podcast, and books

100 day home organization program 

Paper organizing workshop called the Sunday basket. You can learn more about it at thesundaybasket.com

You can also learn more or listen to her podcast at organize365.com

Books/Kindle Editions: 

The Mindset of Organization: Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time

How ADHD Affects Home Organization: Understanding the Role of the 8 Key Executive Functions of the Mind

The Sunday Basket: Weekly Paper Organization & Planning

In this episode, I talk with Veronica Mitchell about the sensitive topic of taking the keys away.

Veronica is a friend of mine who I have known for awhile. We have served on the same committees at the Caregiver Coalition of San Diego and also the San Diego County Council on Aging. Veronica is an advocate for seniors, women, and caregivers. She is a guest blogger and writes her own blog featured on her website. She is passionate about prevention of Elder Abuse and Scams, along with helping families take the keys from their senior loved ones.

You love your parent or spouse, yet you know that they can no longer safely drive. How do you know that it is time to take the keys away? How do you have that conversation with them in a loving and respectful way? Where do you begin? Families members are afraid to approach the subject. It is our last part of our freedom as we age, and it is very emotional subject.

My father's Parkinson's caused his eyes to shut and he was still driving! Obviously, I was panicked and in our family, we had to deal with the tough subject of taking the keys away. Sadly, my story is not uncommon.

Veronica and broke this down into 4 phases:

* Have Conversations with your loved ones and start it as early as possible. Have a frank conversation and the most candid approach is best. Don't wait until it is a crisis.

* Identify, Observe & Document Unsafe Driving. Follow them and observe their driving. Check out the car and see if there are more dents than usual. When you are driving them around ask them directions to get somewhere. Do they get flustered, angry or confused in traffic?

* Create a Plan, Manage the Plan, and Vet All Participants. Coordinate with friends and family members about who is going to drive them to places. They still need to get to places such as doctors appointments or haircuts. They also need social engagement. Make sure there is a plan to get them to social activities so they don't become depressed feeling stuck in one place. Make sure to be flexible and have all family members help.

Contact information for Veronica:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @VeronicaMitch1

Website: www.veronicamitchell.com

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Image already added

Laura Barish came on the show to talk with us about preventing financial elder abuse.

Laura is President and CEO of AltaGolden. She has a passion for working with older adults and loves her job.  Laura is responsible for marketing, community outreach, corporate management, and she also sometimes works as a caregiver so that she understands what it takes to be a great caregiver. Laura is on the clinical affairs committee for the San Diego Dementia Consortium.

In our discussion, Laura and I talk about some of the scams that are out there including:

* Email invoked abuse and Microsoft Outlook worms

* Western Union Fraud:  Someone calls and says, “Your grandson was taken to jail in Mexico. We need you to wire money for attorneys fees”. The scammers like to play on heartstrings.

* IRS Scam is where someone will call telling you that you are in default on your taxes. The IRS will never call or email anyone. They will only send a letter.

* YES Scam is when someone will call and pretend to have a bad connection saying “can you hear me now?” Their objective is to get you to say “YES” so they have your voice on recording and they can use your recorded voice to purchase things.

Anyone can order a mailing list. There is a lot of demographic information in these mailing lists. This includes; address information, age groups, and even reported income levels. Sometimes the phone scammers are not just randomly dialing people. They are targeting you for a specific reason.

We also talked about the recent Microsoft scams. This is where your computer gets locked up or you get a pop up on your screen indicating your drivers are not up to date. Scammers essentially hold your computer ransom until you pay money to get it unlocked.

Steps for preventing financial elder abuse

Don't go to websites you don't know

Don't open an attachment or links in an email from anyone you don't know.

If a scammer calls you, the easiest and safest thing is to hang up.

Educate your loved ones about the Scams that are out there so they are aware of them and they know what to look out for.

Make sure your computer virus software us up to date at all times

If you have a private caregiver, make sure they are aware of these scams as well. Laura also tells us that if you use a private caregiver don't give them the “keys to the kingdom”. Make sure you have systems in place to ensure the caregiver cannot take advantage of your loved one

If you have questions, ask! It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help or guidance.

Contact information for Laura: Phone: 858-779-9254 or website: www.altagolden.com

As I mentioned in our interview, the Red Podcast has a few episodes about IRS Scams. Here is a link to one of them This Is What An IRS Scam Phone Call Sounds Like 

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Image already added