Be a happy camper with your grandchild
If you attended a camp as a child or teenager, you might remember the meaningful experiences you enjoyed, or the long-lasting friendships you forged. You may also yearn to go back to those days of s’mores, sing-alongs and summer sun. The good news? Just because you are no longer a kid doesn’t mean you can’t go to camp. There has been a recent increase in the number of... READ MORE
Simplify finances — for you and your heirs
Simplifying and organizing our financial lives can make things easier for us while we’re alive and for our survivors when we’re not. This task becomes more urgent as we age. Our financial decision-making abilities generally peak around age 53, researchers have found, while rates of cognitive decline and dementia start to climb at age 60. Over time, we tend to become more... READ MORE
FDA proposes crackdown on homeopathy
U.S. health officials plan to crack down on a growing number of unproven alternative remedies, focusing on products containing dangerous ingredients that have occasionally been linked to serious injury and death. The Food and Drug Administration recently issued a new proposal for regulating homeopathic medicines that have long been on the fringe of mainstream medicine. The agency... READ MORE
Store card could torpedo your credit score
When a sales clerk cheerfully asks, “Would you like to save 20 percent on your purchases today by opening a card with us?” you may think you’re getting a bargain. But the reality sounds a lot less cheery: “Would you be interested in a low-limit card that could damage your credit standing?” Credit expert John Ulzheimer warns that opening a new store card could hurt your... READ MORE
Hamlet in the age of Twitter and Snapchat
To be or not to be. Is that really the question a twitchy millennial — a man-child with little self-awareness and a slippery grasp on reality — might be asking himself in the midst of existential angst? Apparently not, if Michael Kahn’s uneven wreck of Hamlet, onstage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company through March 4, is to be believed. And that’s why we see the Danish prince ... READ MORE
Beacon Links & Apps – February 2018
How the world works Can alcohol cause anxiety? Is Seattle the rainiest U.S. city? Why are rodents such popular lab test animals? You’ve got questions, and the website HowStuffWorks has answers to thousands of them. The site got its start in 1998 at a college professor’s kitchen table. From there, it grew into a source of unbiased, reliable, easy-to-understand answers and... READ MORE
Ways to reduce fall risk and injuries
It can happen to anyone at any time. One minute you’re on your feet; the next you’re on the ground. Falls are the leading cause of all non-fatal injuries, and the most common reason for visits to the emergency room. One in five falls results in a significant injury, such as head trauma or broken wrists, hips, legs or ankles. Falls are also the second leading cause of injury-related... READ MORE
Explore Virginia’s African American sites
Perhaps surprisingly, “Virginia is home to the longest continuous experience of African American culture and life in the United States,” the state’s tourism agency touts. It is a journey of highs and lows, tragedies and triumphs. In a state that promotes its early devotion to democracy and human dignity through numerous Colonial and Revolutionary War sites, the landscape is riddled ... READ MORE
How to make your encore career count
Marci Alboher is vice president of Encore.org, a nonprofit that encourages baby boomers to use their skills and experience to help their communities. She’s the author of The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life. Here is an excerpt of a conversation with her from Kiplinger’s: Kiplinger: Are there particular fields that lend... READ MORE
Getting stronger can help prevent falls
Dear Savvy Senior: I’ve fallen several times over the past year, and my doctor has recommended that I start a strength-training program to help prevent future falls. But at age 72, I’ve never lifted weights before and could use some help. What can you tell me? — Looking for Help Dear Looking: Weak leg muscles and poor balance are two of the biggest factors that cause older ... READ MORE
