Our community is home to thousands of senior citizens, many of which have no family in the area. That being said, who’s there to make sure our local seniors are receiving the care they need? Seniors First, Inc. is a nonprofit social service organization that helps elderly Central Floridians remain independent and in their homes for as long as possible through a variety of services and programs. Marsha Lorenz, CEO and President of Seniors First, says the focus of the organization is on healthy and creative opportunities for aging while promoting respect for the strengths and contributions... Read more

The weaker economy and higher than average unemployment rates are boosting the number of people collecting Social Security retirement benefits, especially baby boomers who are beginning to reach retirement age. The oldest of the baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, turned 62-years-old last year, which is the earliest age retirees can start to receive partial benefits. Dr. Sean Snaith, Ph. D., director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at UCF. “The state of Social Security right now is OK, but we have the bulk of the baby boomer generation yet to move into the... Read more

As we grow older our financial needs evolve based on the many changing factors life brings upon us. There are standard measures to assist clients with their evolving financial goals, but no one size fits all. Today’s financial goals are as dependant on a person’s overall life “situation” as their age is. Age is still a major contributing factor, but so are other factors such as your family’s health, children, inheritances, caring for elderly parents and what have you. When young adults first enter the workforce the last thing on their minds is planning for retirement... Read more

You’re getting older-it’s a fact of life but staying active and involved in the community may help you take a dip in the Fountain of Youth, at least temporarily. Volunteering and joining organizations geared toward older adults can help you stay involved while making a difference. Many organizations that use volunteers are always looking for retirees, since most of the work is during what are typically regular working hours, says Lorri Highet, director of the Heart of Florida United Way Volunteer Resource Center in Orlando. “So if somebody has some time on their hands during the... Read more

There’s no place like home: the current recession has made the trend of three or more generations of families living under one roof more popular around the country and locally in East Orlando. Even the White House became a multigenerational household when Michelle Obama’s mother, or kindly-dubbed “first granny,” moved in to help care for the couple’s daughters. In Florida, there are more than 240,000 multigenerational households, according to the 2008 American Community Survey. So why are more extended families living under one roof? Kimmy Duong and her extended family... Read more