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Page 2 - The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017

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Leisure activities: the key to happy retirement Are you approaching retirement? You need to start thinking about what you’ll do with the priceless gift of time that you’ll be receiving. To fully appreciate this new stage of your life rather than dreading it, you just have to be well prepared. So take stock of your interests, and take control of the situation now by listing all the activities you would like to indulge in when you’re well rested.

FUN ACTIVITIES Consider a variety of activities that you can do alone, as a couple, with family, or friends. This is a great opportunity to

take up knitting in order to relax, try new restaurants with your spouse, go to shows or sports events with the family, or contact friends you haven’t seen for ages. Quilting, poker, reading, golf, movies, jigsaw puzzles, hiking, museums — the possibilities are endless and so you’re sure to find a hobby that is in tune with your interests.

Classes for enriching the mind You never had time to pursue your passions? The time has come to remedy the situation; take a class in music, art, sports, computers, language, cooking,

or sewing. Take classes to develop a long-neglected talent, to perfect an art that you’re already familiar with, or to get acquainted with a new discipline.

Will you miss all those discussions with your work colleagues? Join a group to share your passions or just to meet people and exchange ideas and opinions.

You might want to join a book or bridge club, a bowling or hockey league, or do lawn bowling or sing in a choir.

If you take the time to plan your leisure activities, your retirement will be relaxing but never boring!

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Make the most of your retirement by planning some leisure activities.

Leave your mark on the world

Would you like to take advantage of your retirement years to create a tangible record of your time on earth for posterity? Here are some ideas to help you decide how you can leave your mark on the world.

The written word is a fine legacy and offers many possibilities. You could write your autobiography, telling your life story or that of your family by sharing the funniest or most touching stories that marked it. You could also create a collection of your finest poems, your best jokes, or your favou-

rite quotes. Words are also a good way to pass on your knowledge and experience to loved ones, such as through a collection of your most delicious recipes, or the traditional remedies that have been handed down through the generations of your family.

If you’re not very good with words, other options are available to you. You could use images; after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. You could create chronological or thematic photo albums, or start scrapbooking, to leave your loved ones with las­

ting memories. If you enjoy doing research, you could also try to reconstruct your family tree from the time your an­cestors first arrived in North America. You’re com­forta­ble with multimedia? You could shoot videos to leave behind for the people you are close to; you could write a blog in which you share one of your passions, or create a website devoted to your family.

If you have children, you have already left your mark; the values you pass on will endure for generations to come.

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Do you have a retirement plan?

Have you started to make plans for your retire­ ment? To make sure you have the means to achieve them, good financial plan­ ning is essential. A solid retirement plan will allow you to assess the revenue you’re going to need and what sources of income you’ll have when the time comes.

Generally speaking, you’ll need 70 percent of

your average annual gross income over the last three years of your working life in order to maintain your standard of living after retirement. Why not 100 percent? Even though lei­ sure expenses will increase after retirement, those as­ sociated with work will diminish or even disap­ pear. You’ll be paying less income tax and you’ll no longer need to contribute

to your retirement plans.

Naturally, the percent­ age will vary accor­ ding to your salary, the age at which you retire, your fam­ ily expenses, personal sa­ vings, and what you want to do during your retire­ ment years. To determine the income and savings you’ll need to live a fulfill­ ing retirement, you’ll also have to take into account inflation and the fact that healthcare expenses could eventually increase.

Are you struggling to answer all these questions?

Consulting a financial planner is always advisable if you want to benefit from the best possible retirement plan. He or she will analyze your financial situation, tell you about the group or individual plans that will allow you to finance your retirement, and advise you on your investments. Once you know that your dreams are in order, you can relax and get ready to enjoy your retirement.

Should I sell my home?

Selling your home after retirement has cer­ tain ad­vantages. You can move closer to your fam­ ily, re­ duce your expens­ es, have access to better services, or find a home that is easier to maintain.

However, moving isn’t for everyone. Life in a condo may not suit you and a smaller home may force you to get rid of some pre­ cious belongings.

Whatever your choice, never rush into a decision.

Visit seve­ ral neighbour­ hoods or rent a condo for a few months to make

sure that the lifestyle and the area suit you. Factor in all the routine expens­ es linked to your new surroundings, espe­cially if you move away from your family or you decide to live abroad. In other words, you should take into consideration travel­ ling costs to visit friends and family in ad­dition to maintenance and proper­ ty taxes.

Don’t make the mis­ take of believing your­ self to be im­ mune to poor health, eit­ her. Will you have easy ac­cess to

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Moving is not a deci­ sion that should be tak­ en lightly. Whether you want to live in a smaller home or a condo, in a re­ tirement community or abroad, it’s a good idea to consult a real estate broker and financial planner to find out what best suits your needs and if you can afford them in the long-term.

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Page 4 - The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017

When you retire, you can take the trip of your dreams at your own pace.

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Finally, some time to travel Your retirement is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to travel — at last! What a great project, especially as travelling during your retirement years has lots of advantages. Be careful, however, to stay within your limits, as well as your budget. After all, you want to be able to make the most of this opportunity for as long as possible.

Leave when you want Now you can go away whenever you want, which allows you to take advantage of last minute deals or take part in events that you’ve always dreamed of, such as the Rio carnival or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to see the Monaco Grand Prix or tennis at Wimbledon.

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time to do everything you want. Travelling no longer has to be an exhausting marathon, a whirlwind of visits where you cram in as much as possible in a short amount of time. In other words, travel doesn’t have to be synonymous with exhaustion anymore.

Travel your way Not only do you have

time to travel, you also have time to plan your own trip.

You can now put together the trip of your dreams, a journey that will be tailor-made to meet your best expectations.

So what to do? Will you soak up some sun in southern climes, explore Europe, or enjoy a total change of scene in Asia? Will you

discover some African cultures, take a Mediterranean cruise, or visit Italy’s most famous museums?

Whatever your destination, you’ll now have the time to admire the world’s great monuments, pedal along the most beautiful bike paths, and see all the new and ancient wonders of the world.

Because SENIORS mean the world to us

We probably all know of at least one elderly couple where the wife is caring for a husband suffering from a debilitating disease, or where the husband is looking after a wife who can no longer be considered independent. These kinds of care arrangements often leave the primary caregiver in a situation where his or her own health is compromised. If you’re planning a visit to such a household, it is important to also remember the needs and well-being of the caregiver, who likely could use some moral and lo­gistical support.

There are many different ways to make the most

of these visits. For example, you might be able to work with the caregiving senior to visit at a particular time so that he or she can attend a fitness class or a support group. If setting a specific day and time isn’t possible, then you could suggest to the caregiver when you arrive that he or she is welcome to go out for a walk or do some other relaxing activity. This allows for a break from their demanding role, and it also allows you some time alone with the invalid to develop a rewarding the­rapeutic relationship.

A few small gestures could also lighten the caregiver’s burden. Think

about bringing along a prepared meal or doing some light housework while you’re visiting. You might also offer to run an errand, perhaps to the pharmacy or the grocery store. It might be useful to make yourself available to help with transportation to a medical appointment or other engagement.

The overall goal is to prevent adding two more seniors to full-time institutional care — the exhaus­ ted caregiver and the spouse who can no longer look after his or herself. When your visit comes to an end, don’t forget to praise the caregiver for all his or her devotion and hard work!

When visiting an elderly invalid, you can also contribute to the well-being of the caregiver.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017 - Page 5

Page 6 - The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017

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Volunteering: rewarding “work”

Are you looking for­ ward to your retirement but are worried about having too much free time on your hands? Maybe you could invest your time in a cause close to your heart; give a

few hours a week to an or­ gani­ zation or help some­ one in trouble, for example.

Volunteering is a way to keep inertia and depres­ sion at bay when your pro­ fessional work life comes

to an end. And the benefits of volunteering are many, both for you and for those with whom you in­ teract.

Here are just a few: • Volunteering is re­ warding. Being a volunteer

lets you feel useful and ap­ preciated. It im­proves your quality of life and al­lows you to put your experience and expertise at the ser­vice of your community.

• Volunteering lets you develop as a person. It gives you the opportunity to expand your ho­ rizons, develop new skills, gain more knowledge, widen your social network, and cultivate a strong sense of

belonging in your commu­ nity.

• Volunteering gives you the op­portunity to help people while doing some­ thing you love. For exam­ ple, if you love to travel, you could participate in an over­ seas international de­ velopment project.

• Volunteering is good for your health. In addi­ tion to helping you to stay active, volunteering helps

you avoid feelings of iso­ lation, and it also reduces stress, anxiety, and symp­ toms of depression.

Whether you volunteer several times a week or just an occasional day here and there, volunteering is a great motivator and gives you a reason to get out of bed in the mor­ning. Best of all, it can really give mean­ ing to your life.

Preparing for retirement as a couple

Volunteering allows you to have an active and fulfilling life, even after retirement.

Retirement is an im­ portant milestone in life that involves a lot of changes. During this time, people rediscover not only themsel­ves but their spous­ es as well, which can cause tension within a couple.

Some careful pre­ paration can help both parties enjoy a happy retirement togeth­ er.

To prevent any problems in your relationship during the early years of your re­ tirement, you should dis­ cuss your expectations with your spouse before you re­tire. Kno­wing what each other’s ho­pes are will allow you to make plans together and expe­rience a better transition when the

time comes.

Since you’ll be spend­ ing so much time togeth­ er, it is important to have some common interests.

Now is the time to start looking for ac­ tivities you can do together and hob­ bies that you both like.

Si­ mi­ larly, you could plan projects, large or small, for your retirement.

While it’s essential to spend time with your part­ ner, it’s just as ne­cessary to have activities of your own, to keep time for yourself.

Plan on having somewhere you can go to be alone oc­ casionally, such as a study or workshop.

Planning for retirement is not just a matter of fi­

nances. You also have to get ready to expe­rience a significant change of pace.

And since you’re not used to being with your spouse all day, you’ll need an ad­ justment period. A bit of good planning is the best way to avoid conflict and start off on the right foot.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017 - Page 7

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Page 8 - The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017

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What you should know about the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Planning for retire­ ment? Here’s what you need to know before com­ pleting your Ser­vice Can­ ada pension application.

You’re eligible for a pension if you’re 60 years of age or older and you’ve paid at least one contribu­ tion to the Canada Pen­ sion Plan. If you are under 65 and are disabled when your pension comes into force, it could be convert­ ed into a disability bene­ fit.

The amount of your pension is based on the amount of your contri­ butions and the number

of years you con­ tributed. To offset a decline in revenue, years during which your earnings were low could be exclud­ ed from the calcula­ tion, especially if you raised your children as the primary care­ giver. In March 2014, the average payment for a new beneficia­ ry when applying at 65, the normal re­ tirement age, was $611.85 per month.

You can apply at age Your pension is not paid au60, but your pension tomatically; you must apply will be reduced. Sim­ for it.

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ilarly, your pension will be increased if you apply later than at age 65.

The best time to apply for your pension depends on your health, your sav­ ings, and your retirement plan. You can also split

your pension with your spouse to reduce income taxes. Tools are available on the Service Canada website at www.service­ canada.gc.ca to help you make the best choices.

You can apply online

on the Service Cana­ da website or download the forms to send in by mail. You will re­ c eive your first payment ap­ proximately eight weeks after submitting your ap­ plication.

There’s still time for your childhood dreams

You’re never too old to dream. In fact it’s just the opposite. Retire­ ment is the perfect opportuni­ ty to achieve your wild­ est dreams, your youth­ ful dreams, or to pursue new ones that are more in line with your latest inter­ ests. While some people dream of climbing in the Hima­ layas, others prefer something a little more re­ laxing; the constraints of your physical abilities are the only limitation. What­ ever your dreams, it’s time to believe in yourself and give yourself the means to achieve them.

You could embark on a major pro­ject that is close to your heart, such as going back to school or training for a new job; you could start a small business, go ab­ road for a year, make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Com­pos­tela, or write a novel.

Living out your dreams also means doing some

simple things that you just never had time to do before: learn to play an instrument, see all your fa­ vourite di­ rector’s movies, read the great literary classics, or learn to make wedding ca­ kes. It also means spoiling your­ self by doing a few of the once-in-a-lifetimethings that you always prom­ ised yourself, such as going on an Alas­ kan cruise, a ride in a hot air balloon, or a trip to Las Vegas to see a show.

Dreams can be satis­ fying without

having to be grandiose or out of your comfort zone.

Whether you crave adven­ ture or relaxation, the im­ portant thing is not to have re­grets, to not say later that you should have done this or that when the opportuni­ ty presented it­self. So, what are you waiting for?

Make the most of your retirement to live out some of your youthful dreams.

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Solutions for managing medication

Managing medications is a major source of worry for se­niors, as the complexity of their treatment often requires careful organization. Which pills have to be taken in the mor­ ning, in the evening, or at mealtimes? What to do if you forget to take a pill or if you’ve taken two by mistake? Don’t worry; there are a few simple solutions that can help you avoid this sort of situation.

The most popular op-

tion is to use a pill organizer. Several different models are available in stores.

These range from the classic seven-day box with compartments, which allows you to plan one day at a time, to a more elaborate box where each day is separated into four time slots.

Some companies also offer digital pill organizers. These come equipped with a programmable alarm that makes it virtually impossible to forget to

take your medication. The help of a family member may be required in order to program the device.

Placing your medication in a pill organizer requires a great deal of care.

Seniors who are nervous about making mistakes can ask for help from their pharmacy. As well as organizing the medication properly, the qualified personnel at the pharmacy will know when your prescriptions need to be

renewed and can clearly explain the importance of each pill and the best way to take it.

Some simpler solutions are to use the alarm on your watch or to put reminder stickers on the fridge door or bathroom mirror. Seniors who have a precise daily routine can also take their medication at routine points of reference, such as the start of their favourite morning and evening television programs.

The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017 - Page 9

Using a pill organizer can help seniors remember when to take their medication.

Retirement homes: making the right choice

The first step in choosing a suitable retirement home is to define your needs.

Moving into a retirement home is a huge step in someone’s life, and it can certainly be a very difficult decision to make.

There are many reasons for moving into a retirement home: loss of independence, lack of support from close family members, and the onset of more health problems, to name a few. Financial reasons can also be a factor.

Whatever the case may be, choosing to leave the comfort of one’s own home to move into a retirement home is a decision that must be made freely, after a great deal of thought. If this decision is made for the right reasons, it can be

very positive for the person involved and may contribute to an improvement in their quality of life.

The choice of retirement home is, however, extremely important.

Seniors have to be sure of their needs in order to come to the right decision. For example, if you’re worried about your health, then it is wiser to choose an establishment that offers on-site medical services, which is sure to contribute to your peace of mind.

Maybe you’re a very sociable person or, on the other hand, maybe you require moments of solitude.

Here again, your needs

should guide you in your choice of home. These types of questions, while seemingly very simple, are essential to the process of esta­ blishing your list of requirements. After you know what you want, you can consider retirement homes in a particular geogra­phical area.

For some people, going to live in a retirement home can be an opportunity to broa­ den their horizons. The move could also give them the chance to live closer to a family member or friend.

Who knows, this new home could end up being an oasis of comfort and peace!

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Aim for a retirement with no regrets Try asking a few people over 60 what they regret most about how they prepared for re­ti­rement. You’ll probably hear that they wish they’d gone about their financial planning in a different way. It’s worth studying their answers so you can avoid major discomfort later on. Here are the most common regrets: “I should have started saving when I was younger.”

It’s important to start saving for retirement even in the early stages of your career.

You probably won’t work for the same employer for an extended period of time, the way your parents did, and a company or government pension can easily disappear from under your feet if you lose your job before you qualify. Even if you are self-employed, open a 401K and be vigilant about it.

“I thought I didn’t have enough income to contribute to a savings plan.”

Whether you’re highly disciplined or a free spirit whose money burns holes in your pockets, the cost of living may always seem oppressive. But saving money doesn’t have to gut your paycheck. Set up an IRA with your bank, life in­su­rance company, mutual fund, or stockbroker. Make contributions that match your current capabilities and up the contributions whenever you can.

“I didn’t diversify enough.” Diversified retirement planning is crucial; don’t be tempted to put the bulk of your savings at the mercy of the marketplace. If you count on just one source of retirement in­come, such as a pension and stocks, you and your loved ones may be left short if the market plum­mets. Prac­tice com­prehensive fi­ nancial planning with IRAs, a 401K, life insurance, and mu­tual funds.

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What do I do with all this time?

For most people, work is their main activity and interest throughout their lives. They dread the thought of retirement out of fear of boredom. And for good reason; when you leave the working world, you lose your established routines, your social network, and a sense of belonging. You lose the pleasure of having found your very own ni­che somewhere in society. Suddenly, you’re deprived of all your reference points, and you’re just not sure who you are anymore. You might feel useless with all that free time on your hands. And you know that in order to adapt to this new reality, you’ll have to learn to restructure your life somehow.

If you want to be able to look forward to retirement, it can help if you prepare yourself. How? Take stock of your life and flesh out which things are really important to you. This kind of discernment will help you determine what stimulates you and meets

your needs. When you’ve figured out what’s important to you and what your real values are, it will be ea­ sier to find activities, causes, and projects to get involved with once you re-

tire.

But finding a hobby isn’t enough. To avoid isolation, try to expand your social network before retiring. Even though your job al­lowed you to build

Take stock of your life so you can define your needs and prepare for retirement.

friendships, working re­ lationships rarely last after retirement, des­pite our best intentions.

Progressive retirement can be a good way to ease the transition between

work and retirement. Volunteering and mentoring are also options that can allow you to stay active and continue to be involved in your field of expertise or interest.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017 - Page 11

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Five types of activities to do with your grandchildren

When you retire you’ll finally have plenty of time to devote to your family.

Here are some suggestions for activities that will allow you to spend some quality time with your grandchil­ dren.

1. Outdoor activi­ ties. What could be better than an outing to the park for some fa­ mily fun? A picnic, Frisbee, ball games, and blowing bubbles will

be a hit no matter their age.

2. Games of all kinds. To keep children busy on rainy days, pull out the board ga­mes and card games. And hide and seek never gets old.

3. Arts and crafts.

Crafts, drawing (with co­ loured pencils inside or chalk outside), colouring, painting, or modeling clay are all great for developing creativity. You could also

make a story book, read a good book together, or just invent stories to tell each other.

4. Knowledge shar­ ing. Share your passions with your grandchildren.

De­pen­ding on their inter­ ests, you can share family recipes with them, teach them to play the piano or sew, or take them out to the garage to poke around in the car engine.

Five tips for a healthy retirement Staying active and healthy is essential if you want to make the most of your retirement. Here are some tips to help you enjoy your retirement for years to come.

1. Remain active.

Physical activity is not only beneficial to your health;

it’s also good for the mo­ rale and great for relaxing.

Golf, gardening, swim­ ming, walking, dancing, and cycling are all simple op­tions. Find activities you enjoy and do them on a regular basis.

2. Take care of your health. Go for regular checkups and screenings for diseases such as osteoporosis, breast cancer, or prostate cancer.

Don’t forget to have your eyes, hearing, and teeth examined as well. Quit­ ting smoking would also be a good idea.

3. E a t healthy.

En­ You can enjoy your retirement sure that your to the maximum by taking diet in­cludes good care of yourself. enough pro­

tein, fibre, calcium, and vitamin D. Refer to Can­ ada’s Food Guide for re­ commendations related to your age group.

4. Sleep well. To promote better sleep, avoid caffeine and cigarettes be­ fore going to bed, develop a bedtime routine, and try to always go to bed and get up at the same time, including on weekends.

5. Boost your mem­ ory. Here are some good memory strengtheners: physical activity; sleep and relaxation; games such as scrabble, Sudoku, cross­ word puzzles, and cards; an active social life; and intellectual work such as reading, writing, and ana­ lyzing.

By following these tips on a daily basis, you’ll help yourself stay healthy and you’ll be able to live your life to the maximum.

5. Fun things to do.

For something out of the ordinary, take them out for a day at the zoo, museum, or farm. You could also go ice skating, eat out, or go see a movie.

There’s no lack of ideas for having fun with your grandchildren. Camping in the backyard, a trip to the library, a day at the beach, or a movie night at home — they are all small plea­ sures the children will re­ member for years to come.

Retirement allows you to spend quality time with your family.

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Page 12 - The Battlefords, Thursday, October 12, 2017

Regional Optimist

www.newsoptimist.ca

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