Episode 10: Americans Will Struggle in Retirement: Are You Prepared? (A Hard Truth)

Episode 10: Americans Will Struggle in Retirement: Are You Prepared? (A Hard Truth)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/fan_mail/new] If you've been worried about Social Security's future, confused about caregiving costs, or wondering whether your retirement savings will last — this episode was made for you. Kwame sits down with Andy Eschtruth, Director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, for an honest, clear-headed conversation about the real state of retirement in America today. Andy has spent three decades studying how people plan for — and live through — retirement. In this episode, he breaks down the Social Security funding shortfall in plain language, explains what it actually means for people already receiving benefits, and shares what Congress is likely to do about it. He also opens up about his own parents' caregiving journey and what it taught him about the non-financial side of retirement. This conversation goes beyond money. It covers social isolation, the caregiving workforce crisis, emergency savings gaps, and the surprising truth about what actually determines happiness in retirement. If you're living on a fixed income or approaching retirement, this episode gives you the kind of grounded, practical insight that's hard to find anywhere else. Key Topics Covered -The Social Security shortfall explained simply — what it means, how serious it is, and what the realistic outcomes are for current and future beneficiaries -What Congress is likely to do — and why history suggests action will come late but will come -How raising the retirement age is actually a benefit cut — and what that means if you claim early -The caregiving crisis — workforce shortages, affordability, and what options exist for middle-income families -Social isolation in retirement — why your social life may matter more than your bank account -Emergency savings in retirement — why 2 in 5 retired households can't cover unexpected expenses, and what that means for your daily decisions -The National Retirement Risk Index — the sobering statistic that 40–50% of American workers are not on track to maintain their standard of living in retirement -Workplace retirement savings access — why only 1 in 2 private sector workers participates in a retirement plan, and what's being done about it Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially valuable if you are: -Already retired or within 10 years of retirement -Receiving or planning to receive Social Security benefits -Caring for an aging parent or concerned about your own future care needs -Living on a fixed income and trying to make your savings last -Someone who wants clear, research-backed information — not opinion or alarm Why This Matters Now Social Security's trust fund is projected to face a shortfall within six years under current conditions. At the same time, caregiving costs are rising, the caregiver workforce is shrinking, and many retirees are facing unexpected expenses with little cushion. Understanding where things stand — and what options exist — helps you make more informed decisions about your own retirement security, right now. *Andrew Eschtruth is the director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.  He joined the Center in 1999 and served as associate director for external relations and then deputy director until assuming the director role in 2025.  His interests include Social Security program design and finances, expanding access to workplace-based retirement plans, and improving the nation’s long-term care system.  In his previous roles, he oversaw the Center’s communication activities and managed relationships with the government, foundation, and corporate communities.  Eschtruth is the co-author (with Charles D. Ellis and Alicia H. Munnell) of Falling Short: The Coming Retirement Crisis and What to Do About It (Oxford University Press, 2014). Before joining the Center, Eschtruth was a senior research analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) specializing in Social Security, federal fiscal policy, and the economic implications of an aging population.  While at the GAO, he served on a special assignment as an aide to the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.  Eschtruth earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in public policy from Duke University.  If this conversation gave you something useful — a clearer picture of Social Security, a new way to think about caregiving, or simply the reassurance that you're not alone in navigating these questions — please consider sharing it with a friend or family member who could benefit. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/support]

Episode 9: Warning Signs We Miss — And What to Do Next (Practitioner's Guide to Dementia)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/fan_mail/new] For adults on a fixed income or navigating retirement, understanding the healthcare system for aging loved ones can feel confusing and costly. This conversation helps cut through that — with honest, experience-based advice on what steps to take, when to bring in help, and how to ask the right questions. Key Topics Covered - What dementia really is — and why it's much more than memory loss (it affects safety, judgment, finances, and daily independence) - The most common types of dementia explained simply: Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal, and mixed - Risk factors you can actually influence — blood pressure, diet, physical activity, social connection, and family history - Early warning signs to look for when you visit a parent or older loved one, especially around Mother's Day or Father's Day - How to start a conversation with a resistant parent about getting help - What a care manager actually does — and how they coordinate doctors, medications, home safety, and family decisions - Special guidance for "solo agers" — older adults living alone without close family nearby - How AI monitoring tools can support seniors living at home without replacing human care Who This Episode Is For This episode is for adults in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who are caring for an aging parent or loved one — or starting to wonder if they should be. It's also for anyone planning ahead for their own aging who wants to understand what a care manager does and when to call one. If you have a neighbor, aunt, or family friend living alone, the segment on solo agers is especially worth your attention. Why This Matters Now Dementia affects an estimated 6 to 7 million people in the United States, and that number is growing as the population ages. Many families don't seek guidance until a crisis hits, which often leads to rushed decisions and higher long-term care costs. Getting informed early — even if nothing seems wrong yet — helps protect your loved one's independence and gives you the legal and financial groundwork you need if things do change. If this episode gave you something to think about, consider sharing it with a sibling, adult child, or friend who is also navigating care for an older loved one. Subscribing to the Retirement Navigator Podcast means you'll always have a calm, trustworthy voice in your corner as you plan for the years ahead. Every episode is made with one goal: helping you feel more prepared and less alone. Resources Guidance Care Management — gcmfix.com (launching soon) Service area: Remote consultations available nationally. In-person preferred in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and compact nursing states. Contact Gina directly: gina@gcmfix.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginadnegri/ Website: http://www.primacarecom.com/ Gina brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience — from hospital bedside nursing to long-term care, home care agency ownership, and now care management. She walks through the different types of dementia, early warning signs families often miss, and why getting guidance early makes a real difference in quality of life for both the person with dementia and their caregivers. Gina is a clinician and trained Nurse Practitioner specializing in eldercare, with more than three decades of experience supporting older adults across the continuum of care. Her background spans direct patient care, clinical leadership, and quality-focused operations, and she now advises and advocates for families navigating the day-to-day realities of dementia care. She is also a: Bedside Nurse Nurse Practitioner (NP) Director of Nursing (Long-Term Care) Utilization Management / Quality Management Professional Home Care Agency Manager Dementia Care Advisor and Family Advocate Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/support]

Episode 8: The Senior Living Myths That Are Costing Your Family Time, Money, and Peace of Mind

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/fan_mail/new] Many people believe senior living only becomes relevant after a health crisis—but that’s often too late to make the best decisions. In this episode, Kwame sits down with Michelle, a senior living executive, to explore how planning earlier can open up more choices, better outcomes, and greater peace of mind. You’ll learn how today’s senior living communities are very different from the outdated “nursing home” image. From independent living to full continuum care, modern options focus on lifestyle, connection, and purpose—not just safety. Michelle also explains how families—especially those in the “sandwich generation”—can start thoughtful, low-pressure conversations that lead to better long-term decisions. If you’re living on a fixed income or thinking about future care needs, this episode offers clear, practical insights to help you plan with confidence and avoid costly surprises down the road. Key Topics Covered: - Why senior living is more than just nursing homes - The benefits of starting your research early - How independent living and rental communities work - Understanding the full range of care options (independent, assisted, memory care, skilled nursing) - The real cost comparison: aging at home vs. community living - How the “sandwich generation” can support aging parents - Why connection, purpose, and daily engagement matter for healthy aging - How technology is improving safety and quality of life for older adults Who This Episode Is For: - Adults age 55+ planning their next stage of retirement - Seniors living on a fixed income who want to understand future care costs - Adult children helping aging parents explore care options - Anyone curious about independent living, assisted living, or continuing care communities Why This Matters Now: People are living longer, and the cost of care—whether at home or in a community—continues to rise. Starting the conversation early gives you more control, more options, and a better chance to align your choices with your budget, lifestyle, and long-term goals. You might also share this episode with a family member or friend who is starting to think about senior living options—it could help make an important conversation a little easier. Michelle Curnow is a dynamic sales and brand leader with over two decades of experience driving growth, leading high-performing teams, and building strategic pathways for operational excellence. As the Senior Vice President of Sales and Brand for Asbury Communities, Michelle oversees the full spectrum of sales process leadership, performance analytics, CRM strategy, and integrated branding initiatives across the organization. Michelle brings a proven track record of elevating team capability, developing sales playbooks, and fostering a data-informed, customer-centric culture. Her leadership in brand strategy and public relations has fueled occupancy and revenue gains, while positioning Asbury as a mission-driven market leader. Michelle began her career with the New Jersey Sharing Network, where she spent over a decade developing hospital partnerships, advancing public health education, and supporting patient and family experience initiatives across the transplant continuum before transitioning into senior living sales and marketing in community based and regional roles supporting all levels of senior living throughout the eastern United States. Michelle is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders and nurturing a culture of excellence that fuels momentum toward 100% occupancy and beyond.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/support]

Episode 7: Caregiving for Aging Parents: Practical Guidance, Support, and What to Expect

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/fan_mail/new] Caregiving often begins quietly—then suddenly becomes a central part of life. In this episode, Carol shares her deeply personal journey into caregiving and what she learned after years of supporting neighbors, parents, and loved ones through aging, illness, and dementia. You’ll hear honest, real-world advice on how to navigate caregiving responsibilities, especially when they come without warning. From starting difficult conversations to managing stress and family dynamics, this episode offers calm, practical guidance for older adults and families facing these challenges. If you’re caring for a spouse, parent, or loved one—or preparing for what may come—this conversation can help you feel more grounded, informed, and supported. Key Topics Covered: - How caregiving often begins unexpectedly—and how to adjust - Simple ways to start important family conversations early - Key legal documents to consider (wills, power of attorney, care preferences) - Managing caregiver stress and avoiding burnout - The role of support groups and why they matter - Navigating family dynamics and sharing responsibilities - Practical ways to care for yourself while caring for others - Why no caregiver gets everything “right”—and why that’s okay Who This Episode Is For: - Adults 55+ caring for aging parents or a spouse - Seniors planning ahead for their own care needs - Family members feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin - Anyone living on a fixed income balancing caregiving and daily expenses Why This Matters Now: As more families take on caregiving roles, many are doing so without clear guidance or support. With rising healthcare costs and longer life expectancies, understanding caregiving, planning ahead, and protecting your own well-being has never been more important. Connect with Carol Bradley Bursack - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindingourelders/ - Minding Our Elders Website:  https://www.mindingoureldersblog.com/ https://www.mindingourelders.com/ - Minding Our Elders on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindingOurElders/ - Minding Our Elders on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingourelders/ Resources: - Better Health While Aging (training and caregiver support): https://www.betterhealthwhileaging.net - The Alzheimer’s Association (education and resources): https://www.alz.org - A Place for Mom (care planning guidance): https://www.aplaceformom.com/ - Prepare for Your Care (advance care planning tools): https://prepareforyourcare.org/en/prepare/welcome - Book: Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories (https://a.co/d/0691G1TP) - Online caregiver support groups (including AgingCare and AARP communities) If this episode spoke to you, consider sharing it with someone who may be going through a similar experience. You’re also welcome to follow the podcast for more conversations on retirement, caregiving, Medicare, and senior benefits.  And if you’d like to connect with others navigating similar challenges, joining a supportive community can make a meaningful difference.  *Author, columnist, and consultant Carol Bradley Bursack spent over two decades caring for a neighbor and six elderly family members. As a result of this experience, she wrote Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories, a portable support group for caregivers. Her dedication to other caregivers eventually led her to become a certified dementia support group facilitator. Carol’s websites, Minding Our Elders and Minding Our Elders Blog, include links to helpful agencies, articles rich with information and comfort, and resources for caregiver, boomer, and elder needs. Her long-running newspaper column, also called “Minding Our Elders,” is available weekly in multiple newspapers online and in print. Carol is the spokesperson and writer for Egosancares.com, is “Ask Carol” on the Egosancares website, and manages their social media. She also facilitates an incontinence support group co-sponsored by Egosan and SenecaSense.com. Carol facilitates a caregiver support group for Leslie Kernisan, MD of Better Health While Aging, and is interviewed regularly by A Place for Mom and serves as an article reviewer for the company. Throughout the years, Carol has written hundreds of articles for Agingcare.com, HealthCentral.com, and others. Because of this ongoing work, Carol’s been interviewed on national radio shows, including NPR’s Talk of the Nation; Senior Solutions, produced by Detroit Area Agency on Aging; and Wisconsin Public Radio. She’s routinely interviewed by newspapers, magazines, and on major websites, including Reader’s Digest (Digital), Next Avenue, Salon.com, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The USA Today Network, Chicago-based Make It Better magazine, The Upside of Aging, Booming Encore, US News & World Report, and Market Watch, and more. Besides authoring “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories,” Carol wrote ‘Swimming upstream in a media library,’ a contribution to “A Handbook for Media Librarians,” edited by Katherine Schopflin, Hardcopy published by Facet, 2008, and online, 2018. She’s contributed to other dementia and caregiving titles including “Dementia: Frank and Linda’s story: New approaches, new understanding, new hope,” (Lion-Monarch, March 2010); and was a content editor for “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers” (2015), by Marie Marley, Ph.D., and Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN. She wrote a foreword for the second edition of “Wishes to Die For: Advance Care Directives that Grant Caregivers Lasting Peace,” by Kevin J. Haselhorst, MD (2015), as well as for “Caregiving Both Ways” (2019) by Molly Wisniewski. She is also a contributor to an anthology edited by Marita Golden titled “Us Against Alzheimer’s: Stories of Love, Family, and Faith” (2019). Carol finds joy in supporting others as they struggle through their challenges and by indulging in her love of reading.  Minding Our Elders Website: http://www.mindingoureldersblog.com/ Minding Our Elders on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindingOurElders/ Minding Our Elders on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingourelders/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindingourelders/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/support]

Episode 6: Rethinking Retirement: Income, Purpose, and “Unretirement”

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/fan_mail/new] What if retirement didn’t have to mean stopping work completely? In this episode, we explore a growing idea called “unretirement”—a more flexible, balanced approach to life after full-time work. Our guest shares how many older adults are choosing to work part-time, volunteer, or start something new while still enjoying more freedom. With longer life expectancies and rising costs of living, retirement today can last 25 to 40 years. That makes thoughtful planning more important than ever—especially for those living on a fixed income or relying on Social Security. We also walk through practical concerns many seniors face, including when to claim Social Security, how to think about Medicare, planning for long-term care, and ways to stay engaged and purposeful. The goal is simple: help you feel more confident and prepared for the years ahead. Key Topics Covered - What “unretirement” means and why more people are choosing it - How to create additional retirement income through part-time work or flexible opportunities - Important Social Security updates, including when it may make sense to delay benefits - Why saving is still important, even in your 60s and beyond - Understanding Medicare basics and common mistakes to avoid - Planning ahead for long-term care costs and coverage gaps - How to find purpose, structure, and connection after leaving full-time work - Simple mindset shifts to help you adapt to a longer retirement Who This Episode Is For - Are age 55+ and thinking about retirement or already retired - Rely on or plan to rely on Social Security or a fixed income - Feel unsure if your savings will last - Are open to part-time work, consulting, or new opportunities - Want clear, practical guidance on senior benefits and planning decisions Why This Matters Now Retirement is changing. People are living longer, pensions are less common, and many households depend heavily on Social Security. At the same time, costs—especially healthcare—continue to rise. Understanding your options now can help you make more confident, informed decisions for the future. *Richard Eisenberg is an "unretired" journalist and podcaster. He writes The View From Unretirement column for MarketWatch, co-hosts the Friends Talk Money personal finance podcast and freelances for Kiplinger and the Stanford Center on Longevity Magazine. Before unretiring in 2022, he was Managing Editor of Next Avenue, the PBS site for people 50+, and editor of its Money and Work channels. Previously, he was Executive Editor of Money Magazine, Front Page Finance Editor at Yahoo! and Special Projects Director/Money Editor at Good Housekeeping. He has also run the NYU Summer Publishing Institute's Digital Media Strategies program and taught a MasterClass in Unretirement for NYU. He is the author of How to Avoid a Midlife Financial Crisis and the Money Book of Personal Finance.  MarketWatch column Richard writes: https://www.marketwatch.com/author/richard-eisenberg  Friends Talk Money podcast: https://friendstalkmoney.org/  LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardeisenberg/  Twitter: @richeis315 X.com: https://x.com/richeis315  Phone Number: 908-456-2089  Email Address: richardeisenberg@usa.net   If you found this episode helpful, consider subscribing to The Retirement Navigator so you don’t miss future conversations. You might also share this episode with a friend or family member who is planning for retirement. These are important topics, and having support makes a difference.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2533295/support]