Monthly Internet Bills Are Hard to Read. Broadband Facts Could Help.

    

Feeling like you need a PhD in cryptology to understand your internet bill? You're not alone. 

In the past couple of years, you might have seen a portion of your Internet bill that looks surprisingly like a Nutrition Facts label on a box of cereal. These Broadband Facts are a new initiative of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended to make inscrutable Internet bills easier to understand. They include information including monthly rates, how long introductory rates last, additional charges included in the monthly rate, Internet speeds provided, and more. 

Unfortunately, these labels may be easier to read, but they’re not always easy to find–some companies avoid printing them on paper bills. For those who have gone paperless, the Broadband Facts are sometimes hidden on the company’s website. And the labels themselves can be confusing as they’re currently designed, especially when a customer buys Internet, phone, and cable together. It remains to be seen whether proposed rules to streamline the labels will do more to help or hurt consumer protections. 

If you’re struggling to understand what you’re paying for now, while we wait for improved billing to arrive, here are some tips to make the best of the broadband payment options we have today.

Tips to Save Money on Monthly Internet Bills

Start with doing your best to understand what’s on your bill. Some Internet service providers (ISPs) are worse than others with the tacked-on fees, including data overage charges, late fees, and equipment rentals. If you’re not sure, check to see if you’re paying a monthly fee to rent your modem and/or router (and if you need a refresher on what those even look like, refer to this Senior Spirit article). Purchasing your own equipment can be a smart financial decision in the long run.

It can also pay to research what’s out there. While ISPs have a reputation for being monopolies, there are usually at least one or two other options for Internet service for U.S. homes. The FCC offers a map where consumers can search by address for ISPs that serve their area. Broadband Now, a company that aims to help consumers find and compare Internet providers, also provides a search tool for every local option. 

You’ll also want to calculate how much bandwidth you need, and pay for that tier, not a more expensive one. Broadband Now has a handy bandwidth calculator that will help you determine your needs based on how many devices are likely to be in use at one time, and for what purposes.

Consumer Advocate Paints a Picture of the Broadband Future We All Want

“Imagine what your experience with your internet service provider would be like if our government insisted on well-done consumer transparency,” writes Chayya Kapadia, Chief of Staff at New America's Open Technology Institute. Kapadia and her team advocate for consumers through policies promoting robust broadband labels and more. She paints a picture of what we should expect from the industry:

• You would be able to access a label with minimal clicks on well-labeled links on every provider website. 
• Your label would be printed on your bill every month. 
• Your internet service provider would proactively mail or email you an annual disclosure of your current service's label, and a notice every time your bill or service changed with the changes clearly marked. 
• The label would include color-coded context to help you understand what you can reasonably expect to be able to do with your internet service plan. 
• The label would have reliability and downtime information as well as details on how your service might change during peak usage times. 
• The label would tell you when and how a provider might degrade service for video or mobile hotspots. 
• The label would be available in many languages. 
• The label would mention every subsidy program that you might qualify for. 
• The FCC’s broadband map—which displays the internet service available at your address—would allow you to click directly to the corresponding labels for the tiers of internet service available at that address, too.

With equitable Internet service as with anything else, we can’t build it until we can dream it. If you’re not getting the transparency you want from your ISP, advocate for yourself–politely but with a clear willingness to cancel if necessary. Getting the change you want, on your own monthly bill or in the broadband industry as a whole, will take persistence.

Additional Sources:

https://broadbandnow.com/guides/save-money-internet-bill 

https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandlabels 

https://broadbandnow.com/blog/internet-billing-mistakes-to-avoid 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

It's All in the Timing: Buying and Using Long-Term Care Insurance

    

What's the best age to buy a long-term care policy? And how do you know when it's time to start using it? 

A person turning 65 these days has a 70% chance of needing long-term care (LTC) in their lifetime. Commercials during open enrollment may lead viewers to think that Medicare will cover that long-term care; but that’s misleading. Depending on your plan, Medicare may or may not cover short-term home care, like a one-hour bath visit, after a hospital stay. But it definitely does not cover long-term care. 

The sky-high cost of long-term care, and the burden that caregiving can place on a family, both contribute to some people’s decision to purchase a long-term care insurance policy. 

But no one in their twenties or thirties has long-term care insurance (LTCI). So, when’s the right age to start investing in a policy? And for those who bought LTCI and have been paying the premiums, another question arises: how do you know when the time has arrived to actually use it? 

What does a long-term care policy cover?

First of all, let’s be clear what we’re paying for when we’re paying between $150 and $500/month for LTCI. A majority of long-term care policies require medical underwriting, but they cover mostly non-medical services. LTC policies generally cover personal or custodial care; that is, support with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Most also include medical services like skilled nursing care or occupational therapy. LTC coverage may provide accommodation in a skilled nursing facility, and/or provide for a home health aide. Bottom line: policies vary, so it’s essential to review exactly what is covered before signing on. 

When is the best time to buy a long-term care policy? 

Most experts recommend buying a long-term care policy in your mid-50s to mid-60s. At that age, most people are likely to qualify for a lower premium, but will avoid paying it for a lot longer than they need to. As women have longer life expectancies, they’ll pay more than men at every age. 

Don’t wait until after 70 to purchase a policy. At that age, your chances of getting approved at all drop by 50%, and waiting until age 75 could mean your premium is 91% more than that of a 55 year old. (Of course, that 55 year old has been paying their lower premium for an extra 20 years.) 

A new offering that could be a solid choice, especially for those who are older and have pre-existing conditions that would make traditional LTCI prohibitively expensive, is hybrid LTC and life insurance.  These policies are not exactly use-it-or-lose-it, as unused LTC benefits will be paid out to family members in a death benefit.

For some people, LTCI may not make sense as an investment if it interferes with other financial goals. Other forms of savings may amount to “self-insurance,” for example, if you have saved enough in retirement accounts or can access equity through a reverse mortgage to pay for long-term care. Always do the math and talk to a financial advisor to determine your specific needs.

How to tell when it’s time to start using the policy? 

Unlike with a whole life insurance policy, there’s no cashing out a LTCI policy. In other words, it’s “use it or lose it” when it comes to those benefits. But what’s the right juncture to start drawing on your coverage? 

One thing to be aware of is the elimination period of 30, 60, or 90 days between the time that a benefit trigger occurs, and being able to receive payment. A benefit trigger is defined by the insurance company and determined by a nurse or social worker. Most often, a benefit trigger is defined through ADLs or cognitive impairment. For example, when a policy holder needs help with two or more of six ADLs, and/or when they’re diagnosed with cognitive impairment, the LTC benefits are triggered.  

If you think it’s likely that you or your loved one will want to start using a LTCI policy soon, keep in mind that there will be 30, 60, or 90 days during which you’ll have to pay for services–at home or in a skilled nursing facility–out of pocket. The length of the elimination period is one factor to consider when choosing a policy.

When the policy holder qualifies to file a claim, based on the benefit triggers in place, it can still be difficult to decide that now is the time to use the benefits. Most policies have a lifetime limit of a set number of years, and the policy will be exhausted after the limit is reached. These questions can help with decision-making: 

• Would I rather preserve benefits for later, or reduce financial strain now?
• How much longer do I expect to live? (How many years or months do I likely have to draw down the benefits?)
• Will delaying compromise my independence or safety?
• Are family caregivers becoming exhausted? Are tasks like bathing or mobility becoming unsafe for caregivers?
• If I delay, will I be able to financially cover the weeks/months of care during the elimination period?
• Would it help me to have a case manager to review whether or not a benefit trigger has occurred? (Starting the inquiry doesn’t obligate you to proceed with a claim.)

None of these LTCI decisions are easy–not for the policy holders, nor for their family members and care partners. But at any stage in the process, it can be a relief to step back, take a look at the big financial picture, and plan together with a financial expert.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice from a qualified financial advisor.

Additional sources:

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance 

https://acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-will-you-need 

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance/what-long-term-care-insurance-covers 

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/when-to-buy-long-term-care-insurance/  

https://www.agingcare.com/questions/when-do-you-start-using-ltc-plan-to-pay-for-care-492398.htm  

https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-long-term-care-insurance/receiving-long-term-care-insurance-benefits 

https://www.agingcare.com/questions/when-do-you-start-using-ltc-plan-to-pay-for-care-492398.htm 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

10 Surprising (and Free) Services Libraries Offer

   

Across the country, public libraries are continuously reinventing themselves to meet patrons' needs.  

How long has it been since you slapped your library card on top of a pile of books and DVDs at the library counter? In this era of ebooks and online research, many people don’t visit the library as often as they used to–at least, not to check out a physical stack of books. 

As librarians get creative about ways to keep these public spaces relevant and exciting, people of all generations are finding new reasons to love their local libraries. Here are ten services that libraries are offering now. 

1. Co-working space. In a way, libraries were the original co-working spaces; that is, places that provide comfortable, open, Wi-Fi-connected desk space for working away from the home or office. These days, co-working spaces are big business, and libraries are jumping on board to offer similar amenities, for free. The Palo Alto City Library system upgraded their buildings to provide more outlets, meeting rooms, and seating for people to bring their computers and work for a few hours. Many libraries provide free or low-cost booking of rooms for community meetings or book clubs.

2. Career and small business services. Librarians know how to find you the information you need, and that includes guidance on job searches, resume and cover letter resources, and interview techniques. Some libraries, like the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, offer job and career coaching, small business counseling, and special workshops like “Content Creation for Social Entrepreneurs.” 

3. Lending more than just books. Some libraries are expanding their mission and the definition of “lending library” to include not just books and media, but also other in-demand objects. Some libraries lend tools like sanders, electric drills, and toolboxes, saving homeowners and hobbyists money on a tool they might only use once or occasionally. The Harris County Public Library in Katy, Texas runs a seed library, where patrons can browse seeds and take home what they need for their gardens. The Philadelphia Library system even lends out birdwatching backpacks with binoculars and field guides. 

4. Printing, and help with printing. For those without a printer at home, libraries offer printing, usually at a per-page rate lower than a print shop ($.10 cents/page rather than $0.25, for example). And librarians, those renaissance men and women, are available to help troubleshoot tech issues with printing, document layout, and more. (Plus, they’ll never make you change an ink cartridge.)

5. Free or discounted tickets to local events and attractions. Dust off that library card to access free or reduced-price tickets to theater productions, sporting events, festivals, and state parks. Libraries and local cultural institutions collaborate to cross-promote their offerings and make tickets available to the families and individuals who wouldn’t otherwise be able to pay full price. Seniors may be able to get especially good deals–it’s worth asking if your local library has a discount ticket program.

6. Tech classes for different skill levels. For many years now, libraries have provided essential computer labs, Internet access, and tech support to their communities. Many libraries also offer free classes on digital literacy topics from beginner to advanced, like using Microsoft Office, making a website, staying safe online, and using social media. Depending on where you’re located, these classes could be quite intergenerational, with people from many different walks of life joining in. That makes for a fun learning environment, in person or online. 

7. Volunteer opportunities. Libraries often need volunteers for seasonal projects or ongoing programs. In some towns, Friends of the Library groups associated with a library branch or system raise money together through book sales or special events. These groups can be a great way to give back and get to know other local book lovers.

9. Makerspaces. Ever wanted to try a 3D printer, record and edit a video, or step into a podcasting studio? Some libraries host makerspaces where artists of any experience level can use tools and devices to express their creativity in all kinds of media. Sometimes called “hack labs” or “hackerspaces,” makerspaces gained popularity about 15 years ago and have since become a whole sub-discipline of library science.  

10. Fitness classes. Yet another way libraries are reinventing themselves: many branches now offer fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, pilates, and mindfulness. In keeping with the mission of public libraries, these classes are meant to be accessible to everyone, so expect a library-based fitness class to cost little or nothing. 

11. Research assistance. Yes, everyone knows librarians can help you do research. But be honest: have you taken full advantage of this incredible free service? Librarians can set you on the right track with databases and research tools you never knew existed, to answer questions like: What stories can I find in my family tree? What do I need to know before I buy a house? What’s the history of the street I live on? Not every question is Google-able. Make a librarian’s day and bring a thoughtful research question to the reference desk.

We could go on! Libraries are also places to learn a language, vote, see an art exhibit, get help doing your taxes, and talk to a social worker. Every library can’t offer all these services, but if you haven’t checked out your own library’s website in a while, take a look. You might save some money and have fun in the process. 

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/16/1199885817/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-library  

https://www.neh.gov/article/complicated-role-modern-public-library  

https://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/central/job-career-information-center 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Five Wishes: An Accessible Advance Directive

   

You don't need a lawyer to create a comprehensive, legally-binding advance directive. And CSAs can make this resource a meaningful value-add for their business. 

It may be mid-January already, but it’s not too late to make a New Year’s resolution. As Senior Spirit reported this past summer, most Americans have not named a health care proxy–that is, the person they want to make health care decisions for them in the event that they can’t make them on their own. If you’re among that majority, resolve to fill out a Five Wishes® document this winter. And CSAs: once you’ve done it yourself, consider how your clients might appreciate a compassionate nudge to do the same.

Five Wishes is a 20-page booklet, available in print and as a digital document, that walks a person through the way they want to be treated if they become seriously ill. Five Wishes has been around since 1997, and today, there are more than 40 million copies in circulation in the U.S., in more than 30 languages. It’s widely praised, in part because it’s so easy for most people to use and understand. And, when completed correctly, it’s legally binding in 46 states.

The Five Wishes

The document is also generally accepted and loved because it leads with compassion and emotion. Before Five Wishes, advance directives were cold legal documents, but Five Wishes includes statements such as “I wish for my family and friends to look at my dying as a time of personal growth for everyone, including me. This will help me live a meaningful life in my final days.” The statements, written in first person throughout the document, can be acknowledged or crossed out by the person, depending on whether they agree with them or not. The Five Wishes are:  

• Wish 1: The Person I Want to Make Health Care Decisions for Me When I Can’t Make Them For Myself.
• Wish 2: My Wish for the Kind of Medical Treatment I Want or Don’t Want.
• Wish 3: My Wish for How Comfortable I Want to Be.
• Wish 4: My Wish for How I Want People to Treat Me.
• Wish 5: My Wish For What I Want My Loved Ones to Know.

Branding Five Wishes for Your Business Practice When ordering paper booklets, you have the option to promote your organization on the back panel. Five Wishes cites a number of reasons to do so.  The positive and compassionate messages reflect positively on your business.  Most promotional materials are used and discarded, but a Five Wishes booklet is kept and shared over years.  By distributing the booklets, especially along with counseling on how and why to use them, you’re providing a valuable service to clients.  To see samples and get a quote, see Custom Print at Five Wishes.

For each Wish, the booklet provides statements and space to expand and make specific requests. Even if the person doesn’t add anything, but simply marks off their preferences from the lists, the document will still provide valuable guidance to families and health care providers if it ever needs to be used.

Who is Five Wishes For? 

As a legally binding advance directive, Five Wishes is for seniors, of course, and their families and caregivers. But it’s also for adults of any age. Experts recommend that everyone name a healthcare proxy, and Five Wishes lets you record that person along with all the information that person would need in order to make decisions on your behalf with your best interests, and personal wishes, in mind.

Healthcare professionals also appreciate Five Wishes because it clearly defines their patients’ desires. Health and Human Resources Departments distribute Five Wishes to their employees as a form of employee wellness assistance. The organization that distributes Five Wishes, Aging with Dignity, states on their website that widespread use of advance directives can even help lower an organization’s healthcare costs. 

Important Legal Considerations

The document lays out a few important steps that must be followed, depending on your state, in order to make it legally binding. Here are some of them–see the document itself or Five Wishes FAQ for all the information you need.

• The document must be signed by the person. The person laying out their wishes must sign and date the document. If you don’t, or choose not to, the document still has value as a guide to your wishes for family and health care professionals–but it won’t supplant any existing advance directives you may have, unless signed.
• It must also be signed by two witnesses who are not related to the person. The two witnesses should not have any conflict of interest with the person, and in most states, that means they should not be related to the person by blood, marriage, or adoption; be a healthcare provider for the person; or be a beneficiary of their will or any other account. They should also be at least 18 years old (19 or 21 in some states). And in certain states, there are special witnessing rules for people who live in long-term care settings.
• In four states, the document must be notarized. Those states are Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. In other states, it’s not necessary to notarize it.
• In some states, the person using the document has to take an extra step in order to make it legally binding. Those states are Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas. Other states (Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin) require an addendum. Visit this page https://www.fivewishes.org/states/ on the Five Wishes website to find out more if you live in one of these states.

Filling out Five Wishes yourself is something you can do for your family and the future you. Providing it for your clients shows you care about them and their families’ well-being, too. What better way to start a new year?

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Celebrities are Caregivers, Too

   

As rewarding and essential as being a care partner is, the experience can also feel isolating and anonymous. Celebrity caregivers give voice to common joys and challenges. 

Bryan Cranston, of Breaking Bad fame, lost his mother to Alzheimer's disease twenty years ago. Cranston was moved by the care his mother received in her dedicated Alzheimer's community. “The caregiver is the unheralded hero of humanity,” Cranston said. “I revere caregivers as I do first responders.”

Earlier this year, Senior Spirit featured celebrities making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This month, we’re looking to famous personalities to learn about their experiences as care partners for loved ones. 

Queen Latifah

The actress and musician, famous for her roles in Girls Trip and Bringing Down the House, has shared about the ups and downs of her caregiving experience. In 2018, she lost her mother, Rita Owens, to interstitial lung disease (ILD). In 2020, she appeared in a TV program on A&E, Beyond Breathless, about the disease, along with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams, who also lost a parent to ILD. 

Queen Latifah described her mom as “funny, stylish, fly, cool, and beautiful too.” During the time she was her mom’s caregiver, Queen Latifah said she was working a lot, and the strain was real. She prioritized taking time for herself by going for a walk, watching a sci-fi show, or getting her nails done. 

“We appreciated being able to be helpful to her, but we knew we had to be able to take care of ourselves too,” she told SELF magazine. “Because we’re in it: We’re in it with the people we love, and we want to have a positive outlook. We’re in for this fight, for them.”

Henry Winkler

“The Fonz” was a long-time caregiver. After Winkler’s mother suffered a stroke in 1987, he and his sister became her caregivers for the next 10 years until her death. As his mother was dealing with chronic pain due to limb spasticity, Winkler was there to ease her way. “My hat is off to caregivers. My respect is at full tilt for caregivers,” Winkler shared. “The dedication, the patience, just the wear of it all to consistently take care of somebody else—that’s a hero.” 

Taylor Swift

Superstar Taylor Swift was by her father’s side, along with her family, for weeks in the summer of 2025 after he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. “My brother, my mom and I were each taking shifts in the ICU and staying with him 24/7,” she told AARP. Once her father was able to return home, he needed a lot of new equipment to help him move around at home during his recovery. “I’m building his shower chair and his walker and his bed,” Taylor said. “It’s just surreal, man. We just all moved in with him the whole summer, pretty much.” She says he’s now doing very well.

Rob Lowe

In his thirties, actor Rob Lowe and his brothers cared for their mother through her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. He often felt overwhelmed dealing with medical paperwork and coordinating in-home care. Since then Lowe has made it a mission to raise awareness about the challenges caregivers face. He’s partnered with the nonprofit Embracing Carers to promote fair workplace policies for care partners, and has authored op-eds in U.S. Today and elsewhere. 

“When you’re caring for a loved one,” Lowe writes, “there’s nothing you won’t do (or sacrifice) to give them as much comfort and peace of mind as you can possibly provide. Often, that means you’ll skip your social obligations, wreck your diet, suffer sleep deprivation, and even risk your career, all to help a loved one through the most difficult time of their life.” Self-care and supportive networks are essential, he says, for individual care partners, the people they care for, and the whole community. 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

     

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

January 12

This distinguished British stage and screen actor is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical performers of his generation; in fact, was knighted for his services to drama. A longtime mainstay of the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, he has delivered acclaimed performances in roles ranging from Hamlet and Macbeth to Ariel in The Tempest. He earned a Tony Award for his tour-de-force performance in The Lehman Trilogy. You might recognize him from T.V. series such as Penny Dreadful, Vanity Fair, or, most recently, House of the Dragon. His film career has accelerated recently as he nears the traditional retirement age of 65–he appeared in two feature films in 2025, including Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, and has two more movies in post-production.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)? 

January 13

Anyone who has ever asked the person in the adjacent bathroom stall if they could “spare a square” knows whose birthday we’re talking about here. She achieved legendary status as Elaine on Seinfeld, where she has too many iconic moments to count as the slightly misanthropic but wholly relatable New Yorker. She later led the ensemble of The New Adventures of Old Christine, and then, in Veep, she starred as the caustic, ambitious Selina Meyer, Vice President. She’s won more Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards than any other actor. She received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2018 and, in 2021, the National Medal of Arts. In 2023, she started a podcast, Wiser Than Me, on which she interviews women older than her for their life perspectives and views on getting older. It was one of the top 3 podcasts in the U.S. in 2024.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

January 18

This legendary NHL forward had a 25-year hockey career. Beginning with the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s, he helped capture five Stanley Cups alongside a roster of future Hall of Famers, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most complete and competitive players. Later, he joined the New York Rangers and led the team to its first championship in 54 years. A six-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Hart Trophy winner, and one of the highest scorers in NHL history, he was known for elevating both his own play and that of everyone around him. His son, Lyon, followed in his footsteps to become a celebrated NHL player in his own right.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

December 26

Two of hockey’s greatest-ever players were born just a few days apart. This Canadian hockey phenom is known for his uncanny vision on the ice and staggering career records. After breaking into the NHL as a teenager, he dominated the league with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s (alongside his birthday month buddy above), capturing four Stanley Cups and redefining what offensive excellence looked like. Later stints with the Kings, Blues, and Rangers added to his legend. By the time he retired, he held more than 60 NHL records—including most career goals, assists, and points—many of which are considered untouchable. Nicknamed “The Great One,” he became the first player in NHL history to have his number, 99, retired league-wide. 

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Sources:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us