Latest news with #aging
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Older childless Americans worry about who'll care for them — do these 4 things if you're 50-plus with no kids
The U.S. fertility rate may not be as weak as in other developed nations around the world, but nevertheless in 2023 it reached a historic low, according to Pew Research Center data. It figures: the economic case for having kids has maybe never been harder to muster, as inflation — housing and child-care costs, especially — has pushed parents to their financial limits. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it But not having children carries its own risks. The Pew data finds that 26% of child-free Americans aged 50 and up frequently worry about who will care for them as they age. And 19% worry extremely about being lonely. If you're nervous about aging alone, here are some steps to take now. Being child-free has a major benefit — you don't have to take on the expense of raising a child. The USDA puts the cost of raising a child from birth through age 17 at $233,610 for children born in 2015. Given recent inflation trends, it's more than fair to say that that figure has grown exponentially since it was last calculated. The money you aren't spending on child-related costs is money you can save and invest in a retirement account. And remember, even older parents continue to provide financial support to their children. A 2024 survey found that 47% of parents with grown children provide them with some form of financial support. And almost shockingly, the average amount comes to $1,384 per month. If you're 50 or older, you're eligible to make catch-up contributions in an IRA or 401(k). Not having to worry about helping grown children pay their bills could make those catch-ups far more feasible. Aging without a support system isn't easy. But one thing that may help is surrounding yourself with people of a similar age who can provide you with the company you need. Put some focus into creating a network, whether through volunteer work, writing clubs or community events. You'll want to be well established with relationships and a social routine long before you retire. If you're looking for convenience as well as community, you may consider a 55-and-over community. Many of these facilities are loaded with amenities that include fitness centers, tennis courts, swimming pools, and more that are instrumental to helping retirees keep busy. Of course, one drawback to these communities is the cost, which can range from a more reasonable $1,500 a month all the way up to $4,000, according to But it could pay to prioritize this expense in your budget if you know you'll be entering retirement without grown children to lean on. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Aging alone could mean facing mobility and health challenges. One big source of stress for seniors is maintaining their homes. You may not have the physical ability to mow the lawn, remove snow, and do other types of upkeep once you're well into retirement. So to that end, it pays to eliminate as much home maintenance as possible. Again, a 55-and-over community could be an attractive option to avoid this expense. Often, these communities feature condo-style living so that you're only responsible for maintaining the interior of your home, while your monthly HOA fee goes toward exterior maintenance. If one of these communities isn't what you want, consider downsizing out of a larger home and into a smaller space that requires less work. It could also be a good idea to buy a one-story home in case climbing stairs becomes an issue down the line. One of the scariest things about aging alone is reaching the point when you simply can't perform daily tasks without assistance. In the absence of having grown children to step in and help, it's important to be prepared for long-term care. One way to do that is by putting insurance in place to help defray the often-astronomical cost. Genworth reports that the average annual cost of an assisted living facility is $64,200, while a home health aide costs $75,504 per year. A semi-private nursing home room, meanwhile, has an average yearly price tag of $104,025. Meanwhile, the median retirement savings account balance among Americans 65 to 74 is $200,000, according to the Federal Reserve. Costs like these have the potential to bankrupt a retiree with just the typical savings, so it's important to have insurance as a backup plan. The ideal time to apply for long-term care coverage is in your mid-50s. This makes it more likely that you'll qualify for a policy with premiums you can afford. It's possible to secure coverage beyond your mid-50s, but the older you get, the harder and more expensive it might become. In addition to these specific tips, consider sitting down with a financial adviser and talking through your retirement concerns. They may be able to make the process of aging alone easier from a money-related perspective. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
LIZ JONES: My confidence has been severely knocked because I had to take a selfie. I never take selfies or look in a mirror
'You no longer look like that.' It's always the bad review you hold on to, chew over. Never the raves, the compliments. My confidence has been severely knocked of late, not helped by the fact I had to take a selfie (no make-up, 'no filters!') for an upcoming feature about how Harvard boffins could gauge my biological age by examining my face. I never take selfies or look in a mirror. I always sit to one side during Zoom meetings, even with my therapist, to avoid watching myself. But I was forced to glance at this new selfie in order to send it, and I was shocked. I look like a tortoise. I comfort myself with the thought my phone still just about recognises me, but still: I have teeny hammocks each side of my mouth that only disappear if I smile, which isn't likely at this point. I have reached the stage when women tend to go one of two ways: they give up, wearing long, floral dresses and ballet flats with mad, greying hair, purchasing cushions to kneel on for weeding. Or they double down, thinking, 'Well, Joan Collins still looks amazing!'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Katherine LaNasa was always cast in 'sexual' roles. She's happy to ditch makeup on 'The Pitt.'
As a teen ballet dancer turned actress with a list of credits (including Two and a Half Men and Big Love) as long as her arm, Katherine LaNasa has spent most of her life in the spotlight. But starring as emergency-room nurse Dana on the hit HBO Max medical drama The Pitt has launched the 58-year-old into a new level of fame. It's coming just at the right time, she says. 'I saw an [article] yesterday on GQ about these men that are finding success in their 50s — like Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo and Walt Goggins — and how they already have a well-established self-identity,' LaNasa tells me during our conversation for Yahoo Life's Unapologetically series. 'It's really nice to feel really settled in myself and to have done what I do with very relatively little praise. So getting praise now, it's a nice ride. You see kids get that, and they start thinking they need to adopt some other jaded or cool persona. I already am my grown-up cool/uncool self. This is just career stability and nicer accommodations and clothing.' LaNasa has a lot of self-acceptance when it comes to the subject of aging, and her confidence is infectious. 'I was walking on the street in Atlanta, and [this guy said], 'Your dog almost walked into my dog,'' she recalls. 'I was like, 'Were you inconvenienced?' And he goes, 'You look old.' I said, 'I am old!' [But] I feel like I'm in really good shape; I feel really strong.' Having an 11-year-old daughter, with her husband, '90s heartthrob Grant Show of Melrose Place fame, also keeps her young. But motherhood is hardly a new experience; LaNasa was in her early 20s when she and then-husband Dennis Hopper (30 years her senior) welcomed their son Henry, who is now in his 30s. What has LaNasa learned from her relationships, and why is she happy to let go of playing sexual characters? Here's what she told me during our candid conversation on aging, catcalling and not wearing makeup on TV. I'd always wanted to work for [The Pitt executive producer] John Wells, and I thought, If I could get in front of [casting], if they ever see my tape, I have a feeling I know what they want. And it just worked out. [As for] the success — it's kind of like if you loved making coffee, and you made coffee for someone every day, and you put a beautiful heart on it or different designs every day, and you did that for 30 years or so, and that was your job, and you got paid well, and you liked [it], and then, one day someone looked at you and said, "This is such great coffee. I really love your coffee." That's kind of what it feels like. Getting approval and praise I didn't think was ever coming my way — that I wasn't looking for and I didn't really need — is all just a bonus, and it feels like a nice warm bath. It's very enjoyable. I always played such sexual characters, and I think I always identified myself so much with my sexuality. I thought that if I became less sexually desirable as I got older or if I felt less interested in sex, I would lose a big part of my identity, and it would be terrible. And I find that I just really don't care. You know, this thing about older women being invisible? I'll take a step back. I used to get catcalled all the time, and it's a relief, and it's nice [to not have to deal with that anymore]. I also think [now is] a time in life — if you can let go of this feminine ideal of our physical beauty — it's really a time in life for deeper things, to think about the meaning of your life, to think about your own mortality, to think about what kind of legacy you want to leave and who you are. I really appreciate this season of life. I also appreciate feeling really seasoned in my craft. So often that's the thing I like the most about a day. It's like, 'I really knew how to make that scene work. I knew how to get the guest star to speed up with me. And then I stopped for the camera just so, and I can handle a lot of camera moves, choreography, notes at once, and it feels really easy.' There's a lot of technical aspects about acting that people don't think about, and it's nice to feel at a certain point that you have some mastery over them. I think we are flipping the script on that. I have to say, I think there've been some really incredible, brave women out there that have always portrayed real women — you know, the Allison Janneys and the Patricia Arquettes. And then you get these sex symbols like Pamela Anderson going [on the red carpet] with like almost no makeup. John Wells is a maverick at putting real, complex, imperfect-looking women on television and celebrating them, way before it was cool. So to work for him, it just really feels like I'm getting to step into that. I have to tell you: To play a part like Dana and to wear no makeup, it was really very freeing. It's also really freeing working for a mostly female writing crew. Feeling like I don't have to live up to that ridiculous, feminine, sexual ideal has freed up my acting. And I think it's why the acting's good on the show. Women can feel like they can just relax into being themselves. Yeah, I love clothes and style in general. I used to have an interior design business, and I'm sort of an amateur interior designer now. I'm very visual. I also love ceramics. I feel like I'm in really good shape. Like, I feel really strong. I do yoga every day. I like mixing the hot yoga with the regular yoga. I play a little tiny bit of pickleball. I hike. I really appreciate that my body is still really strong — [something] you take for granted when you're young. I'm glad I can still do all this. The one thing that was really hard was [the doctors] wanting to give me a C-section right away. They wanted to plan a C-section. Because of my age, they were worried. I grew up in a family of doctors, so I'm used to just listening to the doctor. But I wanted to push back a lot. I didn't want to incise my body if I didn't have to. If I had needed one, I definitely would have, but I didn't want to plan for it months early just because I was 47. I had some kind of pre-preeclampsia signs. I went in for some testing, and they kept me in the hospital, and they induced labor with Pitocin. But then I didn't want to have an epidural, because I didn't want to slow [labor] down. I was worried about too many drugs. So I had a natural childbirth on Pitocin, and I don't recommend it. It was super hard. I feel really powerful because I got through that, but it was really, really intense. [And] I fortunately got a doctor who helped me advocate for what I wanted. Don't get married at 22! I think if you marry someone that is so far apart in age, at least for me, there wasn't a lot of intimacy in that. It's nice to have someone that you can grow with — more of a friend as opposed to them being the successful teacher one, and you being the student, less successful, more dependent one. I would opt now for a relationship with more equality. The thing we have between us really is our craft. He wants to audition for a musical, so I'm gonna help him with the choreography. I've helped him with the choreography before when he had to dance on Dynasty. He helps me with all my self-tapes. We have a very artistic home. We're always singing, or he plays the piano, and it's a very creative space. That's the thing I like most. We have the same aesthetic; we like the same things. We move a lot, and he really trusts how I'm going to put together a home. [Despite] my longevity in the business and what I've done and the people that I've worked with already, like Billy Bob Thornton and Will Ferrell and Jay Roach, I never really got that kind of name recognition. I'm hoping that The Pitt will sort of catapult me into getting to work with some more artists that I really want to work with. Slow down, trust your instincts, and say what you mean — [but] don't say it mean. I [also] wish I appreciated that my skin wasn't wrinkly. To all the 30-year-olds out there, wear all the crop tops, wear all the short shorts. Love yourself. Love your body. Enjoy your body. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Katherine LaNasa was always cast in 'sexual' roles. She's happy to ditch makeup on 'The Pitt.'
As a teen ballet dancer turned actress with a list of credits (including Two and a Half Men and Big Love) as long as her arm, Katherine LaNasa has spent most of her life in the spotlight. But starring as emergency-room nurse Dana on the hit HBO Max medical drama The Pitt has launched the 58-year-old into a new level of fame. It's coming just at the right time, she says. 'I saw an [article] yesterday on GQ about these men that are finding success in their 50s — like Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo and Walt Goggins — and how they already have a well-established self-identity,' LaNasa tells me during our conversation for Yahoo Life's Unapologetically series. 'It's really nice to feel really settled in myself and to have done what I do with very relatively little praise. So getting praise now, it's a nice ride. You see kids get that, and they start thinking they need to adopt some other jaded or cool persona. I already am my grown-up cool/uncool self. This is just career stability and nicer accommodations and clothing.' LaNasa has a lot of self-acceptance when it comes to the subject of aging, and her confidence is infectious. 'I was walking on the street in Atlanta, and [this guy said], 'Your dog almost walked into my dog,'' she recalls. 'I was like, 'Were you inconvenienced?' And he goes, 'You look old.' I said, 'I am old!' [But] I feel like I'm in really good shape; I feel really strong.' Having an 11-year-old daughter, with her husband, '90s heartthrob Grant Show of Melrose Place fame, also keeps her young. But motherhood is hardly a new experience; LaNasa was in her early 20s when she and then-husband Dennis Hopper (30 years her senior) welcomed their son Henry, who is now in his 30s. What has LaNasa learned from her relationships, and why is she happy to let go of playing sexual characters? Here's what she told me during our candid conversation on aging, catcalling and not wearing makeup on TV. I'd always wanted to work for [The Pitt executive producer] John Wells, and I thought, If I could get in front of [casting], if they ever see my tape, I have a feeling I know what they want. And it just worked out. [As for] the success — it's kind of like if you loved making coffee, and you made coffee for someone every day, and you put a beautiful heart on it or different designs every day, and you did that for 30 years or so, and that was your job, and you got paid well, and you liked [it], and then, one day someone looked at you and said, "This is such great coffee. I really love your coffee." That's kind of what it feels like. Getting approval and praise I didn't think was ever coming my way — that I wasn't looking for and I didn't really need — is all just a bonus, and it feels like a nice warm bath. It's very enjoyable. I always played such sexual characters, and I think I always identified myself so much with my sexuality. I thought that if I became less sexually desirable as I got older or if I felt less interested in sex, I would lose a big part of my identity, and it would be terrible. And I find that I just really don't care. You know, this thing about older women being invisible? I'll take a step back. I used to get catcalled all the time, and it's a relief, and it's nice [to not have to deal with that anymore]. I also think [now is] a time in life — if you can let go of this feminine ideal of our physical beauty — it's really a time in life for deeper things, to think about the meaning of your life, to think about your own mortality, to think about what kind of legacy you want to leave and who you are. I really appreciate this season of life. I also appreciate feeling really seasoned in my craft. So often that's the thing I like the most about a day. It's like, 'I really knew how to make that scene work. I knew how to get the guest star to speed up with me. And then I stopped for the camera just so, and I can handle a lot of camera moves, choreography, notes at once, and it feels really easy.' There's a lot of technical aspects about acting that people don't think about, and it's nice to feel at a certain point that you have some mastery over them. I think we are flipping the script on that. I have to say, I think there've been some really incredible, brave women out there that have always portrayed real women — you know, the Allison Janneys and the Patricia Arquettes. And then you get these sex symbols like Pamela Anderson going [on the red carpet] with like almost no makeup. John Wells is a maverick at putting real, complex, imperfect-looking women on television and celebrating them, way before it was cool. So to work for him, it just really feels like I'm getting to step into that. I have to tell you: To play a part like Dana and to wear no makeup, it was really very freeing. It's also really freeing working for a mostly female writing crew. Feeling like I don't have to live up to that ridiculous, feminine, sexual ideal has freed up my acting. And I think it's why the acting's good on the show. Women can feel like they can just relax into being themselves. Yeah, I love clothes and style in general. I used to have an interior design business, and I'm sort of an amateur interior designer now. I'm very visual. I also love ceramics. I feel like I'm in really good shape. Like, I feel really strong. I do yoga every day. I like mixing the hot yoga with the regular yoga. I play a little tiny bit of pickleball. I hike. I really appreciate that my body is still really strong — [something] you take for granted when you're young. I'm glad I can still do all this. The one thing that was really hard was [the doctors] wanting to give me a C-section right away. They wanted to plan a C-section. Because of my age, they were worried. I grew up in a family of doctors, so I'm used to just listening to the doctor. But I wanted to push back a lot. I didn't want to incise my body if I didn't have to. If I had needed one, I definitely would have, but I didn't want to plan for it months early just because I was 47. I had some kind of pre-preeclampsia signs. I went in for some testing, and they kept me in the hospital, and they induced labor with Pitocin. But then I didn't want to have an epidural, because I didn't want to slow [labor] down. I was worried about too many drugs. So I had a natural childbirth on Pitocin, and I don't recommend it. It was super hard. I feel really powerful because I got through that, but it was really, really intense. [And] I fortunately got a doctor who helped me advocate for what I wanted. Don't get married at 22! I think if you marry someone that is so far apart in age, at least for me, there wasn't a lot of intimacy in that. It's nice to have someone that you can grow with — more of a friend as opposed to them being the successful teacher one, and you being the student, less successful, more dependent one. I would opt now for a relationship with more equality. The thing we have between us really is our craft. He wants to audition for a musical, so I'm gonna help him with the choreography. I've helped him with the choreography before when he had to dance on Dynasty. He helps me with all my self-tapes. We have a very artistic home. We're always singing, or he plays the piano, and it's a very creative space. That's the thing I like most. We have the same aesthetic; we like the same things. We move a lot, and he really trusts how I'm going to put together a home. [Despite] my longevity in the business and what I've done and the people that I've worked with already, like Billy Bob Thornton and Will Ferrell and Jay Roach, I never really got that kind of name recognition. I'm hoping that The Pitt will sort of catapult me into getting to work with some more artists that I really want to work with. Slow down, trust your instincts, and say what you mean — [but] don't say it mean. I [also] wish I appreciated that my skin wasn't wrinkly. To all the 30-year-olds out there, wear all the crop tops, wear all the short shorts. Love yourself. Love your body. Enjoy your body. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
7 Proven Ways to Firm and Tighten Neck Skin
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Aging is an inevitable part of life, but not everyone loves every aspect of it. Dealing with the skin changes that come with growing older can be particularly challenging, and perhaps the most stubborn area to manage is the neck. 'In addition to variables like gender and genetic predisposition, certain lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, and sun exposure all contribute to how the neck ages,' says board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Andrew Ordon of Visthetic Surgery Institute and Medspa. However, there are plenty of ways to tighten neck skin while reversing signs of aging. To answer all your questions, we consulted Dr. Ordon along with Paula's Choice skincare expert and cosmetic chemist, Julio Lamberty. Whether you'd prefer to stick with an effortless solution, such as using creams and serums, or opt for a more invasive procedure, ahead you'll find a range of options and expert tips. Let's begin with the most practical preventative measure—applying sunscreen. It's important to remember that when slathering sunscreen onto your face, you should also make sure you're spreading the product downward, as the neck is often neglected. Sunscreen helps to protect skin from exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which can damage skin cells. However, what many people fail to realize is that this damage can also lead to premature aging, such as wrinkles and saggy skin. 'Daily use of a broad spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater is fundamental to protecting the skin's appearance; cumulative unprotected exposure to UV light causes the breakdown of every part of the skin, including its supportive proteins (collagens and elastins), its natural supply of protective antioxidants, its moisture barrier, and even its immune system,' says Lamberty. That said, make sure to show your skin some TLC by applying sunscreen on a daily basis.$37.00 at at at at There are plenty of skincare products on the market that are formulated to treat wrinkles. Although many of these products won't completely erase all of your fine lines and creases, many of them do an excellent job of rejuvenating your skin with potent and/or hydrating ingredients that improve signs of aging. We would recommend using a wrinkle treatment in tandem with your sunscreen of choice. Take a look at some of our favorites below, which can be used on your face as well as your neck.$135.00 at at at at Sunscreens and wrinkle treatments are great options, but sometimes, you need to take things a step further. If you hit a wall, Dr. Ordon shares that microneedling could be an effective alternative to topical treatments. 'Other options for improving the neck in younger patients include microneedling of the neck, which can be combined with platelet-rich plasma or the use of stem cells,' says Ordon. Ordon also adds that microneedling can help patients who are looking to improve their appearance, but aren't yet qualified candidates for more invasive procedures. So, what exactly is microneedling? In short, it's a procedure that repeatedly punctures the skin with tiny, microscopic needles. 'When skin is wounded, it quickly summons collagen to help shore up the damage; however, this wound-healing collagen is inelegant and stiffer than normal collagen,' explains Lamberty. 'As part of the natural healing process, the skin quickly makes this less-elastic collagen, then seamlessly segues to making plump, beautiful collagen that we want,' he adds. However, you should keep in mind that there is a caveat that comes along with microneedling. Lamberty states that when done too often, micro-needling can potentially wound the skin. 'Frequently injuring our skin with micro-needles keeps skin in a state of making inelegant collagen, which can create a tightness and a potentially stiff feeling that doesn't look or feel great,' he adds. Retinol is the holy grail ingredient for skin tightening. 'Along with helping skin to make collagen, retinol also inhibits matrix metalloproteinases, which are destructive enzymes that 'eat' collagen and chip away at its ability to support skin's shape and resilience,' says Lamberty. Retinol also triggers the skin to make more hyaluronic acid by stimulating hyaluronic acid-creating enzymes. And if that wasn't enough, you should also know that this powerful compound helps to remodel reticular fibers. Lamberty shares that reticular fibers are 'thin strands of collagen III found in the dermis that give skin strength and support.' These fibers are directly correlated with the elasticity of our skin. 'When reticular fibers weaken, skin's firmness suffers, but when strengthened and renewed, skin's firmness rebounds,' Lamberty adds.$78.00 at at at at 'By using a fractional CO2 laser on the skin, one will experience tightening of the skin as well as diminished lines and reduced discoloration,' explains Dr. Ordon. This specific type of laser treatment involves targeting light into deep layers of the skin to initiate collagen production, which subsequently helps to give rise to a more flawless appearance. As for other non-invasive treatments, Dr. Ordon mentions that Ulthera and Thermage are technologies that use heat energy to stimulate collagen production. Ulthera requires ultrasound heat, while Thermage utilizes radiofrequency energy, and both involve minimal discomfort and little downtime. 'Some improvement will be apparent immediately, while further improvement occurs over time,' Dr. Ordon shares. Although surgery is an alternative, it's truly a last resort because, let's face it, not everyone looks forward to going under the knife. Still, if you're keen on exploring this route, Dr. Ordon shares a couple of surgical procedures that are commonly given to those seeking to tighten their neck skin. 'If your neck has dramatically aged, then the classic deep plan neck lift in conjunction with a facelift is the best option,' says Dr. Ordon. 'For younger patients who do not have extreme laxity of the neck, then liposuction with a technique called Renuvion is a great alternative,' he adds. You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)
