Latest news with #seniorCitizens
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launches initiative to support housing for senior ctizens
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, announced the launch of an initiative to ensure the financing of housing support decisions for citizens benefiting from housing loans, with a particular focus on senior citizens. As part of the Year of Community initiatives and with the aim of providing comprehensive insurance coverage, the initiative aims to provide life insurance coverage that fully secures the value of the housing loan. It addresses previous challenges faced by this group, where the maximum loan coverage age was limited to 70 years, leading to the rejection of some financing applications. The insurance coverage has been designed to be unified, fair, and offered at a low cost, ensuring that all eligible citizens benefit from current and future housing loans. The insurance covers cases of death or total permanent disability, whether due to an accident or other causes, with extended coverage up to the age of 95, providing long-term financial protection for Emirati families. The Ministry indicated that the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE, financing partners, and Takaful service providers, along with a wide range of national insurance companies, including Sukoon Takaful, and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC). Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, affirmed that the initiative aligns with the leadership's directives to enhance the stability of Emirati families and ensure a decent life for all segments of society. He said, 'Our wise leadership places the comfort and happiness of citizens at the forefront of its priorities. This initiative reflects the UAE's firm commitment to providing adequate housing as a cornerstone of comprehensive development. It represents a significant step in supporting senior citizens, as it is designed to address the challenges related to housing finance for this group, thereby improving their quality of life and contributing to family stability.' Al Mazrouei added that collaboration with the banking sector and national insurance companies reflects the UAE's strategic vision of building sustainable partnerships that support social and economic development. He praised the ongoing efforts to develop the housing system in the UAE into a global model. Mohamed Al Mansouri, Director-General of Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, affirmed that the initiative embodies the leadership's forward-looking vision to empower Emirati families and strengthen their social stability. He explained that through this initiative, the program aims to provide flexible financing solutions that meet the needs of senior citizens, while ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage to protect them from financial risks. Al Mansouri pointed out that raising the maximum loan coverage age to 95 years marks a qualitative shift in housing policy, as it opens broader opportunities to benefit from housing support, enhancing social equity and reducing rejection rates caused by insurance or financing constraints. In line with the initiative, the Central Bank of the UAE has issued a new regulatory notice allowing banks and financing companies to adopt more flexible financing models. The notice also permits financing for citizens with existing mortgages, provided that the new property serves as their primary and actual place of residence. Citizens benefiting from the national loan programme are included after verifying their repayment capability, which enhances the inclusiveness of the initiative and ensures fairness in the distribution of housing support. This initiative is part of a series of achievements by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, reflecting the UAE's commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. In recent years, the programme has undergone strategic developments that accelerated the housing support process, improved customer satisfaction, and expanded partnerships with the banking and financial sectors. In support of the initiative to provide housing for senior citizens and special insurance protection for housing loans, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, and Takaful service providers signed a partnership agreement with both Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) a
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
How South Florida's soaring living costs are pricing out retirees
A number of senior citizens in South Florida are experiencing homelessness, forcing them to sleep inside their cars. Soaring rents and a lack of affordable housing has forced some of those in the Sunshine State to spend their twilight years sleeping rough. Carolyn Simon is one of those, having resorted to sleeping upright in the front seat of her car for two months due to not being able to afford a place to live. She spoke with WSVN about her troubles in May, revealing she is reliant on social security for money and parks up inside well-lit parking to catch some shuteye. Demonstrating her sleeping stance to the outlet, the 78-year-old said: 'Since I've been here, I sleep here in this seat, scrunched down. 'My ankles and legs are swollen from having to sit all the time. I buy jug water, it's cheaper. And I eat one meal a day, for $2.02, and then I get a free senior drink.' Carolyn resorted to showering at a nearby gym thanks to her Medicare plan which gets her inside the facility for free. She added: 'It can happen to anyone. Don't think it can't, because I never thought about it.' In 2019, the amount of people aged 65 and over accounted for almost eight percent of the homeless population in Miami-Dade County, the Homeless Trust said. That number had nearly doubled to a shocking 14 percent in 2024, with projections indicating it could hit 22 percent by the year 2030. In January of this year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in a report that homelessness had reached a record high in 2024. Over 770,000 had experienced homeless on a single night in 2024, an increase of around 18 percent compared to 2023. The report found that 146,000 found that older adults had experienced homelessness, an increase of six percent. Maria Navarro, another elderly Florida resident like Carolyn, spoke with CBS News last October, revealing how despite working seven days a week, she still has to sleep in her car. She told the outlet it is very depressing at times and that instead of enjoying retirement she uses a dumpster area to shower using buckets. Ron Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, said homeless seniors are among the most vulnerable. He told the outlet: 'The face of homelessness has changed. I want people in our community to think about their mothers, and their grandmothers, and their grandfathers being homeless for the first time. After Carolyn's story was aired last month, local leaders banded together to help her find accommodation.
Washington Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Once known as 'Dirty Myrtle,' Myrtle Beach is now the fastest-growing US metro for seniors
A South Carolina beach town once nicknamed 'Dirty Myrtle' because of its rowdy nightclubs and strip joints has become a magnet for retirees in a nation that continues to age. The number of residents age 65 years and older in the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area grew by 6.3% last year, making it the fastest-growing metro area for senior citizens in the U.S., according to population estimates the U.S. Census Bureau released last week. During the 2020s, Myrtle Beach's senior population has grown by more than 22%, also the fastest rate in the United States this decade. Senior citizens now make up more than a quarter of the around 413,000 residents in metro Myrtle Beach, which once was known for being a budget beach destination. The community with a mile-long boardwalk and 200-foot Ferris wheel used to attract biker rallies which the city tried to end in the late 2000s because of the noise, traffic and rowdiness. But now the noisy streets have had to make room for quiet diners and pickleball courts. The COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the area's senior boom as people in such places as Ohio and New York who had been vacationing for years in Myrtle Beach realized they could retire early or work from home anywhere, said Mark Kruea, a longtime public information officer for Myrtle Beach who is now running to be mayor. 'Many people converted that thought into action,' Kruea said. 'The climate's great, taxes are low, there's a wealth of opportunities for recreation, dining and shopping.' The U.S. population age 65 and older rose by 3.1% last year, while the population under age 18 decreased by 0.2%. In the past two decades, seniors have increased from 12.4% to 18% of the U.S. population, while the share of children has dropped from 25% to 21.5%, according to the population estimates. Maine, Vermont, and Florida were the only three states where older adults outnumbered children as recently as 2020. But four years later, those states were joined by Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Maine last year had the oldest median age at 44.8, while Utah's was the youngest at 32.4. The share of the U.S. population that is Hispanic reached 20% last year for the first time, helped by an annual gain of 1.9 million Hispanics mostly through migration. In pure numbers, the Hispanic population grew the most last year in the New York, Houston and Miami metro areas. When it comes to growth rates, the biggest gains were in smaller metros such as Ocala, Florida; Panama City, Florida; and St. Joseph, Missouri. For Black residents whose growth last year was split between migration and natural increase, the biggest gains were in the Houston, New York and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas in pure numbers. Bozeman, Montana, and Provo, Utah — metro areas with tiny Black populations to start with — were tops in growth rates. In pure numbers, the New York, Dallas-Fort Worth and Seattle metro areas had the biggest Asian population gains, and the growth came primarily from migration. The largest growth rates were in three metro areas with small Asian populations: Farmington, New Mexico; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Burlington, North Carolina. The non-Hispanic white population in the United States declined slightly last year, but it grew the most in the Nashville, Tennessee; New York and Charlotte, North Carolina metro areas in pure numbers. The biggest growth rates for the white population were in the Myrtle Beach; Daphne-Fairhope, Alabama; and Wilmington, North Carolina metro areas. The decline in the white population was driven by deaths outpacing births. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @ .
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Centenarian Henry Young shows age no barrier to staying active
At 101, Henry Young lives up to his family name more than the number before it. He says it is "ridiculous" that he regularly competes in international tennis tournaments where his opponents are sometimes several decades his junior. But, he thinks it is more ridiculous that more senior citizens are not gracing the court. "There's no reason why everybody shouldn't be there, it's just a matter of looking after yourself and enjoying yourself." he said. The World War II veteran, who plays tennis recreationally up to four times per week, said age should be no barrier to enjoying life, especially when it came to his beloved game. "People give up their tennis too early," he said. "Medicine is so good these days that when things wear out they can renew them — I'm a living example of that. "I've got varicose veins that have been stripped or tied off, I've got two new knees, a new hip, a pacemaker, lenses in both eyes so I can read the paper without glasses, a hearing aid in my left ear and a cochlear in my right ear, but I think the rest of me is all natural." Mr Young said his competitive streak, a keen eye for opportunity and healthy breakfasts of corn flakes and fruit were among the keys to his longevity. As a young man living in New Zealand during World War II, he signed up to be a fighter pilot and was sent to England to get his wings. Once there, he was offered the chance to complete his training in the United States. "A 20-year-old for 13 months in the United States, you can imagine what that was like," he laughed. "I've had a wonderful life and that was one of the highlights." In 2023, a then 99-year-old Mr Young played at the Australian Open, sharing the court with tennis heavyweights Alexander Zverev and Francis Tiafoe, and fellow tennis senior Leonid Stanislavsky. This weekend Mr Young will compete in the Queensland Seniors Championships on the Gold Coast. "I love the competitive aspect and it's nice to know where you are in the hierarchy," he said. After hitting it out on the Gold Coast, the centenarian plans to travel to Croatia for his next masters tennis tournament later this year and may visit the European snowfields. "It's a nice part of the world so I'll play tennis there for the week and then, it's close to Switzerland, so maybe I'll do a bit of skiing," Mr Young said. "I'm lucky, I love my skiing, it's competitive and it's nice to test yourself." Of all the life lessons he has learned in his 101 years, Mr Young said "taking opportunities" was the one above all others he wished more people would know. "We [Australia] are a lucky country, but you're only lucky if you grab your luck."
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Once known as 'Dirty Myrtle,' Myrtle Beach is now the fastest-growing US metro for seniors
A South Carolina beach town once nicknamed 'Dirty Myrtle' because of its rowdy nightclubs and strip joints has become a magnet for retirees in a nation that continues to age. The number of residents age 65 years and older in the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area grew by 6.3% last year, making it the fastest-growing metro area for senior citizens in the U.S., according to population estimates the U.S. Census Bureau released last week. During the 2020s, Myrtle Beach's senior population has grown by more than 22%, also the fastest rate in the United States this decade. Senior citizens now make up more than a quarter of the around 413,000 residents in metro Myrtle Beach, which once was known for being a budget beach destination. The community with a mile-long boardwalk and 200-foot Ferris wheel used to attract biker rallies which the city tried to end in the late 2000s because of the noise, traffic and rowdiness. But now the noisy streets have had to make room for quiet diners and pickleball courts. The COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the area's senior boom as people in such places as Ohio and New York who had been vacationing for years in Myrtle Beach realized they could retire early or work from home anywhere, said Mark Kruea, a longtime public information officer for Myrtle Beach who is now running to be mayor. 'Many people converted that thought into action,' Kruea said. 'The climate's great, taxes are low, there's a wealth of opportunities for recreation, dining and shopping.' A graying United States The U.S. population age 65 and older rose by 3.1% last year, while the population under age 18 decreased by 0.2%. In the past two decades, seniors have increased from 12.4% to 18% of the U.S. population, while the share of children has dropped from 25% to 21.5%, according to the population estimates. Maine, Vermont, and Florida were the only three states where older adults outnumbered children as recently as 2020. But four years later, those states were joined by Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Maine last year had the oldest median age at 44.8, while Utah's was the youngest at 32.4. Groups that saw the most growth The share of the U.S. population that is Hispanic reached 20% last year for the first time, helped by an annual gain of 1.9 million Hispanics mostly through migration. In pure numbers, the Hispanic population grew the most last year in the New York, Houston and Miami metro areas. When it comes to growth rates, the biggest gains were in smaller metros such as Ocala, Florida; Panama City, Florida; and St. Joseph, Missouri. For Black residents whose growth last year was split between migration and natural increase, the biggest gains were in the Houston, New York and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas in pure numbers. Bozeman, Montana, and Provo, Utah — metro areas with tiny Black populations to start with — were tops in growth rates. In pure numbers, the New York, Dallas-Fort Worth and Seattle metro areas had the biggest Asian population gains, and the growth came primarily from migration. The largest growth rates were in three metro areas with small Asian populations: Farmington, New Mexico; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Burlington, North Carolina. The non-Hispanic white population in the United States declined slightly last year, but it grew the most in the Nashville, Tennessee; New York and Charlotte, North Carolina metro areas in pure numbers. The biggest growth rates for the white population were in the Myrtle Beach; Daphne-Fairhope, Alabama; and Wilmington, North Carolina metro areas. The decline in the white population was driven by deaths outpacing births. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
