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Finance for the future
Senior housing and health care are certainly at the top of the agendas for county officials.
However, when actually speaking with the seniors themselves, their main concerns generally aren't focused on living accommodations or medical care. It's all about money.
What's being done to educate the county's seniors about finances?
In the question of which comes first, the chicken or the egg, one has to wonder what should be addressed first: dealing with poverty on the senior level, or educating citizens on how to prevent financial calamity.
A flashing red light arose in conversation with senior citizens about their lifestyles now and before retirement. Some did not expect to live to the age they are now, while others just did not efficiently prepare their finances before ending employment.
Are seniors or a deficient care program to blame in this situation? Without pointing fingers, how is anyone to know what to expect in the so-called golden years?
Health care is often touted as being the main concern among seniors. Undoubtedly care and finances are related, but there seems to be an air of helplessness when it comes to financial sustainability.
Most just did not know how to properly plan, prepare or save for retirement when they were working.
The face of the senior in Clarke County is changing and one day those faces will be ours.
Education on finance and basic banking principles should be taught in the home, at school and work, so that when we reach our golden years we won't be in the dark about a sustainable retirement.
Some solutions include retiring later in life, picking up part-time employment to ensure health care, getting out of the house to exercise, or even clipping coupons and cutting out a trip to the coffee shop.
Social security isn't going to hold out for most of us and relying on the government for our future is not a feasible option.
The federal and state governments cannot shoulder the weight of an ever-growing population of retirees.
This seems to be a case of if you want a financially sound retirement, you must prepare for it yourself.
Hannah Hager is a staff reporter for the Clarke Times-Courier. She recently published a three-part series, "Walking the Poverty Line," which examined senior issues in Clarke.
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