Not allocating savings to cover out-of-pocket medical related expenses. Not understanding Medicare Parts A & B, Traditional Supplements, Part D for prescriptions, and how that differs from Medicare Advantage Plans. Not having a Power of Attorney, and how that can add to helplessness. Misunderstanding Revocable Trust and Irrevocable Trust. Ill-advised transferring of assets (gifting)adding child(ren) to title on residence, bank accounts, investment accounts, etc. Living in denial about medical prognoses. Not developing a strategic plan to guide your budget regarding the trajectory of the healthcare costs long-term. Selecting an inappropriate annuity option when retiring from an employer who sponsors a Defined Benefit Pension. Misunderstanding the long-term effect of choosing a life-only option over having an election with spousal continuation. Canceling life insurance policies after reaching retirement or paying home off. Not understanding how significant a role it can have in later years. Assuming that Medicaid is a back-up plan when financial resources are exhausted. Failing to realize Medicaid also has a physical/mental impairment component. Improper beneficiary designations can doom well-thought-out plans.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at The University of Southern Mississippi offers opportunities to experience learning with peers, whether out of curiosity or to satisfy a long-held interest in a particular subject. OLLIs membership has grown nearly tenfold since 1991, and is on both USM campuses, Hattiesburg and Long Beach. OLLI members gain access to nearly 300 different seminars, classes, and travel opportunities annually. Courses span the spectrum of interests and pursuits in an attempt to provide everyone who has reached 50 years and beyond the opportunity to continue learning whatever it is they want to learn. Our hope is to create an environment thats conducive to learning in the purest sense, said OLLI Director Brett Harris. There are skill building classes from beginning and advanced art, to media specific courses like watercolors, colored pencils, and digital photography, and from jewelry making to salad table construction. Theres no limit to what you can learn and how you can grow at OLLI.Regular social events, lunch gatherings, a rotating art display in the Peck House gallery (Hattiesburg), and free public experiences help bring members from across the community together in a friendly atmosphere and at a cost thats affordable for every budget. Theres an annual membership fee ($50 in Hattiesburg, $40 in Long Beach) thats good for one year from the day you register. After that, you simply pay for the courses you want to take. Courses are as low as $8 and rarely exceed $50, though longer field trips can cost more depending on where they take you and for how long. OLLIs summer schedule of classes is now available in our schedule guides you may have seen around town or on our website (www.usm.edu/olli). Questions? Contact us at (601) 264-2780 or email olli@usm.eduThis article provided by Brett Harris, Director of OLLI. The article was edited to conserve space. The original is available from thad@seniorsbluebook.com

To learn more about Harmony Home Health and Hospice,CLICK HERE.This season of holiday celebrations is an excellent chance to engage in time-honored traditions with loved ones and friends, but lets be honest: its often also a time for overindulgence in unhealthy eating. With a wide range of sugary, fatty, and rich special treats to choose from at every turn, its hard to follow a nutritious diet, which can result in serious health problems for those with diabetes.Thesediabetic diet recommendations, however, can help individuals stay safe during the holiday season without being deprived of special treats. Be sure to first talk with the doctor for his or her approval on any meal choices that digress from an approved meal plan.Determine your preferences.Consider choices during a holiday meal, and select your favorite two carbs to enjoy. For instance, decide if you would rather have stuffing or rolls, or choose between mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, rather than indulging in all of the food choices.Provide your own.When attending a holiday event at someones residence, speak with the host concerning your dietary restrictions, and offer to bring a nutritious dish to share, such as a tray of vegetables or a sugar-free dessert.Have a healthy snack first.Eating a healthy snack before the holiday meal will help keep blood sugar levels consistent and aid in preventing the temptation to go overboard. Good snack options for people with diabetes include nuts, veggies and hummus, celery with peanut butter, string or cottage cheese, or an egg.Stay hydrated.Drinking a glass of water before sitting down to the meal will provide you with a feeling of fullness, lowering the chance that youll be tempted to overindulge.Stay physically active.Following a heavy meal, resist the urge to sink into the recliner and watch television or nap; instead, offer to help with cleaning up the kitchen, play an active game with the kids, or take a walk in the crisp fall air.If in spite of these tactics you end up eating too much or making less-than-healthy choices, be kind and forgiving to yourself. Keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day to resume healthy habits again. Pay attention to your blood sugar to make sure levels stay in the appropriate range and to prevent the potential for a serious problem, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, which could cause a hospitalization and most definitely put a damper on the holiday fun.