Regular Post
Written by webtechs

Dealing With Aging Parents Depression

To deal with aging parents depression it’s important to ensure they’re taking medications, getting enough activity, sleep, social interaction, good nutrition, and they have a sense of purpose.

8 Best Ways To Deal With Depression In Seniors

We all go through upsetting changes in different stages of our lives.  However seniors have a tendency to experience more depression.  This is typically due to being retired and not having a daily rhythm that helps them stay active.  See to it that your parent or parents are following these guidelines to prevent or to recover from depression.

1. Taking Prescriptions

If your loved one has sought treatment for depression and has medications to help cope with and defeat depression it’s important they are being taken. In addition any other medications that are prescribed should be monitored to ensure their health is in tip top shape.  A lack of energy can also lead to depression.

2. Get Them Moving

Physical activity is important at every age, including when we retire.  Not only does physical activity help with depression but it also helps seniors live longer.  Great exercises for seniors include things like doing Tai Chi, walking, or climbing stairs.  To maximize the benefit of exercise it’s a great idea to get the senior into a group who gets regular activity.

3. Quality Sleep Is Key

The first step to great nightly sleep is not taking naps in the daytime.  While this is temping for just about any of us, it will make it harder to go to sleep and stay asleep at night.  Lots of seniors get off their sleep rhythm whenever they retire.  Knowing there’s no alarm that’s going to sound to get to work at 8 makes it seem ok to stay up all night watching TV.  This type of habit aggravates depression and should be avoided.

4. Staying Social

It’s all too easy to isolate when we retire.  But as social beings we still need to have interaction.  Being around other people, especially peers, helps us feel connected.  It also helps us eat better, avoid depression, and simply live better. Great ways to stay social for seniors are community events, visiting family and friends, along with taking part in group outings through communities and church groups.

5. Eating Well

Diet has an impact on how all of us feel, and it’s still true for seniors.  Eating foods that are excessively starchy, full of sugar, or contain saturated fats feed depression.  Offer seniors foods that are rich in fiber such as lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

6. Having Purpose

Having something to get up for is a big part of living.  When we retire there’s not always a job to go to or chores to take care of.  It’s important for us to feel like there’s a reason to get out of bed, groom ourselves, and get out the door.  Doing so makes us more resilient to feelings of depression.  For seniors great ways to have purpose is to volunteer, get involved in hobbies such as yoga, tai chi, or even playing cards.  Another great approach is giving them a plant to take care of.  It gives them a chore that offers responsibility and meaning.

7. Talk To Professionals

Living with depression is no way to live.  If your parent or parents are suffering and none of these tips are helping, talk to doctors and other health professionals. Mental health professionals understand strategies and medications that can promote a better quality of life.  Keep an eye out for changes in behavior and decreased appetite.

8. Consider Assisted Living

Your healthcare professionals may suggest that your parent consider moving into an assisted living community.  These communities help monitor prescriptions, have loads of social activities, promote an active lifestyle, and provide well balanced meals.  Staff also has the ability to help monitor changes in appetite and mood.

Assisted Living Services

If your parent isn’t sleeping, eating, or getting out there’s a good chance they are suffering from depression.  It can be a big job for adult children of seniors to manage their jobs, children, and homes and take care of their senior parents.  Assisted living communities offer the care they need and a chance to overcome feelings of isolation to beat depression.  In addition the activities, well balanced meals, and help with prescription medications all help support a better mood and minimize depression.  Call to find out more about assisted living communities we operate in Arizona.

Call 480-348-0300 or Contact Us

Assisted Living, Senior Living
0
Regular Post
Written by webtechs

Do I Pay Taxes On Social Security After Age 66?

Have you been searching “Do I pay taxes on social security after age 66” or “do you have to pay tax on social security“? If you have, then this article will help you to find those answers.  Paying taxes on social security depends on a number of income factors that we will explore below.

To inquire about any benefits from Social Security, you will need to make a statement of your personal account that will state what benefits you have or what the benefits will be. It can also show you a list of contributions of your benefits which allows you to check for accuracy.

Simply go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/ in order to create a personal social security information site where it can track your earnings and even verify them each year to get an estimate of future benefits if you are working.

Do You Have To Pay Tax On Social Security?

Americans that are working in retirement, and are making an income when combined with Social security can complicate a tax return.

If you have managed to retire before your actual retirement age and have begun collecting Social security early, the benefits are subjected to a reduction for beginning early and as your earnings increase. The recipients will have to deal with taxes on some of their benefits if the income exceeds certain amounts.

Being an early retiree, you have to decide if you should begin getting benefits early. Social security benefits will be reduced if they are started before normal retirement age. If you work, then you are subjected to more reductions. Social security may reduce some of your benefits once you earn over $15,720 in a year. You will lose $1 for ever $2 over this amount. A higher limit will apply to your benefits once your reach full retirement age. If there are any months in the year of your normal retirement that the benefits are reduced more due to the income earned during your early retirement, then your benefits will be increased in later years to make up for the reduction due to those earnings.

If you have income in excess of the base amount

You will be subjected to a tax on 85% of those benefits. If this income exceeds the base amount of $32,000 for a single filer or $44,000 for a joint filer, at least 85% of the benefits will be subjected to tax. The tax rate will depend on your tax bracket but it can be no higher than 35%.

If you receive Social Security benefits and work

The work limit for these earnings are $1,310 a month or $15,720 a year. If you collect Social Security before your full retirement age of 66 or 67, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for ever $2 that you make over that limit.

In the year that you reach your full retirement age, your benefit will be reduced by $1 for ever $3 made above that limit.

Note: For retirees that make high income, the benefits that you receive will be taxed; but this is a separate issue from a direct reduction of your benefits.

Your Social Security benefits and taxes that you may need to pay

Social security payments are going to be the main income for most retirees. You will need to check for other income to ensure that your taxes will be at a minimum amount.

In order to estimate if you may owe taxes on your benefits, you will need to add your adjusted gross income, one-half of your benefits, and tax exempt interest. If you happen to be married and your joint income is less than $32,000, you will not be taxed on your benefits; but if your joint income is above $32,000 but below $44,000, then up to 50% of your benefits may be taxed. If you have an income over $44,000, then 85% of the social security benefits may be taxed. If you are single filer, then those amounts will be $25,000 – $34,000.

This tax does come as a surprise for most.

If you are receiving benefits, and want to have taxes taken out of your benefits, then go to http://www.ssa.gov/, and simply download the W-4V, which is a Voluntary Withholding Request. This form will give you a choice of holding 7, 10, 15, or 25% of your benefits. Sign the form and then mail it to your social security office, which you will find on your website.

After reaching age 66, you can earn any amount and still collect full benefits

In order to maximize the after tax income if you are single, or the head of household, you will want to keep your earned and unearned income as well as half of your social security benefits to under $25,000. If you are married, then you will want to keep the same figure under $32,000. This will keep your Social Security benefits from being taxed.

Once you reach the retirement age

Your benefits will not be reduced, but up to 85% of social security benefits can taxed if your income is above the base amount, which depends on if you file jointly or as single. In general, your benefits will be taxed up to 50% of 85% of the benefits.

Retirement Investments, Senior Living
0
Regular Post
Written by webtechs

Do Seniors Pay Taxes On Social Security Income?

A lot of people who are preparing for retirement, or have retired are asking the question “do seniors pay taxes on social security income?” or “do senior citizens have to file taxes?”.  Understanding tax laws for seniors is an important issue whether it’s you retiring or a loved one.  Whether you have to pay taxes while on social security varies from situation to situation.

When Seniors Must File Taxes On Social Security

The Internal Revenue System requires taxes to be file for individuals where their gross income exceeds the standard deduction for their specific filing status, adding 1 exemption amount.  These tax laws include seniors receiving social security.

Do You Count Social Security Toward Gross Income?

Social security is not added into calculations for gross income.  This means that the only income that must be considered for taxation is income aside from your social security benefit.

If All I Get Is Social Security Do I File A Tax Return?

If a senior’s only source of income is their social security it is no necessary to file a tax return.  This saves seniors and the federal government time and the trouble of going through unnecessary paperwork.

Does Social Security Become Taxable When Filing Joint Taxes?

For seniors who are over 65 which have a combined income of over 23,100 must file income taxes.  If one of you that files jointly is under 65 the limit is $21,850.  Add up the total income including the social security benefits and if it is over these amounts, file taxes for that year.

Taxable Percentages Of Social Security Benefits

The amount of your social security taxes will be calculated on depends on your situation.  If you are filing as an individual, jointly, or married and filing separately.  The percentage you’ll pay varies from 50% to 85%.

Taxable SS For Individuals

For seniors who file taxes individually the percentage of your social security income that is taxable depends on your income.  For seniors who make below $34,000 the percentage is 50% of the income that will be taxable.  For seniors who make over $34,000 the percentage is 85%.

Taxable SS For Joint File

For seniors who are married or file jointly the limits are higher to accommodate more income.  For couples filing that make less than $44,000 the percentage that is taxable is 50%.  If your joint income is over $44,000 your taxes will be based on 85% of your social security income.

Easy Combined Income Tax Calculation

To calculate your adjusted gross income or AGI you will need to add your non-taxable interest to 50% of your social security benefits to get your combined income.  This is if your income is under the two cut offs of $34k and $44k based on your individual situation.

Senior Tax Credits

Even if you need to file your taxes due to your own source of income in addition to social security there are ways to lower the taxes you’ll need to pay.  If you’re over 65 or have additional sources of income past social security you might be able to use the senior tax credit.  This tax credit lowers the taxes you’ll need to pay on combined income. Individuals that owe money to the IRS are not eligible to receive the senior tax credit.

Senior Living Services

If you’re a senior and are looking to maximize your budget and get the best housing and care available, SLS Communities can help.  Seniors typically have limited income or are smart with their money and want the best living conditions available.  SLS Communities provides full services for senior living including: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and home care.  No matter what your needs are our team has a way to accommodate you with a tailored approach that is as compassionate as it is professional.  If you’d like to experience the best senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Senior Living
0
1 … 5 6 7