Is it just us or did January read like one big run-on sentence? Good news is on the horizon as the second January aka February is soon to be in the rearview mirror and March is just 7 short days away. Which means St. Paddy’s Day is coming up quickly and who doesn’t love a holiday that’s only known purpose is to drink for breakfast. Spoiler alert - it falls on a Monday this year so go ahead and preemptively call in sick. Unless you’re caregiving for a parent, in that case, we know days off and respite are hard to find. Good news / bad news, you’re not alone. 

ABC News refers to it as the invisible crisis. However, if you’re in it, it feels nothing of the sort. Quite the opposite, really - just ask the approximately 48 million and rapidly growing number of people caregiving for a loved one in the US, all receiving little to no financial support. The cost of unpaid caregiving in America is estimated to total approximately $600 billion. Said differently, if every unpaid caregiver in America were to be financially compensated for their work, it would cost the country more than the entire annual out-of-pocket health care spend. 🤯 Like you, we love a good joke, however, it’s really tough to find humor in this situation. Even for us. 

Financial experts have long since shared all the ways in which we can better prepare financially for retirement, and the care one might require with age. Often stating your morning Starbucks run is all that sits between you and your financially worry-free golden years. And, they may be right. But alongside your kids' college tuition and your own aging needs, have you banked enough for mom and dad too? 

So what’s the fix? Well, like most complex issues, there’s no easy button. The medical community claims health insurance, access to care, and comorbidities are to blame. The financial experts believe Americans aren’t properly preparing themselves for retirement. Citizens rightfully feel the government needs to do more. Politicians, while stalwart in their partisanship, agree action is required. Gray Monster thinks they’re all correct. 

What’s next? Here’s a few options that may offer some relief:

Of course, as your trusted, helpful, and sometimes funny online aging resource, we’ll be sure to report on any updates to the above. Especially those that keep money in your pocket, wrinkles off your face, and hair the color it was in your 20’s.

🪪 Remember when you needed a fake ID to look older? Sounds like it’s the opposite case over at the Social Security Administration (SSA). According to reports from Washington, SSA’s Head is out over rumors that the government has been paying retirement benefits to thousands of individuals who clock in over 150 years old. While the Fed sorts out their accounting issues, here’s how you can ensure your parents are maximizing their retirement benefits. 

🗽Commit to the bit. SNL celebrated their 50-year anniversary this past week. Which means they’ve been cracking inappropriate jokes about sensitive topics much longer than we have.

🍑 While it didn’t make national news, it certainly rocked our world. The Gray Monster team lost a good friend this past week to complications of colorectal cancer - making it the second awesome human in our universe gone far too soon from the same disease. We don’t like the numbers and they’re only getting worse. Here’s the scoop on when and what insurance and Medicare covers, depending on your age and health history. Tell your parents. Tell your friends. Get your colon checked. Brian and Caroline would’ve wanted you to boss your parents around for years to come. 

🌴 Join the club! Technically, you’re already in it, and you’re likely unaware membership began at birth. In the coming months, Club Gray Monster will launch. As a newsletter subscriber, you’ll immediately have access to all the amenities. Expert driven, carefully curated, and often updated content specific to your needs as you support, or don’t support, your aging parents. Consider it cultured caregiving. While we believe the info is invaluable, you’ve already paid your dues. No initiation fee, zero monthly cost. Didn’t think we could find a way to weave pickleball and Parkinson’s together? Clearly you haven’t been introduced to our membership director.