The American federal government has several programs that assist the elderly, most notably Social Security and Medicare, covered later on in this chapter, but these are safety nets, hardly comparable with the array of services provided to the elderly in many other developed countries. Older people in America are subject to the risks and possibilities …

Medicare is the primary federal health care program for people over age 65 or people under 65 with certain disabilities. It runs according to a set of complicated financial calculations, but, in essence, Medicare will pay most health-care costs in the case of catastrophic illness. Medicare is funded primarily from mandatory payroll and self-employment taxes …

America offers a wide choice in retirement locations. The first and most obvious choice is to continue living in the same place you’ve always lived. But large single family homes become too big after the children move out. A home and property may also become too expensive to maintain, or even too much trouble. The …

Growing Numbers of Elderly. Old age in America, as elsewhere, is inevitable unless you die young. There is no middle ground. The elderly (often called “senior citizens”) have only their longevity in common, otherwise they come from every ethnic and economic background. That said, they do act together to form a strong political force, which …

There is no reason to think that just because a person becomes older, he or she must become resigned to chronic illness or a lifestyle revolving around doctors, hospitals and medications. It’s a basic truth that people who no longer work or who have changed careers under the easier circumstances of retirement have less work-related …

One of the features of American life most advantageous to seniors is the opportunity to change careers or pursue new interests. Retired people with secure fixed incomes have the leeway to take jobs at lower salaries because the money is extra. The “fast-food” industry has traditionally employed teenagers at minimal wages. Due to the present …

The Youth Culture. Present-day American attitudes about the elderly have been reinforced by a century’s worth of media, particularly movies and television. From the 1950’s onward, a great culture of youth, fed by teen heros like James Dean and his sucessors over the decades, emerged and strengthened. Old people were left out of the picture. The …

A Fine Array of Privileges. Senior citizens are given many advantages in American communities and by the American market. These include significant discounts on anything from travel to movies to bus-fare to consumer goods. Retail stores sometimes give senior discounts on slow days, every Wednesday, for example. Some establishments give out senior citizens cards which allow …

Elkhart was one of the first areas settled in Northern Indiana in the 1830s and was a hub of the railroad system. Thanks to the increased traffic, its population grew and cultures began to blend. While it may live in the shadow of bigger cities like South Bend, it’s a hidden gem of culture and …

Less than 50 miles from Indianapolis, Anderson is a town that has gone through many phases since its inception, reinventing itself each time. As a result, it’s a town rich with a variety of things to experience, from expansive parks and trails along the beautiful White River, to theaters and museums as part of its …