CNBC included reverse mortgages in a list of “innovative approaches” to protecting retirees’ portfolios in down times, citing a financial advisor who said he and his colleagues would be “remiss” if they didn’t suggest Home Equity Conversion Mortgages as a potential option. Rob O’Dell, a certified financial planner in the Naples, Fla. office of the…

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As the American population ages, experts have increasingly pointed to home equity as a key source of retirement income — even as many older homeowners remain hesitant to tap into it for reasons that continue to confound both academics and players in the mortgage industry. Steven Sass, a research economist at Boston College’s Center for…

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Most people see their sleep habits shift as they age, but a new review suggests that some seniors lose the ability to get deep, restorative rest. And that can come with health consequences, said review author Bryce Mander, a sleep researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. Sleep “fragmentation” has been linked to a number…

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Dubbing reverse mortgages “the Rodney Dangerfield of retirement,” CBS MoneyWatch touted the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program for the second time in a week. Steve Vernon, a consulting research scholar for the Stanford Center on Longevity at Stanford University, rounded up the recent scholarly research on reverse mortgages for CBS readers, breaking the ice with…

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Citing the growing cabal of pro-reverse mortgage academics and the story of one Mississippi homeowner, CBS News’ MoneyWatch called Home Equity Conversion Mortgages “a smart way for seniors to tap home equity” in an article published yesterday. MoneyWatch writer Kathy Kristof tells the story of Richard Blackmon, a 70-year-old Magnolia State retiree who initially thought…

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Regular exercise is potent medicine for older adults with heart disease, a new American Heart Association scientific statement says. Physical activity should be a key part of care for older adults with heart disease who want to reduce their symptoms and build their stamina, said geriatric cardiologist Dr. Daniel Forman. He’s chair of the panel…

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In a nationally syndicated housing advice column, writer Benny L. Kass responded to a question from a couple of 65-year-old homeowners who need “money to pay for some personal matters,” and were curious about whether to take out Home Equity Conversion Mortgage credit line or a traditional “forward” home equity line of credit, or HELOC.…

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If you’re over the age of 50, you should start cashing in on the many senior discounts available. Many stores offer their senior shoppers some form of a deal, but it’s often available only on a specific day of the week or during certain times of the day. Here’s a handy list of discounts to…

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Drugs that preserve vision in people with the eye disease called age-related macular degeneration might increase the risk of another eye condition — glaucoma, a new study suggests. People who received at least seven eye injections of the drug bevacizumab (Avastin) each year to treat macular degeneration have a higher risk of eventually needing surgery…

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Middle-aged adults who get dizzy when they stand due to a temporary drop in blood pressure may be at increased risk for dementia when they’re older, new research suggests. These episodes of sudden low blood pressure — called orthostatic hypotension — may leave lasting damage due to reduced blood flow to the brain, according to…

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