Elizabeth Nolan Brown

Biography: Writer. Health nerd. Purveyor of fine Internet news curation.

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Elizabeth Nolan Brown 'sPosts

The Takeaway: Future 401(k)s Will Look More Like Old-School Pensions

Posted on 05/16/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

News RoundupsMore 401(k) plan sponsors are offering to pay benefits in a form that guarantees a set level of monthly income, regardless of how long you live. And more employers are beginning to offer these plans, Time’s Dan Kadlec reports. “Before long your 401(k) may look a lot more like your dad’s pension,” writes Kadlec. That’s a good thing. Traditional pensions that pay a set monthly income to retirees, based on their wages and length of service, were once the foundation of retirement. Along with …

The Takeaway: Number of Long-Term Unemployed Workers 55+ Rose Sharply Since 2007

Posted on 05/15/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

News RoundupsA new Government Accountability Office report says 55 percent of jobless older adults—or 1.1 million Americans 55 and older—have been unemployed for more than six months, up from 23 percent just four years ago. The report was addressed to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which begins a hearing on older adults and unemployment issues today. Led by Sen. Herb Kohl, the Committee will investigate age discrimination in the workforce and ways to boost older workers’ job prospects.

The Takeaway: Would-Be Grandparents Put Their Money Where Their Hearts Are

Posted on 05/14/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

News RoundupsI have to admit, this story smacks a little bit of media-manufactured-trend piece, but the New York Times is reporting that an increasing number of would-be grandparents are helping pay for their daughters to freeze their eggs. One doctor says three-quarters of his egg-freezing patients have parents who paid part or all of the bill.

The Takeaway: Eat Fish to Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk

Posted on 05/11/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

News RoundupsNot only is fish great for your brain, it could also lower your risk of rectal and colon cancers, doctors say. A team from Xijing Hospital in China analyzed 41 past studies on the link and found regular consumption of fish tied to a 12 percent lower risk of developing or dying from colorectal cancer.

The Takeaway: Retirees Flock to Foreign Language Immersion Programs

Posted on 05/10/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

News RoundupsAmericans in their 60s, 70s and 80s are flocking to language immersion experiences, the New York Times reports. It’s a well-worn axiom that learning a foreign language gets harder the older you get. To which Randy Balla might say: Who cares? The 63-year-old retired teacher took up French recently, and he hasn’t limited his learning to textbooks or computer-based language lessons: Last summer, he took a three-week French immersion program at the University of Quebec, and plans to return this year.

The Takeaway: Couples Need $240,000 For Health Care In Retirement

Posted on 05/9/2012 by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Money & Savings | News RoundupsOof. The latest estimate of an average American couple’s retirement health care costs is $240,000. The calculation, from Fidelity Investments, is based on a 65-year-old couple with Medicare coverage, and factors in things like premiums, co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. It doesn’t factor in things like long-term care, dental services, over-the-counter meds or hearing aids.