The Takeaway: Aging Inmates Strain Prisons; Reduce Your Retirement Tax Burden

Growing Old Behind Bars: Older men and women are the most rapidly growing prison population in the United States, according to Human Rights Watch. The dramatic increase in inmates growing old behind bars is difficult for corrections officials and facilities, which aren't prepared to deal with the housing and medical needs of older prisoners. And the higher medical costs associated with all these aging inmates are also a strain on U.S. prison budgets.

Between 2007 and 2010, the number of state and federal prisoners 65 or older grew at 94 times the rate of the overall prison population. Long mandatory minimum sentences, increasing life sentences and reduced opportunities for parole are a few of the culprits. And unless these policies change, the number of aging prisoners will only continue to grow, HRW says. The group recommends changes to state and federal guidelines that could "reduce the growing population of older prisoners without risking public safety," along with better plans for housing, medical care and programs for older prisoners.

For more on the unique challenges posed by (and to) older prisoners, check out AARP's video report on "barbed wire nursing homes."

Maximize Retirement Savings: There's a "sweet spot" between the ages of 59½ and 70½ when withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s are penalty-free, but not required. Financial advisers say those years are the ideal time to move money into taxable or tax-free accounts, and avoid a huge tax tab in the future.

But with a tax-diversified portfolio, you can plan cost-effective withdrawals. Here are six ways to maximize those retirement savings sweet spot years.

Friday Quick Hits: 

• A growing number of adult children find themselves managing aging parents' care from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

• What you missed if you didn't catch last night's second GOP debate in Florida.

• Researchers have discovered new genetic factors linked to the age of onset of menopause. "We hope that as a better understanding of the biologic effects of these menopause-related variants are uncovered, we will gain new insights into the connections between menopause and cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis and other traits related to aging," researcher Kathryn Lunetta said.

• A gay pioneer in Congress, Rep. Barney Frank, 71, said he will marry his longtime partner in Massachusetts.

• One-third of New Yorkers nearing retirement age have less than $10,000 in retirement savings, according to a new report. Meanwhile, the number of elderly homeless in New York shelters has shot up 55 percent in the last 10 years.

• Rep. Ron Paul is supposedly the radical GOP presidential candidate, but he has the least drastic plans for Medicare reform. He's mentioned several times that he would cut overseas spending before touching Medicare or Social Security.

• And an investigation of nursing homes in California finds pharmacists routinely allowed inappropriate and dangerous prescriptions and drug combinations for residents.