Now more than ever, older adults are at greater risk of medical emergencies. Yet many are also caretakers for family members – making them even more susceptible to medical financial shocks.

For older adults living on fixed incomes, constant budgeting often isn’t enough to afford basic essentials – forcing them to make tradeoffs that are even more acute in the wake of COVID-19.

What would older adults tell their younger selves if they could go back in time and do things to make managing their finances easier later on? This episode features touching, endearing, and sage advice from older adults across the U.S.

Once upon a time, retirement meant a paid-off house, a solid financial cushion, and time to relax. This episode explores how older adults approaching retirement today often find themselves unprepared financially and worried about what their future will actually look like. As for those who have already retired, the reality is often starkly different from the retirement they once imagined.

Financial emergencies following a health scare are becoming increasingly common. Unexpected hospital stays or a sudden illness or injury can wipe out savings, leaving many people unable to afford day-to-day expenses. In some cases, medical issues can force people into early retirement, cutting off potential earnings for years to come. This episode provides a glimpse into life after medical shocks and the difficulties older adults face as they try to bounce back financially.

Chronic healthcare issues are not only challenging for the people diagnosed, but for the loved ones taking care of them. These emotional and financial challenges grow exponentially when medical coverage and healthcare-related debt enter the picture. This episode takes you inside the lives of three families experiencing the challenges of caregiving and attempting to navigate countless financial roadblocks as they plan for an uncertain future.

Pay for your medication or buy dinner? Many older adults living on fixed incomes have to make daily trade-offs like these, even if they’re able to supplement their steady paychecks or Social Security checks. This episode provides a glimpse into life on a fixed income, where constant budgeting doesn’t guarantee you can afford basics like groceries. Explore the realities of life for those who have officially retired and others who are still working and struggling to afford life in their later years.