By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What can cause dizziness in older adults? I have dizzy spells from time to time but I’m not sure what causes it or what I should do about it.

–Dizzy Donna

Dear Donna,

Whether it’s a moment of lightheadedness or the room-whirling sensation of vertigo, dizziness can be very unsettling. As many as 30 percent of people older than 60 experience dizziness at some point, about 50 percent after age 85.

This unpleasant sensation only rarely signifies a serious medical condition. But it can knock you off balance, leading to falls and injuries. That’s why anytime you feel dizzy, you should lower yourself to a safe, seated position. Here’s a brief rundown of what typically causes dizziness and what you can do to fix it.

What Causes Dizziness

One of the most common causes of dizziness and vertigo in older adults is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear, which play a role in balance, become dislodged. BPPV is more likely as we get older because wear and tear can cause the crystals to shift out of place.

By JimMiller

Dear Savvy Senior,

My adult kids keep warning me about scams, but it’s hard to know which calls and messages are dangerous. What scams are most commonly aimed at seniors right now?

–Almost 80

Dear Almost,

Your kids’ concerns are well founded. Financial fraud is a massive – and rapidly growing – problem for older Americans. In 2024 alone, scams cost older adults an estimated $81.5 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That staggering figure includes both reported losses and the many crimes that likely go unreported.

While many scams today target people of all ages, older adults are often singled out or suffer the greatest financial harm. From urgent phone calls and alarming emails to online romance schemes and bogus investment opportunities, scammers use high-pressure tactics, fear and emotional manipulation to convince seniors to hand over money or sensitive personal information.

Knowing the most common scams is the first line of defense. Here’s a list of scams seniors should watch for:

Imposter and government scams: Fraudsters pretend to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, the police, banks, or utility companies. They claim there’s a problem requiring immediate payment or personal information and may threaten arrest or loss of benefits.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What are the rules regarding inherited IRAs? My brother and I recently inherited our father’s IRA when he passed away late last year and would like to know what we need to do to handle it properly.

Oldest Sibling

Dear Oldest,

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your father, but you’re smart to be planning ahead. Inheriting an IRA from a parent comes with a unique set of rules. Understanding them can help you make the most of the money you inherit and avoid an unpleasant surprise at tax time. Here are some basics you should know.

Setting It Up

Many people assume they can roll an inherited IRA into their own IRA, but that’s not allowed for most beneficiaries. If you inherit an IRA from a parent, sibling, or anyone other than a spouse, you cannot treat the account as your own. Instead, your share must be transferred into a newly established inherited IRA, properly titled in the deceased owner’s name—for example, John Smith, deceased, for the benefit of Jane Smith.

If your father named multiple beneficiaries, the IRA can be split into separate inherited accounts. This allows each beneficiary to manage withdrawals independently, as if they were the sole beneficiary.

You can open an inherited IRA at most banks or brokerage firms, although the simplest option is often to set it up with the firm that already holds your father’s account.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What resources can you recommend for researching good places to retire in the U.S.? My husband and I are interested in relocating to a warmer climate when we retire next year.

Looking to Relocate   

Dear Looking,

It’s exciting to think about relocating in retirement! Whether you’re considering seasonal escapes or a permanent change, there are a wide variety of digital resources that can help you find and research new locations. Here are some tips and tools to help you get started. 

Where to Retire?

Deciding where to relocate when you retire is a big decision. There are many factors to think about to ensure the move supports your lifestyle, financial goals, and overall well-being. To help you identify some good retirement locations you need to consider things like cost of living, climate, taxes, health care, housing, crime, access to social and recreational activities, access to transportation and proximity to family and friends.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What treatments are recommended to help with tinnitus? I started noticing a subtle ringing in my ears about 10 years ago, but it’s gotten much more bothersome since I turned 60.

Ringing Ronnie

Dear Ronnie,

Tinnitus is actually one of the most common health conditions in the country. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders around 10 percent of the U.S. adult population – over 25 million Americans – experience some form of tinnitus.

For most people tinnitus is merely annoying, but roughly 5 million people struggle with chronic tinnitus and 2 million find it debilitating.

While there’s no cure, there are a range of different strategies you can employ to reduce the symptoms to make it less bothersome. Here’s what you should know.

What is Tinnitus?                                                            

Tinnitus (pronounced TIN-a-tus or tin-NIGHT-us) is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present.

The sounds, which can vary in pitch and loudness, are usually worse when background noise is low, so you may be more aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep in a quiet room.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I have been thinking about planning my funeral in advance so my kids won’t have to later but would like to inquire about prepaying. Is it a good idea to prepay for a funeral that you might not need for a while?

Aging Annie

Dear Annie,

Planning your funeral in advance is definitely a smart move. Not only does it give you time to make a thoughtful decision on the type of service you want, it also allows you to shop around to find a good funeral provider, and it will spare your adult children the burden of making these decisions at an emotional time.

But preplanning a funeral doesn’t mean you have to prepay too. In fact, the Funeral Consumer Alliance, a national nonprofit funeral consumer protection organization, doesn’t recommend it unless you need to spend down your financial resources so you can qualify for Medicaid. Here’s what you should know.

Preneed Arrangements

Most funeral homes today offer what is known as “preneed plans” which allow you to prearrange for the type of funeral services you want and prepay with a lump sum or through installments. The funeral home either puts your money in a trust fund with the payout triggered by your death or buys an insurance policy naming itself as the beneficiary.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What are the most popular ages that people start taking their Social Security retirement benefits? I’m turning 62 later this year and trying to decide when to start taking my benefits.

Born in 64

Dear 64,

You can sign up to begin your Social Security retirement benefits any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up to around 6 to 8 percent higher payments every year you delay.

To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit Social Security’s Retirement Age Calculator at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html. This tool provides your full retirement age (FRA) – which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later – and shows how much your benefits will be reduced by taking early payments or increased by delaying them.

In the meantime, here’s a rundown of when people start receiving retirement benefits (according to the most recent SSA statistical data), and how signing up at each age impacts your payout.

Age 62: This is the earliest possible age you can sign up for Social Security. According to the SSA, in 2024, 23.3 percent of women and 22 percent of men signed up for Social Security at 62. But if you sign up at this age, you’ll get a 30 percent smaller Social Security payment if your FRA is 67.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you give me some tips on picking a good nursing home for my father? Since his stroke, I’ve been taking care of him at home, but he’s gotten to the point where it’s too much for me to handle.  

Exhausted Daughter

Dear Exhausted,

Choosing a nursing home for a loved one that provides quality is a very important decision that requires careful evaluation and some homework. Here are some steps you can take that can help you find a good facility and avoid a bad one.

Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area including the Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 or visit Eldercare.acl.gov for contact information); your dad’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who may have had a loved one in a nursing home; and online at Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-com

Also, keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that’s close to family members and friends who can visit often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care.