Shaken by the death of his parents, Jim Miller began working with seniors and learned they had questions on everything from grandparenting to Medigap insurance. He began to answer them in a newspaper column, which was syndicated and spawned a handy roadmap to health, family and finances called “The Savvy Senior” (Hyperion, $13.95).
The comprehensive guide is based on readers’ questions and broken into six major areas: lifestyle, home, health, Medicare, Social Security and finances. Social Security generates about half of the questions to the column and the topic is thoroughly covered, but Miller doesn’t skimp on the other areas.
Written in a light, chatty tone, “The Savvy Senior” often points to helpful resources for further detail, but many of these are Internet sites. Seniors constitute the fastest-growing group of U.S. Internet users, Miller writes, but for those who aren’t computer savvy, the book might prove a bit limiting.
Surprisingly, though, it is a helpful resource even for Baby Boomers. Anyone with elderly parents can benefit.
On aging: “Let’s face it. Social Security, Medicare, hardening of the arteries and assisted-living centers aren’t the most pleasant subjects for party conversations.”
