Chuck Grassley: “Getting old is probably the most universal experience no one really likes to talk about. Sure, people talk about minor…”

“Getting old is probably the most universal experience no one really likes to talk about. Sure, people talk about minor aches and pains, but the big topics are unmentionable. They include paying for a funeral, preparing for a nursing home stay, or getting checked for prostate problems. These things make people uncomfortable, but they really should not. Consider Katie Couric's comment about colon cancer. She said, "Some people find the procedures like . . . colonoscopies unappealing. I can tell you they are all much more appealing than dying of this disease." In honor of Older Americans Month, I encourage aging adults--and that means all of us--to mention the unmentionable, and to think the unthinkable. Once you get these chores done, the rest of your years will be a day in the country. Here are 10 Smart Things to Do While You Age: 1. Secure your retirement income. One financial planner said saving for retirement is "like pushing a ball up a hill. The longer you wait, the steeper the hill (seems)." Yet 56 percent of U.S. households do not save enough for retirement. What should you do? The experts advise developing a financial plan and sticking to it. Save $25 a week for 40 years with 5 percent interest. You will have $165,000. Before you decide how much to set aside, think about how much you will need to maintain a standard of living. My own advice is do not overrely on Social Security.”