How to Create an Ethical Will

Can you write a column on ethical wills and how to make one? The attorney that made up my will recently suggested I write a letter as a tool to explain the intentions of my will, as well as express my thoughts and feelings, but I am not sure where to start.

An ethical will – also referred to as a legacy letter – can be a valuable complement to your legal will, as well as a wonderful gift to your family or other loved ones. Here are some things you should know and some tips to help you make one.

Ethical Wills

A last will and testament tells your loved ones and the probate court how you would like your assets to be distributed. An ethical will is not a legal document, but a legacy letter that many people use to express their feelings and explain the elements in their last will and testament.

A legacy letter is a heartfelt letter that you write to your loved ones sharing with them your feelings, wishes, regrets, gratitude and advice. Usually a legacy letter is no more than a few pages. The process of writing an ethical will can actually be quite satisfying. Be careful that you do not contradict any aspects of your legal will or estate plan. If you are having trouble with writing an ethical will, there are resources available to help. You can also choose to express yourself through an audio or video recording.

Where to Start

To craft an ethical will, start by jotting down some notes about what is really important to you and what you want your loved ones to know. Take your time and remember that you are not trying to write for the Pulitzer Prize. This letter is a gift written for those you love.

After you have gathered your thoughts you can start drafting your letter. You can also revise or rewrite it at any time. Your ethical will should be kept with your other legal documents in a secure location but be sure your executor has access to it. A fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home is often a good choice.

Get Help

If you need some help, there are numerous resources available on the internet. There are various websites that offer how-to information and examples of ethical wills. Many websites also offer resource books, including do-it-yourself guidebooks that are available for purchase.

You may find local organizations or companies that offer ethical will writing classes and workshops. They may also offer personalized services like coaching, editing, writing or recording your ethical will. Prices will vary depending on the services you choose and your location.

Many individuals choose to share their ethical will with their family and friends while they are still living so they can observe their reactions, while others believe it should be read after their death. This is a very personal choice.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

How to Help Aging Parents Manage their Medications

What tips or tools can you recommend to help seniors and their caregivers keep up with medications? My mother, who lives alone, is supposed to take several different medications at various times of the day but often forgets.

Anyone who juggles multiple medications can relate to the problem of forgetting to take their medicine, or not remembering whether they already took it. This is especially true for older adults who take medications at varying times of the day. Here are some different product and service solutions that may help.

Being organized and setting reminders are the two keys to staying on top of a medication schedule. To help your mom achieve this, there are a wide variety of pillboxes, medication organizers, vibrating watches, beeping pill bottles and dispensers with audio alerts that can make all the difference.

Simple Medication Helpers

You can help your mom stay organized by creating a simple medication list that breaks down exactly what she should take and when she should take it. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has a free printable resource. You can download and print a copy of “My Medicine List” at SafeMedication.com.

Smart Pill Boxes

There are also a variety of “smart” pill boxes on the market today that will remind your mom when she needs to take her medicine. It will also send family members and caregivers notifications if she forgets to take her pills or accidentally takes the wrong ones.

A few smart pill box options include Tricella, PillDrill and MedMinder. The prices range from approximately $200 to $300 or monthly subscriptions ranging from $40 to $65 a month. Some smart pill boxes require monthly subscription services. Most smart pill boxes require connectivity with a smart phone or tablet with either a data plan or Wi-Fi access. The more expensive models provide comprehensive pill tracking which helps for those on a strict medication schedule.

Convenient Packaging

Another way to help simplify your mom’s medicine is to find a pharmacy that offers prescriptions in single-dose packets. This packaging option may allow her in also include vitamins and over-the-counter drugs. Typically the single-dose packets are organized by date and the time of day they should be taken. This does away with all the pill bottles and pill sorting if you find a pharmacy that offers the service.

Apps and Calling Services

If your mom has a smartphone, there are apps she could use to help her keep up with her medication. One of the top rated apps is Medisafe which is a free app offered on Apple and Android phones. Medisafe will track your mom’s pill schedule, send her timely notifications to take her meds and send her reminders to fill her prescriptions.

Caregivers can also connect with the Medisafe app to receieve notifications about when it is time for their loved ones to take their medication and they can see whether or not it has been marked as taken.

If your mom does not use a smartphone, there are also calling services, which provide medication reminding calls. These types of services will call your mom at the scheduled times to reminder her that she needs to take her medication. If she fails to answer or acknowledge the call, a family member or caregiver will be contacted. Services like this typically cost between $15 and $20 per month.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published October 25, 2019

How to Stop Unwanted Junk Mail and Guard Against Mail Fraud

My father receives over 100 pieces of junk mail every week and I just discovered that he has given away nearly $5,000 over the past few months to many of the solicitors who mail him this junk. Can you offer any tips on how can I stop this?

Millions of Americans get bombarded with unwanted junk mail these days, including “mail fraud” schemes that you and your dad need should be careful to guard against. Here are some tips that may help.

Mail Fraud Alert

While junk mail comes in many different forms—credit card applications, sweepstakes entries, magazine offers, coupon mailers, donation requests, political fliers, catalogs and more—the most troublesome type is mail fraud. This type of junk mail comes from con artists who are trying to take your money.

Mail fraud can be tricky to detect because there are many different types of schemes out there that may seem legitimate. Some of the most common mail scams targeting seniors today are phony sweepstakes, foreign lotteries, free prizes, vacation scams, fake checks (see FakeChecks.org), donation requests from fake charities or government agencies that do not exist, get-rich chain letters, work-at-home schemes and inheritance and investment scams.

If your dad is getting any type of junk mail requesting money in exchange for a free gift or if he is receiving checks that require him to wire money, you need to call the U.S. Postal Inspector Service at 877-876-2455 and report it.

Unfortunately, once a person’s name and contact information is included on these mail fraud lists, it is very difficult to be removed from the list. This is because criminals regularly trade and sell mailing lists of people who they believe to be susceptible to fraud and the scammers will not remove names when they are requested to do so.

Knowing this, a good first step to help protect your dad is to alert him to the different types of mail fraud and what to watch for. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service can help you with this. They offer a list of the different mail fraud schemes at PostalInspectors.uspis.gov.

Another option is to see if your dad would be willing to let you sort through his mail before he opens it so you can weed out the junk. You may want to have the post office forward his mail directly to you to ensure this.

If your dad feels compelled to donate to certain charities, ask him to let you check them out first to make sure they are legitimate. You can do this at charity watchdog sites like CharityNavigator.org and Give.org.

Reduce Junk Mail

While scam artists are not likely to take your dad’s name off their mailing lists, most legitimate mail-order businesses will. To do this, start with the Direct Marketing Association, which offers a consumer opt-out service at DMAchoice.org. This will not eliminate all his junk mail, but it will reduce it. The opt-out service is $2 for 10 years if you register online or $3 if you register by mail.

Then, to put a stop to the credit card and insurance offers he gets, call the consumer credit reporting industry opt-out service at 888-567-8688 and follow the automated prompts. He will be able to choose to either opt out for five years or to opt out permanently. Be prepared to give his Social Security number and date of birth. You can also do this online at OptOutPrescreen.com. If you choose the permanent opt-out, you will have to send a form in the mail.

You should also make sure your dad’s home and cell phone numbers are registered with the National Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov, 888-382-1222) to reduce the number of telemarketing calls he receives.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published October 18, 2019

Our Donors Awarded Over $20K in Grants

Thanks to our generous donors and the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Funds, Washington County nonprofits will be receiving over $20,000 in grants.

The Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $2966.00 to replace a 10-year old AED with two additional compliant AEDs.

A grant for $726.00 was awarded to the YMCA of Washington County for afterschool outings for the THRIVE mentoring program. The mentors and mentees will meet twice per school year (in addition to weekly mentor/mentee meetings) outside of school hours in a safe space that will provide additional interaction.

Blue River Services has been awarded a $2899.00 grant for improved vocational training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The funds will be used to purchase a smartboard.

Junior Achievement will once again receive a grant for educational programming in Washington County. The $2500.00 grant will be used to teach youth economic and financial literacy.

A $6500.0 grant has been awarded to Dare to Care to continue the Backpack Buddy program. The program provides nutritious, kid-friendly food to children for the weekends where they may otherwise go hungry.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

End

WCCF Announces Mahuron Education Fund and Elliott Family Fund Grant Recipients

The Mahuron Education Fund was established at the Washington County Community Foundation to encourage educators and staff to teach in innovative ways. This year, the fund, along with the Elliott Family Fund has awarded several teachers in the county school corporations over $4300.00.

Brenda Boling’s West Washington Elementary School 5^th grade classroom will be Geocaching this year. The grant will fund geocaching supplies for classrooms for teachers and students to enjoy while learning math word problems and riddles.

East Washington School Corporation Speech and Language Pathologist, Cheyenne Stone, has been awarded a grant for an iPad motor learning-based app to benefit students throughout the corporation with speech and language impairments.

Jennifer Stahl, West Washington Junior/Senior High School teacher, will be adding a standing desk to her classroom for student use.

East Washington Elementary 5^th grade teacher, Tara Kennedy, will be teaching her students about recycling. They hope to increase recycling I the school and the community while using the program to obtain and track data.

Jenisa Collier’s Bradie Shrum Elementary School Kindergarten school students will be learning more fine motor skills while gaining hand-eye coordination, and knowledge on shapes and numbers.

Students in Bev Lanham’s 2^nd grade class at Bradie Shrum Elementary School will be getting new resources for independent reading, small group, and whole group settings to increase student ability to see text and hear themselves read as well as increasing fluency.

Bradie Shrum Elementary School 5^th graders in Randy Nichols’ and Joni Hardy’s class will be utilizing new technology for math topic review.

Lorie Campbell will be assisting students and teachers with Response to Intervention. The project at Bradie Shrum Elementary will focus on providing resources throughout the school to use during RTI time each week to increase fluency, phonics, vocabulary, sight words, and comprehension.

Students at West Washington Elementary School will be enjoying Dance in Music. Hannah Ledgerwood was awarded a grant to utilize dancing in the music room to focus on rhythmic skill, coordination, concentration, body control, and mental focus.

Students at East Washington Elementary School will be learning math skills during PE time. Leah Starrett, PE teacher, will be leading the charge for the program.

Ronda Eiler’s East Washington Elementary School Kindergarten class will be using Magnetic Magic to provide students a hands-on opportunity to discover, build, and play with a variety of magnetic toys to improve coordination skills.

The Elliott Family Fund, a donor advised fund within the Foundation, has also issued grants for innovative classroom ideas.

Laura Mahuron’s 6^th grade Science class at Salem Middle School was awarded a grant for Solar Energy Projects, STEM solar building kits to engage students in group work to understand the use of solar energy and energy transference.

Students in Michelle Stancombe’s advisory period will be certified in CPR through the purchase of CPR infant, youth, and adult mannequins.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

End

Resources to Help with Debt

My husband and I, who are both 66 years old, have fallen behind on our mortgage payments and have accumulated quite a bit of credit card debt over the past few years. Where can we get help?

Unfortunately, credit card and mortgage debt have become a growing problem for many older Americans who often face medical expenses on top of their mortgage and other growing costs. Here are some tips and services that can help.

Credit Card Counseling

To help you get a handle on your credit card debt, an accredited credit counseling agency may provide assistance. These are nonprofit agencies that offer free financial information and advice on how to handle financial problems.

Depending on the significance of your credit card debt, they can help you sort out your finances and set up a debt management plan (DMP), which allows a counselor to negotiate with creditors to lower your interest rates and eliminate any late fees and other penalties.

The agency will consolidate your debts into one payment and distribute the payments to creditors. Typically, the first counseling session is free, but a DMP comes with monthly fees, often in the range of $20 to $75 a month.

To locate a credible agency in your area, visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website at NFCC.org (800-388-2227), and the Financial Counseling Association of America FCAA.org (800-450-1794).

Be wary of debt settlement companies that claim to settle all of your debts or cut your debt in half for a fee without counseling. Most of these companies use deceptive practices and will only leave you more in debt then you already are.

Mortgage Counseling

If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, or if you have already received a letter or phone call about missed payments, you should contact your lender immediately. Explain your situation and see if you can work out a payment plan. Be prepared to provide your financial information, such as your monthly income and expenses.

You can also get help from a foreclosure prevention counselor. These are HUD-approved, trained counselors that will work with you, examine your financial situation and offer guidance on how best to avoid default or foreclosure. They can also represent you in negotiations with your lender, if necessary.

For a selection of housing counseling options see the Department of Housing and Urban Development website at HUD.gov – click on "Resources" at the top of the page, then on "Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling," or call 800-569-4287. You may also use the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or Financial Counseling Association of America websites. For phone numbers, see above.

Financial Assistance

You need to make sure you are not missing out on any financial assistance programs. The National Council on Aging's website, BenefitsCheckUp.org, contains a database of more than 2,500 federal, state and local programs that may assist seniors with prescription drug costs, health care, food, utilities, and other basic needs. The site will help you locate programs that you may be eligible for and will show you how to apply.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published October 11, 2019

Chuck Fluharty, Founder of the Rural Policy Research Institute, Coming to Salem. Public Invited

Chuck Fluharty will be coming to Salem on October 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Salem High School Presentation Room as part of the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street project, a collaboration between Indiana Humanities, Washington County Historical Society, and Washington County Community Foundation.

He is the founder, President, and CEO of the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), the only national policy institute in the U.S. solely dedicated to assessing the rural impacts of public policies. A Clinical Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, and a Research Professor in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, he was also a German Marshall Fund Transatlantic Fellow from 2007 to 2011, and the Founding Director of the Missouri Public Policy Institute, as well as a principal in the design and development of the eventual Truman School of Public Affairs. The author of numerous policy studies and journal articles, he has presented dozens of Congressional testimonies and briefings. He is also a frequent speaker before national and international audiences, having delivered major public policy speeches in over a dozen nations, and has provided senior policy consultation to most federal departments, state and local government, planning and development organizations, and many foundations.

Chuck was born and raised on a fifth-generation family farm in the Appalachian foothills in eastern Ohio, and is a graduate of Yale Divinity School. His professional career has centered upon service to rural people, primarily in the public policy arena. He and his wife Marsha are the parents of two sons and a daughter.

Flu Vaccines for Seniors

What can you tell me about the flu shots designed for older adults? I got sick last winter after getting a standard flu shot and would like to find out if the senior-specific flu vaccine is worth getting.

There are actually two different types of flu shots available to people age 65 and older. These FDA-approved vaccines are designed to offer extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot provides, which is important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and are at greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that during the 2018-2019 flu season up to 647,000 people were hospitalized and 61,200 died.

You also need to be aware that these senior-specific flu shots cannot guarantee you will be flu free this season, but they may lower your risk. If you do happen to get sick, it is likely you will not get as sick as you would without it. Here is more information on the two vaccines:

Fluzone High-Dose: Approved for U.S. use in 2009, the Fluzone High-Dose is a high-potency vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. According to a 2013 clinical trial, this vaccine was 24% more effective than the regular-dose shot at preventing flu in seniors.

FLUAD: Available in the U.S. since 2016, the FLUAD vaccine contains an added ingredient called adjuvant MF59 that also helps create a stronger immune response. In a 2012 Canadian observational study, FLUAD was 63% more effective than a regular flu shot.

The CDC does not recommend one vaccine over the other, and to date, there have been no studies comparing the two vaccines. You should also know that both the Fluzone High-Dose and FLUAD can cause more of the mild side effects that may occur with a standard-dose flu shot, like pain or tenderness where the shot is injected, muscle aches, headaches or fatigue.

Neither vaccine is recommended for seniors who are allergic to chicken eggs or to those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past. If you are allergic to eggs, you should ask for a Flucelvax or FluBlok shot. Neither of these vaccines uses chicken eggs during the manufacturing process.

All of these vaccines are covered 100% by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy does not charge you more than Medicare pays.

Pneumonia Vaccines

The CDC recommends seniors also obtain a pneumonia vaccination, especially this time of year. Around 1 million Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia each year and approximately 50,000 people die from it.

The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered just once but at different times, protect against different strains of the pneumonia bacteria to provide maximum protection.

If you have not yet received any pneumococcal vaccine you should get the Prevnar 13 first, followed by Pneumovax 23 at least one year later. But if you have already been vaccinated with Pneumovax 23, wait at least one year before getting the Prevnar 13. Medicare Part B covers both shots, if they are taken at least one year apart.

To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder.org. You can type in your location and filter the search to the specific vaccine you would like to receive.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published October 4, 2019

Social Security Disability Benefits Eligibility

Getting Social Security disability benefits when you are unable to work can be challenging. Last year, more than 2 million people applied for Social Security disability benefits. Approximately two-thirds of those applications were denied. In most cases, the applicants failed to prove that they have a disability that prevents them from working. Here are some steps you can take that may improve your application.

Get Informed

The first thing you need to find out is whether your health problem qualifies you for Social Security disability benefits. Generally, eligibility depends on if you have a health problem that is expected to prevent you from working in your current line of work (or any other line of work that you have been in over the past 15 years) for at least a year or that the health problem may be terminal.

There is no such thing as a partial disability benefit. If you are fit enough to work part-time, your application will likely be denied. If you are working your application will be denied.

Your skill set and age are factors too. Your application may be denied if your work history suggests that you have the skills to perform a less physically demanding job that your disability would not prevent you from doing.

To help you determine if your disability may prevent you from working, visit SSA.gov/planners/disability/qualify.html and go through the five questions Social Security uses to disability eligibility.

How to Apply

If you believe you have a claim, your next step is to gather up your personal, financial and medical information so you can be prepared and organized for the application process.

You can apply either online at SSA.gov/applyfordisability or call 800-772-1213 to make an appointment to apply at your local Social Security office, or to set up an appointment for someone to take your claim over the phone.

The whole process lasts about an hour. If you schedule an appointment, a "Disability Starter Kit" will be mailed to you, it should help you get ready for your interview. If you apply online, the kit is available for download at SSA.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm.

It takes three to five months from the initial application to receive either an award or denial of benefits. The only exception is if you have a chronic illness that qualifies you for a "compassionate allowance" (see SSA.gov/compassionateallowances), which fast tracks cases within weeks.

If Social Security denies your initial application, you can appeal the decision. Roughly half of all cases that go the appeals process will receive benefits, but there is a large backlog for appeals of approximately 800,000 people currently waiting for a hearing. It may take 12 to 24 months for an individual to get an appeals hearing.

Get Help

You can hire a representative to help you with your Social Security disability claim. By law, representatives can charge a maximum of 25% of your past-due benefits, up to a maximum of $6,000, if they win your case.

It may be worthwhile to hire someone at the start of the application process if your disability is something difficult to prove, such as chronic pain. If, however, your disability is obvious, you may not need to work with representative. If it is necessary, you can always hire a representative at a later date.

To find a representative, check with the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR.org, 845-682-1881) or National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR.org, 800-747-6131). Or, if you're low-income, contact the Legal Services Corporation (LSC.gov/find-legal-aid) for free assistance.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published September 27, 2019

Electric Bikes Are Booming Among Baby Boomers

What can you tell me about electric bicycles? A friend of mine, who is almost 70, recently got one and absolutely loves it. He told me he rides more now than he ever did his regular bicycle.

Electric bikes have become very popular among U.S. baby boomers over the past few years because they are super fun to ride and easier on an aging body.

Electric bikes, also known as e-bikes, are conventional bicycles with a battery-powered "pedal" or "throttle" assist. When you push the pedals or throttle, a small motor engages and gives you a boost. With an electric bike, you can whiz up hills, ride into headwinds and cruise over challenging terrain without over-exerting yourself or taxing your knees.

Many older e-bike owners say that they ride more frequently and go further and longer than they ever would with a traditional bike. Here is what you should know about e-bikes, along with some tips to help you choose one.

What to Know

E-bikes are more complicated and expensive than regular bicycles, so you should do some research before you purchase one. For starters, you need to know that there are three different types of e-bikes to choose from:

Class 1: "Pedal-assist" electric bikes that only provides assistance when the rider is pedaling, and only go up to 20 miles per hour. These are the most common type of electric bikes.
Class 2: "Throttle-assist" e-bikes that let you use the electric motor without pedaling, like a motorcycle or scooter, with speeds up to 20 miles per hour.
Class 3: "Speed pedal-assist" e-bikes, similar to Class 1, except that the motor will assist with speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.

Because the bikes are electrically powered, states and local communities have varying regulations regarding the use of e-bikes. In many states, Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed to be ridden wherever a traditional bike goes, while Class 3 are generally allowed on the street due to their higher top speed. For more information on your state's e-bike laws, visit PeopleForBikes.org/e-bikes.

You should also know that e-bikes come in many different styles, such as commuter, cruiser, mountain, road and folding, to meet different riding needs. E-bikes typically run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Their motors are either a hub-drive motor, mounted on the front or rear wheel, or a mid-drive motor, mounted to the frame at the bottom bracket between the cranks.

The only downsides of e-bikes are weight and cost. Because of the battery and motor, e-bikes are much heavier than traditional bicycles weighing 50 or more pounds, so it can be more challenging if you have to manually lift or maneuver your bike a lot. E-bikes are also expensive, typically ranging between $2,500 and $3,500.

E-bikes are made by many of the same established companies that make traditional bikes like Specialized, Electra, Schwinn, Trek, Giant, Cannondale and Felt, along with a number of upstarts like Juiced Faraday, Pedego, Elby and Hi Bike. To shop for an e-bike, find a good bike shop in your area and ask to test ride a few styles.

If you are interested in a cheaper option, there are also e-bike kits you can purchase like Walmart, Amazon and eBikeKit that can convert your regular bike into an e-bike for a few hundred dollars.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published September 20, 2019

Ethical Wills

Where to Start

Get Help

Simple Medication Helpers

Smart Pill Boxes

Convenient Packaging

Apps and Calling Services

Mail Fraud Alert

Reduce Junk Mail

Credit Card Counseling

Mortgage Counseling

Financial Assistance

Pneumonia Vaccines

Get Informed

How to Apply

Get Help

What to Know

More Articles ...