Retirement Resources
General Retirement Resources
AARP is the website for people over 50, whether retired or not. From health and travel to taxes and finances to computers and technology, there are topics for everyone at AARP.
Government information and links for consumer, financial, and legal issues; benefits; travel; etc.
Information on housing, rights, how to find free insurance counseling, and much more.
Rate comparisons for credit cards, mortgages, money markets, as well as advice on personal finance topics like auto loans, frugality, how to complain.
Tools to compare financial products and cost of living.
Articles and information related to financial planning for retirement. From Money Magazine and CNN.
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy—Retirement
Covers a broad range of issues related to retirement, including long-term care and estate planning.
From AARP. Enter information about your income, pension, social security and savings to determine whether you are saving enough for retirement.
Retirement Living Information Center
Features an array of resource materials, including reports on great places to retire, tax information on each state, monthly reports on new retirement communities, an online newsletter, books and online publications, a guide to state aging agencies, access to information about special assistive products and services, and links to online stores
A four-part tutorial offered by Investopedia that breaks down the process needed to plan, implement, and execute a successful retirement.
Article from Consumer Affairs that answers questions about planning for retirement, savings versus investments, catching up if you didn't put enough away at a younger age, and more.
Local Resources
Maynard Council on Aging & Senior Center
Information on a variety of services for seniors, including informational programs, wellness classes, day trips, and the COA Van. Phone: 978-897-1009
Maynard Senior Services Directory
From the Maynard Council on Aging, a compilation of local resources for a variety of senior topics such as adult day care and assisted living facilities, food assistance programs, legal services, food and fuel assistance, & more.
Provide free information & referral for care management, caregiver support and respite, home care, personal care, grocery shopping, laundry, adult day care, medical transportation, bill paying assistance, health benefits counseling, elder protective services, nursing home assessments, legal services, Meals on Wheels, and senior dining.
Get your taxes prepared for free at the Maynard Public Library. AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation & assistance program.
Job & Volunteer Resources
This Boston-based organization provides job-search assistance, education, and training geared to individuals 45 and older.
Connects retired or retiring workers with employers and with nonprofit volunteer opportunities.
Database for employers looking for senior workers.
SOAR 55 (Service Opportunities After Reaching 55)
With close links to 90 nonprofits and public agencies, SOAR 55 can facilitate the best volunteer placement to meet your needs. Connect with interesting people, do something you love, learn new skills, work around your schedule and make a difference.
Assisted Living
Assisted Living Resources—MA Office of Elder Affairs
Provides a consumers’ guide to assisted living, updated residence list, & ombudsman program to provide advocacy, information & complaint resolution to consumers.
Map-based senior and assisted living search engine.
FCA addresses the needs of family & friends providing long-term care at home. FCA provides information, advice, and facts on caregiving.
Senior Advisor- Assisted Living Reviews
Ratings and reviews from residents’ and families’ first-hand experience at local assisted living facilities.
Benefits
Information about Medicare &related programs, provides a tool for locating and comparing Medicare & Medicaid certified nursing homes.
Fill out a questionnaire about your financial situation to find out what benefit programs you may be eligible for and how to apply for them.
Maintained by the Medicare Rights Center, this site provides an excellent overview of Medicare Basics and is easy to use and navigate.
Allows users to create an online account with the Social Security Administration; apply for Medicare, retirement or disability benefits; predict retirement benefits; get a 1099/1042 tax form; request a replacement Medicare card; appeal a decision regarding your benefits; or apply for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs.
Social Security Benefit Planner
Benefit calculators, eligibility issues, and retirement options from the Social Security Administration. Download an online retirement planning CD directly from the site.
What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan
From the Dept. of Labor, this site tells you how to find out everything you need to know about your pension plan, including what documents you can get and from whom. Also includes information on vesting and how services years can be counted. Printer friendly version available.
Consumer Protection/Identity Theft
MA Attorney General’s Office Elder Hotline
Finding the answers to questions about elder issues can sometimes be confusing. The Attorney General's Office has a statewide, toll-free telephone hotline to assist individuals on a wide range of elder issues.
Call: 1-888-AG-ELDER
Consumer Assistance Office—MetroWest
Provides free information & voluntary mediation service for area consumers when they encounter problems. The mediation service helps the consumer & business resolve their issues outside of court through a neutral third party. Phone: 508-651-8812
AARP Consumer Product Catalog
Information and Publications on Consumer Issues for Seniors.
Stopping Elder Fraud & Financial Exploitation
Portal of resources to help prevent elder fraud, abuse, and financial exploitation.
Life-Long Learning Resources
As the leader of the lifelong learning movement, not-for-profit Road Scholar is the world’s largest and most innovative creator of experiential learning opportunities.
Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education for Seniors (MILES) at Middlesex Community College
Offers intellectual stimulation and interaction for older adults. Enrollment in as many classes as you want for $95 and provides free use of MCC Fitness Center.
UMass Lowell Learning in Retirement Association
Provides at a modest cost, college-level learning experiences for all its members, regardless of previous educational background.
Senior & Retirement Magazines
Note: Magazines can be checked out for 2 weeks with the exception of the most recently received issue.
AARP
Consumer Reports
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
Kiplinger’s Retirement Report
Money
Where to Retire