According to newly published federal regulations, many older workers will be receiving some additional protections at work. The regulation, issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), focuses on a form of age discrimination known as disparate impact. It involves employer practices that, while not overtly discriminatory, have a disproportionate impact on older workers. To understand this policy a little better take a worker who has been unemployed for six months or more. Some companies have a policy not to hire these potential employees. Unfortunately, older Americans tend to fall into this category more so than younger. Therefore the policy will have a disproportionate impact on the elderly worker.

The EEOC proposed the rule in 2010 to clarify a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory) that held that policies or practices with an adverse impact on older workers were in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 unless they could be justified by a reasonable factor other than age.

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Some do it every six months. Some do it every New Year. Whenever you do it, it is a good idea to clean out your medicine cabinet periodically. Here are some tips on maintaining a clean medicine cabinet and cleaning it out.

Location

Keep your medication in the ideal place to maximize safety and also improve your ability to take your medication properly and get the best results in the long run.

Keep Out of Children’s Reach

Keep your medicine out of the reach of children or in child proof cabinets. And don’t be fooled by the “child proof” caps – they don’t always stay child proof. And don’t brush off comments like “I wish I were dead” by school age children. Take these comments very, very serious.

Store Medicines Properly

Know your medicine and know how it needs to be stored. Some medicines need to be refrigerated, while some need to be kept in the dark. Others, like syringes and needles need to be stored safely.

Store Medicine Where You Are Most Likely to Need It

Consider your lifestyle. Store medicines that are taken after eating in a kitchen cabinet. Sleeping pills, on the other hand, probably should not be kept at the bedside. First aid products should be kept together — in the kitchen and in the car.

Medicines for on-the-Go Lifestyles

If you travel a lot, have swing shifts or are simply not in the same location every morning, you may be best off carrying your daily medications in your pocket book, brief case or toiletries kit.

What to Throw Out

Expired Products

Check the expiration dates on all products. Remember to check products you may keep in the refrigerator, the bedroom, the kitchen and first-aid kits. Throw out everything that is expired, even if they’ve never been opened or the package is still full.

Cosmetics

Although cosmetics don’t usually carry expiration dates, there can be health risks from using makeup too long, especially in the eye area. For example, mascara should be changed every six months, regardless of how often you actually use it.

Old Prescriptions

Do not save half-completed antibiotics prescriptions “just in case” you get another infection. If you have an illness serious enough to take antibiotics, you should see a doctor.

What to Keep

When restocking your medicine cabinet, think about what really needs to be there. Consider the cabinet’s size, what other storage space is available, where the cabinet is located, how many medicines you have and other things you store there, such as make-up or facial cleansers.

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Driving is one of the last things that we like to give up as we age. The ability to get out and about by driving gives us the sense of freedom and ability to get out of the house. Studies have shown that older drivers who give up their licenses become more isolated and inactive. A team at Newcastle University is developing new technology aimed at helping older drivers stay on the road.

Many elderly give up driving because their reaction times have slowed down. To help with elderly driving, one of the Intelligent Transport team’s developments is a “Granny-Nav” which identifies the safest route, such as avoiding right turns. The Age UK charity said “ability not age” should determine how safe someone is on the road. The researchers have converted an electric car into a mobile laboratory. The “DriveLAB” has navigation tools, night vision systems and intelligent speed adaptations. It can monitor concentration, stress levels and driving habits via glasses that can track eye movement, and monitors to assess where the key stress points are for older drivers. The car also has night vision systems to help driving in the dark.

Around 20 drivers in their 80s from across the north-east of England and Scotland have so far taken DriveLAB out on the road. Many avoid turning right because they do not feel confident about judging the speed of oncoming traffic. It also uses pictures of local landmarks, such as a post box or public house, as turning cues for when people are driving in unfamiliar places. Another piece of technology is using a widescreen monitor rather than the dashboard. This way drivers do not feel the need to look away from the road.

With the new technology it is possible that the older drivers will become safer drivers and enable them to be independent for longer periods of time. Researchers are quoted as saying, “When it comes to driving, everyone is responsible, at whatever age, for making sure they are safe on the road. The emphasis should be on supporting older people to continue driving safely so that older people retain their ability to get out and about.”

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Many retirees out there may be floating the idea of purchasing a boat, jet ski, or water craft. Protecting your boat or watercraft is just as important as the purchase price, says Insurance Agent and President of SIG Insurance of Florida, Walter Page. “Remember that you are not just insuring your boat, but the items that are on them,” says Page.

Before you plunk down that down payment, here are the top five things to remember when getting the right insurance coverage on your watercraft.

1. Safety first – Boating safety course can not only keep you and others safe but in most cases provides a discount on the policy.
2. Don’t assume your homeowners policy covers it. And even if it does, may not cover you while you’re out on the water.
3. Understand the coverages – while most cover liability, property damage, and physical damage, they may not include medical payments, towing or personal effects. Consider items such as fishing tackle, life jackets, and other expensive items that were on the boat.
4. Know the way the value is determined:  Agreed value, actual cash value or replacement cost.
5. Check out your options. It’s always a good idea to consult with your local independent agent. “It isn’t always less expensive or the best coverage to go with the same company that insures your auto or home.”

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