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Baby, It's Cold Outside… And That's No Joke for Seniors

Founder | CEO

How cold is it? •	It's so cold I saw a dog stuck to a fire hydrant.
•	It's so cold my words froze mid-air and my neighbour had to thaw them out to hear what I said.
•	It's so cold, I just saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets.

Okay, I'm joking—but just a bit. Because while I enjoy a good cold-weather quip, hypothermia isn't funny.  

Currently, this severe Arctic blast is gripping Canada and large parts of the United States, dropping temperatures 20–40°F (11–22°C) below seasonal norms across a 2,000-mile stretch of North America. Nearly 80 million people are under winter storm warnings. Power outages are anticipated. Roads could be impassable. Travel is about as appealing as a root canal in a snowstorm.

For many seniors on both sides of the border, this isn't just an inconvenience—it's a real safety risk.

The Cold, Hard Stats (Brace Yourself) Looking at the research I couldn't believe what I found: 

Older adults are more than 5x as likely to die from hypothermia as younger adults (Kosatsky et al., 2015). In the U.S., approximately half of all hypothermia deaths are people over 65 according to data from the CDC. In Canada, adults over 75 are more than 5 times more likely to die from hypothermia than younger adults—and 87% of those deaths happen right in their own homes. (StatsCan Health Infobase )

Read that again. Slowly.

Not on frozen lakes. Not stranded on highways. Instead, in familiar living rooms. Sitting on well-worn couches. Beneath afghans crocheted by someone who loved them.

Why Your Body Becomes a Cold -Weather Traitor Our bodies change as we age, and not in the fun "I've earned every wrinkle" way. The insulating fat layer under the skin thins. Circulation slows. Metabolism drops like your interest in small talk.

Certain medications—prescription and over-the-counter cold remedies—can interfere with temperature regulation and awareness. Your body's thermostat? It's on the fritz.

Here's the math: Hypothermia doesn't require a blizzard. It can begin indoors when temperatures fall below 65°F / 18°C.

And here's the truly dangerous part: hypothermia affects the brain first. Judgment declines before shivering becomes severe. You don't realize you're in trouble. You just feel "a bit chilly" while your core temperature quietly drops.

Stop Acting Your Age! (But Also... Dress as if you know your age)  I'm all for embracing life at every stage—hiking to Everest Base Camp at 60-something, teaching Zumba, and that MBA thing at 70, refusing to "act your age." But embracing life in this weather requires wisdom, not bravado.

Cold weather brings real risks: •	Slips and falls on icy surfaces (and no, we don't bounce like we used to)
•	Increased risk of heart attack and stroke because cold thickens the blood
•	Respiratory infections that linger far too long
•	Frostbite on fingers and toes
•	Hypothermia that clouds thinking before any alarms sound.



The Indoor Survival Guide—Keep Up  (Yes, You Can Get Hypothermia at Home)  Set the thermostat to at least 68–70°F (20–21°C). This is not a time to be a miser.  Heating bills can be expensive, but hospital stays are even more costly. And they don't even give you warm blankets anymore.

Layer like a pro. This is not the time for fashion minimalism. Think:
•	Long underwear or thermal leggings
•	Pyjamas under clothes
•	Stockings or tights under pants
•	Two pairs of socks
•	Warm boots with good tread (essential for any outdoor ventures)
•	Shirts layered under sweaters

When it's this cold, if you still own leg warmers—congratulations. Wear them. The warmth is worth the call from the '80s asking for them back. Hats indoors are permitted. This isn't a fashion show; it's survival style. You lose a lot of body heat through your head. Emulate your inner Elmer Fudd if you need to.  Carbon monoxide alarms are essential & in many areas legally required.  When temperatures drop, people get creative—and desperate. Space heaters, fireplaces, generators, kerosene heaters, or (please, dear God, don't) using gas ovens for heat. That last one is about as safe as texting while skydiving.  And here's an important PSA: Starting January 1, 2026, Ontario's updated fire code mandates a functioning carbon monoxide alarm on every level of homes that have fuel-burning appliances. Remember to test alarms when you change your clocks for daylight saving time—it's easy to do, and not easy to forget.

Block drafts like you're defending a castle. Roll towels under doors, seal windows, close unused rooms, open curtains during sunny days, and close them tightly at night.

Check your medications. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if any prescriptions or over-the-counter remedies influence temperature regulation or alertness. Knowledge is power—and warmth.

Check Food & Other Supplies. If venturing out feels risky, order groceries for delivery. Services like Voilà by Sobeys, Instacart, PC Express, and many local grocers deliver directly to your door.  This isn't laziness—it's smart risk management. Most delivery services are free or inexpensive, especially when compared to the alternative: icy sidewalks, falls, broken hips, or getting stranded in extreme cold while wearing inadequate footwear because "it's just a quick trip."

Clear Your Snow. Snow and ice hinder movement. Limited movement results in isolation. Isolation worsens depression and cognitive decline.  Clear snow isn't just about safety—it's about dignity.

Pro Tip: Protect Your Pipes (and Your Wallet).  Winter power outages can mean burst pipes and serious water damage. If you expect a prolonged outage:

• Know where your main water shut-off is
• Turn it off
• Open faucets to drain the lines

It feels extreme—until it doesn't. Until you're standing in three inches of water at 2 a.m., wearing your emergency leg warmers.

Know or Live Near an Older Adult?  Here's Your Cold Weather Action Plan  Don't ask if they need help—just do it. Clear the porch. Shovel a path. Salt the steps.
Think of it as the winter cousin of snow angels: shovel angels. Be one!

When people Are Shut In—Go check in with them. For those stuck indoors, reach out by video, not just text or voice. Seeing someone tells you far more than hearing "I'm fine."

Use FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp, or Google Meet. Do this with older people you know.  Because pride prevents people from asking for help. Shame prevents people from being honest—about empty fridges, sleeping in mittens, or wearing coats to bed.  Look for these signs: •	Confusion or slurred speech
•	Shivering—or lack of it (paradoxically dangerous)
•	Pale or bluish skin
•	Slow movements or lack of coordination
•	Extreme fatigue

Know When to Call for Help If something feels off, err on the side of safety.
In Canada:
•	Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000
•	Quebec: 811
•	Other provinces: Know your local health line

If you notice any signs of distress—confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe cold exposure—or if you're unsure, call 911. Cold-related emergencies escalate rapidly.

 The Culture Shift We Need—Right Now  Cold snaps reveal faults in our systems and communities. This is the time to foster a check-in culture: a call, a knock, a cleared walkway, groceries dropped at the door.

Preparation matters. Connection matters more.  Winter is temporary. The habits we build to take care of one another are not.

Be cool—and stay warm out there, friends.

Sue

Don’t Retire… Rewire!

What are your best winter safety tips? Share them—because staying warm is better when we do it together.

 Want more of this? Subscribe for weekly doses of retirement reality—no golf-cart clichés, no sunset stock photos, just straight talk about staying Hip, Fit & Financially Free.      

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CPP, OAS, and the Retirement Timing Tango — The Most Important Dance of Your Life

Our experts weigh in on when you should consider claiming these benefits

You’ve been contributing to it your whole life—now let’s get it right.

Every retiree dreams of mastering one crucial dance: the Retirement Timing Tango. And here’s the truth—next to good health, guaranteed, predictable income (GPI) sits at the top of every retiree’s wish list, mind list, and need list. 

Enough income opens the door to independence, autonomy, dignity, and the most sought-after prize of all: aging in place. Not enough income? That will rob you of sleep and enjoyment, creating a non-stop loop of 3 a.m. worry sessions that no melatonin can fix. A badge of a successful retirement starts with enough income to meet all your obligations. This matters far more than leaving an inheritance or making sure your ungrateful nephew gets the cottage. 

But here’s the thing about this particular tango: you need proper footwear. Orthopedic dance shoes, folks. Not slippers. Not boots. And definitely not Crocs (no shade here). Think support, stability, and a sole that won’t let you down over a long retirement.

Here’s the sobering reality: 61% of Canadians fear running out of money in retirement. Women experience this anxiety even more—66% compared to 56% of men (CPP Investments, 2024).  Meanwhile, 57% of working Canadians feel unprepared for retirement, and 13% don’t believe they’ll ever retire at all (HOOPP, 2024).    Many overlook this, but two powerful government programs—the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS)—can form the foundation of retirement income. The CPP fund holds over $675 billion in assets and is expected to remain sustainable for at least 75 years. Nearly three in four Canadians depend on it. The key is timing.

Get it wrong, and you could leave serious money on the dance floor. Get it right, and your decisions could result in over $100,000 more in lifetime income. That’s not small change—that’s peace of mind.  Think of CPP and OAS as your retirement dance partners—two leads working together to keep you steady and confident. But timing is crucial. When you decide to claim these benefits can mean the difference between a smooth glide across the dance floor and a financial stumble. 

How Much Money Do OAS and CPP Pay Out?  Canadian Pension Plan (CPP): The maximum CPP retirement pension at 65 is $1,433 per month, though most Canadians receive between $830 and $899 based on their contribution history.

Old Age Security (OAS): Payments for OAS are up to $740 monthly for ages 65–74 and $999 monthly for those 75 and older—these benefits can support your retirement if used strategically. You cannot start OAS before age 65. 

How to Calculate Your OAS Monthly Benefit  The maximum monthly OAS payment for someone aged 65 to 74 is around $740–$742 per month in 2026, assuming you qualify for the full amount and do not have a clawback due to high income. 

If you defer OAS till Age 70, the monthly payments increase.  Here's the formula. For each month you defer past age 65, your monthly OAS pension increases by 0.6%. That’s 7.2% per year.   Over 5 years (age 65 → 70), this adds up to a maximum increase of 36%. Note: There’s no additional benefit to waiting past age 70; the 36% maximum applies at age 70. 

The Monthly OAS amount you receive depends on a Number of Factors: The age you start receiving benefits (see above) Your residency history in Canada (minimum of 10 years after age 18 to qualify; to reach the full payment amount generally requires 40 years).  Income can reduce or eliminate your OAS benefit, even if you defer, due to an income-related “clawback”.   Please note these amounts are subject to change.  For updates, check the Government of Canada website here. Let’s be crystal clear: CPP and OAS are not handouts  CPP is your deferred earnings—your money, matched by your employer. OAS is your citizens’ dividend, earned through residency in Canada. 

As Grant Roberts, CFP, a financial planner with the accounting firm Welch LLP, says, “OAS is a security blanket. Society is better when people aren’t impoverished at the end of life.” Lose the stigma. You earned this.

This is where the choreography becomes tricky. You must make lifetime decisions without knowing how long you'll live (fun, right?). According to Statistics Canada, a 65-year-old Canadian can expect to live another 20 years on average, and if you’re already 65 in good health, your personal runway might be even longer. 

Taking CPP at 60 lowers benefits by 36%.  Waiting until 70 increases benefits by 42%. Using average benefits, deferring can result in more than $100,000 extra in lifetime income. If you live long enough.

Fred Vettese, a former chief actuary of Morneau Shepell (now Telus Health) and a national thought leader on retirement issues who has published the bestseller, Retirement Income for Life (ECW Press)  has some important insights to share on how age impacts these OAS and CPP payouts.  

Vettese explains, “Approximately 75% of people win by deferring CPP to age 70 because they live past the break-even point.” His research indicates that about 75% of retirees benefit from delaying CPP until 70, while around 25% do not. Most people underestimate their longevity, but the odds are actually in favour of living long enough for the deferral to pay off.  This is where inaction becomes dangerous. As Grant Roberts warns,

 
“Inaction isn’t neutral—it’s a decision by default. While CPP does not start automatically at 65, OAS generally does for most people. The government won’t call to ask if you want to delay OAS for a higher payment—or remind you to apply for CPP at all. You have to ask, and you have to act.”   And this isn’t theoretical. Roberts has seen seniors in their 70s who had never started CPP, simply because no one told them they had to apply.

We’ve spent our entire adult lives being trained to save, so it’s unreasonable to think we can just flick a switch and suddenly become confident spenders the day we retire. As Grant Roberts puts it, 
“We teach saving for 50 years—no one teaches spending.” 

So here’s the real question: what’s your money brand? Saver? Spender? A hybrid in sensible shoes? Retirement requires a rebrand. Lifelong savers often need permission to spend—on experiences, joy, and yes, even dance lessons. 

Lifelong spenders may need to learn how to waltz with a budget (spoiler alert: let the budget lead). Either way, retirement isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about adjusting your rhythm so your money finally works for the life you’re living now.

What About  OAS Clawbacks?  If your income exceeds about $90,000, the OAS clawback is 15 cents for every dollar. OAS clawbacks often discourage people unnecessarily. As I always say, "don’t let a dime stand in the way of a dollar." 

Strategic RRSP withdrawals between ages 65 and 70 can greatly reduce future clawbacks and enhance long-term results. This is choreography, not chaos.  CPP and OAS planning should begin in your 50s, not at 64½. Ask yourself whether you intend to work past 65, whether you’re healthy enough to delay, and what income sources will fill the gap. Waiting for someone else to lead this dance is a sure way to step on your own toes.

Proactively Managing Your OAS and CPP Benefits  While most Canadians are automatically enrolled for Old Age Security (OAS) and will receive an enrollment letter around their 64th birthday, you may need to take action if you want to delay your start date to receive higher monthly payments. If you wish to delay, change your start date, or correct any information in your enrollment letter, you'll need to contact Service Canada directly. You can manage these choices in one of three ways:

Go Online: Visit "My Service Canada Account" By Telephone: Call 1-800-277-9914
In-Person: Visiting a Service Canada Centre near you

Don't assume automatic enrolment means the timing is right for you—review your options carefully, as the decision to delay could significantly increase your retirement income. The Last Dance (Remember the Poorly Lit High-School Gym?)  Because the Retirement Timing Tango isn’t a sprint—it’s a 30-year dance marathon, and you are both the dancer and the charity you’re raising money for. CPP and OAS, timed well, aren’t about financial flash; they’re about stamina, balance, and staying upright long after the music changes. 

Get the timing right and your later years won’t feel like a frantic scramble under flickering gym lights—they’ll feel like a slow, confident final song where you know the steps, trust your footing, and aren’t worried about collapsing halfway through. 

That’s the point. Not just surviving retirement, but staying on the floor until the very last dance—with dignity, confidence, and enough income to enjoy the moment instead of counting the minutes until it’s over.

Sue

Don’t Retire… ReWire!

Know someone who’s about to leave serious money on the dance floor? Forward this blog before the music stops. Consider it a public service announcement disguised as friendship. And if you want regular doses of retirement clarity, confidence, and choreography (no leotards required), subscribe here.  

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The H³ Plan: How to Retire Without Losing Your Mind & How You Can Support Older Relatives

MEDIA ADVISORY
Retirement planning expert Sue Pimento introduces her H³ Plan — a research-backed framework for maintaining mental and emotional health in retirement that goes beyond financial planning. The framework identifies three essential pillars — Hope, Help, and Horizon — that help combat the emotional flatness many retirees experience after leaving structured work. Drawing on neuroscience research and clinical insights, Pimento offers a practical "emotional pension plan" for the growing population of Canadians navigating this life transition. Sue Pimento is available for interviews on retirement wellness, healthy aging, and the psychology of life transitions.
 Retirement doesn't arrive with a crash. It arrives quietly.  One day, you stop setting alarms, stop racing against the clock, stop feeling urgently needed—and no one gives you the mental and emotional playbook for what comes next.

There should be a chapter titled:  How to Keep Your Brain Engaged, Regulated, and Not Mildly Irritated by Everyone. Instead? 404 page not found.  (Translation: the system is actively seeking guidance… and coming up empty.)

And if you're nodding along thinking "yes… exactly" — IYKYK. (If You Know, You Know. And if you don't yet, give it time.)

Understanding Your Emotional Pension Plan  After years of writing, researching, listening, and living through this stage myself, three factors consistently emerge as essential to maintaining mental and emotional health as we age. 

I call it H³: Hope, Help, and Horizon.  Here's why each one matters—and why neglecting any of them leaves you emotionally drained.
Think of them as your emotional pension plan — not optional, not fluffy, but essential.
 1. Hope: Not Just Wishful Thinking — Agency, Clarified In her reflective New York Times article, "Your Hopes," journalist and believing host Lauren Jackson examines increasing cynicism, waning trust, and—most importantly—what research indicates truly can turn the tide. 

One line sums up the difference perfectly:

Optimism is believing the future will improve. Hope is believing you can make it so.  Here's why that matters.

Optimism versus Hope (Plain-English Edition) Optimism is passive: "Things will probably work out."
Hope is active: "I can influence what happens next."
Optimism awaits. Hope takes part.

From a psychological perspective, hope is based on:
•	Agency (I am able to act)
•	Pathways thinking (I can find a way)

Research from the University of Oklahoma's Hope Research Center indicates that hope is one of the strongest predictors of well-being, often surpassing income, education, and even past success. 
For retirees, this distinction is important because aging narratives often aim to gently remove us from the driver's seat.

Hope replies with something more like:
Back off, sister. I refuse to buy into outdated stereotypes. I've upgraded to a more modern version of aging—like a new iPod model. (Stereos are out of style. Keep up.)

Hope maintains the nervous system in an engaged state rather than resignation.  In fact, some see hope as far more nuanced.  Frank O’Dea, best known for his personal comeback story — from being homeless to later becoming a very successful coffee entrepreneur as the co-founder of the Second Cup shares his thoughts in his book, “Hope is Not a Strategy.” His personal narrative reinforces a deep belief in hope as a powerful emotional engine, but never as a substitute for action.

O’Dea, who later went on to be a co-founder of the Second Cup Coffee Company and is a recipient of the Order of Canada for his philanthropy and humanitarian work, speaks to the human tendency to confuse optimism with preparation — people often wish their way into opportunity, rather than work their way into readiness. I love this line from his book:

“Hope is important — it gives us purpose. But without a strategy, it leaves us vulnerable. We win not by wishing, but by working.” — Frank O’Dea  2. Giving Back: Your Brain's Favourite (Unpaid) Job  Giving back isn't about virtue. Or virtue signalling on social, for that matter. (It's not a branding exercise. No hashtag required.)

It's about nervous system regulation.

Over the holidays, I was listening to an interview on CBC Radio and found myself doing that thing where you stop playing Vita Mahjong mid-game because someone said something so logical but also completely fascinating.

Gloria Macarenko’s episode with Vancouver-based psychologist and therapist Lawrence Sheppard explored in detail how giving back influences us and what he has personally observed in his practice. The message? Giving back is a key factor for mental health.
Certainly, we've all heard the well-known phrase "tis better to give than receive"—or a version of it. 

But Sheppard wasn't referring to virtue or being kind. He was discussing what truly happens in the brain when we give.

Here's the short version:
Helping others shifts the brain out of threat mode and into meaning mode.
So what's Happening Neurologically?

Building on Sheppard's clinical work and broader neuroscience:
•	Chronic stress forces the nervous system to stay hyper-vigilant.
•	Rumination shifts inward and intensifies the sense of threat.
•	Contribution shifts focus outward
•	Helping activates reward pathways and emotional regulation.

Giving back restores balance.
•	purpose
•	structure
•	connection
•	competence

Giving back reminds your brain it's still engaged—just not earning money. (My definition of volunteering. Not Webster's.)

And many retirees miss that feeling more than the salary. They also miss the tangibles: vinyl records, 99-cent bread, and the quiet satisfaction of being needed somewhere at 9 a.m.
Importantly, giving back—like hope—helps regulate the nervous system by decreasing feelings of isolation and restoring a sense of predictability. Your brain prefers knowing where it belongs.

3. Something to Look Forward To: Anticipation Is Medicine  This one is sneaky powerful—and well documented.
Having something to anticipate generates excitement. And excitement is not merely a feeling.
It's a nervous system event.

Here's the connective tissue: All three pillars—hope, giving back, and anticipation—work because they shift the nervous system away from threat and stagnation, and toward engagement, reward, and regulation.  The Science (Why Anticipation Works) Research by neuroscientist Wolfram Schultz showed that dopamine spikes most strongly before a reward—not during it. 

Later studies in affective neuroscience confirmed:
•	Anticipation boosts motivation and positive emotions.
•	Future-oriented thinking diminishes depressive rumination.
•	Predictable positive events enhance mood regulation.

In plain English:
Your brain lights up when it knows something good is coming.
In many instances, anticipation offers more emotional uplift than the event itself.

Think:
•	first date
•	first kiss
•	first solo trip
•	first "I can't believe I'm actually doing this" moment
You cannot buy that feeling in a bottle. (Not even the little blue pill will do it.)

Why This Matters in Retirement Work used to provide:
•	deadlines
•	milestones
•	future orientation
•	purpose
•	feedback
•	connection
•	a sense of accomplishment

And yes—before anyone writes me a letter—stay-at-home moms, caregivers, and volunteers: that is work. Don't get me started.

When structured work concludes, those inputs aren't automatically replaced.

Without things to look forward to:
•	time flattens
•	mood dulls
•	life becomes emotionally beige

Something—anything—on the calendar restores forward motion.

What Giving Back Looks Like in Real Life  My friend Janet retired at 63 with a solid financial plan and no emotional plan. Six months in, she was climbing the walls—bored, restless, wondering why she felt so flat when she "should" be enjoying herself. Then she started tutoring at the library (Help), signed up for a pottery course (Horizon), and realized she could actually shape this chapter however she wanted (Hope). Different person. Same retirement account. Completely different nervous system.

Big Things Are Overrated
Waiting for something big to look forward to is often just perfectionism wearing a sensible cardigan. We tell ourselves the next big milestone will fix everything, when in reality, progress usually happens in a game of inches. Small choices, taken consistently, create big shifts. Direction beats intensity every time. 

As I wrote in my last blog about my Everest Base Camp and MBA journey:
Even Cs get degrees.
And I'll add:
Consistent B- work wins most races.

Small counts:
•	weekly plans
•	standing dates
•	tickets bought months ahead
•	regular commitments

Anticipation is hope with a calendar invite.

The H³ Framework for a Happy Retirement  (Hope. Help. Horizon.)
All three regulate the nervous system and keep us engaged.

Hope — I can still shape things
Help — I'm useful and connected
Horizon — My life has forward motion

If life feels flat, add one from each column. That's the prescription.

Retirement isn't just about slowing down. It's about re-wiring.  In plain English: You are not done yet!

Remember, hope keeps you engaged. Giving back keeps you grounded. Looking forward keeps you light.    Or, translated: A happy retirement isn't passive. It's practiced.

A Note for Those Supporting Older Relatives  If you have aging parents, relatives, or friends in your life, be on the lookout for signs of depression, resignation, or apathy. The signs are obvious if you're paying attention: flat affect, repetitive complaints, withdrawal, that vague sense they're just going through the motions, or their smile doesn't reach their eyes.

Here's what not to do: point it out directly or suggest they "find a hobby" or "volunteer somewhere."

Here's what does work: create Hope and Horizon by scheduling regular outings—lunch, a walk, a movie, anything with a date attached. Sometimes we underestimate how much seniors look forward to our visits and connections. It's better than any tonic or medication to lift spirits, young and old.

In this scenario, action speaks louder than words. Talking about depression often brings up shame and further withdrawal. Instead, think of love as a verb, not a noun.

You don't need to fix anything. Just show up. Regularly. Predictably.

No grand gestures. No reinvention required. Just presence with a pulse - and notifications on mute!

Be that person!

Don't retire. Re-wire.
— Sue

Want more of this? Subscribe for weekly doses of retirement reality—no golf-cart clichés, no sunset stock photos, just straight talk about staying Hip, Fit & Financially Free.  Subscribe Here  

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