Dear Savvy Senior: I've heard that there are strategies available that can help married couples increase their Social Security benefits when they retire. My wife and I are approaching retirement age and would like to understand these options. What can you tell us?

-- Getting Prepared

Dear Getting: If you're...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What types of new home technologies can you recommend to help me keep tabs on my elderly mother? She lives alone, about an hour's drive from me, and I worry about her safety.

--Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned:

Helping an aging parent remain independent and living in...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What can you tell me about the new Obamacare health insurance exchanges that begin next year? I am interested in retiring early at age 61, but need to find some affordable health until my Medicare benefits begin at 65.

-- Ready to Retire

Dear Ready:

Dear Savvy Senior: What tips can you recommend to help retirees guard against identity theft when traveling? My sister and her husband had their identity stolen while on vacation last year, and I want to make sure I'm protecting myself on my trip to Europe next month.

--Paranoid Pam

Dear...

Dear Savvy Senior: What retirement planning resources can you recommend to women? I'm 58 years old, divorced and living on a tight budget and need all the help I can get.

--Financially Challenged

Dear Challenged: When it comes to planning for retirement, most Americans could stand to brush up...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What tips can you offer people who are shopping for hearing aids?

--Overwhelmed Senior

Dear Overwhelmed:

With so many choices and options available today, shopping for a hearing aid that meets your needs, lifestyle and budget can be challenging. Here are some tips that...

Dear Savvy Senior:

I'll be 65 in a few months -- Medicare enrollment age -- and am thinking about getting a Medicare supplemental policy to help cover things outside of Medicare. Can you give me some advice on choosing a plan?

-- Shopping Sam

Dear Sam:

If...

Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about online dating for older people? My daughter has been urging me to give it a try, but at age 62, I'm a little hesitant.

--Lonely Senior

Dear Lonely: Dating sites have become enormously popular among the older generation in...

Dear Savvy Senior: How does one go about creating a trust for their pets? I have a dog and two cats that mean the world to me, and I want to make sure they'll be well taken care of after I'm gone.

--Elderly Ellen

Dear Ellen: Pet trusts have...

Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any smartphones specifically designed for seniors that you know of? I'm interested in getting one, but at age 69, I want to find one that's easy to see and use.

-- Semi-Smart Senior

Dear Semi-Smart: There are actually several manufacturers who are now making...

Dear Savvy Senior: What resources can you recommend to help older job seekers? I'm 62 and have been out of work for nearly a year now and need some help.

-- Looking For Work

Dear Looking: While the U.S. job market has improved slightly over the past year or...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What does Medicare cover when it comes to diabetes? I'm 65 and have pre-diabetes, and would like to find out what all is covered.

-- Fat Albert

Dear Albert:

Medicare actually offers a wide range of coverage to help beneficiaries who have diabetes, as well...

Dear Savvy Senior: My income dropped way off when I retired early last year, and I'm wondering if I fall into the so called "47 percent" of Americans who won't have to pay any income taxes this year. What can you tell me?

--Curious Senior

Dear Curious: The percentage of...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What's the best, conflict-free way to divvy up my personal possessions to my kids after I'm gone? I have a lot of jewelry, art, family heirlooms and antique furniture, and five grown kids that don't always see eye-to-eye on things. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Dear Savvy Senior:

What resources can you recommend to seniors who are shopping for a car? My wife and I are relatively healthy 70-year-olds and are looking for a new senior-friendly vehicle, but could use some help.

--Older Drivers

Dear Older:

For seniors who are...

Dear Savvy Senior: What tips and resources can you recommend to folks interested in retiring abroad? My wife and I will be retiring next year and are intrigued with the idea of living in a foreign country. What can you tell us?

--Looking Abroad

Dear Looking: Whatever your reasons for...

Dear Savvy Senior:

Are there any services that you can recommend that help pre-retirees decide when to start drawing their Social Security benefits? My wife and I are still a few years away from retiring but want to carefully weigh all our options to make sure we get the...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What types of preventive health screenings does Medicare completely cover, and which ones require a coinsurance fee? I'm due to get some preventive tests done, but I want to find out how much I'll have to pay before I proceed.

--Frugal Retiree

Dear Frugal:

Medicare...

Dear Savvy Senior: I just turned 50 and would like to know what resources you recommend for locating senior discounts.

-- Love To Save

Dear Love: One of the great perks of growing older in the U.S. is the many discounts that are available to boomers and seniors. If...

Dear Savvy Senior:

What's the best way to find a good in-home caregiver for my elderly mother?

--Looking for Care

Dear Looking:

Finding a good in-home caregiver that's dependable, likeable, trustworthy and affordable can be challenging, to say the least. Here are some tips and resources that can...