Take Time for YOU!

Most people dream of living a life of enjoyment once they retire - exciting travel, spoiling the grandchildren, leisurely lunches and maybe a golf and tennis club membership. The reality is that many of us are going to be left disappointed and will find ourselves scraping by to make ends meet. The problem is we're living longer and saving less. This issue is strikingly evident for women. According to the Administration on Aging, 12 percent of women over 65 are living in poverty, compared with only 7 percent of men. For divorced and widowed women, the poverty rate is higher, at 21 and 15 percent, respectively. More than 70% of all elderly persons with incomes below the poverty level are women.

The good news is that more attention is being paid to the issue and more companies are providing educational opportunities and tools to help women understand long term financial issues and empower their decisions.

We want to help. This weekend on Family Matters Radio we'll launch a weekly series called "Your Worth" brought to you by Genworth Financial. Each week on our radio program you can listen to our conversation with financial experts from around the country about everything from maintaining your health and wellness to understanding the importance of retirement planning and how to prosper in 2008. If you miss it or live outside the broadcast area, no worries, you can listen online on the Family Matters homepage. So tune in and share the news with your mother, your sister, your aunt and your best friend. It may be the most important investment you'll ever make.

Talk to Us - Win a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate

As talk radio hosts we do a lot of talking. We talk about issues in the news. We talk about new findings in health research. We talk about our homes, our business and sometimes our family.

Now, we want to hear from you! Soon we'll be launching new programs on Family Matters Radio and we need your input.

Fill out this quick survey here and you could win a $100 Amazon gift certificate.

Stories Worth Hearing

Over the years we have aired numerous radio programs about the challenges families face when they are living with a loved one who has a disability or a chronic illness. In fact we were honored with two journalism awards for programs produced focused on this subject matter. It's an issue that is near and dear to our heart, so we welcomed the opportunity to talk with a man who has written a New York Times' bestselling book that offers inspiration to those with illnesses and disabilities.

This weekend on Family Matters we'll talk with award-winning journalist Richard Cohen (pictured here with wife and NBC anchor Meredith Vieira), author of Strong at the Broken Places. The book tells the story of five ordinary people trapped in the complex world of serious chronic illness. Cohen, who himself struggles with multiple sclerosis, authored the 2004 memoir, Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness.

Richard Cohen doesn't paint a pretty face on the daily challenges facing the people whose lives are chronicled in the book. Instead he offers countless images of strength, resilience and life-affirming appreciation. Their stories are examples of courage that should benefit all, healthy or not.

One Day at a Time

It's difficult to keep up with all the health news. One day we're told to avoid sun exposure to prevent skin cancer. Now a new study indicates that we need sunlight as it an important source of Vitamin D - aka the sunshine supplement. Multiple studies have found that Vitamin D plays a vital role in the prevention of many deadly illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, schizophrenia and heart disease. Health officials estimate that as many as 47,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year in the United States if adequate vitamin D levels were attained.

So, how does one keep up with all the conflicting health stories? Finding a trusted resource is one solution. This weekend on Family Matters, we'll talk with Dr. Lynn Eldridge, author of Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. She offers simple advice that can help you take action steps everyday to reduce the risk of cancer. Take her Cancer Quiz to test your knowledge.