Welcome to Sunrise Connection for Active Seniors

This is the first issue of Sunrise Connection for 2008. Although there are a lot of items in your inbox clamoring for your attention, we believe that Sunrise Connection is worth a second look. In each edition, we focus on a series of topics—cultural, social, even technological—that can help active seniors like you lead richer, more productive lives. We try to provide specific, practical, and, above all, helpful insight and advice.

It will probably take you no more than 20 minutes to read an entire issue, but it’s 20 minutes well spent. You’ll find tips and suggestions that can help you get more out of life.

Take opera. Most people enjoy a bit of opera when they encounter it in a movie like Moonstruck, but are a bit baffled by its appeal otherwise. We offer a straightforward, easy-to-follow approach that can help you begin to appreciate what all the fuss is about—if it doesn’t make you an opera lover.

We also cover a number of practical issues. If you use the Internet at all, you probably use a search engine like Google as your connection to the information you seek. But sometimes, your search comes up short. We include a number of specific strategies that you can use to locate the information you want.

A choice that seniors increasingly face is between generic and brand-name drugs. It’s a decision that has distinct financial consequences. Do the cheaper generics involve trade-offs in quality? Not according to the FDA. In this edition of Sunrise Connection, we include information that can help you make an informed decision.

Although we hate to remind you, tax season is in the offing. For many of us, that entails writing a check. You can cut your costs of tax preparation by filing an electronic return for free at the IRS Web site. We cover the information you need to use this service. And if you’re looking to save additional money—and help the environment—we follow up with an article describing how you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your fuel and utility bills.

Finally, we talk about some of the barriers that can keep seniors from acting on their resolution to move to a Sunrise independent living community. With a little professional assistance, the stress of sorting through your belongings and selling your home can be minimized, making it possible for you to live the life you like.

We hope you’ll find these articles useful. Be on the lookout for the next edition of Sunrise Connection, appearing in your inbox at the beginning of April.