Make your bathrooms safer, easier to use
Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems, and she fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that can help keep her safe. —Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the... READ MORE
Retire to a room of one’s own at the kids’
When Cary Childre, 65, of Athens, Georgia, considered moving closer to her daughter, Eva Maudlin, of Decatur, an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, Maudlin, 31, researched building a cottage in her own backyard. In October, they made a deposit on a Craftsman-style design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits ... READ MORE
Whether to move to a senior community
With so many senior housing options available today, deciding where to live — and whether to move at all — can be an agonizing exercise for some. For others, there is no decision to make: They want to stay put in the home they’ve known for years. But some older adults find they need support, or they long for a more active social life and prepared meals. Others are ready to stop... READ MORE
D.C. Housing Notes January 2021
Find the perfect housemate Looking for an affordable place to live? Or perhaps you have an extra room you’d like to rent? Montgomery County, Maryland, just made finding (or renting) a long-term, affordable home a little easier. The county teamed up with a nonprofit called Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP), a local housing developer and counseling agency, to launch a Home Sharing... READ MORE
Whether to move to a senior community
Deciding whether and when to move into a senior community is a challenging undertaking for many older adults, a decision that most people do not want imposed on them in a crisis. For those who have lived in a single-family home for years, moving to a group housing complex can be a daunting leap, while for others, moving is a smooth transition that opens doors to new opportunities. The ... READ MORE
Stay connected and informed from home
The people behind a new website called Amava note that “experiences that connect us to others and produce authentic social ties are more important than ever.” So, they bring older adults together virtually for engaging conversations (called “circles”) around topics of mutual interest. For example, 10 people or so can “meet” to discuss pets, travel or even play charades... READ MORE
Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan
A debt-free retirement has been the ideal scenario for so long that older adults often overlook a valuable financial resource: their home. Collectively, homeowners age 62 and older have a record $6.5 trillion of “tappable” equity, according to data analytics firm Black Knight. Individually, home equity accounts for more than a quarter to almost half of the median net worth of... READ MORE
Upgrading during pandemic? Get it insured
As many Americans face months on end stuck indoors, some are using their time (and money) to create a change of scenery or upgrade their surroundings. Home office equipment purchases are on the rise, and people are tackling more renovation projects than usual. But expensive new stuff and significant home improvements can leave you underinsured. If you’re considering making changes to... READ MORE
Assisted living: What you need to know
Assisted living is geared to those who are healthy enough to live on their own but may need some help to live independently, perhaps with bathing, dressing or managing medicines. There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing to move to an assisted living community. First is figuring out when the time is right. Most of us want to stay in our homes as long as possible. But if... READ MORE
Advice for developing a caregiving plan
Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last year, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Caregiving means assuming a great many unfamiliar responsibilities, such as taking care of a parent’s finances, supervising employees, and acting the part of ombudsman with medical personnel. Long-distance caregiving is... READ MORE
Housing 2024
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