Find help with home chores and small jobs
Dear Savvy Senior: What’s the best way to find good, trustworthy, qualified people who can help folks with home chores or small jobs? — Looking for Mom Dear Looking: Getting help at home for any number of household tasks is a lot easier than it used to be, thanks to a number of web-based tools that can quickly and easily connect you and your mom to a wide variety of skilled,... READ MORE
Smart storage strategies for small kitchens
Urban kitchens are typically tiny, presenting storage challenges. So for city dwellers, adaptability comes in handy in the kitchen. And for food storage, there’s also the frequent problem of unwelcome houseguests, like mice or bugs. Luckily, there’s a lot of great gear to keep perishables and pantry goods organized and protected, much of it pretty stylish too. Alex Weibel,... READ MORE
A passion for helping those with dementia
Elaine Rose’s husband had already been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) — a rare group of brain disorders caused by progressive nerve loss in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain — when she knew that she could no longer care for him on her own. He’d been exhibiting “quirkier” behavior for a while, and it was getting difficult to provide him the best quality of... READ MORE
D.C. Housing Notes – October 2018
New, affordable church-based community The Sanctuary, an affordable senior housing community on the campus of the Mount Jezreel Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Md., opened last summer. The 75-unit independent living community includes 12 units set aside for low-income older veterans, as well as apartments for seniors at a variety of income levels. The $18.6 million Sanctuary includes... READ MORE
Get schooled on classes in the D.C. area
Yearning to take classes again? There are numerous free or low-cost options for continuing education in the Washington Metropolitan area. From archaeology to politics, here are a few to look into. George Mason University Audit Program George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., enables those 60 and older who have lived in Virginia for at least one year to audit classes tuition-free.... READ MORE
Baltimore Housing Notes – October 2018
Westminster House renovations Westminster House Apartments, a high-rise independent living community in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood, is continuing an extensive renovation. Its studio and one-bedroom units are being refurbished with new carpeting, windows, and heating and central air conditioning. In addition, the kitchens are being remodeled with new cabinets, appliances and... READ MORE
Reasons to retire to Williamsburg, Va.
Mention Williamsburg and most people think of Colonial Williamsburg, where actors in period garb depict life in 18th-century Virginia. But Williamsburg is more than tricorn hats. The city of about 15,000 offers the ease of small-town living and, as home to William & Mary, the cultural activities of a college town. For a quick big-city fix or change of scenery, residents are only... READ MORE
Use care if giving your home to children
A house is typically one of the most valuable assets someone owns, both financially and sentimentally. It makes sense, then, that out of love and generosity, many parents want to give their houses to their children during their lives or pass them down as an inheritance. It’s difficult to imagine that giving your child your family home could backfire, but it might — especially if you... READ MORE
Away during the winter? Prep your house
As the temperature drops and months of cold weather loom ahead, snowbirds pack up for warmer climates, anticipating sunny days free of freezing ice, snow shoveling and other winter worries. But if you’re not careful to prepare your home before you travel thousands of miles to your warmer destination, that escape won’t be so carefree. “You just don’t know what can happen when... READ MORE
Devices let you grow vegetables indoors
You don’t need a green thumb to grow vegetables indoors. On the contrary, there are plenty of indoor greenhouses that take the work out of growing plants — from the amount of water they get to the right dosage of light. One of these indoor greenhouses (referred to as “automated growing systems”) was created by six engineering students at Rice University. Aside from planting the... READ MORE
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