Home care aides provide peace of mind
After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013, Pat Libhart underwent chemotherapy, which left her with neuropathy in her feet. The condition can be both painful and lead to numbness, and caused Libhart to need a wheelchair.To help her get to treatments, cook, dress and other activities, Libhart contacted Family & Nursing Care, a company that provides home care aides to help... READ MORE
Creating an intergenerational household
Barbara Williams’s home is a lively one. Much of the year, there are four generations under one roof. Williams, age 65, shares her five-bedroom home with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and three young grandsons — and her 91-year-old mother visits for several months at a stretch.While the multigenerational living arrangement may be messy at times, “we had so many reasons ... READ MORE
Baseball fans live on former stadium site
When James Batty sits on the deck at his apartment in northeast Baltimore, he sometimes reflects on the times when an empty baseball field across the street once housed a massive edifice known as Memorial Stadium.“I actually worked there two different times — first from 1957 to ‘59. Then, I came back in the mid-1960s,” he said.Now 76, Batty first worked as a vendor... READ MORE
Facing foreclosure? Don’t delay; get help
The idea of foreclosure — losing your home because of a delinquent payment (even just one day late) — can be scary and daunting for anyone. It can be particularly intimidating for those who do not have the means to hire an attorney to guide them through the legal process.Maryland has the third-highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac, Inc., with 1 in... READ MORE
Options for affordable local housing
After her husband passed away, Brenda Smith (not her real name) was “financially caught off guard” by her suddenly reduced income, and could no longer afford to live on her own. She moved in with her daughter, and immediately began looking for affordable rental housing. Many people like Smith find themselves in similar situations, and have trouble finding affordable housing in the... READ MORE
Home money pits that sap your savings
There are so many expenses associated with paying the bills for a home that it is easy to miss money leaks that are costing you big dollars. Putting a plug into these leaks can make a big difference in your budget.From old-school thermostats to faulty plumbing, here are some of the top money-pits to watch for:1. Old School ThermostatsI recently replaced my 1980s-era thermostat with a new... READ MORE
Innovative housing options are on the rise
Volunteer resident members from CSI Support & Development Maryland Region Co-Op apartments enjoy "A Day of Art" presented by Abrakadoodle at Highlandtown Plaza Co-Op on Feb. 6.Photo courtesy of CSITraditionally, housing options offered older adults were a choice between living alone, which often meant growing increasingly isolated; moving in with their kids; or moving to a... READ MORE
Opposing views on immigration
Should Howard County become a “sanctuary” for immigrants, where county employees, including police and other law enforcers, would be barred from volunteering to work with federal officials on immigration matters or inquiring about the immigration status of those they encounter in their official duties? That’s the hot topic question that county officials and residents alike are... READ MORE
Many upsides to downsizing
Roberta and Ira Greenstein had never lived in a city. So when they started to consider downsizing four years ago, they thought downtown Baltimore might be just the spot for them. In short order they sold their four-bedroom Columbia home, purchased a two-bedroom condominium in Fells Point, and have wholeheartedly embraced this new stage in their lives. While many people have intense... READ MORE
Use a gentle touch in helping hoarders
The moment the elevator doors opened, the stench was overpowering. Eyes watered, nostrils burned, fight or flight impulses activated.We hadn’t even gotten into the apartment yet — the trash was crammed so tightly floor to ceiling it was nearly impossible to open the door. Inside: Narrow paths from room to room. Boxes filled with junk mail, old newspapers, invitations to... READ MORE
