Move to a new home is a mixed blessing
Last spring, my husband and I moved to an over-55 community about 30 minutes north of our former home. Our new apartment is in a high-rise, on one level, less than half the square footage of our house. We left behind a spacious home with 16 stairs from entrance to bedrooms, so our knees are a lot happier here. Our neighbors are very welcoming. There is a culture of warmth and... READ MORE
Getting paid as a family caregiver
Dear Savvy Senior, I have been taking care of my elderly father for over a year, and it’s taking a toll on my finances because I can only work part-time. Are there any resources you know about that can help family caregivers get paid? —Seeking Support Dear Seeking, Caring for an elder parent can be challenging in many ways, but it can be especially difficult financially if you... READ MORE
Is your new home in your kids’ back yard?
When Cary Childre, 65, considered moving closer to her daughter living in an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, her daughter researched building a cottage in her own back yard. They made a deposit on a Craftsman-style design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits to completion. The 429-square-foot home will have... READ MORE
What to look for in choosing rehab care
After a stay in the hospital, most people would prefer to go home to recuperate. But that may not always be possible. If you or a loved one needs more medical care, rehabilitation or supervision, you’ll have to find a nursing home or skilled nursing facility before the patient is discharged from the hospital. But what should you look for, and who is a good source of impartial... READ MORE
How to plant a container like the pros do
Have you ever gone to the grocery store for, say, milk, and left with a cartful of impulse buys? Well, I visited a couple of nurseries last week in search of one specific plant and left with nearly everything except that plant, which both retailers had sold out. As usual, I was seduced by the colorful, pre-planted annual containers on display, and hemmed and hawed about whether I should... READ MORE
A reverse mortgage can help pay for care
Someone turning 65 has nearly a 7-in-10 chance of needing long-term care in the future, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and many don’t have the savings to manage the cost of assisted living. But they may have a mortgage-free home and the equity in it, giving them the potential option of a reverse mortgage to help cover care costs. Here’s how to... READ MORE
For cleaner air, go electric with lawn care
If you use a gas-powered lawn mower, there’s a good chance that maintaining your lawn is worse for the environment than your morning commute. In some cases, far worse. Running a typical gas mower for one hour creates roughly the same amount of smog-forming air pollution as driving a passenger car 300 miles, according to the California Air Resources Board. For some gas-powered leaf... READ MORE
Sensible ways to tackle a home remodel
Spring and summer are kickoff season for many kitchen remodels, bathroom updates and deck repairs. But recent economic turmoil may have homeowners questioning their home improvement plans. Spending on home renovations is expected to slow this year because of factors such as declining home sales and values, rising interest rates, continuing inflation and rumblings of a coming recession,... READ MORE
Quick cash for your home? Not so fast!
The real estate market is hot, and, for those who own a home, you may have received offers or seen advertisements promising to buy it quickly and for cash. Selling a home is time-consuming, and the promise of a quick close is tempting. However, it’s important to understand the difference between selling your home to a traditional buyer and making a deal with a home investor, sometimes... READ MORE
Downsizing a big home is not for sissies
How many towels do I use in a week? How many pots and pans do I really need? I never had to ask these questions until I faced the daunting task of downsizing from my five-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot house to a 1,071-square-foot apartment. The decision to downsize from the home I’d lived in for 57 years, where I’d raised my two children, was agonizing. But when an apartment became... READ MORE
