Real Sage Advice

Happy Spaces Happy Elders

This last week I met a business woman named Megan who is starting her own business by "staging" her client's homes.  The unusual part of her business is that her clients are all living in nursing homes. I know the difference staging makes in selling a home, and I don't have to tell you the difference a vase of fresh flowers can make to an entire room. I know when my office is uncluttered I think better and am much more effective.

It's such an interesting niche that I asked Megan to write up a little article to share with you

Did you know that research has found that your environment and surroundings can alter your mood and behavior? Now, think about your own home and how you've decorated it to reflect you and your family.

Imagine if that was somehow taken away from you and you were living in a place that looked like a hospital. As sad as this sounds for many individuals this is what happens when they need to move to a nursing home.

Our goal at Eldercare Room Design is to help the elderly adjust to their surroundings by creating a space that will reflect and recognize the individual's interests, personality, hobbies and a lifetime of memories.

There are so many creative and inexpensive ways to decorate a home or a single room. For instance, just by knowing a persons favorite color you use this as a base for a decorating theme. A simple picture or a beautiful wreath on the door is very welcoming to the owner and to guests. A collage of framed pictures on the wall with family and friends brings memories of "good times". Flowers and plants bring the outdoors inside.

These are just a few things that can be done to create an atmosphere that makes a person comfortable and gives them a place to call home!

We would love to hear from you! Or check out our website for some before and after pictures. Give us a call for a free consultation.

Megan Longman, President of Eldercare Room Design can be reached at 612.554-5573 or eldercareroomdesign@yahoo.com

Autumn Word Search

Enjoy this Autumn Word Search. Work online by clicking on the first letter of the word and dragging across the word, or print it out and work on paper. Don't forget, there's a hint menu in case you get stuck!

Enjoy your weekend!

Senior Articles-Highlights for the week

The Internet is exploding with articles about seniors and aging issues, caregivers and senior housing. The information age can lead to information overload!  I spend a large amount of time each week reading about senior housing. Here's a round up of this week's highlights.

Elderblogger Insights

• Monster Study Reveals Organizations Not Adequately Prepared for Impending Employee "Brain Drain": Aging as Exile
• Happiness Week Day 1: LifeTwo
• Caregiving can shorten your life from four to eight years: Minding our Elders

Senior News Snippets

• Administration on Aging Press Release: HHS announces 8.8 million dollars for nursing home diversion programs
• Metlife Mature Market Institute Report : This is a survey of 2007 home care costs and adult day center costs
• The World's Top Retirement Haven's for 2007: A good argument for retiring abroad.
• The Best Places to Retire: This one is for those of you looking to retire on your own continent.
• Seniors Prefer the Big "O" over "The Donald" : The Reverse Mortgage Blog reviews an annual housing survey of 50+
• Know Levels of Eldercare so You Can Prepare: A quick review of the continuum of care.
• Business Thrives on Graying Market : Commentary on states trying to encourage retirees to consider states other than Florida.

Minnesota Mentions

• Blaine Senior Campus gets a positive review Crestview is planning a 110 senior housing complex with retail and restaurants.
• Senior Housing Gets Look in Wyoming: Ebenezer is looking to expand housing for low income seniors near the Meadows on Fairview Campus
• More Senior Housing Proposed in Burnsville: (registration required) Presbyterian homes is looking to build 170 senior units at 14020 County Road 5
• Housing Polices Can't Burden Seniors with Disabilities: Minneapolis Star and Tribune: A Reader Response to an earlier article about seniors in condominiums
• Retirees Find Housing at Their Alma Matter: Definitely a way to keep the brain active-move back on campus!

An Assisted Living and Nursing Home Alternative?

Of all the senior clients and families I have worked with, I have never met a senior that said "Someday, I really want to live in a nursing home." 

Some seniors just need additional help with daily acitivities so an assisted living community will fit their needs just fine. Hopefully the senior and their family moved into the assisted living community with a very good understanding of what changes in their health would necessitate the need for a move.

Common reasons that require a senior to move from assisted living to a more skilled level of care include; insulin dependence, increased need for memory care, needed 2 people to transfer into/out of a wheelchair, and some times incontinence care.

There is a type of care that is slowly becoming more prevelant in Minnesota-- Residential Care Homes.  The licensure is for no more than 5 residents in the home. Most of these are currently housed in remodeled residential-type homes.  They all offer different services, some take memory care, 2 people transfers and have nurses on staff and can even take someone with insulin dependence.  But they are all different so it becomes even more important for the consumer to ask good questions.

Afton Care Senior Homes is a new kind of alternative. For those that have saved for their retirement, want to increase the chances they only have to move one time, and find a smaller environment appealing, Afton Care might just be the place for you. 

   Take a look at the picture to the left labeled "south." Located in Hastings, this building is meant for 5 residents.  The size of the common space is what you normally see for 20 residents.

The house is beautiful.  Being a REALTOR I think I'm qualified to speak to this, they didn't skimp on a thing. The quality and the attention to details in this home make if feel like a luxury bed and breakfast, not a healthcare facility. For more information contact Mary Hendricks, Placement Resource Specialist 651-249-8518.

I suspect we'll see more and more of these kinds of alternatives to the larger communities being built. The baby boomers will demand it.

Twin Cities Events for Seniors

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've heard me say that the senior industry in Minnesota doesn't do enough to let the community know about the services and information available to seniors. Instead of sitting back and complaining, I've been looking for ways to become part of the solution! 

Because of the networking groups I belong to I hear about a lot of senior events.  I'm going to start posting events and educational opportunities for seniors and their families as I'm made aware of them on www.theSeniorHousingSearch.com.  Just today I posted a series of fall classes from the Alzheimer's Association and an educational series offered by Hillcrest and Brookdale Senior Living Communities.

I hope you'll let others know about these events!

Minnesota Senior Population Explodes!

At least it seems that way!  I'm returning from a long weekend vacation (guess where I was from this picture!), and in reviewing my email I'm just astonished. In the last 7 days, I've received 13 requests for copies of the Senior Housing Directory. Seven are from people across the country who are moving BACK to Minnesota! Strange thing about us Minnesotans. We never seem to move too far from home (now, if we do we seem to find our way back without the proverbial popcorn trail!). 

There are some quirks to Minnesota housing, and Minnesota real estate that you should know about if you're relocating to Minnesota.

It's tough for Twin Cities consumers to figure out the senior services maze. If you're relocating, it's even more confusing because of differences in real estate between states.

1. If you are interested in purchasing a cooperative your real estate agent may not be able to help. In Minnesota, senior cooperatives shy away from working with REALTORS. They often have their own internal waiting list. However, senior condominiums are sold through the MLS so you'll likely want to work with a REALTOR. Confusing, hunh?  When in doubt, ask. A real estate agent proficient in the senior housing market can get you started in the right direction.

2. It's difficult to find an unbiased online resource that lists all the senior housing in one place, complete with pictures, prices and floor plans. It hasn't officially launched, but since you're here, I'll share a secret with you.  I'm working on a remedy for this!  Visit www.TheSeniorHousingSearch.com and you'll be able to search for Minnesota Senior Housing. Imagine how great it will be when we get pictures up!

3.  If you have a home to sell in another state, and are relocating to Minnesota, you can get a real estate agent in Minnesota to start advocating for you before your current home is on the market. First, start by looking around on the internet and locate a real estate agent with the RSA, SRES or CSA designations. These are real estate agents who have taken the intiative to take some extra coursework about senior-specific real estate issues. Contact the agent and talk with them, ask questions, and see what kinds of services they can offer you to help you transition to Minnesota.  Once you're satisfied, ask them to help you find a real estate agent to sell your current home. The Minnesota agent will recieve a referral fee for helping you interview prospective agents, and upon the sale of your current home. Now you have someone interested in helping you find a qualified real estate agent with a senior-friendly business that will keep an eye on the way your home is marketed and will be involved in your plans to relocate. Not a lot of seniors know about this or take advantage of it. Know YOU know.

Other articles:

Senior condominium or Senior Cooperative: what's the difference?
50 Questions for Seniors to Ask Before They Move
The Maze of Senior Services

Happy First Day of Autumn

Happy Autumn! The heat and humidity have broken, the mornings have that crisp autumn air and we remember why we live in Minnesota. Fall in Minnesota is a little piece of heaven on earth.

Minnesota Weather Word Search

All about Minnesota Weather Words. Enjoy this word search. You can work on line by clicking here. Once open, you'll be able to click in the upper left hand corner for clues if you get stuck.

Twin Cities Fourth in the Nation for Workers over 65

Maybe it's because we have the largest number of personal trainers per capita in the nation?

See the rest of the article on senior workers.

The story of an senior move

Ah, decluttering and open houses...the story continues.