Entries for 2012

The holiday season represents so many things; a time for giving, for entertaining and spending time with family and friends. For some, the holidays may even be a time to address household clutter. It’s true! Right now, you may be trying to figure out where to stash all the “stuff” that has slowly filled the guest bedroom over the course of the year; or maybe you need to clear piles of paperwork off the dining room table in order to add the ex...

Holidays are an opportunity for families to come together in celebration. Over the next few months you will hear a great deal from advisors and elder care professionals who suggest we use this time of family gathering as an opportunity to evaluate our parents’ well-being, to advance discussions about housing options and long term care insurance; to take a closer look at mom’s “activities of daily living” or to hold a “ parent conversation” wi...

In a news release issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in early September, a new statistical measurement showed the typical amount of time it takes to sell a home is shrinking. Average selling time for non-distressed homes is in the six to seven week range. By comparison, time on the market during the housing “boom” was 4 weeks and during the subsequent housing “bust”, 10 weeks.

Moving from a family home to a Senior Living Community is a pretty big deal and is one of the more significant lifestyle changes made by older adults. In truth, though, most seniors remain in their homes where they have the opportunity to make smaller, yet equally important changes to their environments. As seniors go through certain “care transitions” due to changes in health, agility and mobility, there is often a resulting “home transition....

With a purposeful focus on sustainable and eco-friendly business practice, Caring Transitions joins the ranks of some pretty big name companies such as Bank of America, GE, S.C. Johnson and Anheuser-Busch.

When older adults are facing major life decisions and adult children are drawn into the process, it is not uncommon for disputes to erupt as family members voice concerns over suitable housing, finances, family heirlooms, caregiving responsibilities or home safety.

When writing this newsletter, I received an email from my cell phone provider, including its name and brand images, informing me I must immediately pay hundreds of dollars in late penalties or lose my service. The message looked legitimate, even though I knew it couldn’t be true. Upon taking a closer look at the sender’s address, I determined it was a scam. But would my 86-year old father have known the difference?

Just the thought of relocating for work can be stressful, but proper planning and supportive resources can help to facilitate the process. “In most cases, you’ll have a relocation representative to support you through the transition; however, it can be helpful to have a clear understanding of your company’s relocation policy and the steps involved in an out-of-state relocation,” said Christopher Seman, president of Caring Transitions. “The fo...

As experts in the field of home transitions, we are often approached by people who wish to learn more about how they can help support loved ones who are transitioning from one stage of life to the next. In this newsletter, we share some tips and intervention techniques that may help ease stressful situations.

Caring Transitions supports many family members who are suddenly thrust into the role of “fiduciary,” one who holds something in trust for another. Family members are encouraged to seek legal and financial advisors to help them navigate new responsibilities as guardian or conservator, and the following article may provide some general insight and understanding of the role.