Entries for 2014

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®The kitchen is often a focal point at the holidays. Preparing family dinners, assembling a dish for pot luck and baking cookies for neighbors are important traditions for many of us, even as we downsize.When a Caring Transitions® expert helps people sort their belongings during fall and winter months, we ask a lot of questions and pay special attention to holiday habits. Even when moving to a kitchen with limit...

By Nan Hayes for Caring TransitionsTraditions play an important role in families and most of us feel the holidays are a good time to come together and reinforce those traditions. Some people look forward to these gatherings, while others approach them with great trepidation, especially when sibling rivalries, lingering animosities, and conflict or concerns over the health and welfare of aging parents cast a shadow over family events. So what’s th...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®Last year, our client Lynn learned her mother was being moved from hospital to rehabilitation facility following a bad fall. Realizing mom would be unable to take care of the house for a several weeks; Lynn wanted to do something special to help her at home.Lynn asked her dad if there was anything in particular that would be meaningful to mom. She and her siblings already planned to lend a hand with housework, ...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®If you are one of the growing number of families making decisions about the sale of your parents’ home or, as an older adult, you are in the process of making decisions about your own future lifestyle; the following tips may help guide you through the home sale process.1. Hire the right agentOften times, the needs of senior clients are different than others, so it is important to find the right real estate agen...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions In our industry we commonly hear about the struggles families face when helping an aging parent move or when they are faced with closing a deceased parent’s home. There is not only a tremendous mental or emotional burden for most family members when navigating such transitions, but a significant time and physical investment is also required. As more and more parents age beyond their 80’s and 90’s, companies...

Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions® With garage sale and estate sale season in full swing, it is helpful to understand the differences between various types of sales and also learn how to hire the best possible resource to accomplish your objectives. Should I hold an Estate Sale? Many estate sale providers will tell you an estate sale is the best way to liquidate your belongings, but in reality, there are three primary factors that should be e...

Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions® As seniors remodel their family home to age-in-place or downsize to an independent living, assisted living, or other community setting, they often feel displaced, disoriented, or even depressed. Senior care professionals have an increasing responsibility to learn how to support older adults as they face these transitions, so seniors may experience changes to environment with less stress, more respect and me...

Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions® If you haven't planned for senior living care, you aren't alone. Surprisingly few people do, although the estimated out-of-pocket expense of long term care for a couple turning 65 in 2013 exceeds $350,000. Many believe government subsidies will cover any care they need in old age; however this just isn’t the case. Medicare covers a generous percent of health care costs, but not all long term care and little...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions® As we move full-swing into the 2014 residential real estate season, many folks will take on the daunting task of preparing a home for sale. This kind of large household project is not very appealing to most of us, and may be especially overwhelming for homeowners who are downsizing to a smaller residence. If you are one of many people faced with such a project this spring, but you find yourself putting i...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions At various stages of life, our home and the possession in it may no longer suit our lifestyle. When this happens, we may choose to move, redecorate or remodel our homes. This “home transition” process is not unusual for mobile executives, young adults with growing families and retiring homeowners. As individuals age into their 80 and even 90’s, changes in their physical, mental and financial status often tr...