Bringing people together safely, clearly
While talking with family and friends on the phone or video chatting on platforms like Zoom or FaceTime are better than nothing, people all across the world are missing the opportunity to engage with their fellow human beings in person. This is especially true of those living in retirement communities where they are largely isolated during the pandemic. In June, the Georgia-based company... READ MORE
Home equity line of credit pros and cons
As a result of the coronavirus, many families are facing both short-term income uncertainty and uncertainty regarding the future value of their asset holdings. One way to provide more stability regarding access to assets at a reasonable cost is a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Individuals who have substantial equity in their primary residence are generally able to obtain a line of... READ MORE
Communities pivot during the pandemic
This summer, change is in the air. Everyone has had to make adjustments to fight the current pandemic — staying at home, wearing face masks — including those who live in local assisted living or independent living facilities. All of these communities have had to make changes to ensure the safety of their residents. At Blair House at Stoneleigh in Baltimore, for instance, visitors must ... READ MORE
The liberating feeling of a smaller home
With the current trend toward de-cluttering and downsizing, there are plenty of books about how to winnow down possessions to the few that are truly necessary and beloved. One book shows how you can live well once that’s done. In Downsize: Living Large in a Small House (2019, The Taunton Press), author Sheri Koones focuses on practical ways to live well at home once you’ve... READ MORE
Sell with less hassle (but for less money)
The prospect of selling and leaving your longtime home can seem overwhelming under the best of circumstances. But it is all the more so if you have lost your spouse, have health or cognitive issues, or need a quick sale so you can move to a better situation, such as assisted living. The challenge is greater if the home is in poor condition, say, because of long-deferred maintenance. Your ... READ MORE
Love, marriage in the time of pandemic
The bride wore sensible sandals and the white lace dress she had fortunately purchased in pre-pandemic times. Her left hand clutched a small bouquet of white and pink roses. The groom wore a dark sports coat with a boutonniere to match her bouquet. Her hair was white; what remained of his was gray. The chapel pews were empty. With their Baltimore County retirement community under... READ MORE
Thinking of retiring? Conduct a test-drive
Bev Bachel, 62, is trying retirement on for size. For years, Bachel, a freelance communications professional in Minneapolis, took on highly demanding contract jobs that typically lasted more than a year. She put in long hours, often managed other writers and had to be available for on-site meetings. “A friend of mine said that when you’re self-employed, you never really retire.... READ MORE
Ease uncertainty with a reverse mortgage
U.S. and global economic volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic have many retirees (and those close to retirement) worrying how to survive these turbulent times. Will you have enough assets to maintain your lifestyle and meet retirement spending goals in the face of a possibly long-term bear market? Traditionally, older adults fund retirement with a mixture of Social Security,... READ MORE
How the move to a community felt to me
On the first day in my new retirement community, I was greeted by a neighbor in the hallway. She remembered meeting other newcomers who had experienced difficult first days here without the necessary cookware to prepare a proper meal. So, she offered to lend me some of her own pots and pans. Clearly, she was mistaking me for some kind of “kitchen goddess,” who could hardly wait to ... READ MORE
How to select an active adult community
Steve Thornton was driving along Interstate 75 in South Florida on a “scouting trip” for a place to live in retirement when he saw a billboard for Trilogy at Ocala Preserve. Stopping there, he was taken with the beauty of the place — and knew his wife would agree. “Lyndia would like it,” Thornton, 69, recalled thinking. While their children were growing up, the Thorntons... READ MORE