What do independent living sites offer?
You have a dilemma. The home where you raised your children, the place you came home to for 30 years, and the yard you manicured, is now too much to manage. You no longer have the desire to weed the flower bed, lug the vacuum upstairs, and listen to your neighbor’s car stereo booming at night. But maybe the memories of this place stretch your entire adult life. Your kids took their... READ MORE
Volunteers perform needed home repairs
Awad Tanios, a double amputee, did not have an accessible bathroom or shower and could not get to the second floor of his townhouse in Montgomery Village, Maryland, so he slept in his living room. Now, thanks to a nonprofit, Tanios has a customized chair lift to bring him to his second-floor bathroom, where he can access a new shower with his wheelchair. A Maryland retiree was living ... READ MORE
Workshops help residents tell life stories
There’s power in telling your story. Last fall, at Brooke Grove Retirement Village in Sandy Spring, Maryland, a group of residents listened to each other’s life stories at an event led by a speaker from the nonprofit Story Tapestries. “People loved the opportunity to share their voice as well as listen,” said Arianna Ross, founder and CEO of Story Tapestries Inc., based in... READ MORE
Baltimore Housing News — April 2023
Getting their goats at Inspirations Memory Care Two pygmy goats were born this winter at Inspirations Memory Care of Westminster, Maryland. More baby goats are on the way this spring at the farm-like six-acre community, which also has alpacas and chickens. Residents can feed, pet and hold the goats. “It’s animal therapy,” explained Christina Green, executive director of regional... READ MORE
When your adult child moves back home
When Amanda Claypool was 28, she left a government contracting job in Washington, D.C., and moved back to her parents’ house in upstate New York while she figured out her next step. Then the pandemic struck, and her temporary return lasted longer than she’d planned. Living with her parents for several months “helped give me more flexibility to pivot to a new career,” said... READ MORE
Are heat pumps or solar panels better?
Solar panels or a heat pump? Both can improve your home’s energy efficiency, reduce your carbon footprint and, crucially, save you money on your energy bills. Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from the air and pump it into your home. This thermal energy can be used to heat your water supply and keep your home warm. Heat pumps produce so much thermal energy that they can... READ MORE
The role of a geriatric care manager
It can happen in an instant. One day your dad is living on his own, independent and mostly healthy despite advancing age. The next he’s in bed with a broken something, dependent on his grown children, and forced to move into a long-term care facility because you don’t have time to research alternatives. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times. Dad ... READ MORE
Many benefits of intergenerational living
In Fairfax City, a unique apartment complex is being built adjacent to the George Mason University (GMU) campus. Named One University, it will open in the summer of 2024 with 333 units for college students, 120 units for families, and 120 units for people over age 62. One University’s 10.8-acre site will have multi-family and senior apartments for people and families earning up to 60... READ MORE
Where family caregivers can find support
Few experiences in life are more difficult than caring for a loved one who is in mental decline, who is unstable, or who requires long-term care. Most family caregivers aren’t trained and don’t have any outside support, and it’s easy to imagine how overwhelming that situation would be. But give yourself a break: Do not take every burden upon yourself, or you’ll risk developing... READ MORE
DC Housing News — January 2023
Speaker series helps introduce The Carnegie Last fall, 150 people flocked to a lecture by “Downton Abbey” consultant Rebecca Eaton, executive producer at large for “Masterpiece Theater.” Eaton, who also worked on the television series “Sherlock,” shared some behind-the-scenes stories and reflected on her career in public television. The lecture was sponsored by The Carnegie... READ MORE
