New technologies to improve your health
“Connected” health technology is a godsend for people who want to grow old in their homes and retain their independence. According to an industry report by MarketResearch.com, the market for connected “smart sensors” is expected to reach $117 billion by 2020. Health tech lets users get help in an emergency with mobile medic alert-like personal emergency response systems; track... READ MORE
Robotic companion can make life easier
Those who live alone and need some assistance to continue aging in place may get by with a little help from a friend — a cute white and blue robot named Rudy.INF Robotics, based in Fairfax, Virginia, has spent the last six years building Rudy specifically to assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with a range of tasks, and to serve as a sentinel in case of falls.Rudy,... READ MORE
CCRCs update services to attract boomers
Residents of Broadmead relax outdoors on the community's 94-acre campus in Hunt Valley. Broadmead brands itself as a "dynamic lifestyle community," a shift from the term continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that similar facilities use, to help appeal to active baby boomers. Some other CCRCs now refer to themselves as Life Plan Communities. Photo Courtesy of... READ MORE
Features that help sell your home faster
Homeowners are sometimes hesitant to upgrade when it’s time to sell. After all, you won’t be living there much longer, and home remodeling efforts only increase home values by 64 percent of the average project’s costs, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value report.But think again, sellers. The cost of inaction can be far greater than the small loss... READ MORE
Home care aides provide peace of mind
After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013, Pat Libhart underwent chemotherapy, which left her with neuropathy in her feet. The condition can be both painful and lead to numbness, and caused Libhart to need a wheelchair.To help her get to treatments, cook, dress and other activities, Libhart contacted Family & Nursing Care, a company that provides home care aides to help... READ MORE
Creating an intergenerational household
Barbara Williams’s home is a lively one. Much of the year, there are four generations under one roof. Williams, age 65, shares her five-bedroom home with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and three young grandsons — and her 91-year-old mother visits for several months at a stretch.While the multigenerational living arrangement may be messy at times, “we had so many reasons ... READ MORE
Baseball fans live on former stadium site
When James Batty sits on the deck at his apartment in northeast Baltimore, he sometimes reflects on the times when an empty baseball field across the street once housed a massive edifice known as Memorial Stadium.“I actually worked there two different times — first from 1957 to ‘59. Then, I came back in the mid-1960s,” he said.Now 76, Batty first worked as a vendor... READ MORE
Facing foreclosure? Don’t delay; get help
The idea of foreclosure — losing your home because of a delinquent payment (even just one day late) — can be scary and daunting for anyone. It can be particularly intimidating for those who do not have the means to hire an attorney to guide them through the legal process.Maryland has the third-highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac, Inc., with 1 in... READ MORE
Options for affordable local housing
After her husband passed away, Brenda Smith (not her real name) was “financially caught off guard” by her suddenly reduced income, and could no longer afford to live on her own. She moved in with her daughter, and immediately began looking for affordable rental housing. Many people like Smith find themselves in similar situations, and have trouble finding affordable housing in the... READ MORE
Home money pits that sap your savings
There are so many expenses associated with paying the bills for a home that it is easy to miss money leaks that are costing you big dollars. Putting a plug into these leaks can make a big difference in your budget.From old-school thermostats to faulty plumbing, here are some of the top money-pits to watch for:1. Old School ThermostatsI recently replaced my 1980s-era thermostat with a new... READ MORE
Housing 2024
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