Home modification tips for aging in place
Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I would like to make some affordable changes to our home so we can remain living there for as long as possible. Can you recommend some good resources that can help us determine what all we need to consider? —Getting Old Dear Getting, Many older adults, like you and your wife, want to stay living in their own home for as long as possible. But being... READ MORE
Reasons to move sooner rather than later
A survey conducted by myLifeSite, the company I founded in 2011, uncovered some interesting information about prospective residents of life plan communities, formerly called continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). One of the survey questions that was particularly revealing was about people’s reasons for delaying a move to a community. Respondents were asked to choose up to... READ MORE
Baltimore Housing News — April 2022
New Continuing Care at Home program Many older adults hope to live in their homes as long as possible, but maintaining a house can be difficult. Now The Wesley at Home, a nonprofit established in 1867 to serve older adults in the Baltimore area, is seeking licensure to offer a new option for those in Baltimore City and Baltimore County: the Continuing Care at Home (CCaH)... READ MORE
A service with something for everyone
Here’s a story about a new business that might appeal to you as a potential customer or as a potential employee. And it all spins off a very basic household chore: doing the laundry. Are you the kind of person who hates doing laundry? Maybe you see it as a Sisyphean task that never gets easier, only harder. Or you might just regard it as a necessary evil that wastes time and... READ MORE
Expert provides some home renovation tips
What can you do in each of the different areas of your home to allow you to live a long, safe life? New materials and new technology make adapting your home to fit your lifestyle easier than ever. Kevin Taylor of Taylor Made Custom Contracting, Inc. (taylormadecontracting.com), based in Jarrettsville, Maryland, is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist through the National Association of... READ MORE
Founder of local village saw opportunity
Last month, Constance Row, co-founder and president of the Friendship Heights Neighborhood Network (FHNN) — a volunteer-run “village” — received the Debra Levy Humanitarian Award from GROWS, the Grass Roots Organization for the Wellbeing of Seniors. Debra Levy, for whom the award was named, served the Montgomery County area as a geriatric care manager for more than 30 years... READ MORE
Five ways to save energy this winter
Winter is the time of year when energy bills can skyrocket as we look for ways to stay warm and cozy indoors on chilly days. Focusing on energy efficiency can help you keep your home temperature comfortable and your energy bills at bay while also reducing your carbon footprint. Energy efficiency means using less energy to accomplish the same tasks while cutting energy bills and... READ MORE
How to avoid electrical fires in the home
Do you have a lamp that flickers? Or a light switch that doesn’t work quite as well as it used to? Play it safe — don’t use it, said Jim Resnick, program manager for Senior Outreach and Education at Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. As a firefighter for 45 years, Resnick has some advice: Turn off that light or device. Throw it away or call an electrician... READ MORE
Options to pay for long-term care needs
Long-term care insurance helps pay for the cost of home healthcare or a nursing home. It also covers extended illness or disability. While long-term care (LTC) coverage can be great for retirees, premiums have begun to rise in recent years, making it a difficult expense for those on a limited income. So, how do you determine the best way to prepare for long-term care costs in... READ MORE
Tips to shovel safely; avoid falling on ice
It’s snow season, which can bring both joy and pain. If you have to shovel your driveway or walk across a slick sidewalk, take extra precautions this winter. After all, as of press time, local hospitals are inching toward overcapacity. “Not having to be in the hospital is critical,” said Dr. Scott Faucett, orthopaedic surgeon at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, which has... READ MORE
