Senior Support and Transition, LLC

03/06/2021

09/19/2017

"We are very cognizant of the fact that families can do this themselves, but it is time consuming and it is difficult, emotionally and physically. We're here to say, if you feel overwhelmed and don't have family to do it or they're not able to do it, we're here to help."

Nice article in MarketWatch that explains how and why a Senior Move Manager can be indispensable when downsizing, and why sometimes moving makes more sense than staying.

Disclosure: This is a service we offer, if aging in place in your current home is not in the cards (we can help with that too).

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-downsize-your-home-without-losing-your-mind-2017-08-29

Senior move managers clean out the house, throw away or donate keepsakes and set up the new home.

09/02/2017

When planning with and for our seniors, we need to remember their pets. I was surprised to learn that senior cats are on track to outnumber kittens in shelters. Hoping that a senior cat (or dog) is adopted is not always realistic. What is the plan for your seniors' pets, if they have to move to non-pet-friendly housing, or pass away? Our pets and our seniors deserve better.

http://chewonthis.maddiesfund.org/2017/08/senior-cats-may-soon-outnumber-kittens-in-animal-shelters/

If your seniors are in hospice or palliative care and need help physically or financially to care for their pets, check out Pet Peace of Mind at http://petpeaceofmind.org/participating-hospices/

“Ramp up your medical programs for seniors, folks – soon enough you’ll be seeing far more of those than adoption age kittens.” Those words were posted by Karina King, Director of Operations for the Dakin Humane Society, on a Million Cat Challenge discussion forum. For communities at the height of th...

08/28/2017

Aging in Place - Who's in Control?
How does it feel?
At some point in time, often due to a trigger event, our seniors end up ceding control to others, usually to their adult children or other relatives. For those of us who fall into the "other" category, we often are tempted to totally take over their affairs - financial, medical,

How does it feel? At some point in time, often due to a trigger event, our seniors end up ceding control to others, usually to their adult children or other relatives. For those of us who fall into the “other” category, we often are tempted to totally take over their affairs – financial, medical, ho...

08/19/2017

Is this you? You are not alone - whether you're the parent(s) or the adult child(ren). Now is the time to have these discussions, so that parents and children together can work through these possessions and share their histories, and make decisions about what to keep and what to donate - while parents are still here to tell their stories. This also makes future downsizing - and even aging in place - easier, less expensive and safer.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/your-money/aging-parents-with-lots-of-stuff-and-children-who-dont-want-it.html

How to dispose of a lifetime of memories and keepsakes? These days, it pays to ask a professional, not your heirs.

08/12/2017

Why it's so hard for our seniors - and for ourselves - to leave our homes of many years. We need to be mindful of this - and to be kind - when helping our loved ones plan for their future, especially if that future entails downsizing or assisted living rather than aging in place.

"I talk to the house as if it were a person, and I apologize for having to leave. “But you’ll always belong to us...Our voices and laughter — and even Jane’s [the dog's] growl — have seeped into your crevices and your plaster.’’ That’s true of all long-lived-in houses, I believe. Their “DNA’’ sucks up some essence of the people who have inhabited them, and it stays forever.
But the reverse is also true. The house imprints itself on the people who have stayed a very long time, and it coils someplace in the brain where artifacts are stored, This house, I know, has occupied me like the aliens in the old “Invasion of the Body Snatchers’’ movie.I will carry it with me wherever I go."

https://realestate.boston.com/my-first-home/2017/08/03/the-burden-of-unburdening/

I am putting my old Victorian by the harbor on the market, and I am determined to be ruthless.

08/05/2017

Nice article that reminds us not only how deadly falls can be - they are in fact the Number One cause of death for individuals over 65 - but how we seniors can reduce the odds of suffering from them, by being aware of common hazards and causes, along with a bit of forethought by working on our balance as well as our strength. Re exercise - It's never too late - or too early - to start! And it's not too difficult either. My 93 year old mom and I do two brief chair-based sets a day, to the delight of her cardiologist and her geriatrician. And it's fun together time too!

Balance declines with age, but you can take steps now to avoid an injury.

07/07/2017

I do not consider these solutions per se to the challenges of aging in place safely, but they do help to address the issue of how to keep tabs on seniors living alone from afar.

http://ow.ly/SKlz30cUjzW

Nearly 90% of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age. These tools help make that possible.

06/29/2017

AKA Elder Orphans. Although solo agers sounds less dreary to me. Some good ideas to peruse especially if you are in this category.

http://nexav.org/2ox0Gl2

It's time to raise awareness for 'solo agers' who have to do it alone

06/19/2017

Exercise is critical for all of us, but especially seniors. Lack thereof can lead to falls, a major cause of injury and death for those of us who are older. Encourage your aging friends and relatives to stay active. I exercise with mom twice a day!

"Muscles play a role in your body’s movement, balance and posture. That’s why when we lose too much muscle, it can cause things like falls or fractures."

http://www.nextavenue.org/didnt-know-muscles-and-aging/

We lose muscle mass as we age, but there are ways to counteract that. Learn what you can do to fortify your muscles, your energy and your health.

06/15/2017

Today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day - here are some tips to dispel some common misconceptions on the topic.

http://nexav.org/2rziol4

There are many misconceptions about how, why and how often elder abuse occurs.

06/10/2017

"You'll often hear older people vow that they won't leave their homes except "feet first." Without modifications, however, the design of most older Americans' homes could eventually thwart their owners' desire to stay in them."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/health/aging-in-place-contractors.html?_r=0

Virtually all single-family homes lack features needed to accommodate aging owners’ limitations. But there are specialists prepared to help fix that.

06/08/2017

Excellent overview and recommended reading, especially if you are an elder orphan...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-new-aging-dilemma-
growing-older-at-home-alone_us_591a0887e4b0f31b03fb9e1d

There’s a hidden segment of the older adult population that the healthcare industry has recently spotted. It’s the aging single group of people 55 and ov...

06/05/2017

Take a moment to learn about Universal Design and why it matters - to everyone, not just seniors!

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/products/kitchen-bath/increase-accessibility-with-this-universal-design-primer_o

Aging-in-place is a booming field for remodelers. Here's what you need to know to begin navigating the nuances of building and selling universal design bath projects.

05/31/2017

What a great idea! Hope this catches on.

http://buff.ly/2r4GSFY

The goal is to take people with dementia back to a time when they didn't feel so lost

05/28/2017

"..Many architects, designers, and researchers [are] trying to increase conversation about how we design for old age and how we plan on taking care of a growing number of senior citizens. Demographically, the time to talk is now." Because who wants to end up in a nursing home if you can help it? This article also clearly describes the need for social supports as well - aging in place must be built on social interaction as well as safe homes.

https://www.curbed.com/2017/4/25/15420592/nursing-home-independent-living-senior-housing-aging-in-place

As baby boomers age, will they change the paradigm of older adult housing?

05/22/2017

" The focus for these [senior] households should be on making informed choices about potential living situations and locations, investments in home modifications, and care—before physical or financial needs become pressing." YES!!! DO IT NOW!!!

http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/housing-a-growing-population-older-adults

By 2035, more than one in five people in the US will be aged 65 and older and one in three households will be headed by someone in that age group. This growth will increase the demand for affordable, accessible housing that is well connected to services far beyond what current supply can meet.