Housing

By taking ownership of your downsizing experience, you will invest in the process and feel more positive about the outcome. Even if your family is involved in helping you make the transition, you should do whatever you can to work together to make the experience yours. If necessary, get help from a moving company you trust. Stay organized by creating a system for going through your items, and consider sketching out a floor plan for furniture placement. ...

Leaving the home behind can be both physically and emotionally difficult, but it is a decision most older adults eventually will make. Part of the process of downsizing is finding a real estate agent to help with the process.    ...

Most Americans wish to grow old in their own home, but that choice can lead to its own problems. Here's what to be aware of if you choose to age in place. ...

Thousands of people are wading through stuff accumulated over a lifetime… their own or their parents’.  If you’re among them, help is here to keep you from drowning in it. Starting small ensures early victories that will keep you motivated to continue the process and see you through to putting your house on the market and making a happy transition to your retirement property. ...

In our weekly Pandemic Positivity posts, we're spotlighting local organizations that are helping us manage life during the COVID-19 crisis. One of the best resources is the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Their latest newsletter has advice for those having a tough time making mortgage or rent payments. ...

Modifications may be necessary to make your home accessible and safe. If you pay for the modifications because it’s your house, it might not make your house more valuable. Sometimes they make your home less desirable when you eventually sell it. You need an open and honest discussion with your folks as to who pays the costs, and it probably makes sense to put it in writing. ...

As Ohman Family Living grows, the organization is also expanding its team of like-minded caregivers. Noting that working in senior healthcare is more of a calling than a job, one employee says, “Your heart has to be in it. You need compassion, patience, understanding, an open mind and the willingness to learn.”  ...

If you’re looking to sell, there are a few things you should know about getting your home move-in ready. If you invest 1-3 % of the value of your home in staging, updates and repairs, you could make or save 8-10 %, according to the National Association of Realtors.  ...