About 17 years ago, I decided to focus my practice on older adults, ages 75-90. My hope was to help this group plan ahead to avoid quick decisions. All too often I would receive a panic call from a senior in trouble. A health change forced hasty decisions that lead to unhappiness and sadness. Staying in a home that no longer meets the physical and mental needs of a long time homeowner can lead to challenges such as falls, isolation, inability to keep the maintenance up, etc. Security issues can force a person to become isolated as well as fearful.
The great recession has exacerbated this situation by keeping folks in their homes with so many waiting for the real estate market to rebound and restore the home asset to 2006 levels. By waiting to make a move that could have been done when relatively healthy, the door opens to a move that is forced and done with little planning due to the urgency of the moment.
Today, the calls I receive have shifted away from seniors and more from the children of seniors who now have to make the decision for a parent or parents that have stayed too long in an unhealthy environment. This has lead to the family of the older adult burdened with the pressures of selling the home, dealing with governmental agencies in relation to Medicaid and determining where their loved one will spend the rest of his or her days.
No parent would ever wish this responsibility to be placed upon a child or family. However, by waiting for their home value to rebound, the family becomes one in crisis and too often siblings can turn on each other in the attempt to make the right decisions for their parents.
If planning is done when decisions can be thought out and made with deliberation, senior housing options are plentiful and can fit almost any budget. There are governmental agencies in every county ready to help if called upon for advice and information. There are even senior planners that specialize in guiding older adults so that one’s health and well-being are foremost in decisions made when considering new housing options. One can visit any senior community and a marketing director will offer the information needed to assess finances as well as physical and mental needs.
If you are a senior who knows that your home no longer meets your needs for safety and security, talk to your trusted advisors and get an objective opinion as to what should be done to enhance health needs as well as offer a higher quality of life. Moving away from isolation and fear to security and new friends cannot only extend one’s years of quality living, but can also avoid placing your family in a crisis situation!
Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, as well as Certified Senior Advisor. Bruce has sold residential homes in the four county Milwaukee-Metro areas for 33 years. He has just received the 2010 “Realtor of the Year” from the 3,800 membership of the GMAR (Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors). He has been listed in Milwaukee Magazine’s 5-Star Agents list for three years in a row. As such, he’s one of only a handful of Realtors who are continually included in the top 7% in client satisfaction in the Milwaukee Metro area. He’s rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and was a finalist for Concordia College’s Ethical Business Leadership Award. He has published a book called “Moving in the Right Direction”, A Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing. He works with his wife Jeanne at Realty Executives Integrity. Please feel free to call Bruce or Jeanne with any real estate questions you may have at 262-242-6177, or email at Bruce@BrucesTeam.com. You can go to their website at http://www.brucesteam.com/ and view the many articles and important information related to moving and downsizing!
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