Moving is tough at any age, but it becomes even more of a challenge as we grow older and find that our mobility and flexibility aren’t what they used to be. But this is precisely why senior moving services are available: They can help to simplify the process of downsizing, organizing, packing, and moving a senior’s personal belongings. They can also help to prevent moving accidents or injuries, and reduce stress and anxiety throughout the moving process.
Check out the following article from Lifestage to learn more about how seniors can benefit from the assistance of senior moving services—and how they can find the help they need for their next move. 1. Assistance With Packing, Organizing, and DeclutteringSenior move managers are the key to planning a safe and stress-free move as we—or our loved ones—grow older. These professionals can help with the following types of moving tasks:
In short, senior move managers ease moving stress and anxiety and help seniors to make the best decisions as they search for suitable homes and plan their move. 2. Help with Loading, Moving, and Unloading BelongingsIn addition to working with a senior move manager, professional movers are available to help with loading, transporting, and unloading a senior’s belongings. Hiring movers reduces a senior’s risk of sustaining injuries while loading and unloading heavy boxes and furniture, and it eliminates the need to rent a moving truck or enlist the help of younger family members and friends. When hiring a moving company, be sure to do your homework before deciding on a mover. Obtain estimates from multiple companies, keep an eye out for moving scams, and check to see if any discounts are available. If you choose to work with a senior move manager, however, this professional will be in charge of finding and hiring a reputable moving company. 3. Finding Professional Moving Help Is EasyAs another benefit of working with senior moving professionals when planning a move, finding the help you need is incredibly easy. You can use the National Association of Service & Speciality Move Managers (NASMM) website to search for top-rated senior move managers near you, and the manager you choose will enlist the help of any other moving professionals you may need (such as a moving company). You can also contact the NASMM at 877-606-2766 if you have questions or need help finding a senior move manager in your area. 4. Settle InIf you’ve not yet begun your search for your new home, consider that renting rather than buying will remove some of the headaches that come with a big move, and you'll have lower maintenance costs. When scouting apartments, you can find listings online in your price range with your desired amenities and number of bathrooms and bedrooms to locate the perfect place. Narrow down your search by viewing 3D tours which are included in some listings. Regardless of whether you settle on a house or apartment for your new home, once you’ve moved into your new residence, your senior move manager can help with everything from unpacking and arranging your belongings to helping you settle in more easily. Thanks to these senior moving services, planning a move and settling into a new home doesn’t have to be a challenging process. Relocating is hard enough as it is, and senior-friendly moving services can help to make moving a lot less painful in our Golden Years! This article was brought to you by Lifestage, where we specialize in making a personalized match with retirement communities at all levels of care from independent living to memory care. This senior care referral service is offered at no cost to the family. For more information about our services, contact us today at 509-473-9956.
Starting a business is not just for young entrepreneurs. Studies have shown that seniors are twice as likely to launch high growth start-ups. Life experience, a large and diverse network, financial security, and confidence that comes with age play a major role in improving the chances of entrepreneurial success among seniors.
If filling your days with gardening, golf or playing cards is not an appealing prospect during retirement, you may want to consider entrepreneurship. Launching a business allows you to stay motivated, connected, and active to combat health declines that come with aging. It also allows you to use your knowledge and experience to supplement your retirement income. Refer to the following guide for starting a home-based business in your senior years. Making a Case for Home-Based Business Running a full-time business, especially after retiring from a long career, is not ideal. You should be spending as much of your golden years as you can, cherishing your friends, family, and passions. A home-based business can give you the freedom and flexibility to live a fulfilling social life even as you work. It allows you to create your own schedule and work on your own terms. Setting up a home-based business requires less capital than a brick-and-mortar business. Instead of paying rent, you can utilize the extra space in your home for your venture. You also won’t have to buy a ton of office furniture, office equipment or install a commercial phone system. If you qualify, you can also take advantage of home office tax deductions. Working from home also means that you can finally say goodbye to the dreadful daily commute to and from work. While saving on commuting-related expenses is a significant win, for seniors with mobility issues, not having to travel to work is the real prize. Getting Ready for Entrepreneurship The opportunity to do what you love and be your own boss is exciting. However, if you're not well-prepared, it could be a terrible move since there are fewer chances to recover from failure when you are a senior. To operate a successful home-based business in your golden years, you have to use all the resources you have at your disposal, from your networks to your experience. Before you launch your business, you need to develop your expertise. This can be in the form of mentorship from veteran entrepreneurs. You can learn a lot from a seasoned business person, especially if you have been a career employee. In addition, younger entrepreneurs can give sound advice on technology pertaining to businesses. The internet is also an excellent source of resources that can help you expand your skill set. Today, enrolling in an online MBA program is easy and painless since you can complete it from the comfort of your own home. An MBA can help you sharpen your business skills and help you turn your venture into a success. MBA coursework teaches business, management, and strategy, as well as leadership, self-assessment and self-awareness. In addition to the cost of an MBA, you should consider other start-up costs. Running your business from home reduces the start-up costs significantly but does not eliminate them entirely. Outline your costs before launch and figure out if you can afford the investment. You should not tie all your retirement finances into a business that might fail. In Conclusion It is never too late to get into business. There are numerous benefits of entrepreneurship, especially when operating a home-based business. Seniors can leverage their high levels of social, human, and financial capital to make their business a success. However, caution is highly recommended to avoid plunging into poverty in old age. Following the advice highlighted above can help mitigate the risks. Lifestage is uniquely qualified to be able to help seniors navigate their individual experience of aging and create a meaningful legacy. Call 509.473.9956 to speak with their Care Navigator. Guest Author Millie Jones www.seniorwellness.info/
Losing a loved one creates difficulties you may have never imagined, stresses that leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Financial hardships can be challenging to overcome when you’re in the process of grieving, and if you have a senior loved one who is having trouble mitigating those challenges, it’s important to help them navigate their options. Fortunately, there are several ways to help your loved one get through this difficult time; Lifestage shares a few.
Take care of the biggest things first Your loved one will have a lot on their mind after losing someone dear to them, so, as Fiduciary Trust International notes, it’s important to help them make their financial decisions wisely. Mortgage payments, funeral arrangements, and loan payments should be the first priority; smaller bills can usually wait a week or two. This will prevent your loved one from becoming overwhelmed in a short amount of time so they can focus on healing. Keep in mind that there are debt relief companies who can assist after the loss of a spouse. Ask for copies of the death certificate One important task your loved one will need to remember is to make sure they have enough copies of the death certificate. If they have lost a spouse or partner, they’ll need that paperwork to access the benefits of a life insurance policy and to present as proof when making changes to joint bank accounts, credit cards, Social Security funds, and other important accounts. This will prevent issues with receiving money owed, which will take some stress off your loved one’s shoulders. Prepare your loved one for the possibility that a credit card company often closes an account after learning of the death, meaning any automatic payments or charges pending will need to have the payment info updated to prevent any interruptions. If the deceased was the primary cardholder and the account isn’t closed, interest charges and penalties will still accrue. Advise against hasty decisions Grief can make us do things we later regret, so help your loved one stay away from hasty decision-making in the month or so after their loss. Big decisions should be given some time to ensure they’re the right ones for the moment. Nolo explains seniors are also more prone to scams. This is especially true if they are grieving as they may part with their money more easily, so talk to your loved one about how to avoid these pitfalls and easy ways to stay safe. Help them find the right living situation Many seniors find it highly beneficial to change up their living situation after losing a loved one. MyLifeSite points out that downsizing to an assisted living or continued care facility can help not only with the financial end of things, it can also help your loved one stay safe and comfortable. There are many different types of facilities with a wide variety of care options and pricing, so keep that in mind when you’re searching for the best fit for your loved one. If seniors want a little assistance while being able to maintain some independence, a senior community might be the best way to go. If your loved one simply needs help around the house with certain tasks, consult with Lifestage to help them connect with in-home care services. This can be light housekeeping, meal prep, transportation to appointments and help with activities of daily living. Plan ahead While few of us want to think about planning for our own final wishes, this is something your loved one can do that will provide peace of mind now, as well as help any loved ones that will eventually be left behind. Should your loved one pass on suddenly, having a pre-paid funeral can help a great deal and will prevent financial hardship for family members. Your loved one can create a joint bank account for this sole purpose, buy an insurance plan from a funeral home, or purchase burial insurance. In some cases, this money can help pay for medical bills and other expenses as well. Writing a will is another must that creates financial security and promotes better peace of mind. A great way to help your loved one through their grief is by finding ways to help memorialize their partner. This can be through a celebration of life, gathering donations for a plaque in their honor, or even starting a nonprofit dedicated to their partner’s favorite cause. A nonprofit isn’t difficult to create, and could even provide your loved one with something positive to help them move forward. ZenBusiness can walk you through the process. Losing a loved one can hit a senior hard. Make sure you help your loved one navigate tricky financial concerns. With a little planning and prep, you can help your senior through this tough time. Senior advisory agency Lifestage brings over 100 years of combined experience and credentials in various aspects of the healthcare industry. Reach out today to find out more! 509.473.9956 Guest Author Hal Salazar Elders Today
Maintaining a good quality of life is essential for staying healthy. This is particularly true for seniors whose health needs increase as they grow older. As a senior, it’s important to be at an optimum weight because being underweight could mean a significant lack of nutrients, while being overweight could increase the risk of contracting diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. So seniors need to stay active and maintain a healthy diet.
Fortunately, this has been made a lot more achievable today, largely thanks to modern technology. It’s been found that the use of technology among older adults is on the rise, with approximately 70 percent of seniors now embracing the internet. This makes technology a viable solution to helping seniors take better care of their health independently. It’s hard to deny that fitness trackers and watches are becoming more and more ubiquitous. And for good reason, too, as they are proving to be very handy devices that perform a myriad of functions, including keeping people motivated to meet their fitness goals. Seniors, in particular, could greatly benefit from these devices because of the ease-of-use that most models offer and their general unobtrusiveness. Many older adults are embracing smartphones, too. The larger screens and adjustable keyboards of today’s smartphones make them very easy to use, not just to stay connected, but also as a feasible tool in helping you keep your health in check. To help protect this investment, spend a little money on a case that can help protect it from damage. Use apps to achieve your fitness goals. Your smartphone is only as good as the apps installed in it. Thankfully, there’s now an app for just about everything under the sun, including many that can keep you on track for your health goals. This runs the gamut from tracking your physical activity to making sure that you eat right. There are even apps that help you track the data that matters most to you, like your BMI, glucose levels, and more. Beyond the physical, there are also apps available that focus on enhancing your mental health. These range from smart games to training programs to skills tests—all of which are designed to train your brain and keep your cognitive functions in tip-top shape. Go online to learn more about your health insurance And speaking of mental health, much of staying healthy relies on how well you stay away from stress and maintain your peace of mind. One way to achieve this is to ensure that you have healthcare coverage that you can rely on. This is where Medicare comes in. This federal healthcare program offered to seniors is actually a lot more complicated than most people realize, which is why it’s important to make sure that you have ample coverage for your specific needs. Know that Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7. This is an excellent opportunity to review your coverage and make changes if necessary. So to make sure that you’re getting the best possible coverage, it’s important to take the time to do your due diligence and learn about your options. The internet is a fountain of information, so you’re sure to get answers when you go online. You can even make use of Medicare’s revamped Plan Finder tool, which offers exciting new features. No doubt, you will find recommendations online to expand your coverage with Medicare Advantage plans. Despite the added premiums, these plans are worthy of consideration as they come with additional services, such as prescription drug coverage, which could be exactly what you need to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures. Technology truly is a godsend for the young and old alike. Needless to say, it is in your best interest to take advantage of it as you strive to reach your health goals so you stay accountable, committed, and motivated, as well as fully in control of your well-being. Guest Author Hal Salazar Elders Today |
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