Downsizing is a worthy goal pursued by many boomers (who are also, in most cases, empty-nesters) seeking a simpler lifestyle as they approach the retirement years. The downsizing trend seemed to increase in connection with the collapsing real estate market and troubled economy. However, as the Montreal Gazette reports, some boomers are finding that it makes better sense to “upsize” their downsizing plans.

Enter Pam Royl and Ian McArdle, who were ready to leave their large beach home behind and transition into a sleek condo. As they explored the housing market, they found great prices and decided it was a better move to choose a smaller home, with room for grandchildren and adult children to visit comfortably.

And it’s not just about the grandchildren coming to visit. Royl and McArdle affirm that they are not alone in their upsizing plans. The reason? As more and more adult children return to the nest (or never leave it at all) for either short-term or long-term stays, the need for the larger house remains: according to a Canadian report, 44% of young adults (ages 20-29) still live at home.

Calgary-based mortgage broker Karen Blomquist believes that those who hang on to a valuable property – or consider an upgrade – have made a wise move:

“You have to believe the equity will keep going up. And if cash flow gets tight, a lot are doing reverse mortgages, so they can pull out some of that equity to live on in their later years. It’s a nice way to make it all possible.”

Perhaps the rapidly rising long term care/health care costs have something to do with this new trend as well. Aging in place is the most desirable option for just about anyone you ask; rarely does anyone wish to move into a nursing home or even an assisted living community.

Besides, if we have to work longer and later than the generation before, take care of our mother-in-law who can’t live alone, and provide a landing place for your adult children who haven’t quite figured out what’s next, why not have a cozy place to call home?

YOUR TURN: What do you think? Do you see this trend occurring in the United States?

-Michelle Seitzer

Keeping up with the latest on the Alzheimer’s research front is quite a challenge. There are new studies with new results – both promising and disappointing – coming out all the time. I’ve compiled (and translated the research jargon) a few of the latest bits of news here, also difficult as there are a number of fine resources from which to choose:

The Alzheimer Research Forum (http://www.alzforum.org/)

August 27, 2010 – Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (in Philadelphia) find evidence of amyloid-beta (A?) pathology in both Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), firming up theories on why those who suffer from Parkinson’s eventually develop dementia.

Here’s more on the study.

ScienceDaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

August 25, 2010 – Aided by a cutting-edge microscope, professors at the University of California-Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center discover that brain cells which have been exposed to a form of amyloid-beta protein (A?), the molecule closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), bend less under pressure and become more rigid, revealing one mechanism for A? protein damage in the brain. Such a finding translates into innovative ways to screen drugs for AD/related dementias.

Get the specifics.

American Health Assistance Foundation/Alzheimer’s Research (http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/)

August 24, 2010 – Led by a University of Southern Florida Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute professor, who is also director of the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, this new study indicates that a signaling protein released in those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis had a dramatic effect in reducing AD pathology AND in the reversal of memory impairment. This protein, called GM-CSF, has been successfully tested in a mouse model, but researchers are hopeful that the same protein in humans will stimulate the body’s cells to attack and eradicate amyloid-beta (A?) deposits in the brain.

Read the rest.

New York Times/Health/Research (http://health.nytimes.com/pages/health/research/index.html)

August 12, 2010 – Alzheimer’s research is now reaping the benefits of a 2003 collaboration between scientists and executives from the Food & Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, universities, nonprofit groups, and drug/medical imaging industries: over 100 studies are in the works, both for the use of tests like PET scans to aid in early diagnosis and for testing drugs that will either stop/stave off Alzheimer’s disease as a result of this partnership. The group is committed to the discovery of biological markers showing AD’s progression in the brain.

Read more

Alzheimer’s Association Research Center (http://www.alz.org/research/overview.asp)

For a well-organized timeline of how far the research has come (complete with major milestones) and details regarding what’s next on the treatment horizon, check out the Alzheimer’s Association Research Center.  At the moment, there are 5 FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs that treat the disease. You can read about them, along with targets for future drugs, recent treatment trials, and information on how to volunteer for participation in a clinical trial here.

SFL readers, we welcome your suggestions for other sites that you find helpful in keeping up with Alzheimer’s research news.

-Michelle Seitzer

Going Blind is personal thing for director/journalist Joe Lovett. Afflicted by glaucoma (along with 4.5 million others worldwide), Joe decided to share his story, his mission, and the stories of others impacted by vision loss in a unique documentary simply titled Going Blind.

It’s not just a film about seniors either. Lovett documents the challenges faced by a 32-year old who lost her sight to diabetic retinopathy and an 11-year old who suffers from low vision caused by albinism. Also woven into the film are interviews with people he meets on the street, people who share their own battles with vision loss, or their fears about someday losing their sight.

According to Lighthouse International, 10 million Americans are legally blind (1.3 million) or visually impaired (8.7 million). On a global scale, 37 million live with decreased/lost vision.

Thanks to medical advances, some conditions may be corrected or at least delayed by surgeries or medications. A healthy diet/lifestyle can preserve and maintain good vision for many years; likewise, a poor diet/lifestyle may provoke certain vision disorders. If it’s a genetic thing, or a disease-related issue, there may be little to nothing you can do to stop/stave off the loss, but there are ways to cope (through the use of supportive services/devices, canine companions or other means) that Lovett shares in the film.

If you go to work/school, shop, use the subway, or drive, you are interacting with people of all ages that are affected – whether you know it or not. Not every vision-impaired person wears glasses or has a seeing-eye dog. You cannot always tell just by looking at a person if they can see you or not. You may not be impacted now – maybe you don’t even know someone who is – but with numbers like those mentioned above, the time will come.

Open your eyes to the world of vision loss – check out Going Blind.

http://www.goingblindmovie.com/

-Michelle Seitzer

Whether it’s in a drawer, closet, shed, attic, room, or all of the above, everyone has junk they don’t need. We’ve all heard it said, when visiting someone’s home (or perhaps you’ve said it yourself): “Don’t go in there, that’s our junk room.”

Of course there are times in our lives when certain areas of our homes are less than tidy. Take-out menus and outdated phone books can quickly pile up in the kitchen drawer; patio furniture comes in for the winter months and clutters the garage; paint cans, brushes and drop cloths muddle the room when it’s time for a new coat of color. A work weekend or two often brings the house back into order.

But when the clutter takes over, there may be a more serious issue at hand.

Two new shows, Hoarding and Hoarders, delve into the wild world of compulsive hoarders. I’ve never watched either of these programs, but I’ve seen a few similar shows (TLC’s Clean Sweep, for example) – and some homes/individuals that could easily qualify for participation.

Hoarding is a fascinating though frightening condition – and sadly, it afflicts many seniors.

As a result of living through the Depression and World Wars (or emigrating from countries where frugality was a way of life), older adults are more prone to compulsive hoarding. There’s nothing wrong with saving useful items that still have a purpose, and many seniors are experts in the “waste not, want not” lifestyle.  But as they experience accumulated losses, i.e. the ability to drive or make decisions, control of their bodies, friends, family members, or a spouse, the results can be disastrous.

These life crises may cause some seniors to become “paralyzed” and unable to keep up with everyday life (putting away clothes, sorting mail, cleaning the fridge, etc.); in some cases, the loss of a spouse who carried the weight in keeping the home tidy is the cause for clutter; for others, an attachment to things rather than people provides a false sense of comfort or security, or they cannot part with certain items because they belonged to a deceased loved one (or were given to them by loved ones – cards from grandchildren, report cards from children, etc.). All of these behaviors can spiral into hazardous living conditions, poor health & nutrition, and a host of other issues, masking what are often the true root causes: anxiety, depression, or even grief.

Several interesting articles tackle the subject in greater depth. They’re worth a read, especially if you know someone who needs help.

Here’s a startling quote from one of the pieces:

“One U.S. study, for instance, found that 45 percent of older hoarders could not use their refrigerators, 42 percent could not use their kitchen sink or bathtub and 10 percent could not use their toilet.”

Getting rid of excess junk is one thing. Not being able to use your toilet, tub, or fridge is another.

If you know someone who needs help, don’t just recommend they watch an episode of Hoarders. Be compassionate and kind, and understand that there was likely a life-changing event (either long past or recent) that was never fully resolved. Start slowly. And if the task is too much for one person or one family, or if it’s emotionally difficult to be involved, call the professionals.

Read more at:
Hoarding is great TV but clutter is big problem for Seniors
Hoarding, depression a health risk for seniors

-Michelle Seitzer

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Senior Housing directory.

A new Boomerater post appears here every other Friday. This week, a featured Boomerater financial planner, Steve Stanganelli, CFP®, CRPC®, explores wedding dreams… or the wedding bell blues. Steve discusses how insurance can save the day when planning weddings, anniversary wvents, and other once-in-a-life-time celebrations.

Whether you’re planning for your daughter’s wedding, a celebration to renew your own wedding vows, or a grand 50^th anniversary bash, a lot can happen to turn your dream day into a financial nightmare.

According to CostofWedding.com (where you can enter your zip code to find out the cost of weddings where you live), couples in the U.S. pay an average of $19,500 for a wedding, not including the additional costs of the wedding rings and honeymoon. That number rises closer to $39,000 when factoring in these items, say experts at BridePop.com. However you slice it, that’s a pretty significant piece of change that could buy the equivalent of a new car or even a decent down payment for a first home.  And the unexpected can happen…

• What happens if after months of meticulous planning, you find out that the venue for the reception just went bankrupt or has burned to the ground?
• What if you need to postpone the ceremony because an important member of the bridal party or a parent or grandparent suddenly falls ill?
• What about the rowdy guest who crashes a car at the reception, or what if another guest slips, falls, and breaks a hip?

When you decide on the professional consultants you will use – the florist, photographer, musicians, seamstress, caterer, travel agent, etc., don’t forget the financial planner.  He or she may not be able to pick out the perfect flowers, but can help you plan the cost of the wedding and help you protect your investment.

Wedding Insurance Can Ease the Stress
To minimize the impact of such disruptions, couples and their families should consider buying wedding insurance from a reputable specialty carrier that has a solid rating.

With all the costs associated with an already-expensive occasion, no one wants to blindly add to the expense. But insurance is one thing you can purchase that may provide some peace of mind on an already stress-filled day.  Consider it a gift you give yourself to protect your financial security and your serenity.

While “runaway brides” may or may not be covered, check the fine print; the other more mundane expenses can include a wedding cake that falls apart in transport, a videographer who gets sick and is a no show, a change of venue due to a fire or double-booking, a photographer who loses the camera or film, or even the fancy crystal gifts from Aunt Helen that walk away.

Insurance for a wedding or large catered celebration is relatively inexpensive and may potentially save a significant amount of money if something unexpected happens.  It is usually based on the cost of the wedding or event and can range from $239 for $7,500 cancellation coverage/$500,000 liability coverage to $426 for $50,000 cancellation coverage/$500,000 liability coverage. (For more detailed quotes visit www.wedsafe.com).

Such insurance can help cover the cost of finding replacements or reimbursing out-of-pocket deposits.

Aside from the costs of replacement vendors, consider the risk and cost of personal liability.  Considering a reception in a museum?  What about possible damage to the artwork?  Or maybe a guest gets a little too tipsy and decides to play a little “bumper cars” on the ride home and sues you as the party host.

Your homeowner’s insurance liability coverage will not extend to such risks.  Even a personal liability umbrella may not offer any protection.  Insurance specifically purchased for the event can offer financial protection for a wide range of potential problems.  It is one way you can prepare for the unexpected, helping to keep the day as stress-free as possible.

Continue reading the entire article about how insurance can save the day when planning your family’s next special event.

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Steve Stanganelli, CFP®, CRPC® is a board-certified personal finance guide who works with individuals and families to plan well and invest smart to live better. Steve also offers a free online planning service available at www.SmartMoneyRoadMap.com

One of my favorite things about living near Amish Country is the abundance of farmer’s markets in a 30 mile radius.  My husband and I try to buy the majority of our goods at the market, going only to grocery stores for things like orange juice and toilet paper.

There are a number of reasons we enjoy stocking our kitchen via the farmer’s market. The food is fresher and more affordable, we can shop at a leisurely pace and hardly ever wait in line, we’re supporting local farmers and small businesses, and when recalls dominate the headlines, we don’t have much to worry about. We’ve developed relationships with many of the vendors, sometimes stopping by their stands just to say hello even if we don’t intend to buy that day. It’s also a great place to bring our out-of-town family and friends. In fact, when my parents come to visit, it’s usually the first thing my Dad asks upon arrival: “Can we go to the market?”

A strong sense of community pervades the market. Besides befriending vendors, there are a number of regular attendees that we greet there. I always have my eye out for the seniors. Many of the mature market shoppers come dressed to the nines with a straw basket on their arm or a small metal shopping cart trailing behind them, which is clearly something they’ve done for decades.

Most of the senior shoppers arrive alone, even shop alone, but eventually, they bump into someone they’ve known for years, or maybe even someone whom they have befriended at the market. In downtown York, an old piano positioned in the middle of the market is available for anyone who wishes to tickle the ivories. Like clockwork, two older gentlemen can be spotted (and heard) on Thursday mornings, one plays as the other sings. I’ve sat there several times, enjoying the wide range of music they share, from old hymns to “My Funny Valentine” – each set is interjected with humorous comments and ready smiles for anyone who stops to listen.

One of our favorite market employees works at both the butcher counter and produce stand.  *Alice is probably about 80 years old, and she recently told me she was practically raised at the market. Her mother died while she and her siblings were very young, so they went to live with their grandmother, who worked at the market. *Alice fondly remembers spending many days there in her growing up years.

At another favorite stand, *Dan brings his father, who is in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s, to work with him on Thursdays. His father ran the stand (and the family farm) for many years until his memory problems worsened, which is when *Dan stepped up and stepped into the role in a greater capacity. While it is challenging for Dan to keep up with customers on Thursdays, many people come to the stand to see his father, a familiar face in the market crowd, and I know it’s great for his dad to be there, in a familiar setting, greeting friends and making change as much as he is able.

To find farmer’s markets close to you, visit www.localharvest.org.

*Names changed to protect privacy.

Your Turn: Where do community seniors congregate in your hometown?

-Michelle Seitzer

Though this can apply to any of life’s milestones, a senior in your life might get a kick of out getting a birthday card from the White House. It may take a while, and there’s no guarantee of a delivery date, but receiving one might be a little part of history.

The White House greeting office will send a congratulatory message to your loved one at your request. A greeting card from the President and First Lady will be sent at certain milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries.

The White House Greetings Office has a huge job, and requests can take several months or more, but here’s how to order greetings from the White House:

U.S. CITIZENS ONLY. The White House will send greetings to United States citizens only, for special occasions as outlined below.

ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED. Your request should be received at least six (6) weeks in advance of the event date. (Greetings are generally not sent after the event date, except for wedding congratulations and newborn acknowledgments.)

ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS. Anniversary greetings will be sent to couples who are celebrating a 50th, 60th, 70th or later wedding anniversary.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS. Birthday greetings will be sent only to people turning 80 or older or veterans turning 70 or older.

OTHER GREETINGS. A limited number of special occasions other than birthdays and anniversaries exist for which the Greetings Office will send appropriate recognition to United States citizens. These occasions include important life events such as:

* Wedding (send your request after the event)
* Baby’s birth or adoption of a child
* Retirement after at least 30 years on the same job
* Eagle Scout Award
* Girl Scout Gold Award
* Bar/Bat Mitzvah or equivalent religious occasion

REQUIRED INFORMATION. Please include the following in your reqeust:

* name and home address of honoree(s)
* form of address (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., Miss, etc.)
* exact date of occasion (month, day, year)
* age (birthdays) or number of years of marriage
* your (the requestor’s) name and daytime phone number
* any specific mailing instructions if other than to honoree’s address
* Wedding (Include couple’s married names and current or new address)

Additionally, almost as popular as a birthday wish for seniors from the President is a birthday wish from Willard Scott of the Today Show. Here’s how to submit a birthday wish request to Willard Scott.

-Elizabeth Thielke

There’s no doubt that taking care of an ill or infirm loved one is stressful and can affect the caregiver’s health, and when the caregiver is also the spouse, there’s an additional level of stress.

Most studies focus on the emotional impact of care giving, but A 12-year study from researchers at Utah State suggests that husbands or wives who care for a spouse with dementia have a six-times-higher risk of developing dementia themselves than those whose spouses don’t have dementia:

The study followed 1,221 couples for 12 years. All 2,442 study volunteers were at least 65 years old and free of dementia at the outset. By the end of the study, 255 of the seniors had developed dementias, two-thirds of which were Alzheimer’s disease.

And, the news was even worse for men, the increase was almost 12-fold, as compared to a four-fold increase in women.

Further study is needed to determine how much of this phenomenon is related to a shared environment, and how much of it might be related to caregiver stress. But, even with the results that have been shared, it is very apparent that caring for the caregiver is just as important as caring for the patient.

If you are a caregiver, or know one, how do you care for yourself or support someone else in the role?

-Elizabeth Thielke

Three tables, three homes, one thread: Norwegian gjestfrihet – hospitality.

Besides the sacred ritual of honoring loved ones no longer with them (as I shared in my post, Reflections on Norway: Remembering Loved Ones), experiencing the tremendous hospitality of the Norwegian people was an outstanding feature of my July visit. As we had the benefit of staying with family (never once did we stay in a hotel during the entire two weeks), we enjoyed home-cooked meals every day.

Each of our hostesses were more than attentive to our culinary needs – in fact, when we spent time in Oslo (the capital city), my great aunt stocked the refrigerator in the apartment we called home while there. Jams, breads, a variety of cheeses, yogurt, and juice were available in case we got hungry between the largely satisfying meals she fed us at her home. So even though we weren’t hungry, we often had a late night snack or two.

Norwegians tend to eat a larger meal later in the morning, resembling brunch more than breakfast. Eggs, meats, cheeses, bread/rolls, jams, fruit, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, and of course, coffee – the ultimate Norwegian staple – was presented every mid-morning at every place we stayed. The largest meal of the day (our supper) is called spise middag and is typically served around 4 p.m.

As I was accustomed to, having grown up with Norwegian grandparents, the table was always packed – regardless of whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner – with serving bowls, platters, condiment dishes/bottles, and drinks. Anything you could need or want was at your fingertips (or at the other end of the table!). I remember fondly the summer days at our grandparents’ pool when Grandma would call me, my sisters and cousins in for lunch, and we’d come in, dripping wet, to a spread fit for an army. It is truly the Norwegian way.

While driving with my great uncle through the fjords and fishing towns along the southwestern coast of Norway, we pulled into the driveway of an unfamiliar home. Because my great uncle spoke very little English, the whole day was quite an adventure, as he was the only one who knew where he was taking us. It was close to 8:30 p.m. (although not dark, compliments of Norway’s midnight sun) when we pulled into this driveway; when the door opened, we were greeted immediately with a hearty, “Velkommen (welcome) to my home, please come in.”

We were introduced to the nephew of my great uncle’s wife (not even a blood relative of mine) who took us upstairs through an immaculate home where a spread of coffee, freshly baked cookies, and fresh strawberries with cream awaited us (did I also mention that he was a bachelor?). It was on this evening that I realized Norwegian hospitality was a cultural tradition; we weren’t just being spoiled by our family because we were family.

And we all know hospitality isn’t just about food. Each of the family members we visited opened their homes to us, gave us beds to sleep in, chauffeured us to tourist hot spots (and those remote and special places only the natives know about), and all-around, treated us like royalty. My husband often teased our hostesses, saying, “You know we’re not anyone special like a king or queen, right?”

Hospitality isn’t just a Norwegian thing, I know, but their generosity and gracefulness in serving us was such a remarkable highlight of the trip that I wanted to share it with you. So it’s your turn now – share with us your stories of true hospitality, either given or received, at a home or at a hotel, near or far… and challenge yourself to make your home a more welcoming place to new visitors, friends or family.

-Michelle Seitzer

Women typically have a longer life expectancy than men, but that difference may not be quite as good as it sounds. Spanish researchers have found that though they may live longer, women have an increased incidence of disability than men. The study was carried out in Barcelona by the Public Health Agency and the team interviewed 4,244 people over 64 and found:

The prevalence of disability in people aged over 64 increased among women in Catalonia between 1992 and 2006, but not among men, due to the increase in female life expectancy. The prevalence of disability in 2006 was 30% among men and 53% in women. In other words, it increases among the most elderly women.

One contributing factor was thought to be womens’ dual work roles of domestic work (I’m not going to take any chances, I’m going to let the dishes just sit. It’s for my health.), and work outside the home, which is thought to lead to a greater prevalence of musculoskeletal difficulties.

Yet another reason for women to eat right, and stay healthy so we can enjoy those extra years.

-Elizabeth Thielke