People will hide valuables in some of the oddest places. If you are clearing out a home of an older relative, keep this in mind. Here’s some of them:

. money in a cookie jar under the living room couch

. a ring frozen into a pound of hamburger in the freezer

. money in cereal boxes

. in the pockets of clothing

. sewn into curtain hems to weigh curtains down and conceal

. old boxes in the basement or attic

. in the flour and sugar canisters and in frozen food

So…when you are clearing out a house, please make sure you don’t throw out anything valuable.

I read this great article this morning that I wanted to share with everyone. It’s about how we can stay healthier and younger as we age:

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them….that is why you pay them.

2. Keep only the cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.” And the devils name is “Alzheimer’s.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.  Be alive while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether its family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health; If it is good, preserve it. It is is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county. Travel to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that  you love them, at every opportunity.

Our tip at Smooth Transitions is:

11.  Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today….we are not promised tomorrow. If you want to MOVE, then MOVE, if you want to stay in your home, then get help to make it less cluttered and more organized. WE CAN HELP YOU!

Have a great 4th of July.

Making the decision to move to a senior community can be very stressful. Just look through Senior Magazines, online, telephone books and the options are overwhelming. Steve and I always suggest to our clients and/or their children to start looking way before the need to move….so that the decision is theirs….

A great first step is to understand the reason for their move. Are they independent and able to care for themselves but prefer living in an environment with other seniors and have the enjoyment of the amenities and activities that the community offers? Or, is there a concern for their health and safety and they can no longer live alone?

So many of the adult children are baby boomers and will start to retire and may be looking for options for themselves as well as their parents. Here are some helpful tips:

• Assistance needed: Identify the type, amount and frequency of assistance needed.                                                                                                                                                      
• Location: Is there a specific part of town where you or your parents want to live?
• Future move: If they are still independent, it is vital to them that the community offer Assisted Living so they don’t have to move again?
• Finances: How much can they or you afford monthly? Are there additional ways to supplement their income (VA benefits, assets?)
• Amenities/Services: Think about what social activities and amenities are important to them..maybe transportation to their doctors? can they bring their pets?

Moving is always stressful to most people and when we get older it is overwhelming especially if there is no family to help out…having a great Senior Move Manager to help is so important to families and older people.

Next week I’ll be writing more about the Senior Move Management Industry and how it can help our seniors and their adult children…..