Tag : On the Move

So you’re a senior…and you’ve decided to sell the family home.

Whether due to necessity (financially or health-related) or simply because you want a smaller or more social place to live in, this can be an exciting time of transition. But it can also be incredibly emotional, stressful…and even complicated.

“I love listening to the stories of seniors’ lives…”

When you look to someone for advice—especially advice about a major life transition—you want to feel you can trust that expert.

That’s why we like to profile our senior living advisors as much as possible!

Get to know one of our newest advisors, the kind and caring Brenda Verch!

Do you know fact from fiction when it comes to retirement living – and how it affects seniors, caregivers, and family members?

There never seems to be a “right time” to move!

Especially when you or your family members are considering a life-changing transition to a retirement residence.

Let’s face it: most families experience some level of conflict from time to time.

But when faced with something incredibly emotional—such as figuring out how to care for an aging parent—that kind of family conflict can lead to arguments, resentment…and even giving up.

Consider all the things we need our eyesight for!

Most importantly: our eyesight can help protect us from injury.

Moving from one home to another can be stressful enough.

But that stress is amplified when the move involves a senior leaving their house—a place they’ve known and loved for decades—to enter a retirement residence.

It’s a question I hear all the time from Tea & Toast clients:

Can I afford to move into a retirement home?

Respite care. Short-term stays. Winter stays.

Gone are the days when Grandma’s only choice was to move into the first retirement home that had an opening.

Yes, there are still all the traditional facilities available. But they’re not like how you probably remember them from 20—or even 10—years ago!

If I were to put my ageing parent in a retirement home, my top three requirements would be…

That’s the question we asked recently on the Tea & Toast Facebook page.

Summertime is a fantastic time of year! Well, for most people it is.

Unfortunately, for senior citizens, the heat and sun can be dangerous…even life-threatening.

On Facebook recently, I asked people in Ottawa to share their biggest concern about moving a parent into a retirement home.

The most popular response went something like this:

“I worry that a retirement residence wouldn’t watch or care for my parent as well as I could.”

The very thought of moving to a retirement residence can be really intimidating!

I know this because, for 12 years, I’ve helped families find retirement homes and ease the transition for countless families and seniors across Ottawa.

I speak so often with seniors whose children are living out of town and whom they see relatively infrequently. When it comes time to make a decision for the betterment of the parent’s health, social and overall wellness, oftentimes the children feel they know the situation better than their own parents who are actually living the situation daily.

“Family Conflict can happen when family members have different views or beliefs that clash. Sometimes conflict can occur when people misunderstand each other and jump to the wrong conclusion. Issues of conflict that are not resolved peacefully can lead to arguments and resentment.” This and additional information on family conflict can be found at Better Health

It’s really hard to know how to talk to seniors about moving. How and when do you bring it up? What is the best retirement residence? What steps do you take to keep the discussion going?

Although a relatively new field, a Retirement Living Advisor, also known as; Senior Living Counsellors, Retirement Home Counsellors, Retirement Consultants etc. can be a valuable resource for seniors and their families.