The worst part of my business is that I sometimes have to say “Good-bye” to my favorite clients. In the past several weeks, I have had two favorite clients pass away, and one move out of state to be closer to her son. Today, I am going to share a…
Chicago Senior Living Advisors Blog
Without Andrea Donovan Senior Living Advisors, It May Be Too Easy To Make the Same Mistake Twice
My clients were a very pleasant, alert, 90 year old woman and her son. The son had been gainfully employed by a major corporation and had been transferred to a state out west. He liked the new location very much and remained there once he was retired. His mother had…
The Costs of Aging: Medicare’s Inflation Rate
In this month’s newsletter, I share with you advice from my colleague Renee N. Duba, a certified financial planner with Sonder Private Wealth Management. Inc. In a recent article about the impact of inflation on purchasing power, authors at Sonder observed that, in 1916, nine cents could buy a quart…
Should You Invest Money or Work Into Selling a Senior’s Property?
After I have completed the task of finding the perfect senior living option for a senior loved one, many of my clients are faced with selling the senior’s property. I have asked my colleague, Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Roz Byrne, to offer advice on that subject: It’s an age-old…
Never Underestimate the Power of an Unlicensed Caregiver
My client is a 72 year old, Eastern European woman who had been living in an apartment. She ambulated with a walker. She is diabetic, suffers from anxiety, and has difficulty with her vision. She had contracted an infection in her back due to a fall and had refused to…
What Are The Consequences Of Your Untreated Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can lead to auditory deprivation, dementia, and emotional problems. I have asked my respected colleague, Audiologist Kelly O’Malley, to share some facts about each consequence: Auditory Deprivation: When the hearing nerve and the area of the brain responsible for hearing are deprived of sound, they atrophy. Microscopic hair…
Discussions With Families Who Have A Member With Huntington’s Disease Proved To Be Enlightening
At the request of the Illinois Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, I was recently asked to give a presentation at their annual meeting on, “How to choose a nursing home”. Had I been asked to speak about how to find a nursing home for a person with…
Here Are Some Money Saving Tips For Seniors From The IRS
Being older CAN have its advantages. Among them are these potentially money-saving tips from the IRS, for those of you who have not already done your taxes. If you and/or your spouse are 65 years old or older, you can get a higher standard deduction amount if you do not…
Dance is Good Therapy at Any Age – Especially for Seniors
While “age 55 and older” seems to be the general definition of an American “senior,” I have never allowed my age to deter me from enjoying two of my favorite activities: tap and jazz dancing. As a senior living advisor and former part-time children’s dance teacher, I am pleased to…
A Child Faces Financial And Emotional Costs When Caring For An Elderly Parent. Is This You?
The child of an elderly loved one will undoubtedly face terrible stress when trying to care for him/her. My respected colleague, Kurt Hjelle, owner of Safe At Home Health Care, a non-medical home care agency specializing in live in caregivers, does a wonderful job of describing the realities of caring…