Retirement Living News

December 2006

HEADLINES  (Click on headline to read story)

• Study Finds Majority of Boomers Plan to Stay 
  in Current Residence and Remodel
• Florida's Property Tax Bill Forces Unpleasant Choices for Many
• Social Security Administration Warns Public About E-mail Scam
• Former Insider Offers Tips on Choosing a Nursing Home
• Assisted Living Rates Increase Slightly in 2006
• New Book:  Learning Later, Living Greater

Archive of Past Issues                          New Retirement Communities

NEWS STORIES

Study Finds Majority of Boomers Plan to Stay in 
Current Residence and Remodel 

Key findings from the largest, most comprehensive study ever conducted of baby boomers and mature customers show that a majority of those 50 and older want to stay in their current homes for the foreseeable future and plan improvements or a remodel during that time. Life events common to the 50-plus population - retirement, the birth of a grandchild, caring for an elderly parent, an adult child moving home - often are triggers for projects to improve home comfort and functionality in anticipation of spending more time at home enjoying hobbies and entertaining friends and family. 

The study, sponsored by Home Depot, was conducted by New York-based Focalyst, a joint venture between AARP Services Inc. and Kantar, a research and consultancy firm. It gathered data from more than 30,000 consumers from the Baby Boom generation and older, as a way to gain insight into the housing preferences and home improvement needs of these potential customers. "This is a dynamic consumer group with a wide range of interests and needs, and we want to enable them to make the most of their home regardless of life stage," said Roger Adams, the home improvement retailer's vice president of marketing. 

Key findings for consumers 50 and older include: 

• 60% expect to live in their current residence during the next five years. 
• 65% plan to remodel or improve their homes. 
• 42% of all home improvement projects will be done by outside contractors.
• 77% believe that how their home looks is an important part of who they are. 
• 73% say that the kitchen is their most important room. 

Home owners of any age can benefit by incorporating innovative designs into their home improvement plans, Home Depot says, creating not only a stylish environment reflecting their lifestyle, but also a safe and comfortable home for years to come. The following are home modification suggestions for two key areas of the home - the kitchen and the bath. 

Improvements in the kitchen: 

• Under-cabinet task lighting to brighten countertops and reduce eye strain. 
• Pull-down shelving to improve pantry access.
• Slide-out drawers that eliminate the need to twist or bend for pots and pans. 
• Elevated dishwashers to reduce stooping or bending. 
• D-shaped cabinet and drawer handles that are easier to grasp. 
• Anti-scald devices to reduce the risk of hot water burns. 
• A 36-inch countertop height to reduce back strain and promote easier access. 
• Adjustable countertops for added flexibility and more convenient access. 
• Softer, natural flooring to reduce back and foot strain during periods of standing. 

Improvements in the bath: 

• Motion-sensing faucets for those with arthritis. 
• Sinks and vanities placed at a comfortable height. 
• Lever handles on faucets and doors.
• Smooth counter edges to prevent bumps and bruises. 
• Strategically placed grab bars in the shower to reduce the risk of falling. 
• A 17-inch toilet height for maximum ease and comfort. 
• Bath and shower chairs for extra comfort and convenience.
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Advertisement

Veterans Obtain Help Through the VA

December 7 is a day that will forever remain a part of American culture and should be celebrated for all those individuals who lost their lives and the subsequent lives that were lost during an ensuing world war.  For those veterans who fought there were many uncertainties at the war's conclusion, much like today's veterans.  Luckily for the proud servicemen today they are able to purchase a home with a VA Home Loan  provided by the government.
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Florida's Property Tax Bill Forces Unpleasant Choices for Many

Welcome to Florida. The state long touted for sun and cheap taxes has become a place where hundreds of thousands of winter residents pay disproportionately higher taxes than Floridians. Snowbirds who don't have children in local schools and who use government services only during winter months often pay four times more in property taxes than their neighbors who live year-round in virtually identical homes and condos. Residents of other states often pay the largest share of taxes in resort communities, but they have no say in electing those who set their tax rates. 

Critics say the result is a tax structure that encourages fraud and penalizes those who have long been an economic cornerstone of the state: visitors. 

Though the Census Bureau does not track second homes by state, economists from the University of Florida estimate about 670,000 people own vacation homes in Florida. Many feel gouged by the state's two-tier tax system. 

Eleven years ago the state legislature passed a Save Our Homes cap which curbs a home's assessed value. Starting with the tax year after a property owner qualifies for a homestead exemption, the home's assessed value cannot increase more than 3 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, per year. The homestead exemption shaves $25,000 from the taxable value of a Florida resident's primary residence. Gov.-elect Charlie Crist has suggested doubling that to $50,000. However, an increase in the homestead exemption would only help existing homeowners and new home buyers. It would do nothing for non-homestead properties. 

As residents are quick to point out, that's not a curb on taxing or spending. Local governments and taxing districts set tax rates that determine what the final tax bill will be. That means in years of soaring property values -- as Florida has seen recently -- taxes also soar unless the tax rate is significantly reduced. 

There are a number of inequities in the Save Our Homes program. 

• Landlords, commercial property owners, winter residents and second-home owners -- none of whom qualify for a Save Our Homes cap on assessed value increases -- have seen their tax bills double or triple in recent years.
• Those stuck in their homes because they're protected by the cap fear moving to a new home that will cost thousands more in taxes. 
• People who recently moved or built a house pay thousands more in taxes than they did on their old houses, while neighbors who moved in years ago pay far less. 

The legislature failed to pass a bill this year to allow homeowners to transfer their Save Our Homes cap when they buy a new home, but many homeowners are clamoring for it to happen. Many can't afford the property taxes to move to a different home because homes are assessed at full market value when they're sold. 

The older (empty-nester) residents with a bigger house than they would normally need would like to sell their home and downsize but economically it's not in their best interest. And conversely, for young families that are growing and need a larger home they cannot afford the taxes. 

If legislation allowing the portability of the tax cap should pass, it will do little to help others who already bear a larger tax burden: first-time home buyers and those who can't qualify for the Save Our Homes program, such as commercial property owners, landlords and owners of second homes.
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Social Security Administration Warns Public About E-mail Scam

Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, and Patrick O'Carroll, Jr., Inspector General of Social Security, issued a warning on November 7 about a new email scam that has surfaced recently. 

The agency has received several reports of an email message being circulated with the subject "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update" and purporting to be from the Social Security Administration. The message provides information about the 3.3 percent benefit increase for 2007 and contains the following "NOTE: We now need you to update your personal information. If this is not completed by November 11, 2006, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely." The reader is then directed to a Web site designed to look like Social Security's Internet Web site. 

"I am outraged that someone would target an unsuspecting public in this manner," said Commissioner Barnhart. "I have asked the Inspector General to use all the resources at his command to find and prosecute whoever is perpetrating this fraud." 

Once directed to the phony Web site, the individual is asked to register for a password and to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as their Social Security number, bank account information and credit card information. 

Inspector General O'Carroll recommends people always take precautions when giving out personal information. "You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information," O'Carroll said. 

To report receipt of this e-mail message or other suspicious activity, individuals should call Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) at 800-269-0271. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 866-501-2101). A fraud reporting form is also available online at OIG's Web site www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.
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Former Insider Offers Tips on Choosing a Nursing Home

The January/February 2007 issue of AARP The Magazine contains information on how to select a nursing home for a loved one. The article is written by Karen Westerberg Reyes, Editorial Projects Manager at the magazine. She spent three years as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman assisting consumers with questions and concerns about California's long-term care facilities. From her actual on-site experiences, she offers 10 important tips for those seeking to select the best facility. 

1. File an appeal to buy yourself more time. About half of all nursing-home admissions follow at least a brief hospital stay, where you may get as little as 24 hours' notice to find a facility. If the patient is on Medicare, tell hospital administrators you want to appeal the discharge. This will automatically give you two extra days to check out the nursing homes in your area. Be sure to use all the resources the acute care hospital has on hand-social workers, nurses, doctors, administrators, anyone who is willing to answer your questions and give you information. 

2. Get the list. Begin your search for a nursing home with the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116). This agency will put you in touch with your local Area Agency on Aging, which will give you a list of nursing homes in your area. It also will provide contact information for the local long-term care ombudsman. Ombudsmen aren't allowed to recommend one facility over another, but if you ask them specific questions about staffing, continuing problems, and administration turnover, they will answer. 

3. Look close to home. Once you have a list of facilities, start with the ones nearest your home. It's not only more convenient for you, it's also almost always a guarantee that your charge will be well cared for. That's because nursing home staffs are keenly aware of the patients who get regular visitors and, because they don't want any complaints, they tend to bestow just a bit more care on those patients. 

4. Pop in unannounced. If your first visit is during regular business hours, don't make an appointment-you'll get a better idea of how the facility is run. Just walk in and ask for the administrator, who should be on site. If not, ask for the next person in charge to show you around. Be sure to ask about the ratio of caregivers to residents or seek a copy of the staffing schedule. Do you smell urine, feces, or other bad odors? Also, pay special attention to corners and windows: these are often the first places where shoddy cleaning shows up. 

5. Go to the bathroom. Any restroom in the public areas will do. Sure, evaluate the overall cleanliness-but what you really want to check out is the hot water, the lack of which is a common complaint in a lot of nursing homes, especially larger ones. 

6. Look for residents-in the right places. If you see them in activity areas, dining rooms, and outdoor areas, that's good. If you see them being changed, dressed, or toileted, it means the facility doesn't value their privacy-or dignity. Also, look for restraints being used on the residents-things like wheelchair trays, vests that keep patients sitting upright, or other devices that restrict movement. Although restraints may be temporarily necessary in a medical emergency, better nursing homes work to meet residents' needs using restraint-free methods. 

7. Check out the food and drink. Ask to see the kitchen where the residents' meals are prepared. A good nursing home will have no problem with this request. (In fact, most will invite you to have a meal in the dining room with the patients.) Is the kitchen clean? Does it smell good? Are dry goods properly stored on shelves off the floor? Ask to see inside the refrigerator. Is the food covered? Also find out the following: Is there a licensed dietician on staff? Is there a list of patient food allergies and dislikes on record? Is fresh drinking water easily accessible for residents? Dehydration is a special risk for nursing-home residents. 

8. Chase the paper. All long-term care facilities must provide their most recent state inspection survey (Form 2567). The report lists the most recent violations found by state inspectors. Even the best of nursing homes can have problems sometimes, so read the report carefully, weigh the severity of each problem, and question the administrator about how the infractions have been corrected. 

9. Join the residents. All nursing homes are supposed to support both family and resident councils-groups that work to ensure proper care and treatment of all residents by communicating concerns and needs with facility managers and ombudsmen. There should be a schedule of these meetings posted. Ask to sit in on one and you'll get a sense of what's going on within the facility. Ask questions. You'll get frank answers. 

10. Come back-again and again. Once your charge is admitted, make sure there is a patient care plan on file. This document, required for all patients, includes an outline of care requirements including dietary needs, medications, and rehabilitation directives. The most important thing you can do is to visit often, to make sure the patient's care plan is being followed, and to consistently monitor his or her care. In short, be vigilant and remember that these facilities are where people live and they should offer as many home-like amenities as possible. Never hesitate to speak up. It's your right. 

When conducting research to select a nursing home, it is helpful to know how a facility fared during a recent inspection, especially with regard to deficiencies or complaints. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains a data base called Nursing Home Compare that will help you in your research. http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/longterm/state_guide_to_nursing_home.html 

Here are some other resources to help you choose a nursing home. http://www.feddesk.com/freehandbooks/1216-4.pdf http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/pdfs/NursHomeChecklist.pdf http://www.cfmc.org/consumers/consumers_nh.htm
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Assisted Living Rates Increase Slightly in 2006

Assisted living costs in the U.S. continue to rise, though moderately, according to a new report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, based in Westport, Conn. The private pay rate for an individual at an assisted living facility averaged $2,968 per month, or $35,616 a year. This is a 2.2 percent increase over 2005 and a 17.6 percent increase from 2004. 

According to the 2006 MetLife Market Survey of Assisted Living Costs, rates range considerably by region, with North Dakota the lowest ($1,742 monthly) and the Bridgewater, N.J., area the highest ($5,197 monthly). The survey found that about half (43 percent) of the facilities reported that they provide dementia care for residents, with 23 percent reporting that the additional fee for this care ranges from $750 to $2,200 monthly. 

"While there was a relative stabilization of prices last year, assisted living continues to be costly since it is not covered by Medicare and most other medical insurance," said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D, director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. "For those in need of care and supervision who cannot manage at home, but who do not need the level of care provided in a nursing home, assisted living is becoming an increasingly popular option." 

The survey was conducted by telephone in 87 major markets in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To view the complete report, click here. 
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New Book: Learning Later, Living Greater

Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your "After-50" Years, is the book that will introduce people over 50 to the ideas and benefits of lifelong learning. It will challenge them to become involved in meaningful new avenues of productivity: educational programs, travel, community service and more. 

The author is Nancy Merz Nordstrom who directs the Elderhostel Institute Network for Elderhostel, Inc., North America's largest educational organization for older adults. The co-author is Jon F. Merz, a professional writer whose credits include several novels published by Kensington Publications Corp. 

Learning Later, Living Greater will help older adults realize that lifelong learning can be a health club for their minds, their bodies and their spirits. It will be the guidebook for transforming their after-work years into a richly-satisfying period of personal growth and social involvement. They will actively "live" their retirement.

While there are countless other books that cover the subject of retirement, none addresses, in-depth, the vital aspect of lifelong learning. Learning Later, Living Greater thoroughly explores this topic. The book contains the latest in scientific research, useful information and suggestions, resources, interviews with other experts in the field, and inspiring first-person accounts of how lifelong learning has enriched lives. It also answers questions like: 

• Why is lifelong learning important for the aging brain? 
• How does lifelong learning help older adults create fulfilling lives for themselves and others? 
• What and where are the new and innovative lifelong learning programs? 

Lifelong learning has the ability to create lasting and meaningful change in people's lives. This book is the catalyst for that change. It will help people realize that their later years have the potential to be the most exciting and most rewarding period of their existence. To order a copy from Amazon, click here. 
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