Senior Living • August 4, 2022

Exploring Medicare

by Tracy Heller

Medicare and Medicaid have been a mystery to many. Until we begin to reach the age where it matters to us or our family members, most of us don’t take the time to research and explore the program and it’s options. Recently, I was contacted by a representative from RetireGuide. When I explored RetireGuide, I found a lot of useful information about retirement planning and Medicare. This sparked my interest. For those curious about Medicare, this blog post was created. I have also included a link to information on Medicaid which will also apply to many. I’d like to start with a little bit of history. The History of Medicare– The Medicare program was signed into law in 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that led to Medicare and Medicaid. The original Medicare program included the Part A (Hospital insurance) and Part B (Health insurance). This was the original Medicare. Over the years Congress has many changes made to Medicare including who is eligible, expanding benefits, and adding the prescription coverage benefit known as Part D. In addition, The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was created in 1997 to give health insurance and preventive care to nearly 11 million, or 1 in 7, uninsured American children and the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought the Health Insurance Marketplace, a single place where consumers can apply for and enroll in private health insurance plans. If you are interested in a brief video describing the system please see the video below provided by CMS– The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For more information on Medicaid, please see Medicaid

My goal is to educate my readers. I am always on the lookout for interesting information that will make us better informed and prepared for the future. I hope you found this information useful.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your real estate needs.

www.hellersells.com

I am a Licensed Realtor in both Ohio and Kentucky. I work with buyers and sellers of all ages. In addition, I have earned the Designation of Seniors Real Estate Specialist and have a Masters Degree in Social Work.

I have not verified any of the information contained in those documents or websites that were prepared by other people.

Photo by Rodnae Productions

Senior Living • April 27, 2022

Caregiver Stress

by Tracy Heller

Caregiver Stress

This blog post is for all the people going through life stresses associated with caregiving.

As a CABR Seniors Real Estate designee, I am trained to help my clients prepare for housing transitions for their senior loved ones. My background as a Masters Level Individual, Couples and Family Therapist coupled with my SRES designation lends itself to this specialty in the world of real estate.

I find that the clients that seek me out for this type of work are dealing with many types of stress. They are often faced with very busy schedules, care of children young and old, and the stress of caring for loved ones that are beginning to make decisions about their future living situations. Clients often reach out because they need help developing a plan to address these issues. My expertise is helping them navigate their particular situations, beginning the work of starting conversations with their loved ones, preparing their loved ones current homes for the marketplace-downsizing-organizing-donating, looking through the many housing options available in their communities and providing valuable resources to help with the process.

You can find many articles related to Seniors in my blog, A Real Estate Guide, that address each of these steps. https://www.hellersells.com/guide

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Caregiver stress is real

This quote from the Caregiver Assistance Network is a window into the stress of caregiving.

“Nearly one out of every three people in the United States are caring for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend. Many of them need resources to learn how to take care of their family members, as well as themselves, in order to avoid isolation, burnout or illness.”

Please see the following resources available for caregivers

https://www.help4seniors.org/programs-services/caregiver-support

Do you frequently help an older loved-one with housekeeping, grocery shopping, errands, meal preparation, transportation, paperwork, or personal care (bathing, getting dressed)? If so, you are one of more than 65 million Americans who provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend.

Many caregivers do not identify themselves as such. They tend to see themselves as just doing what they are supposed to do as a spouse or child. However, they are more inclined to seek help and become more skilled if they identify themselves as a caregiver.

Council on Aging’s Caregiver Support Program can help. The program provides one-on-one support for family or volunteer caregivers.

The program works to:

Reduce caregiver stress, burden and injuries
Increase caregiver confidence and knowledge
Improve the quality of care
Help caregivers balance their lives and caregiving responsibilities
Provide respite care (time off/away for the caregiver) in an appropriate, safe environment (not available in Clermont County)

Program qualifications

To qualify, the caregiver or care recipient must be at least 60 years old and the caregiver must live in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton or Warren counties. There is no age requirement for family caregivers who provide care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction.

For more information, review the Caregiver Support fact sheet or

Call Council on Aging at (513) 721-1025 or (800) 252-0155, Option 2.

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AARP provides helpful information in the link below

*For information on Caregiver Burnout and Ways to Cope with Stress- See link below provided by AARP.

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2019/caregiver-stress-burnout.html?CMP=KNC-DSO-CAREGIVING-SelfCare-10905-GOOG-CaregiverBurnout-Exact-NonBrand-ENG&ds_rl=1288354&gclid=CjwKCAiAgvKQBhBbEiwAaPQw3CJpqDwVgTGEgmabRb3R0xU2Q7RKZ2sPPCcojK713GhlWthTzN0TFBoCAvkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Cleveland Clinic Resources are also available on their website

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9225-caregiver-burnout

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As I discussed above, caring for our loved ones can be challenging but there are resources out there to help.

If you are feeling the effects of caregiver stress and want to seek help, you can also seek out a counselor or join a caregiver support group. You don’t need to feel alone. There are so many people that would love to connect.

CAREline (513) 869-4483 – a helpline providing resource information, referrals and support.
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2021/support-groups.html
https://www.help4seniors.org/programs-services/caregiver-support

Please feel free to reach out to me any time. https://www.hellersells.com

Photo by MART PRODUCTION

Senior Living • January 13, 2022

What Type of Home Matches Your Vision of Retirement

by Tracy Heller

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist designee, I help people develop a real estate plan. More and more adults now care for their parents or loved ones while supporting children of their own. Many decisions need to be made around housing options. I am here to discuss the many possibilities and help families with housing transitions. There are many resources available that can help make the process go smoothly. Always feel free to reach out to me. I am here to help. The article below posted by SRES provides useful information as you begin to prepare.

What Type of Home Matches Your Vision of Retirement?

Often, retirement is a time for significant life transitions. For example, does your current home match your future dreams? Many people use this time to upsize, downsize, or move to a new destination.
A real estate professional who has earned the SRES® designation, like myself, can be a valuable partner on your journey. They understand clients’ unique perspectives over the age of 50 and can help you find the right fit, depending on your priorities.

Which category best describes your interests?

1. Focus on Family

If family plays an extensive role in your life, you’ll probably need space to accommodate them. That might mean an extra bedroom or a play area for weekly grandchild visits. Or a multi-generational floor plan that carves out a living suite for an adult child’s family—or yourself.

2. Travel and Taking it Easy

Perhaps home is where relaxation is the name of the game, and it’s easy
to travel because the property “takes care of itself.” In this case, look for a home that minimizes maintenance and landscaping chores, perhaps focusing on townhomes or condos with homeowners’ associations.

3. Social Butterfly

If you thrive on social interactions, an age-restricted community may be an excellent fit. Often, they offer a full schedule of activities and events where residents can easily make new acquaintances and build
relationships.

4. Staying Put Moving is hard work!

If you want to minimize moves, focus on finding a “forever” home that will continue serving your needs if your health and mobility falter. Many buyers age 50+prioritize one-floor living and aging in place amenities.

5. Eating and Entertaining

Maybe you love cooking or hosting gatherings. In this case, prioritize a home with adequate entertaining
space indoors and outside. And if you view retirement as a time to let your culinary skills shine, make sure your next home also includes the kitchen of your dreams.

6. Still Working

If you aren’t ready to relax into full retirement or need to continue working for financial reasons, make sure your next home can accommodate remote work (a dedicated office, quiet location, etc.) or is near appealing, in-person job opportunities.

7. Happy Hobbyist
Will retirement provide more time to devote to a favorite hobby—or to tackle new skills? Make sure your
home includes space for your pursuits, such as a woodworking shop, a painting studio, or a crafts room.
Outdoor enthusiasts may need room to store large equipment, like a fishing boat.

This information is provided by http://sres.com
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Discuss these and other housing preferences with me, your SRES® designee.

I can help you make the
most successful transition to your next home!

https://www.hellersells.com

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

I have not verified any of the information contained in those documents that were prepared by other people.

What Type of Home Matches Your Vision of Retirement

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