This is a guest post by Karen Ho Fatt.

Winter is the season of treachery – dark nights, cold temperatures and slick surfaces increase the risk of injuries from falls and accidents. Indoors, the risk of fire goes up from heating sources, and seniors are three times more likely to die or be injured in a house fire than younger populations, according to MSN News.

This winter, make a plan for staying safe, warm and dry. You’ll enjoy winter more and reduce the risk of injury.

1. Prepare for Ice

One nasty fall can change your life, causing broken hips and months of rehabilitation. Install rails along porch steps and walkways, and buy generously-sized non-skid mats to keep ice in check.

Keep a bag of rock salt or gravel in your garage or on your front porch, as well as an ergonomic snow shovel. Better yet, make an arrangement with a teen to shovel your walks and driveway after any snow storm. Expect to pay between $10 and $20 for this service, which may seem like a lot until you consider the health costs of a fall. Twenty dollars to ensure your safety is actually a bargain.

Store outdoor tools and equipment, safely away in the shed or garage.

2. Practice Safe Winter Driving

The most common reasons for deaths during the winter are car accidents and hypothermia when drivers leave their cars after becoming stranded on icy roads. Pay attention to weather reports, and plan errands and outings around good weather. Stock up on enough groceries to last you at least one week, and keep a small supply of canned goods on hand. Some grocery stores offer delivery for a nominal fee or alternately use senior home care services to assist you. Use these services during bad weather, rather than risk an accident.

If you must drive, take a cell phone and use well-traveled routes that are more likely to be plowed. Drive slowly and avoid high-traffic times of the day.  In the wintertime I slow down to 20 km under the posted speed. As George Herbert once said, “Every mile is two in winter.”

3. Use Heating Devices Safely

Space heaters are a common cause of house fires during the winter. Avoid their use, or use them with caution. Turn them off before you go to sleep, and keep a 3-foot area clear around them.

Have your furnace serviced each fall before you turn it on. You may also be able to get a free inspection from your gas company so you may want to consider this prior to calling the furnace man.

If you call the furnace company, cost for this service is usually under $100 with seniors’ discounts, and will add years to the life of your furnace. Additionally, a heating expert can recognize serious problems, such as cracks in the system that may leak carbon monoxide into your home.

Wood stoves or fireplaces can put out a lot of heat, efficiently warming a smaller home and saving you money on heating bills. Use them carefully, though. Always open the damper on a wood burning fireplace and avoid stacking more than one or two logs in the fireplace at a time.

Don’t burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or charcoal. These materials can produce toxic fumes or carbon monoxide, and cause creosote build-up. Green wood is also a no-no. It produces a lot of smoke and little heat. Store firewood for six months to 1 year before burning it.

Have your wood fireplace cleaned at least every two to three years by a certified chimney sweep, especially if you use it frequently. Creosote, a flammable, greasy film, builds up on the walls of the chimney over time, and can cause chimney fires.

These precautions for winter won’t cost you money but will bring you some peace of mind during the season.

Author Bio: Karen Ho Fatt lives in the countryside of Alberta, Canada, and knows all about treacherous winters. To warm up your own winter, you can find a fire pit table patio set or a propane outdoor fire pit as well as safety information at her website.

PHOTO CREDIT: iStock Photo Jean Gill

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Winter Safety Tips That Won’t Cost You A Pretty Penny

Technorati Tags: driving, propane, safety, wood fire

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This is a guest post by George Gallagher

As 2012 approaches, many people will take time to sit down and think about the goals they want to accomplish next year, things they want to change and improve. If you’re in that number and your list of New Year’s resolutions includes improving your financial forecast, why not do it the SMART way?

What is the SMART Way?

According to an article in JS Online, SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. When you stop and think about it, those are exactly the qualities any good resolution should have. Let’s take a look at each of those steps individually.

Make Your Goals Specific

When your resolution is just to “improve my financial life”, you’re not being specific. You need to narrow that down into precise goals, like reducing credit card debt, starting or growing your retirement savings, or paying off $5,000 of your student loans this year.

Track Your Progress

When you have specific goals, you can measure your progress. When June arrives, you need to be able to see how much you have accomplished so you know if it’s necessary to tweak your strategy so you can achieve your goal by the end of the year.

Don’t Kid Yourself

If you set a goal that isn’t attainable, you’ve already defeated yourself. If your resolution is not to spend any money on new clothes this year and you’re a fashionista, you’ll never make it. A more manageable goal is to cut the amount you spent on clothing this past year by 25 percent. That allows you to indulge your passion for fashion and reduce your spending at the same time. Attainable and realistic are basically the same concept. If you set your goal too far out of reach, it won’t be long before discouragement takes over and you stop trying, so keep it real.

Create a Time Frame for Your Resolution

Unless you have a specific time frame for accomplishing your goal, it’s easy to put it off. Break that goal down into even smaller goals. Instead of saying you’re going to eliminate your past due medical bills by the end of the year, figure out how much you will need to pay each month to make that happen and then build it into your monthly budget. That way you get started heading in the right direction without procrastinating.

Add a B to that Acronym

The article at JS Online is an excellent one, but when it comes to financial resolutions, there is one addition you need to make. Instead of calling it a SMART plan, change it to a B SMART plan. The B stands for budget. You won’t be able to accomplish financial goals without one. If you’re unsure how to make a budget that fits your income, there are several websites that will teach you. One that is especially helpful is The 50/30/20 budget fix. That article clearly breaks down the divisions you need to make a workable, realistic budget no matter what size your income.

The majority of New Year’s resolutions end up forgotten and scattered like so much confetti after the big party on December 31. Don’t let that happen to your financial resolutions. B SMART and make it happen.

Author Bio: George Gallagher is a finance and education writer and blogger. He also has a knack for helping parents figure out their private student loans for their children.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Preparing Your Financial Resolutions for The New Year

Technorati Tags: goals, new year, resolution, SMART

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This is a guest post by Kimberly Wilson.

Let’s face it. As we continue the holiday season, more consumers are piling on more debt that they are already having trouble paying. It can be a tough situation because you want to make your loved ones feel special, but sometimes the seemingly best gifts can come at a high cost. Fortunately, it is more than possible to save money over the holidays and make your loved ones feel appreciated; it won’t even have to take a Christmas miracle.

Set Money Aside for Regular Expenses

Essentially what you’ll be doing here is finding out how much money you have to spend on gifts, travel, and entertainment. I emphasize focusing on your regular expenses first when doing this because they are overlooked surprisingly often during the holiday season. When budgeting for the holiday, you must take into account things like rent, groceries, and bills. Subtract that from your budget before considering holiday expenses.

Prioritize Big Expenses

Whether you’ve found the perfect yet costly holiday gift or that incredibly fun yet pricy getaway, odds are you will end up spending a good amount of money on at least one thing over the holiday. Pay very close attention to these possible purchases and choose them wisely according to your budget. Remember that the more big expenses you make, the less you will have to pay for smaller holiday items like decorations, nights out, and smaller gift exchanges.

Scrutinize Smaller Expenses

Once you have mapped out your large purchases over the holiday season, now you should evaluate your smaller purchases and find clever ways to save. For smaller gift exchanges, this could be looking for discounts or creating gifts from hobbies (great knitting skills are always appreciated in the holiday season … just keep the patterns and colors simple). Good cooking and photography tend to be very warming, tender holiday gestures as well.

One untapped source of cheap holiday gifts and decorations can be found inside thrift stores. While you won’t always find the sleekest items here, it is very possible to find some unique gems that can actually surprise and impress for a fraction of the department store cost. You may not find the perfect jewelry for your significant other, but you might find a warm or quirky gift for a friend.

Of course, beyond finding ways to cut gift or decoration expenses here and there, you should also diligently restrict purchases that you may not need. Try to make only the necessary purchases first. You can always get the cute decoration or expensive night out as your budget allows.

Sacrifice Normal Luxuries

Most people have things with which they treat themselves on a some-what regular basis. Maybe it’s a fancy night out, but it could be a more casual event like going out to lunch during work. Remember that any meal you are eating that you ordered out will cost much, much more than it would to make something yourself. Cutting back on small luxuries like that for a whole month can make a huge difference in your holiday budget

Byline:

This is a guest post by Kimberly Wilson. Kimberly is from accredited online colleges, she writes on topics including career, education, student life, college life, home improvement, time management etc.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season

Technorati Tags: Christmas, decoration, getaway, gift, luxuries

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This is a guest post by Tess Mathews

They say that the only thing constant in life is change and if you feel young and fit now, then it is likely to change as you age. It is one of the reasons why people are afraid of growing old. They are afraid of being cast out, of being sick and tired and lonely. You cannot do anything but accept the change, but there is one sure thing you can do – being brave and facing the life ahead.

If you are going to live in an assisted living facility, then you should understand that it is going to be one of the best things that can happen to you. You will be looked after well, given regular and proper meals and attended to by qualified doctors.

Most of the assisted living facilities offer freedom to the seniors. When you go living in an assisted living community then you don’t have to worry about getting confined in a room or an apartment and that you will not be able to get out on your own. Even if you are living there you can have a great time going out for walks in the parks and visiting the museums or the theaters.

Stay Healthy

To be able to do that you must try to keep yourself in good health. If you can prove to the authorities at the facility that you are quite capable of looking after yourself for a few hours each day, they will make arrangements for you to visit places.

It is very important that you retain your freedom, because when your sense of mobility is curbed you might never emotionally recover from it. If you have to depend on someone else to accomplish all the simple things in life, it might lead to depression. Nobody likes to give up on their freedom, even if they are living in an assisted living community.

Stay Fit

There are little things that you can do to keep yourself fit and healthy so you can never lose your independence. You must always exercise regularly – be it working out with some workout equipment or some simple warm-up kind of exercises – it’s just important that you do. It improves not only your health, but also your confidence.

However busy you might have been in your youth, it’s wonderful if you had allocated some time for your everyday workout; it’s easy to keep the impulse going. If not, no worries, do so now. It’s never too late to start something, even if it’s the dusk of life. And it’s always wonderful to start something.

Eat a well balanced and nutritious diet by keeping yourself away from fast food, cola-like beverages and oily dishes if you still love them.

Stay Free

Remember, it is very important that you maintain your freedom in an assisted living facility. Because, if there is one thing that we can bring with us and hold till the end of our life, it is our freedom. Enjoy your days in the facility; it is going to be fun.

Author Bio: Tess Mathews is a freelance writer. Apart from health and wellness related topics, she loves to write about anything that makes people’s lives better. She also assists her senior at home and recently bought her a mobility scooter.

Flickr image, courtesy of Owner,cobalt123

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Stay Free in Assisted Living Facilities

Technorati Tags: assisted facility, diet, exercise, freedom, independence

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This is a guest post by Pamela Walker

Whether it is a long term stay or a short term trip, when visiting popular venues, hotels can be an expensive proposition. Apartment rentals can often be the preferred choice for a happy and enjoyable stay.

Toronto is one of the happening places in Canada. Not surprisingly, accommodation rates are very costly. If you are on a look out for a luxurious and yet affordable apartment rental which is fully furnished, you must be familiar with the best hunting technique. Your holiday mood and thoughts of spending quality time with your family can quickly get spoiled if you end up getting a mediocre rental apartment.

Whenever you are travelling with your family, make sure that they will be comfortable throughout the vacation, because that is what holidays are all about. Words like enjoyment and relaxation are synonymous with vacations. Leave no stone unturned to make your trip one you will remember for many years to come. A careful choice among available fully furnished apartments can be the best gift ever for your family. Here are some suggestions to help you find the best apartment rentals for you in a hotspot like Toronto.

Set a budget for the vacation

Without setting a budget for anything you do, you always end up spending more than you wish or sometimes than you can even afford. It is best to firmly decide how much you wish to spend and look for a place accordingly. Internet accommodation searches are convenient and can often result in something that is affordable. Remember that staying in a hotel will always cost you more and an apartment rental is a less pricey option. One way of reducing costs is to choose to go on a multi-family vacation. Discounts may be available and it gives you an opportunity to spend more quality time with your family and friends.

Browse the Internet well in advance

Have a clear idea of what you are looking for while you are hunting for an apartment rental. Browse the Internet at least a month in advance to get the best deals. Businesses who are providing apartments on rent publicize the features of their facilities. Go through them carefully and contact the ones which suit your requirements. You can contact them via an e-mail or a phone call to get more details.

Check the accommodation personally or get a friend to do so

If you can pay a visit to your short-listed apartment rentals then you can avoid disappointments. Make sure it is up to the mark and will provide an enjoyable stay. Check carefully the area where it is located. It should be handily located for the places you wish to visit and should be at a place which is peaceful and serene, if that is your preference.

Negotiate the rate

When renting an apartment directly with the owner or via a broker, you must negotiate as much as possible. Make sure you have alternatives and be ready to walk away if your needs are not being met. To achieve the best rates, you may prefer online bookings, since there are many websites that offer attractive deals and bonuses. Don’t forget to check the local newspapers since they also often carry ads for rental homes.

You can be sure that whatever effort you put into hunting down the best rental arrangement will be time very well spent.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Apartment rentals for tourists

Technorati Tags: apartment, hotel, rental

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This is a guest post by Daniela Baker from CreditDonkey

Approximately half of all Americans die without a will. For those without one, the court steps in to divide up the property according to state laws. Because making a will should be a relatively simple process, this scenario can be avoided. You can create one through an attorney or on your own. Here are six important things to consider before making yours.

1. To Whom It May Concern – The people in your will are probably the most important aspect of this legal document. According to the National Caregivers Library, in the U.S. this includes your beneficiaries, executor, guardian of any children, and alternates in case the original people pass away or are no longer able to serve. List names, addresses, and relationship to all people in your will. Consult an attorney about any other possible requirements or concerns.If you wish to exclude anyone from your will, it can be tricky. You need to consult your attorney to ensure this is done properly.
2. In Perfect Harmony – The National Caregivers Library website also states that beneficiaries on life insurance policies, annuities, and individual retirement accounts should correspond with your current wishes.
3. Taxes: Life’s Other Certainty – There may be multiple taxes to consider depending on where you live. These taxes can affect the amount your heirs ultimately receive and have other consequences, such as the ability to keep land in the family. According to bankrate.com, in 2011 U.S. estates valued at $5 million or less are exempt from the federal estate tax. Estates valued more than this amount are taxed at 35%. Make sure you consult your attorney, insurance agent, and other appropriate professionals about the best plan for you and your heirs. You should remember to discuss with your estate planner how debt such as credit card debt is handled.
4. Seasons of Change – You may need to make revisions or even redraft your will after certain events. Talk to your attorney. Some of these events, listed in a New Mexico State University publication, include but may not be limited to:
   • Divorce
   • Birth of children
   • Death in the family
   • Accident or illness
   • Move to another state
   • Change in value of property
   • New laws that effect distribution of property
   • Death of beneficiaries, guardians, executors, or others in your will
5. Can I Have Your Autograph? – There may be certain requirements regarding the signing of your will, such as the number and age of witnesses. There may be a number of other requirements depending on the laws in your region. Remember to consult your attorney to ensure everything is done to make your will legal and valid.
6. For Safekeeping – There are a variety of places you can keep your will. Some of these options include in your own possession, in a safe-deposit box, with your attorney, on file with the probate or surrogate’s court (U.S.), or with a trust institution. There are pros and cons with each option, so consult your attorney before deciding upon the best place to keep your will.

Before you start, do not forget to include your full name and address and list full information regarding your assets, including those out of state (or out of country). This list is not exhaustive, but is meant to highlight a few important issues in hopes you will be better educated about this serious issue. Hopefully, this off-putting task should now be a little more tolerable.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

6 Things to Think About When Making Your Will

Technorati Tags: Executor, heir, probate, will

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There are a number of ways you can contribute financially to your grandchildren, from a cheque in a birthday card to a savings account. We’ll look at some of the ways you can contribute – with a few ideas to suit every budget.

Childcare

Grandparents can still make a contribution to their grandchildren without reaching for their wallet.

Many grandparents help with childcare. You can help by looking after your grandchildren for a couple of days a week – especially if their parents work – and you could be saving them $1,000s every year in childcare expenses.

According to the last US census figures, 30% of children under 5, whose mothers went to work, were cared for on a regular basis by a grandparent while their moms worked. Having reliable and free childcare can really help a working mom’s budget.

Donating childcare is a really affordable way to contribute if you’re on a budget too. Many people need help with their finances – and there are services out there that could help you with managing your budget and finances.

Gifts made by grandparents

You may like to give your grandchildren money as a gift on their birthday, in the holidays, or to help them with their savings.  Using voucher codes can save you a lot.

However, before making any kind of contribution, you should consider the value of your own assets and what you can realistically afford. Everyone would spoil their grandchildren if they could – but be realistic.

If you would like to help them prepare for college, you could consider a Trust Fund in their name.

Visiting your grandchildren

For those who live near to their grandchildren, it’s not so expensive to take a short drive to their house or pick them up from school. If you live in another state, you might only see them once or twice every year.

You could share the travel responsibility – so your family comes to you at the start of the year and you go to see them mid-year to share the travel costs.

If you really want to see more of your grandkids, and they live in another state, you could start a savings account to pay for the cost of flights to get them over to see you as often as you can.

They’re always welcome for a holiday – right?

Of course the best thing about being a grandparent is you get to be a part of a child’s life, but you don’t have the responsibility of raising them or being 100% financially responsible for them – so anything you do contribute is a bonus!

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Budgeting when you have grandchildren

Technorati Tags: childcare, grandchildren, visiting

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This is a guest post by Chris Johnson.

Thanks to the rising costs of almost anything and the bad state of the economy in general, more and more people are finding it tough to pay their bills. That’s to say nothing of being able to save money for a “rainy day”. Seniors are especially susceptible to those issues because most senior citizens are on a fixed income. Let’s face some facts. Costs are going up. However, the fixed income that seniors are receiving is not. So, whether you are a senior citizen yourself or you are just caring for one, you need to take action. Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can do to cut down your energy bills.

In Winter Months:

In the winter months, your primary objective should be to keep the house draft-free. Your heating system is going to be working hard as it is. You don’t need to make its job more difficult. Some simple ideas include:

• Check to see that your heating system is functioning properly before winter hits.
• Change air filters when they need to be changed.
• Caulk around all of your doors and windows.
• Purchase Energy Star windows, storm doors and storm windows.

Storm windows can actually reduce your energy/heat loss by up to half. That can make a huge dent in your energy bills and keep your heating units from having to work extra hard. So, that is definitely an important step in making your home energy efficient.

The thermostat is also important. Make sure that you get a programmable thermostat. These days, you can even set your thermostat to lower the temperature at times when you aren’t home. Also, be sure that your thermostat is not located near any heating ducts, doors, windows or appliances. Otherwise, heat or drafts could influence when the thermostat triggers.

Water Heating Tips:

Another area where you can save in the winter months is water heating. Your water does not always have to be hot. You can use cold water for things like dishes and laundry. You can also get a cover of sorts, which some people refer to as a “jacket” for your hot water heater. That will keep it insulated and make it more energy efficient.

In Summer Months:

In the summer months, your primary concern is keeping your house cool. There are a number of ways to do that.

First of all, you need to make sure that your air conditioning ducts are in working order and your filters are changed regularly. Any leaks or clogged filters could add to your energy consumption by 20% or more.

It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to cool your house when you aren’t home. So, always put your thermostat up to a high number, such as 85, when you go out. Then, when you come home, put it back to a temperature you feel comfortable with.

You also need to be careful of how you cook in the summertime. Any cooking at all can really heat your house up, but obviously you do have to eat. So, one option is to simply grill outside. An outdoor barbecue can be fun for the whole family and much more energy efficient than using your oven.

Finally, another good option, if you happen to own a toaster oven, is to use it more often in the summer. A toaster oven can do a lot of things that a regular oven can do, but in under half the time and with a lot less energy spent. Also, it is much easier to clean your toaster oven than to try to clean your regular oven.

Author Bio:

Chris Johnson is an avid energy conservationist and writer. He is also the publisher of Toasterovenguide.com, which is a website devoted to helping consumers save energy, especially using small kitchen appliances, such as toaster ovens. Toasterovenguide.com allows consumers to compare prices and features on anything from the best toaster ovens like Delonghi toaster ovens to Black and Decker toaster oven models. Chris’s mission is to help consumers make great choices and save both energy and money. In his spare time Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and finding new ways to preserve the planet for his children and future generations.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Senior Savings Tips – Cut Back On Energy And Save Money

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As CTV pointed out back in May, the Rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  

Now more than ever, Canada’s rich are getting richer while the poor get poorer and the middle class stagnates, according to the latest census data released May 1 by Statistics Canada.  Between 1980 and 2005, median earnings among Canada’s top earners rose more than 16 per cent while those in the bottom fifth saw their wages dip by 20 per cent.

Now the Vancouver Sun points out that this particularly affects seniors who are left behind as the rich-poor gap widens in Canada.

This is based on a study released by the Conference Board of Canada, a business think-tank.

Among other findings, the study showed the number of low-income seniors — a disproportionate number of whom are women — has been on the rise since the 1990s.

While low income can be measured in various ways, the report said 9.6 to 13.3 per cent of the overall Canadian population could be considered low income in 2009, a situation that has been worsening since 2007.

British Columbia is near the top of this trend, with about 13 per cent of its population low income. Newfoundland had the highest number of low-income people and Nova Scotia came second.

Vancouver was far ahead of all other large Canadian cities, with 16.5 per cent of its population struggling with low incomes.

It’s part of a bigger picture that shows a widening gap between Canada’s richest and poorest citizens as you can see if you go to what the Conference Board describes as a Hot Topic: Canada Inequality: Is Canada becoming more unequal?  July 2011

The Key Messages in the report run as follows:

• Income inequality in Canada has increased over the past 20 years.
• The richest group of Canadians increased its share of total national income between 1993 and 2008, while the poorest group lost share. Middle-income Canadians also lost share.
• Although the gap between the rich and poor widened, Canadians in the poorest income group still saw their income levels rise, albeit minimally.

The full report has some really hot topics within it.  Here is just a sample

Why are the rich getting richer?

Most gains have gone to a very small group of “super-rich.” To understand this, we have to look in more detail at the top quintile group—the top 20 per cent of Canadians. For this we need a different data set, one that provides more information on this group of super-rich. In a study for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, researcher Armine Yalnizyan uses tax file data to track the richest 1 per cent of Canadians; that is, those whose income was higher than 99 per cent of Canadian tax filers. She found that this group—the 246,000 people whose average income was $405,000—took home almost a third of all growth in incomes from 1998 to 2007, a decade that saw the fastest economic growth in this generation.

The phenomenal growth in incomes of the super-rich is not due to the assets they own. Yalnizyan points out that, while it is true that historically the super-rich relied mostly on unearned income from assets, “the income of the richest 1 per cent is due mostly to the lavish sums they are paid for the work they do."

Reading that is enough to make all those seniors living below the poverty line really angry.  One can only hope that the Governor General’s goal to make Canada a Smart and Caring Society will begin to have an impact.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Rich get richer, poor get poorer

Technorati Tags: poverty, rich-poor gap, super-rich

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This is a guest post by Claire Bradshaw.

Seniors often find that the house seems to grow larger and become less manageable as they grow older. Advancing years can make tasks that once seemed easy much more difficult, and housework and home maintenance may eventually become a great stressor to elderly people. For these reasons people often begin to think of downsizing their homes in their later years.

Other reasons for considering smaller, more convenient housing when the children have left the nest include the following:

• Rising financial needs
• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Desire for more simplicity and less clutter
• Need for adaptive equipment or easier accessibility
• More convenient location for basic necessities
• Lower property taxes

Seniors who are thinking of downsizing their living area should remember that any decisions about new living arrangements should be made with their changing physical needs in mind. The following checklist of questions might be helpful to seniors who are actively searching for the best location in which to enjoy their later years:

• Is the house being considered located within walking distance of their pharmacy, doctor’s office, grocery store, and church?
• Is the hospital nearby?
• Is public transport readily available?
• Is the lawn small, and is the landscaping easily controlled?
• What will the heating and cooling costs be?
• Is the home close enough for family members to visit frequently?
• Are the doorways wide enough for wheelchair or walker access, should they be needed in the future?
• Is there a walk-in shower?
• Does the house have plenty of lighting, both inside and out?
• If there are porches, are they accessible by ramp?
• How safe is the surrounding neighborhood?

Many people feel that seniors should not consider purchasing a home on more than one level in case of mobility issues in later years, but if the house fits most of their other important requirements, the problem is easily solved by installing a stairlift. This can be purchased new, but economical second hand stairlifts are also available from reputable suppliers.

Safety is probably the most important factor in deciding whether a house is suitable for those entering their golden years. Most people know that doors should have deadbolt locks, but the smaller aspects of safety are often overlooked. For example, the texture of the flooring is quite important. Slippery surfaces can be a real problem as balance becomes less stable, and a fall can be of grave concern to older people. Finding a way to reach higher areas of the home is also problematic, so low kitchen surfaces, cabinets, and appliances are very helpful.

Although finding the perfect home may be difficult, downsizing can certainly result in many benefits. Seniors who are patient and take the time to find the right home for their personal needs will find themselves excited about what the future holds and may also lengthen the period of time that they can live independently.

About the Author: Claire Bradshaw enjoys writing on topics relating to senior living. She writes for Stairlift Advisor and believes that a home adapted to their needs can help seniors continue to enjoy their lives to the full.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Tips for Seniors Downsizing to a Smaller Home

Technorati Tags: downsizing, independence, safety

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