Senior Housing and Life Choices Archives - Senior Housing Options | Raleigh NC

5 Reasons You Need a Realtor to Sell Your Parent’s House

July 9, 2013 By Your Next Move

Unless you’re a professional house flipper or an experienced FSBOer, it’s not wise to try and sell your parent’s house by yourself. In today’s competitive housing market, where potential buyers have many options, it’s crucial to make sure your parent’s house stands out among the masses and you want to get the best price to help secure your parent’s long term financial and healthcare needs. Here are 5 reasons you should work with a Realtor to sell your parent’s house.

1. Price it Right. Knowledgeable, experienced Realtors know what the market is willing to pay for a home in your area. Your Next Move specializes in senior relocation and transition services and work with professional, results-oriented Realtors who will help determine a competitive cost analysis for your parent’s home. They also don’t just set you up with one Realtor, but two, who will provide you a price opinion on your house, then Your Next Move will review both options and help you select the agent who best suits your need. Realtors have up-to-the-minute access to market activity regarding prices, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties to help you avoid the dangers of overpricing, or underpricing, your parent’s home.

2. Marketing is Necessary. It’s not enough just to put a sign in your front yard; you have to treat your parent’s home like any other commodity on the market. Your Realtor does double-duty as a marketing representative, listing your house on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so hundreds of other Realtors have access to your home for their clients. They also host open houses and give you objective advice on home repairs and necessary upgrades, all to help improve the salability of the house. They also take advantage of trending social media outlets to promote your home like Twitter, facebook, and Pinterest.

3. Limit Your Liability. By going it alone, you may be opening yourself up to legal action if you unwittingly don’t disclose pertinent information about your property to potential buyers. Whether it’s crumbling foundations, environmental issues or other damage, a professional Realtor receives on-going training and certification, and are versed in the legality of disclosures that must be made to potential buyers.

4. Artful Negotiation. While it may be tempting to jump at the first offer and agree to a buyer’s contingencies, a Realtor is skilled in negotiating and can objectively help you navigate the Offer to Purchase contract without leaving any money on the table, unnecessarily.

5. Stay Safe. Hanging a For Sale by Owner sign in your front yard can also create safety concerns. Anyone can drive by, see your sign, and pretend to be a serious buyer, only to gain access to your home with ill-intentions. A Realtor meets with buyers upfront, often multiple times, and accesses whether they’re legitimate buyers with the financial resources to purchase a home before they ever bring them to view your property.

Your Next Move can help you locate the perfect senior housing for your aging loved one. Our team of relocation specialists are also with you through every step of the transition process including home sale, downsizing, estate sales and moving household goods.

This blog post is brought to you by the team at Your Next Move. If you are interested in further information you may contact us below. LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the most current communication on the subject of senior relocation. Please join our mailing list.

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition
Julie Kopetsky, President
www.yournextmovenc.com
919-601-8203
Julie.kopetsky@yournextmovenc.com

7 Questions to Answer with Elderly Parents

March 27, 2013 By Your Next Move NC

We all want to do the best and right thing for our Mom or Dad if they are showing signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. And if you’re working full-time, caring for your parent in your home during the day is virtually impossible.

Seven questions that give you direction with your parents and elderly family:

Are they having hallucinations, paranoia and delusions?
Are they reacting to small matters in inappropriate ways and having frequent emotional outbursts?
Do they experience altered vision perception?
Do they need assistance with all ADL (activities of daily living), which includes bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming and eating?
Are they losing the ability to communicate?
Have they lost any gross motor skills?
Do they have difficulty swallowing?

Answering these tough questions will help you search and find the right long-term care facility. We at Your Next Move can help you find that facility that cares specifically to patients with signs of Alzheimer’s.

What to look for in an Alzheimer’s facility:

Physical space: The facility should be big enough so your family member can move about, but it should also be safe. The ideal facility should have a circular design with an inner courtyard and greenery, and it should not have locked doors, dead ends or an array of intersecting corridors.

Consider resident population: Does this facility have a separate unit for Alzheimer’s patients or does it only admit these type of patients? The better choice for your loved ones may be the care that focuses with this affliction only because the staff should be well-trained for nighttime wandering and there will likely be quality onsite support groups and continuing education.

Quality of the staff: It is best to arrange a visit at varied times of the day and at night to observe how the staff interacts with the residents. Be sure to visit during meal times and see if the residents are happy and if the staff helps residents in the dining room. Are they respectful with the residents or do they treat them like children? Are they warm and friendly, always trying to accommodate, or are they less gentle in their approach? Also, assess how the staff reacts with an unruly patient.

At Your Next Move we are the experts for compassionate and sound guidance when you are planning for your elderly parents’ outside care. Doing your homework with us by your side will make the transition smooth and uneventful. Remember, we will help you every step of the way.

Contact Your Next Move Today to Help You With Your Next Move. We are there at your side.

This blog post is brought to you by the team at Your Next Move. If you are interested in further information you may contact us below. LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the most current communication on the subject of senior relocation. Please join our mailing list.

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition

Julie Kopetsky, President

5 Considerations When Selecting Parent Care

March 13, 2013 By Your Next Move NC

Sooner or later, a big decision takes place in every family. And when it does, a lot depends on it. Choosing the right residential care home for your elderly parents who no longer can live on their own is not easy. At Your Next Move we help ease this stressful decision-making process by asking questions you haven’t thought of, taking you to on-site visits and then using all of this information to find the best residential care home for your parents’ physical and mental well-being.

The typical residential care is a non-medical facility providing accommodations, meals, and supervision for persons over 60 years of age. The residents don’t need 24-hour nursing care, but do need help with daily activities. Since this is a non–medical facility, there is no requirement for RNs, LVNs or CNAs or any other medically–trained personnel, but many facilities have RN’s on-site.

The simple consideration of this type of change can often be overwhelming. Here are five “Must-Haves” to make your selection process easier:

The owner and the staff members of the facility should be knowledgeable, experienced and possess superior communication and customer service skills. When you visit these facilities, check to see how the staff interacts with the residents. If the interactions aren’t cordial, you’ve scratched one off of your list.

The staff to patient ratio is should be a low number. If the facility seems or is understaffed, then the residents won’t get the care they are paying for.

The facility should smell clean, and all rooms and common areas should sparkle as well. Look at the residents and see if they dressed and groomed for their respective conditions.

A RN should be available on-site at all times; or if not, is the RN on-site at set times? There should also be a clear plan for how medications are administered.
There should be a strong activity program to stimulate the residents’ minds and bodies.

We will always recommend five or so residential care homes for you to consider and visit. After our scheduled visits, you may want to do a few unannounced ones (during business hours) when you’ve narrowed your search to solidify your decision.

At Your Next Move we are the experts for compassionate and sound guidance when planning your parents’ future care. Do your homework with us at your side and we will work together to make the transition smooth and uneventful. Remember, we help you every step of the way.

Contact Your Next Move Today to Help You With Your Next Move. We are there at your side.

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition

Julie Kopetsky, President

www.yournextmovenc.com
919-601-8203 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Julie.kopetsky@yournextmovenc.com

Photo: Bigstock

3 Invaluable Tips for Triangle NC Caregivers

February 6, 2013 By Your Next Move NC

If you’re caring for your elderly parents here and around the Triangle, you may be an unintended target for depression or a host of other stress-related problems if you don’t take adequate care of yourself. Many caregivers fall ill to viruses and other infections and also have elevated blood levels that may lead to chronic health issues such as heart disease, sleep apnea and hypertension. It is a sobering fact that 80 percent of the long-term care in the United States is done by close friends and family. If you are a caregiver and family included in this category, you’ve probably given up enjoyable vacations, job transfer opportunities, hobbies, friends and even your own savings for your elderly parents and family members.

There are times when help and support are really needed. Your Next Move can provide assistance and support anywhere in the Triangle. You have to take care of yourself. It is essential. You’ll be in a much better position to take care of your elderly family when you are energized and focused. But many caregivers don’t want to ask for help because they feel that it’s their singular duty to care for the individual. Many believe no one else can do as good a job as they can. But not asking for help will often lead to your health and mental burn-out.

3 invaluable tips for every caregiver:

Hire an in-home aide for three hours a day, once a week: Caregivers need to make sure they are taking care of their backs (from the heavy lifting and carrying), and having an aide will help alleviate some of this extra physical stress.

Take proactive steps to stop neglecting yourself: Use the buddy system for exercise, eating better and social activities. The buddy system also works for chores around the house. Be specific with the friend and outline exactly where you need the help. Do you need to be driven to the gym? Do you need help clipping coupons, wrapping presents, or mowing the lawn?

Stop feeling overwhelmed: Always consider breaking the big “to do’s” into smaller parts. Schedule appointments ahead of time and tell yourself you will call the doctor for a mammogram or colonoscopy at a certain date and time. Writing it down is often great therapy. Plan on arranging care your elderly family while you run errands or pick up prescriptions. Put things into a day calendar.

Remember that asking for help is a show of strength, not weakness. Help can come in the form of neighbors, friends, loved ones, fraternal and alumni associations, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the local Center on Aging, community transportation services, and many more.

We can help.

Contact Your Next Move today to help you with these life changing transitions. We are there at your side.

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition

Julie Kopetsky, President

www.yournextmovenc.com
919-601-8203 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Julie.kopetsky@yournextmovenc.com

Photo: bigstock, freedigitalphotos.net

Care, Advice, and Support Options for Aging Family

November 20, 2012 By Your Next Move NC

You are home for Thanksgiving. And it is great being around family. But you notice that your parents are even more challenged than in past years. The moment might finally be here: your loved one’s issues might be Alzheimer’s or Dementia and they could need specialized care. Don’t wait to find advice and support as you consider this type of decision. It can take a little time to understand that change has come. It is time to explore all of your care options. Your Next Move here in the Triangle NC can help you with all aspects of this new chapter in care for your aging family. Here is some critical information you will find important:

The signs of a good Alzheimer’s care facility:

Flexible staff that can deal with challenging situations and behaviors
A structured daily routine that takes measures against the residents wandering
Your loved one’s individual needs are valued
Comfortable, familiar, and safe surroundings
A compassionate staff
Activities that help an Alzheimer’s patient succeed at familiar tasks such as clipping coupons or making lemonade
Outdoor activities, such as raking leaves or watering plants

Three types of Alzheimer’s care facilities:

In the U.S. over 5.3 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s while affecting the lives of another 10.9 million caregivers. Consequently, there are many facilities geared towards the care of Alzheimer’s patients.

Assisted living: Also called board and care, adult living or supported care, these facilities bridge the gap between living independently and living in a nursing home.

Nursing homes: Also called skilled nursing facilities or long-term care facilities, nursing homes provide long-term care to individuals who require ongoing nursing care and supervision.

Alzheimer’s special care units (also called memoir units): These are designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and other aspects of Dementia.

It is never easy to hand over the care of a loved one to someone else, but we are a company dedicated to assisting with senior transition. Hopefully the above information we have presented will make you feel more comfortable with the important consideration of assistance and process; we want you to make informed decisions.

Contact us today to help you with Your Next Move.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition

Julie Kopetsky, President

www.yournextmovenc.com
919-601-8203 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Julie.kopetsky@yournextmovenc.com

Photo: Your Next Move NC

Is Moving a Parent on Your Agenda?

November 6, 2012 By Your Next Move NC

Moving is one of most stressful events that anyone faces in life. And Baby Boomers can relate. This is especially true if you are thinking of moving your aging parents from the home they have known for decades. There is stress just in the consideration; but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Imagine someone else taking on the cleaning and decluttering work for you, so that your parents can soon relax and enjoy their new home with peace of mind.

Imagine someone who is nurturing, caring, and understanding of your parents’ doubts and fears about leaving the home they have so many memories of after 30, 40 or even 50 years.

Imagine someone who can advocate for you and your aging parents and can assure you of finding the right realtor to sell the home, the right mover, the right new housing, with whatever their specific needs may be.

Your Next Move in the Triangle NC area is the sole solution for moving your aging parents.

This first blog post is the beginning of both help and support for this type of situation in the Triangle region and across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the rest of North Carolina. In future posts we will showcase the different aspects and challenges of moving aging parents. We’ll feature posts on moving parents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, to posts on what to do with all of the stuff that has accumulated in your parents’ attics and basements, to convincing your reluctant parents that a new, smaller home is a safer choice than continuing to live in an older home with too many stairs.

We absolutely love solving problems for people, while at the same time making a difference in their lives. We have been doing so by helping people relocate to the Triangle area for more than 16 years.

Julie Kopetsky, President of Your Next Move has had a career filled with professional distinctions, as a Certified Relocation Professional and a Global Mobility Specialist. She is also a licensed Realtor having recently served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston, where she worked with clients who were relocating to the area in a new career opportunity. Before that she was the Director of Business Development for Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty.

In 2011, Julie formed Your Next Move, the organization that specializes in helping Baby Boomers select the right housing and life choices for their aging parents. Julie knows and appreciates the complexities and challenges of the moving process from having moved her own aging parents.

Let us help you succeed with moving your parents, so all of you can be comfortable and secure. Visit our site at www.yournextmovenc.com . Remember, you are no longer alone.

Contact us today to help you with your next move!

Your Next Move, Easing Your Senior Transition

Julie Kopetsky, President

www.yournextmovenc.com

919-601-8203

Julie.kopetsky@yournextmovenc.com