Geriatric Fiblets: The Ethics of White Lies
The term “geriatric fiblet” was coined at the 2000 World Alzheimer’s Congress as “necessary white lies to redirect loved ones or discourage them from detrimental behavior.” I have found the concept useful in analyzing my own actions as a professional senior move manager working with older adults. The senior move management industry is guided by a code of ethics that defines the values and principles of behavior for the profession. Developed in 2002 by the National Association of Senior...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
How Moving Can Save Your Parents Money
As a senior real estate specialist, I'm often approached by senior clients who say, “I'd like to move out of my home, but I don't want a monthly payment.” It's my job to remove that obstacle and help them make the move. To do that, I need to help my clients understand that even though they may own their homes outright, and even though they may not be writing out a monthly check to a mortgage company every month,...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
CCRC vs. Life Care: Which Contract is Right for You?
The burgeoning senior care market has introduced a slew of new concepts and terms that are easily confused. Many people believe, for example, that life care and continuing care communities are the same thing, and they use these terms interchangeably. However, life care is actually a subset of continuing care. While the offerings may look similar at a glance, don’t be fooled. Let’s take a look at the differences between the two, beginning with continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)....Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
When Things Can't be Mended
One of the most difficult aspects of packing is handling items that are fragile and have been previously repaired. These items are especially vulnerable to repeat damage, either at the point of prior repair or at another section. Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, these items break. I’ve thought about this issue recently: how some clients are especially fragile, like items that have been previously repaired, and sometimes the stress of moving pushes them to the breaking point....Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
Helping Parents Move Upwind
In sailing, the technique used to move upwind (or against the wind) is called “tacking.” Although tacking is actually a combination of vector mathematics and boat design, to most of us, it refers to the concept of making forward progress by zigzagging rather than moving forward directly. For adult children helping their parents transition from one home to another, tacking can be a very useful technique. I met recently with a woman in her early eighties. She suffered a...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
