“There’s no place like home,” Dorothy says at the end of The Wizard of Oz, after she wakes up safe and sound in her bedroom in Kansas. Many people share Dorothy’s sentiment about their own homes. No matter how much I enjoy travel, I always look forward to returning to the comfort and familiarity of … Read more

“Planning for a crisis” may sound contradictory, but as we age it becomes practical and essential. While many of us hope to remain healthy and independent, unexpected health events can and do happen. Preparing ahead makes those challenges easier to manage for both seniors and their families. A recent conversation with a friend highlighted this … Read more

Picture a retirement community designed for maintenance-free living and whole-person wellness: personal trainers, a fully equipped fitness center, yoga and meditation sessions, saltwater lap pools, and more. Add on a bistro and coffee shop, a gourmet chef using local ingredients, nature trails, a library and computer center, continuing education classes, opportunities for community projects, and … Read more

A serious health condition often forces patients and their families to make difficult decisions about treatment, comfort, and quality of life. Two terms commonly encountered in these situations are palliative care and hospice care. Although both services focus on comfort and quality of life, palliative care and hospice care apply at different points in an … Read more

It’s that time of year again—tax season. If you’re thinking about moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also called a life plan community, there’s an important tax detail to consider: many new CCRC residents can qualify to deduct part of their entrance fee and monthly fees as medical expenses. CCRC tax deductions CCRCs … Read more

For the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a near-normal season with 9 to 15 named storms. Of those, 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), and 2 to 4 may develop into major hurricanes (Category … Read more

Can where you live influence your health and length of life? Recent research suggests it can. Previously I’ve written about “Blue Zones”—regions with unusually high numbers of centenarians. A study from Washington State University (WSU) examined social and environmental drivers that may help explain why people in some places live longer than others. WSU’s analysis … Read more

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet,” Juliet says in Act II, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet. Still, words and names do shape perceptions, and many modern seniors react negatively to the term continuing care retirement community. Many Baby Boomers picture octogenarians playing … Read more

Many people hesitate to move to a retirement community because they worry about downsizing. That worry is understandable, but it’s only one factor in a larger decision older adults should weigh when considering senior living options. The “too big” home Across the U.S., demand for housing outpaces supply, pushing home prices and rents upward while … Read more

Over the past months since COVID-19 changed daily life, I’ve presented dozens of webinars for people exploring retirement communities across the country. One of the most frequent questions during Q&A sessions concerns tax deductions for entry fees and monthly fees charged by continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also known as life plan communities. It has … Read more