Over my 28 years in the real estate business, my senior clients have taught me much about living life. Some lessons exposed warning signs and others provided a direction or path to happiness and prosperity. I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful folks who have shared stories of happiness, and some of sadness. One common thread running through all of my clients is the strong urge to live a life of meaning and to feel needed by others.

I am amazed at the strength that so many possess when confronted with loss; loss of spouse, loss of health, and loss in some cases of needed financial savings. I wonder in so many cases how I would hold up to some pretty challenging pressures. I am convinced that those with these challenges do much better if there are a circle of family and friends giving strength and guidance. It is so important to maintain relationships with those who care about you most. Friends and family are the backbone necessary to getting through those tough times when it seems that your energy is being tapped by adversity. The lesson’don’t go it alone! Get all of the help and backing available. Put pride aside and accept help when offered!

The happiest senior clients I have seemed to be the busiest. They stay connected to life by helping others and staying active. Active can mean travel, volunteering, sports, walking, bike riding, religious involvement and so many other avenues available. I realize that good health is critical to many of these activities, but even compromised health can still offer many avenues for hobbies and giving to others. The lesson here is to stay in the game of life. Stay connected to others. Find ways to share your life stories with those who would love to be your friend. Again, too often I see pride and isolation standing in the way of happiness and fulfillment.

In summary, we all need to feel needed as well as our built in desire to connect with others. Isolation contributes to negative health issues as well as depression. Staying connected to family and friends is essential to a healthy and productive life. Being active through hobbies, sports, and volunteering will add years to your life as well as contribute to happiness and good health. Begin today and start to see the results. Stay in the game of life and you’ll see the positive results that so many of my senior clients enjoy!

I received a frantic call yesterday from a lovely 85 year young lady who was in desperate need of advice. She had been living in her home for that last 40 years. When she had moved in, her knees were working well and her eye sight was 20/20. She drove at night and had the home in tip-top shape. As the years went on her husband passed away and she was the captain in charge of the ship. She took over duties such as paying the bills and making sure the maintenance of the home was up to the moment, as they had always took pride in the condition both structurally and mechanically.

Over the last 10 years her body started to experience difficulties in her ability to navigate the stairs as her knees began to show signs of arthritis. She became less confident when driving at night. She became more anxious about security, as many of her trusted neighbors had moved on. What hurt the most is that many of her friends had (more…)

Some of the most important decisions we will ever make in our lives come at a time when we are least prepared to make them…or do they? Think about it. For many of you in your 20’s and early 30’s you may have decided on a life long partner, a career, bought your first home, decided to have your first child, buy your first car, or went into the military. All of those huge life altering decisions made when you had little data to go on. Many of life’s lessons hadn’t happened, and your savings (if any) were minimal. Some of you sought help from your parents, but for the most part, you just “winged” it! You had no guarantees of any of the above actions ever working out. You went with logic, but mostly your “gut”!

Can you imagine having to make this many crucial decisions today? As we age, our thinking process can become more intense and (more…)