Events
If you are an adult child of an aging parent, you owe it to yourself to explore the wide range of services and options available that address the needs of older adults - and you will do yourself (and your parent) a huge favor by exploring sooner rather than later. By taking a little time now to learn, you will save yourself lots of time if an adverse event attacks. You'll know who to call, what to ask, and what some other options are. Even if your parent is active and healthy, stuff happens. Age wasn't a factor when a young woman backed her car out of a parking space and into my mother - but my mother's age WAS a factor in her recovery and rehab from surgery to repair her broken elbow. So go to one of these events and get some facts and contacts.
Another resource for adult children is The New Old Age blog of the New York Times, widely considered to be the single best resource for information on aging services anywhere. Paula Span and other contributors explore the intergenerational challenges of caring for elderly parents.
Coming Events
January 12, 2012 - 'After the Holiday' Blues
AWARE (A Wake Association of Resources for the Elderly) presents a timely seminar. With the holiday season over, you'd think that those who dread the holidays and find it miserable would be happy... but think again. Loved ones are missed, bills come due, clothes are too tight, the weather isn't great, and there's not much to look forward to. Ellen Condelli and Linda Kendall of North Raleigh Counseling present a helpful and engaging program using humor, theories on happiness and the latest neuroscientific findings on aging. Don't miss this.
Join us Thursday, January 12 from 2 - 3 PM at Independence Health, 3909 Sunset Ridge Rd., Suite 103, Raleigh. Please RSVP to 919-544-4747.
Recent Events - just so you know
Caroline Farmer of the North Carolina Attorney General's office is an expert on preventing identity theft, and she is a captivating speaker. As keynote speaker at the Senior Resource Alliance of the Triangle Symposium: A New Path to Aging, she highlighted several effective and easy-to-accomplish methods to deter and recognize identity theft. Attendees could then choose three of nine breakout sessions on topics ranging from elder law to housing options. The Senior Resource Alliance is a network of professionals who provide services and products that help seniors and their families navigate new territory. The event was held March 12 at NC State's McKimmon Center, and attendees were asking when the next SRA Symposium would be. Looks like we'll be having another one next year. For more information about the Senior Resource Alliance and its members, visit www.SRATriangle.com
In mid-January I attended the seventh annual education conference of the National Association of Senior Move Managers in St. Pete Beach, FL. I've been to all seven, and every year I'm amazed and impressed by the caliber and passion of the people all over the country who do what I do for a living - not to mention the growth in this industry - NASMM had forty members when I joined in 2004, and now has over 560 - including some in Canada and Australia!. This year, Susan Campbell (of More Than Moving for Seniors, Inc. and Susan's Selections in Richmond, VA) and I decided to present a breakout session on a topic that's near and dear to our hearts: conducting successful estate and tag sales. Although I often give talks to local groups of people who are thinking of moving, this was my first time speaking to a jury - I mean group - of my peers, and I was quite nervous. I later found out that Brenden McDaniel was in the session - he owns Action Organizing Services in Milwaukee, but you might know him as one of the organizers on the first two seasons of Hoarders (the TV show that I sometimes make my husband watch so I can say, "See? It could be worse!"). Anyway, the talk went well, and Susan and I received a number of compliments - maybe we'll do something again next year.
On January 29 and February 12 I participated in Own a Villa Today presentations at Orchard Villas of Apex and The Villas of Wake Forest, respectively - these are neighborhoods developed by Cornerstone Homes with beautiful one-story condominiums that feature open floor plans that are intelligently laid out. To learn more about them, visit http://www.CornerstoneHomes.net