AGING IN PLACE

9 out of 10 seniors want to live at home. At AginginPlace.org, they strive to make that desire a reality for more people by helping seniors, their family members and their caregivers prepare their homes and their lives for successful aging in place.

There are many resources available on the site to help you with issues like:

- staying mobile
- maintaining your (senior) lifestyle
- taking care of a parent
- modifying your home
- finances
- legal resources

Click here to learn more.

INSTACART is a great alternative for seniors wanting to stay home.

With GoGo Grandparent,

Order rides, grocery delivery, pharmacy delivery, meals, home chores and more by calling their convenient phone number:

CALL 1 (855) 464-6872

RELOCATING YOUR PARENTS

As you've watched your parents get older, perhaps you have struggled with situations such as these:

You've travelled to visit your mother for the holidays, and found her refrigerator nearly empty, her bills unpaid and her house in disarray.
A neighbor has called you to report that your father was wandering in the street, unable to find the home he's lived in for 30 years.
Your mother has neglected to take her diabetes medications, severely compromising her health.
Your very independent father fell and broke his hip, making it impossible to navigate the stairs in his home.

If there is a decline in cognitive abilities as a result of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, or a shift in a medical condition that requires increased care, there is clear cause to be concerned about your parent's welfare. It may be time to consider a move to a safer environment. Click to continue reading.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Meals on Wheels Mesa County Covid-19 Response

Meals on Wheels Mesa County is dedicated to continuing service to the 1,500 seniors it serves annually. With that being said, there have been some changes:

Dining Sites: The majority of our sites are now closed to the general public. If you live on-site you are still able to receive meals through a "grab n go" service.

New Drive-Thru Option: With the majority of our sites being closed, we have opened a drive-thru at our main facility on Chipeta Ave. You must make a reservation by 4:00 pm the day before you want to dine by calling 970-243-9844. This service is open to any senior age 60 and above.

Home Delivered Meals: Are now being bagged up and left on door handles for a contact free delivery.

New Weekly Frozen Meals: Because of limitations in our kitchen, we're not able to provide a hot meal to everyone who wants one in this current crisis. We may be able to provide a box of 5 frozen meals that are specially designed to meet the needs of seniors.

New Partnerships: We understand that most of our seniors are unable to make it to the store. Because of that we've partnered with local food banks to provide a food box once a month when available.

Click here for more information or to sign up.

MESA COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING

A Link to Services for Older Adults and their Caregivers

Whether you are an older adult yourself, or a caregiver concerned about the well-being and independence of an older adult, The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is ready to help.

Area Agency on Aging's (AAA) were established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans aged 60 and over in every local community. The AAA plans, coordinates and offers services that help older adults remain in their home, if that is their preference, aided by services such as Meals-on-Wheels, homemaker assistance and other programs needed to make independent living a viable option. By making a range of options available through contracts with both public and private groups, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) makes it possible for older individuals to choose the services and living arrangement that suit them best.

Click here to learn more.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

If you're a senior interested in volunteering, consider the St. Mary's Foster Grandparent Program.

HOME ADDITIONS

Home Additions- To Permit or Not To Permit?

I was asked recently if I recommended getting a building permit when adding a home addition. This is an interesting question as it has short term and long-term ramifications.

Sometimes home additions creep up on us and other times they are completed at one time. Here’s what

I mean - when a home addition creeps up it is typically an evolution that happens over several years. For

example, a homeowner may have a patio that later gets screened in, then later is enclosed with heat and

cooling. Other times the addition is intentional from the beginning and happens all at once, such as

adding a garage or bedroom.

Regardless of how the addition happens, I highly recommend getting a building permit and here’s why.

Having a building permit ensures that the addition is done correctly, to current day building standards.

This helps to keep you safe and is necessary if you want to include the new square footage in the value

of your home.

“Oh, the cost!” you say. Yes, there is a cost for a building permit, but this cost is minimal as compared to

the value you will gain when you go to sell or refinance your home or the fine you could get if you are

caught building without a permit. Whether you need an appraisal for a refinance or you are selling your

home, and the new buyers are getting the appraisal, the appraiser will only include permitted square

footage for calculating the value of your home.

So, yes, I do recommend getting a building permit when adding onto your home. It will help ensure your

home is safe, eliminate the chance you could be fined and absolutely add to the value of your home.

Have other questions? Call me. I am here for you and happy to help answer your real estate

questions.

HOME UPGRADES

Home Upgrades for Aging in Place

I guide clients to make the best real estate decision possible to meet their current and future needs. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, I talk with many seniors that are considering growing older in their current home – also called “aging in place” or moving to a new home that will better suit their current and future needs.

Everyone’s situation is different and planning ahead for what you might need in the future can be hard. A good place to start is to talk with your doctor about how current medical issues may progress and make some basic changes for home accessibility can be a good start.

Safety and comfort are 2 goals for any homeowner that wants to stay in their home for as long as possible. I often talk with seniors that tell me stairs are a big mobility challenge and concern for both safety and comfort. There are several ways to make stairs safer.

According to Fixr.com, seventy percent of respondents said installing grab bars was the most common upgrade for making a home more accessible for aging in place. That was followed by elevators (39%), lever handles (35%), and ramps (28%). Additionally, elevators and stairlifts can help longer stair runs and nonskid floors and walk in showers can help improve safety.

Home maintenance is another safety and comfort factor. Often it becomes increasingly difficult

to care for a home or yard in the same way one has for all those previous years. Some seniors will hire professionals for yard and home maintenance while others find it emotionally or financially difficult to pay for services that they were once able to take care of on their own.

If you think you may want to make changes to your home or considering a move to something that better suits your lifestyle, I am happy to be your resource. I come alongside you or your loved ones to make the real estate buying and selling process enjoyable.

Grand Junction Senior Housing Resources