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How To Find Affordable Senior Housing

A few years ago Miranda M. became a widow. After a short time her grandson (her only available relative) persuaded her to move across several states to be closer to him.

He located a nice retirement apartment where meals, housekeeping, and transportation are provided. By using her small Social Security income, and funds left by her loving husband, Miranda was just able to afford her rent and basic living expenses.

She didn’t much like taking all her meals in the community dining room, so she continued to fix some of them in her own kitchen.

She reluctantly accepted the help of housekeeping for the heavy cleaning. But, as she said, “I need to keep busy. If I can’t make my own bed and dust around I feel like a useless slug. I intend to keep doing for myself just as long as I can get up out of this chair.”

But for one unforeseen disaster, Miranda and I never would have met, and she would have happily lived on in her sunny apartment.

You see, disaster struck because Miranda lived too long.

Both she and her grandson had counted on Miranda dying before her 85th birthday. It made perfect sense, they thought, as her family was not generally long-lived.

Her sister and brothers had all passed away at relatively young ages, as had her parents. Miranda figured she would be long gone before her money ran out.

There was only enough left to cover two more months in the retirement apartment when Miranda’s grandson called me.

What was she to do?

Her monthly income of under $900 wasn’t enough to pay for rent, utilities, food, and her medications in the least expensive apartment he could find. He asked me to find her a place in a Medicaid nursing home.

Well, Miranda certainly wasn’t nursing home material.

There was nothing wrong with her mind. She could fix her own meals, and she could keep up her apartment (with a little muscle help). She really had no medical needs, and wouldn’t have qualified for Medicaid and nursing home care even if she had wanted to.

Which she certainly didn’t.

Her only real problem was lack of money (and a grandson who wasn’t any better at planning ahead than she was).

After talking with her doctor and the manager of her apartment to confirm that she really was capable, I set out to try to find a “Section 202″ apartment.

Section 202 housing - named after the section of the federal legislation authorizing it - is rental housing specifically for people over the age of 62 who have incomes under 50 percent of the area median income.

According to HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average Section 202 resident is a woman in her 70s with an annual income of less than $10,000.

Section 202 residences are built and run by private, non-profit groups who have received loan incentives from HUD. HUD is not involved in day to day operations. Rents are calculated according to income, and rental assistance funds pay whatever balance remains.

Luckily for them, Miranda and her grandson live in a large metropolitan area. There are always more options in a larger town. But somewhere between 20 and 25 percent of Section 202 funds have been set aside for use in non- metropolitan areas, so these apartments aren’t only found in big cities.

Hunting for a Section 202 apartment can be labor-intensive. When an apartment becomes available it rarely stays empty long. Often there are lengthy waiting lists.

The first piece of business was to telephone every apartment complex on the Section 202 list (see below for the web address to get a list). I verified that they were still participating in the program, and asked whether they had any vacancies.

Frankly, I didn’t expect a “yes” to the vacancy question, but it never hurts to ask.

Lo and behold, and miraculously for Miranda, there actually was a vacancy in an older building near downtown. Because it’s not in the pretty suburbs it isn’t as popular as some of the others. For our purposes, it was a palace and a kingdom all in one. Beggars couldn’t be choosers!

If there hadn’t been a vacancy, Miranda and her grandson would have had to visit each apartment complex and place her name on every waiting list. Sometimes the wait can be as long as 2 years or more, so I don’t advocate waiting as long as Miranda did.

Along with her application form, Miranda was required to give the apartment manager proof of her income (a Social Security statement or a pay stub). She was asked about previous landlords who could vouch to her suitability as a tenant. She was asked to provide copies of her pharmacy bills, as those expenses are taken into account when the rent is calculated. This particular apartment manager also wanted a statement from her doctor that she was truly independent.

If she had planned on visiting multiple places, Miranda would have taken along several photocopies of all her information so she could leave it everywhere she applied.

This is where having someone to come along is invaluable. The job can be overwhelming and exhausting for an older person.

If she hadn’t found this affordable place, Miranda probably would have had to move in with her grandson (NOT a happy thought for either of them), or find a little private room to rent in someone’s home, or try to find someone looking for a roommate. I was ready to try whatever it took to keep her off the street.

Because time was short Miranda had to take what was available. She has since put her name on the waiting list at two other apartments that are a little nicer and closer to her grandson. The great thing about Section 202 apartments is that you can move whenever and wherever you wish - depending of course on the terms of the lease you have signed.

To locate a directory of Section 202 housing in your state, go to http://www.hud.gov/directory Choose your state in the upper right corner. From that point on you might have to search around a little for “renting,” because the information seems to be in different places on the state pages.

If you want to talk with someone in a HUD office, click on the web address below for a directory of offices: http://www.hud.gov/directory/ascdir3.cfm

If you, or someone you care for, is over 62 and on a limited income, Section 202 housing can be a lifesaver. It’s very important to plan ahead, though, because these apartments are popular.

If you have concerns about finances becoming a problem in the future, start NOW to investigate your options. There’s nothing more frightening than outliving your savings - - ask Miranda.

About The Author

Molly Shomer, LMSW is “Head Coach” of The Eldercare Team, and a dedicated advocate for those who are caring for elderly adults. Please visit her web site at http://www.eldercareteam.com for more elder care articles and important resources for caregivers. “Eldercare News You Can Use,” the bi-monthly newsletter, is also available there. Write to her at: molly@eldercareteam.com; mshomer@eldercareteam.com

Exercise Walking For Seniors: Preventing Foot Problems

Exercise has a very important role in the general health and the quality of life of everyone, but especially in seniors. Seniors who walk tend to look younger, sleep more soundly and have fewer visits to the doctor. Walking for 30 to 60 minutes four to six days a week will help improve osteoarthritis and decrease the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Walking is the top recreational sport for seniors.

Although many seniors may be scared to start an exercise program because they are worried about injury, the health benefits of exercise outweigh the risk of injury. Walking is considered one of the best forms of exercise because it’s safe, cheap and easy. Unfortunately, foot problems can prevent seniors from starting or continuing with a walking program. Follow these tips to help avoid foot problems when walking:

1. Choose the right shoe. Make sure the shoe is supportive and bends only at the toes. The shoe should also be stable from side to side. If you can twist the shoe or fold it in half, it is too flexible. The shoe should have enough wiggle room for the toes, yet be snug enough to keep the heel from slipping.

2. Buy shoes in the afternoon. Feet swell during the day and it is better to fit your shoes at this time. The only exception to this rule would be if you always do your walks in the mornings. Make sure your foot is measured at the store to obtain your correct size. Feet change size over time. Most feet lengthen and widen over the years, increasing the shoe size. Don’t assume you’ve always been the same shoe size.

3. Start slowly with an easy pace. Try a short walk of 15 minutes and gradually increase the time each day.

4. If you haven’t walked before, make sure you start on a flat, soft surface. A great surface to start on is a level, dirt path. Don’t jump into climbing hills until you build some endurance.

5. Warm up before walks. Gentle stretching before and after walking can improve circulation and prevent injury. But, don’t over stretch. If you haven’t stretched before, be careful not to over do it. This can lead to injury.

6. Avoid walking in bad weather. Cold, wet weather makes surfaces slippery and hard and decreases visibility. Muscles can become tight and the feet can become numb, increasing the chance of injury.

7. Examine your feet after the walk. Look for areas of irritation, red spots, blisters or areas of swelling. Self- treating can turn a minor problem into a major problem. Consult a podiatrist if a problem persists.

8. Avoid cotton socks. The white cotton socks you’ve been told to wear all these years are not appropriate for exercise walking. Synthetic or wool socks will help wick moisture away from your feet as you walk. This will decrease your chance of fungal infections, excess rubbing or blister formation.

9. Walk in well-lit places. The darker the trail or road, the more difficult it is to see and the higher the chance you will have of tripping, falling or twisting an ankle.

10. Don’t walk through pain. As soon as you notice a foot problem, stop walking. If you continue walking with an injury you could be making the problem worse. If you feel it’s necessary to continue your exercise program, try using a stationary bike while you give your foot a rest. If a few days of rest does not resolve the problem, see a podiatrist.

Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. To learn more about Dr. Dobrowolski and her book visit http://www.skipublishing.com. For information on foot products to keep you walking, visit http://www.northcoastfootcare.com.

Inside the walls of a bankrupt Nashville radio station, Dave Ramsey took his seat behind a mic.

As a guest on a local program, he proceeded to answer a few financial questions over the air waves. Low and behold, the phones started lighting up—a rare occasion that prompted the station to ask Dave if he was interested co-hosting a show. They couldn’t afford to pay him a dime, but it would be fun and give him a opportunity to push that little book he had written, Financial Peace.

In a nutshell, that’s how “The Dave Ramsey Show” began 15 years ago. Some of you have heard or read this before. For others, you may be completely new to selling Dave Ramsey, and until now knew little about him. In either case, it’s always good to have an answer when a client asks, “Now who is this Ramsey guy? What’s his story? How long’s he been in radio?” And even more so, knowing a bit of his story helps you understand what makes Dave tick, and how that can translate to bringing on a great advertiser.

In the show’s infant stages, listeners knew it as “The Money Game” (becoming “The Dave Ramsey Show” in ‘99). But Dave’s degree in finance wasn’t what gave him an edge in offering compassionate, yet stern, advice toward the average joe’s money woes. It was the fact that he’d been there himself, rock-bottom bankrupt, just a few years before. An entrepreneur at heart, he was a real estate millionaire at age 26. But the high roller rug was soon yanked out from under him. Too many short-term real estate loans resulted in financial ruin, and Dave lost everything by age 30. Long story short, he vowed to never borrow money again. He’d take a common sense approach to his personal finances. It would be “God’s and grandma’s way of handling money.”

Dave was counseling folks one-on-one and selling his self-published book out of the trunk of his car, when he hosted his first radio show in 1992. In 1996, “The Dave Ramsey Show” gained its first affiliate in Oak Ridge, TN, and launched itself into the world of syndicated talk radio. To this day, “The Dave Ramsey Show” has always been independently owned and syndicated. Every affiliate clear has been scraped and clawed for, and serving our affiliates is of utmost importance. Now as the show approaches its 15th anniversary, it has grown to 320+ affiliates, equaling about 3 million listeners each week.

In the last few years, The Dave Ramsey Show has grown tremendously, and Dave himself becoming more of a household name in many cities. As he puts it, “We’ve been doing this for 15 years, day-in and day-out, and suddenly we’re an overnight success.” This may be how some people see it, people who don’t realize the long road that Dave and The Dave Ramsey Show have traveled.

In addition to the success of the radio show, Dave has also written a handful of New York Times bestsellers and does regular national media appearances on MSN, Fox News, CBS’ The Early Show. Dave’s Financial Peace University has gone from teaching 5 families his financial principles on an overhead projector, to a class currently offered nationwide in companies, churches, community groups and military bases. Last year alone, 120,000 people across the country graduated from this 13 week course.

Contact: Amy Severson
Affiliate Relations/ Local Sales Specialist
The Dave Ramsey Show
1.877.410.3283 ext. 178
fax 615.620.6340
http://www.daveramsey.com/

The main factor in selecting wine is the rate at which you are going to buy. Secondly on what occasion you are going to buy wine, Whether it is for a party or friends or to take home. If you are hosting a party then go for Red and White Wines which are safe.

If you are going for dinner with somebody else then you have to decide what food you are going to take, whether it is red or white meat, Spicy or Less Spicy, Vegetables or fruits.

Red wine goes with Red Meat and Sauces while White wine is best suited for White meat such as chicken, Fish or Pork.

Easy way to select wine

Nowadays there are ratings available for product out there. So one of the easy way to select a wine is to find its ratings.

Where does one look to find wine ratings?

The easiest place to find wine ratings is to check online. Do a simple search online. The search will reveal many pages dedicated to wine. By checking the wine ratings on these sites, you should be able to get a good idea of what bottle you’re looking for.

Check for other factor like….

If the wine is going to be shared with food. If so, make sure you’re getting the right blend for the food you’ll be eating. For instance, if you’re going to be eating Italian food, red wine might be your best choice. So check the wine ratings and read up on the various blends so that you can make a good decision the next time you’re searching for that special occasion.

Types of Wine

There are four types of wine. They are Red, White, Pink (Blush), Champagne. Most of the people prefer either red or white.

Difference between red and white wine

The main difference between red and white wine is that Red wine contains Grapes skin, Seeds and stems and these red wines are heavier and more complex. So for beginners it is always advisable to go for white wine because they will be sweeter and milder.

Usually finest wines in Europe are called by their geographic locations but nowadays wines are named after the grape varieties such as Cabernet-Shiraz.

How to taste a Wine?

Some of the tips to taste are as follows;

1) Use clear Wine Glass. The Glass should be bending inwards in the top so that the funnel will be seated correctly and you can enjoy the taste without spilling.

2)Pour a little wine in the glass, if you are trying varieties of wine then start with lightest such as white wines and then to heaviest such as light red to more darker red wines.

3) Always look at the color of the wine. This will help you to hold the glass either with the napkin background or as a whole.

4) White Wines will gain color as they age while red wines will lose color.

5) Swirl the wine glass in a circular motion which will help to aerate the wine and release vapors so that you can smell the wine.

6) Then bring the glass edge and smell the wine because wines’ charm is in the smell than in taste. This will help to enjoy the various aromas of the grapes.

7) Now you can take a sip. Just Sip don’t’ swallow. Keep the wine in the mouth for few seconds and then swallow.

Enjoy the taste of wine!

Read more articles by: Mark Robert
Article Source: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=239378&ca=Food+and+Drinks
Article published on April 01, 2008 at Isnare.com

What is more stressful than arranging your travel tickets, finding a hotel for your trip, and packing your bags? Today, internet travel sites make all that simple and fairly stress free. The most nerve wracking part of the trip happens well before you leave: trying to figure out who will care for your pets!

Among the choices available to you are commercial cat and dog kennels. A clean, well run facility is indeed an option. But the average pet would prefer not to be caged in a noisy environment, far from home, and packed with strange animals. Wouldn’t it be nicer if they could just stay home? Of course it would. Perhaps the neighbor kid would be willing to let the dogs out, feed them, and clean the litter box. Sounds great right?

But what happens when that neighbor kid is asked out on a date, breaks up with his girlfriend, or must stay after school? What happens is your pets might not receive the scrupulous care and attention you would give them.

The simple answer to these problems is to know your community’s professional Pet Sitter. What separates a professional from the random person who watches pets? The keys are: integrity, attention to detail, commitment and a deep love for animals. The best pet sitters are also bonded and insured by professional associations such as Pet Sitters International. This group provides educational resources and insurance to pet sitters to make sure that you and your animals receive the best care…as good as they would get from you!

If you hire a pet sitter who is not insured and bonded, you’ll have no way of knowing whether you have just turned your house and beloved pets over to an honest person. Bonding protects you against loss and theft from unsavory characters. Professional pet sitters want to offer you the best reassurance that they will treat your home and your pets just like you would.

The best pet sitters also study pet health and safety. I operate a pet sitting business in my own community, and I have studied with the Red Cross by taking their Pet First Aid course, and by taking the Red Cross certification. If something should happen, professionals like me would know how to best help your pet, and when to call for veterinary assistance. Will the child next door be equipped to handle an emergency?

Moreover, pet sitter do more that just feed and walk your animals! We also make sure they have quality human time, whether it be cuddling, playing fetch in the yard, or a long walk around the block. You don’t even need to go on vacation to hire a pet sitter. If you work long hours, we can make a mid afternoon visit to be sure he get’s a walk and a potty break.

Along with all that, while you’re away from home, a good pet sitting business will also bring in your mail and your newspapers, water your houseplants, and turn your lights on and off. You’re not only getting pet sitting…you also get a vacation security service as well.

All in all, it pays to know the professional pet sitters in your community. Use the internet to find bonded and insured professionals. Then invite them over for a brief interview and introduction. The next time you need to leave home, you can leave your pets behind with no worries.

About the Author:

Laura Parkin is a Certified Professional Pet Sitter. She is a member of Pet Sitters International, and is certified in Pet First Aid by the Red Cross. Visit: http://www.bartlettpetsitting.com.