My Senior Network

If you have a small amount of items you would like to sell, such as furniture, decor, clothing, accessories, and other household goods, a consignment store can be a good option. They will look through what you have and select what they believe will be likely to sell. They determine the price and take a percentage of the sale, typically half. Items that don't sell within a set timeframe can be picked up or they will offer to donate them. Some stores require an appointment, so call ahead before taking your items in. 

There are many donation centers that accept items that are in good condition.  Most centers will pick up your donations at your home, but you will need to schedule well in advance.  Donating provides funds for good causes while providing you with a tax write-off.  You can choose to donate to a center that benefits a cause you support. 

Depending on the amount of furniture and other items you would like to sell, an estate sale may be the best choice.  An estate sale company will have knowledge of the value of your items and negotiating skills to bring you the most money.  They typically have a minimum amount of value required in order to agree to conduct a sale on your behalf.  If you have only a few items of value, sometimes it makes more sense to sell on websites or contact independent dealers who will buy directly from you for an agreed upon price.  

Homeowner's insurance protects your investment and ensures that your finances aren’t ruined if something happens to your property.  If you have a mortgage, your lender will require you to carry an insurance policy.  It is important to understand your coverage and make sure it is adequate. An experienced insurance agent will be able to explain your policy and suggest the best coverage options.

A financial institution typically makes loans directly to you. If you choose to apply for a loan where you do your banking, you might be offered incentives as an existing customer. A broker does not lend money, but has access to multiple lenders to find you the best loan terms and the lowest interest rates and fees.

Moving

After you have had an estate sale, given away items to family members and donated unwanted items, the remaining items will need to be moved.  There are moving companies who deal with moving a few items and others that can move an entire home.  You may also decide to hire a Senior Move Manager who can take on the burden of the entire move including packing, unpacking and setting up your belongings in your next home exactly as you have them arranged in your present one.

Storage

You may need to temporarily place items in storage if you haven't settled on your next home or need to minimize items in your home before placing it on the market for sale.  One option is to do a self-storage unit where you take your items to a storage facility.  You can choose an outdoor unit or an indoor, climate-controlled unit depending on the items you are storing.  Another option is the rental of a portable storage container.  The container is delivered to your home and placed in your driveway.  You load the container with the belongings you want stored.  You can also have it loaded by movers. The container is picked up and stored at a facility until you are ready for its delivery to your next home.  

Junk-Removal

After you have had an estate sale and given away items to family members, you may decide it's easiest to hire someone to haul out the remaining items rather than deal with contacting donation centers.  There are junk removal companies that will sort through the items and work to keep as much out of the landfill as possible by taking items to donation centers or recycling them. Junk removal companies can remove an entire household of items, items from garages and basements or just one large item. 

When placing your home on the market, there may be repairs & improvements necessary to make it look its best for the market.  Necessary repairs may also be discovered after an inspection.  It will be important to have access to reputable and affordable tradespeople who can get the job done in a timely manner.  

There are many products and services available that may allow you or your loved one to continue living safely at home.  Home modifications, grocery delivery, transportation, in-home care are just some of the options that you may consider.  

Most elder law attorneys handle a wide range of legal matters including issues related to estate planning, health care, long term care planning, guardianship, retirement, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and other important matters.  As you enter retirement age, there are government benefits that may be available, but determining if you qualify for the federal programs can be difficult to do alone. Elder law attorneys are knowledgeable in all areas of government assistance available to seniors.

You can choose to pre-plan your funeral which allows you to specify your own arrangements while removing the burden it places on your grieving loved ones.  You can also opt to prepay your funeral expenses if you decide that makes sense financially.  Unless Medicaid requires you to “spend down” your own money to qualify for benefits, you may be better off planning ahead without paying ahead.  Your elder law attorney can advise you regarding which option is best for you.

Both palliative care and hospice care provide comfort. But palliative care can begin at diagnosis and at the same time as treatment. Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness.  If you are considering either one of these, not all companies who provide this service are equal.

In-home care services can help someone who is aging and needs assistance to continue living independently at home.  Services may include transportation, meal prep, medication reminders and bathing. They can also provide companion care and respite care.  These services can be provided a few hours a day to round the clock care.  

• Independent Living communities are aimed at adults 55+ who need little or no assistance with activities of daily living, but want to live within a community of other active residents.  These communities include dining, housekeeping, linen service, transportation, social activities, events and more!
• Assisted living communities usually provide residents with their own apartments or rooms, as well as some common areas. They offer around-the-clock supervision and a range of services, including meals, housekeeping and laundry, as well as assistance with personal care and help with medications.
• Memory care is a distinct form of long-term skilled nursing that specifically caters to patients with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other types of memory problems.

If you are looking to move yourself or a loved one into a senior living community, a placement specialist will assist you with locating one that fits your needs.  An assessment will be made at your initial consultation to determine your needs.  Whether it's independent living, assisted living or memory care, they have access to and are familiar with many communities throughout SE Michigan and can schedule and accompany you on the visits.