Dr. Sandra Glahn

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Caring for Seniors? FYI

More and more of us in the "sandwich" generation are taking care of parents while we raise our kids. Several years ago, we helped my mother-in-law move from Missouri to Texas so we could keep an eye on her and make sure she got better care. At the time I wish we had known about www.newlifestyles.com. It's a web site where you can plug in your zip code and find info on senior housing, communities, centers, home healthcare, and other resources in your area.

Here's an example of just one of the many things you can learn from them: Some realtors are trained as Seniors Real Estate Specialists. They have gone through training to sensitize them to the unique concerns of senior Americans facing major financial and lifestyle transitions (think relocating, refinancing, and selling the family home). If your home is your life story after 30 years, it can be traumatic to let go, and it helps to have someone sensitive helping you. If you have a web-surfing senior in your life, why not pass along that URL?

P.S. They say 90 is the new 65, and I believe it. My mother-in-law started going out and married her 91-year-old boyfriend once she got settled in a new, welcoming community. He turns 94 this month.