Press Release: Michele Moon and Lisa D'Aloise to Speak at National Federation of the Blind Convention in Orlando

For Immediate Release:

June 20, 2014

Orlando Senior Housing Experts to Speak at National Federation of the Blind Convention

Orlando, FL: Central Florida senior housing experts Lisa D'Aloise and Michele Moon of Orlando Senior Housing and the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty will be among the panelists and speakers at the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Orlando July 1 to July 6, 2014.

D'Aloise will be among the experts on the panel entitled "Empowerment: Options for Senior Living". That discussion will take place between 1-4 pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at Salon 20 on Level 2 of the Rosen Centre Hotel and Orange County Convention Center. Conversation will focus on whether seniors should "Age in Place" and find assistive care as needed, or move into senior housing. Other panelists include Jennifer Cochran of Visiting Angels, Rachel Alvarez of the Alvarez Law Firm, and Patty Antony of Elder Advocates. Attendees will discover what to learn before moving and what questions to ask.

Meanwhile, Moon has been invited to speak to leaders of the National Federationof the Blind at 2:30 on Thursday, July 3 during the session "Knowledge is Empowerment: Seniors Division." She will provide an overview of the challenges faced by seniors during a late in life move and educate them on the process, allowing those leaders to better share the information with their membership and local chapters of the NFB. Her address will also take place in Salon 20 on Level 2 of the hotel and convention center.

"Lisa and I are honored that the National Federation of the Blind has asked us to help educate so many people during such a large, national convention," said Moon. "It's a natural part of our philosophy of being of the utmost service to - and working as advocates for - seniors who need to transition to a new phase of housing. Obviously, seniors who also suffer from vision loss face an even more distinct challenge, so we're excited to do what we can to help them prepare for the process."

D'Aloise and Moon specialize in real estate services for adults 55+ in the Orlando area. Michele is a Senior Real Estate Specialist of the National Association of Realtors and both she and Lisa are Certified Senior Housing Professionals of the Seniors Real Estate Institute. Michele also serves as a trainer with the Institute, traveling the country and educating other Realtors in how best to super-serve their senior clientele. They also publish the local, senior resource OrlandoSeniorHousing.com

Press Inquiries:

Michele Moon

Orlando Senior Housing

michele@estateconversions.com

(321) 689-8339

www.orlandoseniorhousing.com

www.findahomeinorlando.com/cp/senior-living/

Angels' Story: How We Help Seniors and Their Families Arrange a Move and Sell a House

by Michele Moon

Angela called us the other day. She was worried about her 77-year-old mother, Lois, who resides in Oviedo and had been showing signs of quickly slowing down and perhaps being unable to remain living on her own in the two-bedroom ranch she's owned for the past two decades.

Lois had been spry and energetic until a couple of years ago when Angela – who lives far away in Maryland – had visited Mom for the holidays and noticed signs that she wasn't eating properly and was unable to maintain basic, household chores like cleaning, laundry and the usual, mundane tasks.

Concerned, Angela had arranged for visits and help from an Orlando home health care company and that seemed to help. But recently the company alerted Angela that her mother seemed to be deteriorating and suggested that she begin investigating other options: specifically moving her mother to an Orlando assisted living facility.

She quickly jumped to the phone and Internet, began researching and calling Central Florida retirement communities and immediately came face-to-face with what was quickly growing to an overwhelming task.

How could she – hundreds of miles away in Baltimore – properly handle everything that needed arranged and investigated before transitioning her mom to an assisted living community? On top of the geographic constraints, she groaned at the things that needed accomplished.

The Estate Conversions Team: We Specialize in Real Estate Services and More for Seniors on the Move

To help with financing the care at the senior community, Lois' house needed to be sold. And there were a wide variety of other financial issues that also needed addressed. Angela discovered she needed to work with her mom's financial adviser, hire an elder law attorney, handle Social Security and pension issues, hire a good real estate agent, manage an estate auction, hire a trash hauling company, arrange for storage, work with a handyman to fix the house in preparation for a sale, and countless other issues.

Then there were all the emotional and family problems: How could she convince her mother to make the move, especially when Lois broke down, cried, and adamantly refused. Angela's brother – who lives in Texas – was also against the idea and he and Angela had exchanged heated words about the entire problem. She needed help in explaining the entire, broad picture to her family. But where could she start?

That's when Angela called us. She came across our information online and chose to reach out to my partner – Lisa D'Aloise – and I at the Estate Conversions Team of KellerWilliams Realty.

She noted that not only were we experienced Orlando and Oviedo real estate agents, but we were Certified Senior Housing Professionals and highly-trained and experienced in working with seniors and their adult children when the time came to sell the house of an older adult.

Beginning preparations to sell the house was Angela's first priority, but she wanted to know what kind of help we could offer with all of the problems mentioned above.

Our answer? All of it.

That's what we do. As Certified Senior Housing Professionals of The Seniors Real Estate Institute, selling homes for seniors is our specialty. But we go far beyond that. Our training and experience has shown us how to help caregiver families work their way through a process that can be so overwhelming during a late-in-life move for their Mom, Dad, or other loved one.

That includes sharing ways to bring the family to consensus, what to look for when choosing an Orlando retirement community, checklists for the entire move process, help and recommendations in what assisted living communities may be right for you, guidance in finding the right professionals (like attorneys, guardians, probate specialists) and other necessary vendors like estate auctions, movers, and plenty more.

Most importantly, we are trained to do far more than just refer you to these other providers. Instead, we serve as the hub of your entire move, managing everyone involved from start to finish.

Our primary goal is to be your advocate and partner and help a senior through this late-in-life move with dignity and the least amount of hassle possible.

For information and a chat concerning your unique situation, contact us for more information.

Our Featured Winter Springs/Casselberry House for Sale

Contact Lisa D'Aloise of the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty to Schedule a Showing

Orlando Senior Community Review: The Bridge at Orlando

by Michele Moon

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals who specialize in helping seniors sell a family home and "downsize" to a more manageable living environment, we regularly tour and inspect senior communities in Central Florida. It's all part of our job to ensure that we - The Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty - can provide the best recommendations and senior housing options for a late-in-life transition.  

The Bridge at Orlando is an assisted living and independent living community that features five apartment floor plans to choose from. Situated amid a park-like campus complete with gazebo and picnic areas, their retirement services include:

Monthly lease with no buy-in
Variety of apartments
Restaurant-style fine dining
Scheduled transportation
Fitness center
Housekeeping services

The activity schedule features trips, socials, hobby groups, educational seminars and live entertainment, while the restaurant-quality dining may be enjoyed in the community dining room or, if you wish a larger gathering for guests, in the private dining room.

The Estate Conversions Team: We Specialize in Home Sales and Real Estate Services for Seniors on the Move

Of course, everyone loves saying goodbye to vacuuming, cleaning, dusting, preparing meals, and washing linenes. These household and apartment maintenance chores are taken care of by the staff at the Bridge at Orlando.

Health and Wellness plans are customized for each resident, and fitness classes ranging from yoga to walking groups are provided for individuals and focused on each residents' experience and fitness level, in addition to their level of independence.

The Bridge at Orlando: Visit Their Website

In addition to the exercise room, other popular areas on the grounds include:

Cozy lounge with fireplace
Comfortable lounge areas
Hair salon
Craft room
Ice cream parlor
Billiards room
Library
Laundry facility

If you are a senior or the family caregiver of an older adult and need advice or information on selling a long-held family home and potentially moving to an Orlando-area retirement community, please feel free to contact us. We - Lisa D'Aloise and Michele Moon - are specifically trained and experienced in helping seniors and their families navigate the complexities of a late-in-live move.

Our Featured Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale

There is plenty to love in this fabulous 4 bed, 3 bath, office, plus BONUS room home! This is an Engle Monterey floor plan with an added large, downstairs bonus room, extended master bedroom and screened porch with extended patio. The chef's kitchen features a built in double oven, center island, desk space, travertine flooring and overlooks the family room. The home also features bamboo wood flooring, large formal areas, plantation shutters and a side entry, three car garage.