Visiting Senior Family Members in Orlando This Holiday Season: Are They Safe?

by Michele Moon

Our families can get rather far-flung these days and never is that more apparent than during the holiday season.

If you're visiting your Mom or Dad or grandparents in Orlando or anywhere in Central Florida this holiday season, this may be the first time you've seen them in a year or longer. Often, this is the time of year when family members first notice that an older family member is beginning to really age.

Learn How to Get Help with a Late-in-Life Move in Orlando

Whether you're visiting senior family members who live in the Orlando area this season or you're a local resident whose parents or grandparents live out of state (and you're thinking about moving them to Florida to be closer to you) there are a number of things to watch for determine whether a senior is still able to live safely on their own.

The good people at A Place for Mom have compiled a very nice and complete checklist for a family caregiver to utilize when trying to determine whether or not their loved one can safely live independently. Here's the link where you can download and print out your own copy. 

Whether the senior lives in Orlando, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Springs or you'll be moving them to Florida to live with or near you, we at the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty are trained and skilled in the art of helping families and seniors navigate the entire move process, including emotional and financial upheaval and concerns. As Certified Senior Housing Professionals,we are experienced in helping family caregivers and seniors through the process of selling a house, finding senior housing, managing financial and emotional issues, and preparing for all aspects of a late-in-life transition.

We Specialize in Real Estate Services & Late-in-Life Moves for Orlando Seniors

Don't overreact. Some aging and slowing down for Orlando seniors is, of course, natural and they deserve the respect of being able to live independently for as long as possible. But if safety seems to be a valid and serious concern, it's time for you and your other family members to begin planning and then act. If not, age in place options may be viable for you. Contact us here at OrlandoSeniorHousing.com and we'll put you in touch with those who can help with age-in-place techniques and services.

Remember that help exists to help manage and implement a late-in-life transition for a senior. Whether the senior lives in the Orlando area or you'll be moving them to Florida to live with or near you, we at The Estate Conversions Team and Orlando Senior Housing are highly experienced and trained in the art of helping families and seniors navigate the entire move process, including the emotional and financial upheaval and concerns.

Our List of Orlando Senior Communities

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals (Orlando and Oviedo real estate agents specially-trained in helping seniors and family caregivers in Florida) it's our job to not only help with the sale of a home or other real estate services, but also to manage the entire process for you and your senior family member.

Contact us  for a chat or no-obligation consultation.

November is National Family Caregivers Month in Orlando: Five Ways to Celebrate

by Michele Moon

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a proclamation first declared by President Barack Obama in 2013.

Its purpose is to recognize the millions of regular Americans – and tens of thousands of Floridians – who provide care to disabled, ill, or elderly family members on a regular basis.

Get Your Complimentary "Downsizing Made Easy" Guide 

Here at OrlandoSeniorHousing.com, the two of us – Lisa D'Aloise and Michele Moon – regularly work with family caregivers who are helping their senior parents or spouse navigate the complexities of day-to-day living.

When the time comes for that older parent to seek new housing, the adult children or the spouse typically turn to us for help in selling the older adult's home and preparing them for a move (downsizing) to either a family member's home or an assisted living community or retirement community in Orlando, Oviedo, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, or anywhere across Orange County and Central Florida.

We Specialize in Real Estate Services & Downsizing for Orlando Seniors on the Move

We are continually amazed at the hard work, patience, and love exhibited by the Florida family caregivers we meet with on a regular basis. As such, we wanted to make you aware of this holiday and urge you to do something special for Orlando family caregivers – or if you're a family caregiver yourself – do something special for YOU.

Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month in Orange County.

1) If you own or manage a local business, consider offering a free service or product for family caregivers through the month of November. (Note: This is one of our favorite ideas. Local businesses can do a lot with this and it's great promotion and a win-win for a business!)

2) Send a thank you card, bouquet of flowers, or basket of treats to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.

3) Volunteer to make Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiver family you know.

4) The holiday season is upon us soon and it's a busy time for everyone, including family caregivers from Oviedo to Lake Mary. Ask a caregiver you know how you can help them prepare for the holidays. Perhaps help with decorations, shopping, or just basic tasks so they have time to take care of the holiday jobs.

5) The most important commodity to any family caregiver is typically TIME, so offer to provide some respite care or sit with their family member to allow the caregiver some time off and a break for a day or night, or what have you.

Learn More About Preparing for a Late-in-Life Move

At OrlandoSeniorHousing.com, it's our job as Certified Senior Housing Professionals (real estate agents in Oviedo and Orlando who specialize in working with seniors and family caregivers) to help older adults and those who support them prepare for a late-in-life transition.

Please feel free to contact us anytime for advice and information with no obligation.

The link below contains links to a number of resources in Orlando, Orange County, and Central Florida for family caregivers, including respite care, help with benefits, and much more.

Caregivng Resources in Orlando: The Senior Resource Alliance

Smartphone, iPad, and Tablet Tips and Advice for Orlando Seniors

by Michele Moon

Regardless of where you live - be it an assisted living community, your own house in Oviedo, a Winter Park apartment, or with adult children in Orlando - technology has a way of making the world smaller, helping you to communicate with friends and family, and even manage your schedule and life.

It can be especially helpful in the effort to help older seniors age-in-place (remain living in their own homes independently) as innovations like smartphones and tablets make it far easier for older adults to embrace technology and remain in touch with family caregivers. The many applications (apps) available for both phones and tablets can really be a boost for adult children/family caregivers - even for those who are trying to help Mom or Dad on a long-distance basis.

I thought I'd post a couple of videos and other resources that help explain some of the ways in which smartphones, tablets, and apps can play a role in serving seniors and caregiver families in Orlando and all of Central Florida.

We Specialize in Home Sales & Real Estate Services/Downsizing for Orlando Adults 55+

I've also come across a website for seniors run by a 74-year-old woman named Sheila Finkelstein. Check it out to get free answers to technology questions.

TechnologyForSeniorsMadeEasy.com 

Considering selling a house in Orlando, Oviedo, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Casselberry, or anywhere across Central Florida? 

Contact Lisa or Michele for a No-Obligation Consultation

Granny Pods and Mother-in-Law Cottages: More Orlando Senior Housing Options

by Michele Moon

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals in Orlando, Orange County, and from Oviedo to Winter Park to Altamonte Springs, Florida, one of our greatest joys is in seeing older adults "downsize" to new housing that truly makes them happy.

For some, an independent living community in Orlando is ideal. Others may cherish the idea of moving in with - or close to - family members.

We Specialize in Home Sales and Services for Orlando Seniors on the Move

Whether you call them granny flats, mother-in-law cottages, granny pods, or just a "guest house," renovating or constructing a second building on a property as a home for an aging parent makes a lot of sense.

Having Mom or Dad (or both) living as part of the family - yet maintaining a degree of privacy for all concerned - can be a perfect solution when the time comes for an older parent to move to a new setting where they are less "on their own."

Of course, if the parents are older Florida seniors, they may require concentrated care and proximity to their family caregivers. But in other cases, the parents may be adults 55+ or in their 60's or 70's who simply think the idea of moving to the Orlando area and taking care of the grand-munchkins daily in warmth and sunshine would be a beautiful idea!

No matter the scenario, these types of housing arrangements are common and a perfect solution for helping older parents begin the process of aging-in-place with the support of their family.

Terms like "mother-in-law cottages" are commonly used to describe a secondary building that is separate from the primary building on a property in Florida, yet also includes its own bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom.

Formally known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), their legality is dependent on local zoning ordinances and HOA rules, but the municipal code in Orange County, Florida does currently allow them. See the specific Orange County ordinance concerning an ADU here.

If you are considering renovating or building an ADU or mother-in-law cottage, be cautious and carefully research the local laws and limitations. Still, even in cases where local ordinances prohibit such a dwellings, an exemption may be made. Feel free to investigate this possibility.

Learn More About Accessory Dwelling Units

Communities across Florida and the entire country are beginning to understand the importance of multi-generational housing and aging-in-place opportunities for seniors.

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals, Lisa and I serve as Orlando and Oviedo real estate agents who specialize in helping seniors or their family caregivers navigate the complexities of the late-in-life sale of a home and move to new housing.

Please feel free to contact us for more information on Accessory Dwelling Units in Orlando and any issues relating to a late-in-life move for a senior. We'd love to help!

Our Featured Orlando House for Sale: Four Bedrooms

Volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program of Central and East Central Florida

by Michele Moon

As professionals who serve seniors in Central Florida, we thought it was pretty important to help spread awareness of this very cool program that helps so many people on several different levels.

The Foster Grandparent Program of Central and East Central Florida recruits and trains limited-income seniors, ages 55 or older, to provide 20 hours per week of one-on-one attention to special needs children in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler, and Osceola Counties.

Senior volunteers in Orlando, Florida receive a small, non-taxable stipend of $2.65 hourly for a minimum of 20 hours weekly helping to nurture and enhance the lives of special needs kids across Orlando and the entire area.

Typically, a foster grandparent will devote 4 hours daily, 5 days per week, at one of more than 100 locations in Central Florida ranging from schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, correctional institutions, Head Start centers, after-school programs, and residential facilities.

We Specialize in Home Sales and Real Estate Services for Orlando-Area Adults 55+

In addition to the stipend, participating volunteers receive transportation assistance, meals while on duty, supplemental accident and liability coverage while they are serving and annual recognition.

Again, keep in mind that there are income eligibility requirements for senior volunteers, as this program is designed to help fixed-income seniors in Central Florida who can benefit from a little more tax-free income each month.

From Fairview Head Start

Of course, in addition to the small financial benefit, serving as a Foster Grandparent is a stellar way to give back to the community, stay busy, and help children who need it more than most!

Volunteers for Community Impact runs the program and is also the sponsoring agency for RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program).

Download the Volunteer Application

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals (Oviedo and Orlando real estate agents who specialize in serving adults 55+) we at the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Wiliams Realty regularly chat with seniors who could use a little extra cash and long to remain active and helpful in their communities.

Get Orlando Senior Housing and Real Estate/Moving Advice

If we may at any time be of service or offer you any advice on senior housing or other issues pertaining to adults 55+ in central Florida - from Winter Park to Oviedo to Winter Springs to Lake Mary - please feel free to contact us here!

Our Featured Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale

Honoring Ruth Sager: "Our Most Amazing Senior" on National Senior Citizens Day 2014

by Michele Moon

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan and the U.S. Congress declared that every August 21 in perpetuity should be recognized as "National Senior Citizens Day," in honor of older Americans who have contributed so much to our way of life.

As such, Lisa D'Aloise and I of Orlando Senior Housing have chosen to recognize and honor an exceptional woman we have grown to know and respect over the past several months.

Ruth Sager

OrlandoSeniorHousing.com's "Most Amazing Senior" on National Senior Citizens Day 

Ruth is the President of the Seniors Division of the National Federation of the Blind. Lisa and I recently got to know Ruth when she invited us both to speak on senior housing issues at the NFB annual convention in Orlando.

A woman who is devoted to making life better for individuals who are sight-impaired, Ruth also serves as an instructor in Baltimore with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.

I asked Ruth to share with us a bit of her life story and inspiration.

by Ruth Sager

As a young person finishing my academic studies, I moved from Wisconsin to the Washington DC metro area with the hope of finding a job. During my search, I met some blind people, most of whom were employed by the government and held professional jobs. They invited me to a meeting of the local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.  

At the meeting, I discovered that one of the young men there was running for local, public office. This really made me think about greater possibilities. It had never occurred to me that anyone with a significant disability could attempt to do such a thing. I found this group energetic and invigorating and they were purposeful in their quest to find and fight for equal opportunity for employment, housing, and lifestyle choices.

The group had a positive focus and a willingness to change the status quo, while working towards improving conditions and changing laws. I was challenged not only to think of my own needs and desires but to realize I was apart of a social minority in this country and should become actively involved in this organization.

As time moved on, I eventually chose to become an instructor at one of the training centers established by the National Federation of the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana.  I became one of the few blind cane travel instructors in the nation at that time, and then moved on to teach independent living and home management to newly blind adults.  

I continued my work in this same capacity when I again moved back to the East Coast and began work at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland as an independent living instructor. In 1998 I began working exclusively with seniors who were losing vision. I visited them at home and then created and implemented a training program to enable seniors to learn non-visual techniques they can employ to remain active and self sufficient in their homes and communities.  

The idea that “Collectively working together, we can change what it means to be blind,” became my mission when I joined the National Federation of the Blind thirty-six years ago. I have been assigned a variety of tasks and challenged to take on several leadership positions within the federation as I moved through rearing my children and finding a career choice living in several different states. I have had the opportunity to work with and meet many hundreds of blind people over the years who have inspired me and taught me how to live the life I want. This is the  legacy I want to pass on to others.

At our 2014 convention in Orlando, the Seniors Division of the NFB focused on housing issues for blind seniors. I hope this focus and discussion will spur conversations within Federation chapters nationwide as to options in senior living and what responsibilities are entailed in maintaining the best quality of life possible for each senior. 

Whether they are a newly blind senior struggling to maintain independence or an individual who has been blind most of their life but who has now attained "seniorhood," knowledge about our options and how to access those options is so important. We can then be proactively accountable for planning our future as far as the physical space we live in and the financial management of our personal affairs. We can therefore control as much of our future destiny as our sighted colleagues using our abilities and talents to promote our personal desires and continue living the kind of life we want.

Michele and Ruth

Ruth, thank you for your exceptional work over the years and for your ongoing dedication!

Ruth Sager

OrlandoSeniorHousing.com's "Most Amazing Senior" 

National Senior Citizens Day

August 21, 2014

Free Family Caregivers Kit: Information and Help for Orlando Seniors or Their Family Caregivers

by Lisa D'Aloise

A few years ago, the newspaper advice columnist Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren) and the U.S. government teamed up to promote the free "Family Caregivers Kit," a collection of brochures and information designed to help family caregivers in Orlando and elsewhere navigate the maze of issues and concerns faced by older seniors and those who care for them.

How We Help Orlando Seniors and Family Caregivers with Late-In-Life Moves

While the brochures are no longer available by mail in hard copy form, they are available online for viewing.

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals in Oviedo, Orlando, and all across Orange County, Florida, Michele and I - the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty - wanted to make sure you had easy access to all these resources and solid information.

Helping Orlando Seniors Manage Money

Managing an Older Parent's Money: Help for Those with a Power of Attorney

How to Manage Your Parent's Money: Help for Those with Guardianship or a Conservator 

Help for Representative Payees and Veterans Administration (VA) Fiduciaries

Help for Orlando Seniors in Managing Your/Their Medication

Complete List of Senior Caregiver Resources from the U.S. Government

Senior Citizens Resources in Orlando and Across the Country

End-of-Life Issues and Long Distance Caregiving 

Medicare Assistance for Family Caregivers in Florida and Across the U.S.

At Orlando Senior Housing, we help Central Florida seniors or their family caregivers learn how to age-in-place or prepare for a late-in-life move from a larger home to a smaller apartment or senior housing community. We provide end-to-end advice, organization, and service for the entire move, including selling an Orlando house. Contact Michele Moon or Lisa D'Aloise for a no-obligation analysis and casual chat.

3 beds, 2 baths, $225,000

Our Featured Orlando, Florida House for Sale

DRIVE...BUY!!! This home has been lovingly cared for and it shows! The floor plan is ideal and features a spacious living room and dining room off the foyer and an open kitchen and family room combo. The screen porch has nice brick pavers, a gas line and overlooks a scenic POND and CONSERVATION area.

Review: Oviedo, Florida Senior Living Community: Savannah Court and Savannah Cottage

This is part of our continuing tour and review of senior living communities near Orlando in Central Florida. As Certified Senior Housing Professionals (real estate agents who specialize in working with older adults and their caregiver families) part of our service is focused on having full knowledge of Orlando Senior Housing options and understanding where best to refer our senior clients who are considering a late-in-life move.

We (Lisa D'Aloise and I) recently stopped in to visit with the folks at Savannah Court and Savannah Cottage, two distinct - yet equally exceptional - assisted living communities in Oviedo, Florida, just a few miles from I-4 and minutes from metro Orlando.

Linda Johnson

We had a great time with Linda Johnson, who is simply full of great energy and information! (We call her the "commander of communications.") The community's Marketing Director, Sandra Rivera, is also wonderful and loaded with details and advice.

The first thing you'll notice when you pull up to the campus is that there are three adjacent - yet unique - communities, each situated just a sidewalk apart.

Two of them offer full, senior assisted living options in Florida while the third - Savannah Cottage - is a secure environment dedicated to Alzheimer's care, dementia, and similar memory-impaired residents.

Visit the Savannah Court and Savannah Cottage Website

Orlando family caregivers will also find Savannah Court and Savanna Cottage to be a helpful resource in the areas of respite care and senior day care services. Their respite care program in Florida is available for those who need a senior housing option for several weeks or even several months. It's ideal for family caregivers who require a safe spot for their loved one to stay for a short period of time - even just a week or two while the family caregiver relaxes on a much-deserved vacation or attends to other business or personal matters.

The senior day care program serves as an option for impaired seniors to spend the day - typically no more than 8 hours.

We Specialize in Real Estate Services for Orlando Seniors on the Move

Services and amenities available to all residents include:

24 hour access to trained caring associates
Restaurant-style dining
Linen and housing services
Emergency response system
Diverse activities program designed to enhance daily living
Scheduled transportation to shopping, medical appointments and other outings
Medical appointment scheduling
Utilities are included - telephone and extended cable television service is optional
Climate controlled air conditioning and heating
Spacious bathrooms and kitchenettes
Common areas and suites with beautiful views and manicured landscaping for your enjoyment
Supervision with activities of daily living
Supervision of self administration of medications

If you're an older, senior adult of the adult child of an elder who requires a move to senior housing in the Orlando area, please feel free to contact us - Michele and Lisa of the Estate Conversions Team of Keller-Williams Realty and Orlando Senior Housing. There is no-obligation and we'll be happy to offer you advice in any area or on any challenge that you may be facing as a senior or the caregiver of a senior.

View the Floor Plans

If you need our help selling a family home we'll be happy to provide that. But we're also happy to offer advice and suggestions in other matters that may be helpful and an enhancement to the lives of both seniors and their adult children/family caregivers from Oviedo to Winter Park to Altamonte Springs to Orlando.

Our Featured Orlando, Florida House for Sale from The Estate Conversions Team

Sharing Info on Senior Housing at the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Orlando

by Michele Moon

It goes without saying that Orlando-area seniors who suffer from vision loss face an extra difficulty when it comes time to leave a family home and move to a retirement community, mother-in-law cottage, or smaller apartment.

That's a big reason that my colleague Lisa D'Aloise and I were thrilled last week to both speak and share our knowledge on simplifying senior moves at the annual National Federation of the Blind convention in Orlando.

We Specialize in Real Estate Services for Orlando Seniors on the Move

Lisa sat and shared her information on the panel entitled "Empowerment: Options for Senior Living" with Jennifer Cochran of Visiting Angels, Rachel Alvarez of the Alvarez Law Firm, and Patty Antony of Elder Advocates to discuss whether seniors should "Age in Place" and find assistive care as needed, or move into senior housing in Oviedo, Winter Springs, Winter Park, or anywhere in Central Florida.

Later, I addressed a meeting of leaders of the National Federation of the Blind and provided an overview of the challenges faced by seniors during a late in life move and educated them on the process, allowing those leaders to better share the information with their membership and local chapters of the NFB.

I'd like to offer a special thanks to Ruth Sager, President of the Seniors division of the National Federation of the Blind for being so nice as to invite Lisa and I to speak at the convention.

She shared a gift bag with each of us and presented me with a Braille bracelet with the word "Joy" written on it in braille - a very sweet nod to the fact that I always sign off my emails with the word "joyfully."

Michelle Moon (L) Ruth Sager (R)

Lisa and I are blessed to meet so many great people and to be able to offer what we've learned to seniors and their caregiver families who need assistance with downsizing or a late-in-life move to a new home, be it senior housing in Oviedo, an Orlando retirement community, or the home of a family member.

If we - the Estate Conversions Team and Orlando Senior Housing - may offer you any advice, please contact us anytime for a chat.

Our Featured Orlando/Union Park/Rio Pinar House for Sale

LOOKING FOR SPACE? Hurry in to see this spacious two-story home on a quiet CUL DE SAC! A stunning foyer, with curved staircase welcomes you home! This flexible floor plan features a formal living room, which could be a great office or play room, a large formal dining room with crown molding and a kitchen overlooking the family room. The kitchen has GRANITE counter tops, STAINLESS STEEL appliances, and CENTER ISLAND. The sliding glass doors open onto a long, screened porch overlooking a huge pie shaped back yard. Upstairs is a BONUS ROOM, which could easily be made the fourth bedroom. The master can accommodate king sized furniture and features two closets, a garden tub and a granite counter top. The exterior was just painted and the A/C was replaced in 2008. Residents of Andover Lakes enjoy close proximity to expressways, UCF, downtown Orlando and Waterford Lakes Towne Center shopping and dining.

Review: Orlando Memory Care Senior Communities: Serenades by Sonata

by Lisa D'Aloise

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals and Orlando real estate agents 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.

We Provide Senior Move and Real Estate Services for Florida Seniors

Serenades by Sonata are three memory care assisted living communities in Central Florida, located in Longwood, Winter Garden, and a new location close to Ocala at The Villages, Florida.

Focused on helping seniors with Alzheimer's and related dementias, the communities utilize the latest technologies and understanding of these diseases to help seniors and their caregiver families enjoy the best quality of life possible.

Website: Serenades Memory Care Assisted Living by Sonata

Of course, in an Orlando memory care setting, safety is of the utmost concern, and Serenades by Sonata employs a wide variety of tools in that effort including:

Wireless Wander Guard system at all exits
Camouflaged exits
Secured proxy card access
Safety cameras in courtyard and at external exits
Bed exit and motion sensors
Double barrier exits
Non-glare surfaces
Resilient flooring

Living Space

Private and companion suites are available, as well as private suites with shared baths. All utilities are included in their monthly fee. Suites feature:

Emergency wireless call system

5-ft. zero-entry showers with grab bars and seats

Secured resident storage in each suite

Bed exit and incontinence sensors

Motion sensors

Memory boxes outside each suite

Amber lighting provides cueing of bathroom location

As Orlando Realtors, we specialize in selling houses for seniors who are on the move, be it in Oviedo, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary and all points beyond. 

But it's also our honor to help seniors and their adult children navigate the complexities - emotionally, logistically, and financially - of such a move. We - Michele Moon and I - are specially trained to help you handle the entire move from start to finish. Please feel free to contact us at anytime for advice and a no-obligation consultation. 

Our Featured Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale

This is a great starter home or investment property. There's lots of room to spread out with a formal dining room, living room and family room. The kitchen cabinets have been updated and the roof replaced after Charlie. There is a half bath downstairs that leads to the oversized, fenced back yard. The master bedroom is roomy and the secondary bedrooms share a jack and jill bath. There's no HOA so bring your toys! The schools are top rated too! See it soon!

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.

Orlando Senior Living Review: Atria at Lake Forest

by Michele Moon

A coupe of weeks ago my partner Lisa D'Aloise and I had the opportunity to spend some time at and get to know the residents and staff at Atria at Lake Forest in Sanford, Florida, a beautiful assisted living facility in Central Florida near Orlando.

We were on hand to take part in a benefit event for the Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center and also walked about and surveyed the surroundings and how residents and staff spent their time together.

With more than 200 monthly events, residents have many opportunities to stay active, both on the eight-acre campus that's surrounded by oak trees, and by taking part in off-campus activities and trips throughout the local area.

Visit the Atria at Lake Forest Website

The many apartments at Atria at Lake Forest come in a variety of floor plans and include studio, one, or two-bedroom designs and meet the needs of most all seniors - whether they are engaged in an active, retirement lifestyle with an independent living flair or need more support in the form of assisted living options.

What's especially ideal in the assisted living environment is that such care is provided very discreetly, enabling the senior to maintain a sense of dignity and independence.

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

This Orlando senior housing community also offers more hands-on, memory care assistance in a neighborhood established specifically for Alzheimer's and dementia care residents.

The amenities provided by Atria at Lake Forest are, of course, numerous and designed to engage the interest level of a wide variety of residents. The walking paths across the community are nicely designed, and residents can enjoy everything from a fitness and wellness center to a computer center, or opt to enjoy video games, community gardens, a library, theater, cocktail hour, and other social activities like taking part in the well-known "Red Hat Society."

Other benefits of life at Atria at Lake Forest include:

A full-time events director
All utilities provided, except phone
An emergency call system in every apartment
Assistance with activities of daily living
Concierge
Delicious meals served restaurant-style daily
Emergency call pendants/wristbands
Housekeeping and linen services
Individually controlled heating and air
Laundry services
Medication assistance
On-site physical therapy provider
Scheduled local transportation

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals (Orlando and Oviedo real estate agents who specialize in helping seniors throughout a move process) Lisa D'Aloise and I - Michele Moon - of the Estate Conversions Team of Keller Williams Realty are well-prepared and ready to help a senior or their family caregivers navigate the complexities of a late-in-life move or the sale of a long-held family home.

Whether you are residents of the Orlando area already or contemplating a move to Central Florida, we hope you'll contact us and allow us to share some of the many things we've learned in how to make a late-in-life move much easier and hassle-free.

Our Featured Oviedo, Florida House for Sale

HURRY IN TO SEE THIS GREAT HOUSE IN POPULAR ALAFAYA WOODS! The floor plan features a formal dining rm, eat in kitchen, and a large living rm with cathedral ceilings. The back yard is fully fenced and the home has a new A/C 2014 and newer roof. The home is located close to the neighborhood park which has a full basketball court, tennis court and a large playground.

Contact Lisa D'Aloise to Schedule a Showing

Orlando Senior Housing Review: Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary

by Michele Moon

My partner Lisa D'Aloise and I recently stopped in to visit with Kay Stober and the residents at Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary, a new, 25-acre luxury senior living community in the heart of Lake Mary, Florida.

Left: Lisa D'Aloise, Right: Kay Tober

In our role as Certified Senior Housing Professionals - Orlando real estate agents who specialize in helping seniors sell their family home and move to a new community or smaller home - it's part of our job to stay up-to-date on senior living communities across Central Florida. We want to make sure that we refer our senior clients or their caregiver families to the best senior community for their specific needs.

Lisa and Michele: We Specialize in Orlando Real Estate Service for Seniors On the Move

Debuting in 2009, Oakmonte Village features 42 free-standing Villas, each with a one-car garage and two bedrooms and two baths.

You'll also find 165 Independent Living apartments with a choice of studio, one, or two bedroom floor plans. 

For those who require a bit more help, there are 114 private, Assisted Living apartments where the level of care is customized to each resident, including those in need or daily care or memory care.

Learn More About Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary Here

Lisa and I were struck by the high-end, luxurious feel of the community, an attribute that - paradoxically - is made even more enjoyable by the fact that Oakmonte Village, unlike many Orlando senior living communities, demands no "Entrance Fee" for new residents, a nice feature that contributes to the ease of those worried about "how much do senior living communities in Florida cost"?

Along with restaurant-quality dining, served inclusively with three meals daily, those who get up a bit late may also partake of the continental breakfast option or - throughout the day - a bistro café.

Follow Oakmonte Village on Facebook

Other highlights of Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary include:

All inclusive services with no entrance fee demand

On- site physician services

Personal Concierge services

On- site banking, gift shop, & fitness center

Dining Service 

Transportation 

24- Hour Security

Maintenance & housekeeping service

Monitored emergency call system

Handy convenience store with pharmacy service

If you'd like to learn more about our impressions of Oakmonte Village or have other questions concerning senior housing in Orlando, please feel free to contact either Lisa D'Aloise or me - Michele Moon - at the phone or email addresses here.

If you're a senior or the family member or caregiver of an older adult who needs advice on a real estate transaction or sale of a house, please contact us here at Estate Conversions for a no-obligation chat.

Our job as Certified Senior Housing Professionals is to serve as advisers, friends, and business partners for any senior or family member who needs help in the sale of a home or any aspect whatsoever of a late-in-life move.

Our Featured, Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale

Come see this custom-built home with all the "I Wants" in this exclusive Arrowhead neighborhood in Tuscawilla. The main living areas offer lovely views of the golf course from its vantage point on the 9th tee of the Tuscawilla golf course. This energy efficient home offers foam insulation in the blocks, and a 14 seer a/c system. The kitchen features custom maple cabinetry, quartz and granite counter tops, center island with sink, and pasta-filler water faucet.