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

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!

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.

Wine Pull & Cocktail Party to Benefit the Central Florida Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center

by Lisa D'Aloise

A great time and great wine for a great cause. We at the Estate Conversions Team invite you to join us in the mingle at the Atria at Lake Forest in Sanford to benefit the Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center.

If Alzheimer's has touched someone you care about or simply if you'd love to enjoy some vino for a fantastic cause, come join us!

This Wednesday, May 14 

Atria at Lake Forest Directions & Information

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

Our Featured Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale

5 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms: 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.

How Much Does a Nursing Home Cost in Orlando?

by Michele Moon

As Certified Senior Housing Professionals (real estate agents who specialize in real estate transactions for boomers, seniors, and their caregiver families in Orlando) one of the most important things that my partner Lisa D'Aloise and I can do is provide information to people on all of the various issues involved in a late-in-life transition.

We Help Central Florida Seniors Who Are On the Move

Moving into a senior retirement community or - if health concerns demand it - an assisted living facility or nursing home is a big choice, and we want to make sure that you are well aware of all the issues, both financial and otherwise.

I recently came across an infographic that provides an overview of the costs involved when a move to a nursing home or assisted living community in Orlando is necessary.

Of course, these numbers can and will vary drastically, but they provide an educational starting point.

While a significant part of our job at the Estate Conversions Team is centered on helping older adults 50+ sell their houses and prepare for the future, we also wish to educate and inform you on options aside from the sale of a Central Florida home.

Here's How We Help Orlando Adults 50+ Sell a House

Those options can include age-in-place possibilities designed to help a senior remain in their home for as long as possible. If a move elsewhere is indeed necessary, part of our senior real estate services include putting you in touch with other senior-focused professionals who can help you through the process, including elder law attorneys, financial planners, tax specialists, professional organizers, and a variety of other service providers.

To make the entire process easier for you and your family, we serve as the hub for all of these professionals, ensuring that they are all coordinating their efforts properly for you and your late-in-life move.

We'll be happy to answer any questions or offer advice. Please feel free to contact us anytime right here. 

Our Featured Orlando House for Sale

Hurry in to see this nice home in the Conway area. The floor plan features a split bedroom plan, separate living room, dining room, and family room. The family room features a wood burning fireplace and sliding glass doors to the screened porch. The large backyard is fully fenced. The home also has hurricane shutters. It is conveniently located close to the Conway recreation park, Barber Park is across the street and the schools are all top rated. Just needs a little TLC to make it yours.

Are You Part of Orlando's "Sandwich Generation"? Help for Baby Boomers with Older Parents

by Michele Moon

Are you a part of the "Sandwich Generation" in Central Florida?

You are if you are between the ages of 40 and 60 and responsible for the care of not only your aging parents, but also your own, dependent children. This generation, “sandwiched” between two other generations, experiences both the joys and the stress of being responsible – financially, emotionally, and energetically – to the needs of two distinct members of their family.

Baby boomers are typically a large segment of this generation, but even those in their 40's in the Orlando area are increasingly finding themselves pressed for money and time as they care for elderly parents. This is especially true if your parent has medical issues and is nearly completely dependent on you.

In some cases, members of the "Sandwich Generation" are in the process of - or will soon have to - begin the large amount of work necessary to settle some of Mom or Dad's estate, learn how to find an assisted living facility, sell their parent's house, and attend to a rather large number of variables and red tape that make up the work of a late-in-life transition.

Senior Housing in Orlando

If you're a member of the Sandwich Generation in Orlando and are feeling sandwiched and squeezed, the most important thing to remember is that help is available. A wide variety of professionals exist to be of service where a baby boomer or family caregiver in their 40's may require help in senior-related issues.

And not all of it costs money. For example, as Certified Senior Housing Professionals, part of our job at Estate Conversions in Oviedo is to help boomers and seniors understand their options in senior housing, while also directing the family caregivers to other senior-centric professionals in metropolitan Orlando – businesses we have personally vetted and can recommend for their excellence.

As Orlando realtors, Lisa D'Aloise and I - Michele Moon - are able to help with the sale of a family home anywhere from Winter Park to Sanford.  

But we do more than sell a house. We'll also sit down with you and help educate you on what we've learned over the course of many years of helping seniors and their families navigate the emotional and financial complexities of moving an older adult to a new home. We're also specifically trained to coordinate the efforts of these various professionals as part of our job of taking some of the strain away from you, our client.  

Need Advice, Information, or Just Someone to Vent to?

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Learn More About What We Do

Our Featured Winter Springs, Florida House for Sale: Contact Michele or Lisa to Schedule a Showing

Five bedrooms, Five Baths. 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.