Moving on Guide

Many homeowners have previously bought and sold homes; however, selling a senior’s home can be more complicated, due to a number of unique issues. Though seniors usually make the decision to sell, it is not uncommon for children to help them sort through issues and help in various ways:

This Moving on Guide suggests some topics to be considered and decisions to be made:

• What other options have been explored?
• Is moving the best alternative? If so, where?
• What is the best way to downsize a lifetime’s worth of possessions and family heirlooms?
• What are the tax-related implications of a sale?
• What effects might a sale have on future income?
• Are close family members on board with a decision to sell?

The issues involved in a move can be stressful for a family to navigate. Seniors and their children are often in unfamiliar waters as they try to deal with these questions.

Whatever your situation, you may need professional help to achieve the best results.

I am a real estate professional who has experience in senior’s issues, and who can be an invaluable resource at this time. You can count on me as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) to guide you through this process and all of the special considerations, making the transaction less stressful and more successful.

Making the decision to move can be difficult. Many seniors can take heart in knowing that their next move is to the home of an adult child. Others and their families face the task of selecting a home which will meet their needs in terms of care, community and comfort.

There are many options available, including selling and buying a more appropriate dwelling or moving to one of the independent and assisted homes. Other options include adapting your existing home or getting home care assistance . Making the right choice is important!

Choosing housing that meets your current and future needs can be a challenge. Further, it can require a significant financial investment depending on the choice of home and the level of care desired.

Sharing your reasons for moving will help me as your SRES to provide you with a broad array of options.

To help you navigate this process. I will:

• Familiarize you with the various types of senior housing available to you.
• Suggest important questions to ask when you are visiting these options.
• Refer you to other professionals who can help you understand and compare the true costs of each option.
• Help you determine which options are affordable based on your financial situation.
• Refer you to professionals  who will examine the legal contracts of each.
• Develop cost estimates of the various alternatives.

Choosing housing that meets your current and future needs, can be a challenge. Further, it can require a significant financial investment depending on the specific choice of home and the level of care desired.

Seniors housing is categorized by the level of care available. Some offer little or no care, while others provide continuous care. Here on Salt Spring Island we are blessed with many options.

Retirement or age restricted communities

• Are usually comprised of single family homes, townhomes or condominium apartments.
• Restrict residency to adults over the age of 55; additional restriction may be found in some.
• Are designed for older adults who are physically able to care for themselves.
• May offer basic services like housecleaning, laundry, and transportation.
• Are often built using universal design guidelines and may be handicapped accessible.

Assisted Living Facilities:

• Provide support services in a community setting.
• Accept residents who may have medical problems, but do not need continuous skilled nursing care.
• Are usually apartments, but can be “homes providing  board and care” or “personal care group homes”.
• Encourage residents to bring their own furnishings.
• Generally provide a wide assortment of activities, clubs, and transportation to religious services, appointments, events and shopping.
• Often accept pets.
• Allows residents to maintain their independence, while offering them access to professional medical care and support services when needed.
• Offer an array of health care and personal services, including bathing, grooming, and dressing.
• Costs vary widely.

There are many options available for those needing care either now or in the future.

Some addition examples:

Nursing homes

• Provide continuous 24 hour care for chronically ill people
• Have doctors on staff, though most patient monitoring and medical care is administered by nurses.
• May have physical and occupational therapists on staff.
• Resemble a hospital setting in most cases.
• Are expensive.
• Will be covered by Medical Services Plan for residents of BC.
• Are required to meet the standards set by the Provincial Department of Health.
• May be run for profit or not-for-profit groups.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

• Represent a “continuum of care” approach, where all of a resident’s changing needs can be met in a single facility.
• Offers a spectrum of senior living options, including independent living, assisted living units, and continuous nursing care facilities, typically in close proximity to one another.
• May also offer a secure and supervised environment for individuals with various levels of memory impairment.
• Allow residents to enter at any level of care with assurance that, if their health or faculties decline, they will be moved to the next level of care when needed, right through to continuous care.
• May require significant entry fees, parts of which may or may not be refunded if the resident passes away.
• Are usually occupied on a rental basis, although some have ownership arrangements.
• Typically have rather complex contracts due to the levels of service offered.

Choosing housing that meets your current needs, and anticipates future needs, can be a challenge, further, it can require a significant financial investment depending on the choice of home and the level of care desired.

What level of care is needed now?

• Would adapting your existing home resolve the issue?
• What about with additional household help or nursing care?

• Would a smaller, better located or better designed home be the answer?
• Most housing choices are driven by the level of care needed.
• Can you take care of most of your personal needs?
• Would medication management, an emergency response system, and on premises nursing provide more peace of mind?
• Do you need assistance with dressing, bathing or grooming?
• Do you have memory issues?
• Keep in mind that your needs will change over time.

Adapting Your Home to Suit Your Changing Needs

Most of us would prefer to age in place but: 

• Health and aging issues can mitigate against that.
• Raised thresholds, bathroom size can represent increased risks.
• Door knobs can become more difficult to turn, and stairs harder to climb.

When aging in place or moving in with an adult child

• Accessibility and safety can be issues, prompting home renovations. Determining what to do and how to do it can be difficult.
• I can help by inspecting your home, identifying problem areas, and suggesting modifications.
• The answer may be as simple as adding grab-bars in the bath, flattening thresholds, installing  brighter lighting, and higher toilets.

Whether you chose to modify your home or move to a new location I can help smooth the way.

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I can make sure you understand the pros and cons of every option and help you to make the modifications and/ or sell your home and work with you on moving. I am a real estate professional who has experience in senior’s issues, house construction, and moving issues. You can count on me to guide you through this process with less stress and more success.

Financial resource limitations

•           Housing and long term care costs can take most or all of a senior’s savings, and budgeting is difficult as needs change.

Meeting Health Care Needs

• Health care plans
• Caregivers
• Home and community based senior services
• Transportation
• Medication
• Emergency response systems
• Meals
• Pet care
• Respite for caregivers

Financial considerations

• Reverse mortgages
• Financial consequences of selling your home
• How does it affect your estate
• Tax implications

Legal considerations

• Estate and trust planning
• Powers of attorney
• Wills
• Assessing contracts with care facilities and caregivers
• Guardianships
• Probate

Elder law attorneys and financial planners can help.

Reviewing housing options on Salt Spring Island

• We will start with details of all of the local facilities.
• You can visit any that seem to fit your needs.
• You can ask questions and talk with families visiting loved ones at each facility.
• Together we can check licencing and accreditation for any you are considering.
• Housing contracts involving long term care tend to be very complex.

Are all relevant family members aware of the plan?

The move and the reasons for it. It’s a good idea to have a family discussion about the decision to sell prior to signing any commitments. Adult children often have strong emotional stakes in the sale. Some family members may not want to say goodbye to the home. A family talk can help prevent later misunderstandings and avoid delays in the process. If the move involves significant downsizing, this will also be a time to bring up property and possessions issues.

Will an adult child be acting on behalf of a parent in the sale?

In the event an aging parent is ill or incapacitated, a family member will need authority to make legally-binding decisions with regard to the home. A enduring power of attorney document must be in place prior to the incapacity, naming an agent who will act on behalf of the senior.

Has one family member been chosen to be the prime contact?

9 – What to expect from Gordon

Gord Ellis has over 42 years Real Estate experience working primarily with seniors.

I am a real estate professional who has experience in senior’s issues and am ready to help. Although I have been working with seniors for over 42 years, only recently have I come to realize my need for a more knowledge of issues, services and options.

To achieve this goal I have taken additional training and am now prepared to offer several services in addition to those of normal Real Estate. I have developed a program covering the entire process from your first thought to the final move.

The program guides you through investigating, decision making, planning, and managing all work required.

• Preparing your home for sale or continued living.
• Preparing your new home to make it comfortable and safe for you.
• Helping you pack and unpack if needed

You can count on me as a Seniors Real Estate Realtor to guide you to a successful stress-free conclusion.[

A REALTOR who chooses to work with seniors does so because he enjoys interacting with seniors. Their decision to become an SRES is rooted in a desire to help others. It means that your REALTOR has respect for older individuals; has the ability to listen deeply and to ask the right questions; knows how to communicate the old-fashioned way, with a handshake and a visit. Be prepared to sit and chat awhile. They’ll want to take the time to get to know you and your family situation, as you’ll want to learn more about them.

As an Seniors Realtor I understand that this can be a stressful time for a family.  It’s hard to deal with leaving a home after spending many years in it. Perhaps you would actually prefer to go on living there. If that is the case, we should examine all the ramifications so you can decide if it is feasible.  I want to understand the challenges you face in this major decision so  I can present all available options and achieves  the best outcome for you.

The amount of information coming your way may seem overwhelming.

We can tailor our meetings to suit your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you’d like until you feel comfortable with the entire process and all its details. I will suggest taking breaks and even spread  the process over several days to ease the absorption of all the information.

GORD ELLIS, P.Eng.

I am a real estate professional who has experience in senior’s issues and am ready to help. Although I have been working with seniors for over 42 years, only recently have I come to realize my need for more knowledge of issues, services and options.

To achieve this goal I have taken additional training and am now prepared to offer several services in addition to those of normal Real Estate. I have developed a program covering the entire process from your first thought to the final move.

The program guides you through investigating, decision making, planning, as well as organizing and managing all work.

My team will do all the work involved in:

• Preparing your home for sale or continued living, including all necessary modifications.
• Preparing your new home to make it comfortable and safe for you.
• Marketing and selling your home.
• Managing all the details of getting ready to move and moving.
• Helping you choose a mover specific to your needs.
• Helping you pack and unpack if needed.

You can count on me as a Seniors Real Estate Realtor to guide you through this process to a successful stress-free conclusion.

What are the steps in the process of selling your home (click here)

To talk to a live person call Gord  your Seniors Realtor at 250 537 1763

A Seniors Realtor is a REALTOR who is uniquely qualified to assist seniors in the sale and purchase of homes and who have additional experience and education on how to help seniors and their families with later-in-life real estate transactions.