Senior Housing Options

Pros and Cons of the Top Three Senior Housing Options

By Harry Cline

 

As we begin to get a little older, we have to start thinking about where we’ll live out our best years. We are now free from the constraints of the workplace and have time to travel, play with the grandkids, or to simply relax. Being active and engaged is crucial as we inch toward 70 and beyond. Just as important, however, is where we choose to live.

 

Having a safe and comfortable environment is essential. With each passing year, we become a bit more susceptible to things like dementia, isolation, and impaired mobility. It makes sense to lay out a plan for the future now so that we can continue to enjoy the things we love.

 

For most seniors, this comes down to deciding between staying in our current home, moving into a senior-friendly single-family home, or transitioning into assisted living. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each that you need to keep in mind.

 

Assisted Living

 

An assisted living center is a structured environment where seniors continue to have a great level of control over their lifestyle. MedicalAlert Comparison notes that these senior communities are no longer the institutional agencies of the past. Instead, the vast majority of assisted living facilities resemble an all-inclusive vacation resort. The biggest difference is that, in addition to being set up for enjoyment, assisted living is designed with the unique needs of seniors in mind. In addition to safety, these facilities offer things such as meal preparation, assistance with medication, and transportation services, among others.

 

One of the most significant benefits of assisted living is that seniors here remain somewhat self-sufficient and usually have a one-bedroom apartment or studio they can decorate to feel like home. If you live in the Naples area, you should know there are many high-quality assisted-living campuses nearby. Make a point to tour several before making a decision. A Place for Mom points out that monthly fees vary from $1,500 to $7,604 per month, so cost may be a slight negative if the facility you want is toward the higher end of the spectrum.

 

Renovation

 

Renovating your current property is often cost-effective and can help you stay where you are most comfortable for as long as possible. The most important benefit of aging in place, however, is not money. Some studies even indicate that remaining in familiar surroundings can help lessen the effects of memory loss.

 

On the downside, if you live in a large home, you may wind up having “dead zones” throughout the house. This might be an upstairs master bedroom that you can’t use because you can no longer navigate the stairs. Home maintenance, housekeeping, utility expenses, and the overall cost of living in your area must also be considered. Keep in mind that even if you do not use the entire property, you still have to heat and cool, clean, and maintain each area.

 

Relocation

 

Finding a new home for your retirement years may also be a smart choice, especially given that many areas throughout the US and Canada have updated building codes to include accessibility-focused design elements. A home with this scheme would be more accessible to you even if you use a walker or wheelchair. Further, you might be able to find a smaller property or one with an HOA that handles lawn maintenance and common area upkeep.

 

Drawbacks to this option really only come into play if your physical condition declines to the point where you can no longer live alone safely. In this case, you may be forced to sell your new home and move into an assisted living center. If you choose to stay, you will have to foot the bill for at-home care or recruit friends and family for assistance.

 

These are obviously not your only choices during retirement, but they are the most common and will most likely pop up on your radar at some point. Don’t make the decision in haste, and make a point to get to know the pros and cons of each before you declare your intentions.

 

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Decision – WordPress.org or WordPress.com

Build Your Own Website using WordPress

I’ve received hundreds of e-mails on this topic after responding to a 2013 comment on my website.   A reader asked about setting up a weblog, the requirements, cost, and skills needed . This is an edited version of my response.
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Deciding Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com

Editorialsays:

I built this website using the WordPress.org platform (free) and requires finding a web hosting company ($10/month), plus buying a domain name and keeping it up ($12/year). With WordPress.org, you are the owner and can design the website however you want plus there are many “plugins” you can add to increase functionality to your website. Your website will be named something like “NaplesHomeBuilders.com”, However, if you’ve never done this before, it will all look ‘Greek’ to you. I spent a couple months figuring it out by “trial and error” before I was able to use it. If you want customers to find you through Google searches, this is the best way to go…but, you’ll have to understand and utilize SEO (search engine optimization). Since my industry is highly competitive, I chose keywords “Advanced Property Search Naples Florida”. So when you type that into a Google search, it will appear on the first page. Variations of these and other keywords will also yield some first or second page results. My website will not rank high if you type in “Homes For Sale in Naples Florida” – the competition for these words are extremely high and I would have to hire the $best of the best$ to rank well. However, for those people who do ‘long tail searches’ for an advanced property search tool for Naples Florida, I will do well.
If you want something free and easier to use, sign up to WordPress.com and get a blog free. Your blog will be named something like “NaplesHomeBuilders.Wordpress.Com.  Notice the that WordPress is in the website name.  This is probably the best way for most people to go if they want a blog, but aren’t concerned about rankings in Google searches. With this free and easiest version your blog wont be discovered by Google searches, say for instance, for Naples Home Builders, but you can direct your clients to your blog for information.
Or, you can buy a template website for $29/month and higher. It’s fairly easy to add your own pictures and wording, but you are limited to the design of the template. You are usually limited to a certain number of pages and options. Because of SEO issues, it will be hard for this kind of website to rank with the search engines.
Last and most expensive, is to hire a web designer. Yes, it will costs you hundreds, maybe thousands just to get going. If you are in a competitive industry, such as “Home Builders”, you will spend thousands every year with your programmer trying to get or keep your ranking within the first few page results. Several years ago, another real estate agent in a KW office said she spent at least $20,000/year trying to get her website on the first page – and it didn’t always work. (Update; as of January 2017 I can’t even find that agent’s website on the internet)
Your needs and vision for your website should determine which way to proceed. If you only need a place for your customers to go for information, use the WordPress.com platform or a website template. If you want more functionality and search engine potential use the WordPress.org platform, but this requires that you (or one of the geeks in your family) learn to do it yourself. Or hire a good web designer if you want it all, and someone to do it for you. Caution! There are alot of people out there do web design. Ask alot of questions and get referrals before you spend the dollars.
Before I dove in, I had the same question that you presented me. After spending a couple months researching it, I chose the WordPress.org platform and glad I did.  I started this website in 2011 and it’s still performing well in the search criteria it was designed for.

Daryl Kniep

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Naples Florida real estate including homes and condos for sale in Naples Florida can be easily found with our advanced property search tool.  It has more search options than realtor.com florida. You will have many ways to modify your search including options for foreclosures, bank approved short sales, areas, communities, amenities, and more. Go Directly to Advanced Property Search.

 

 

Map Search

For those of you who like to use Google maps to search for Naples real estate we have a tool for that too.  Again, click on Categories on the navigation bar and a drop-down menu will reveal Map Search.  Under the map, set your parameters and watch the results change on the map.  Click on a map marker to see a short description.  Then click on details, pictures, map, or other options made available. Map Search

 

 

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We also have Address Search.   Simply select the city you want to search and a street name or complete address and hit search.   Address Search

 

 

 

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If you have a MLS id number use this tool to find homes for sale in Naples Florida.  MLS Number Search

 

 

 

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Foreclosures is a page that provides you with a short summary of the foreclosure market in Naples Florida and then provides quick links to some predefined Property Search categories of Naples real estate listings.  You can search for houses for sale, condos for sale, and all homes for sale in Naples Florida.   About Foreclosures    Foreclosure Listings

Short Sales

Short sales make up a considerable portion of our Naples real estate market today.  Properly informed buyers will realize that short sale listings may offer some of the best values in the market.  Homeowners who are in imminent danger of losing their homes in foreclosure need to know the alternatives and how it will benefit them for years to come.
All About Short Sales      Short Sale Listings   Bank-Approved Short Sales

 

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Home Buyer Information

Go to this special section for home buyers where you will find interesting and useful information.  The following  are just some of the useful things you’ll find in the home buyer section.    Property Search Information For Buyers

  • Financial tools including:  Mortgage Calculator, Closing Costs Calculator, and Affordability Calculator.
  • Foreclosures: Understanding the process and how to buy them in a competitive market.
  • Foreclosure listings:  Links to predefined categories of foreclosure listings.
  • Community information:  Links to listings and information on specific communities.

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This is a special section for home sellers.  You’ll need current market information and an understanding of the different ways to market your property.  Some of the things you’ll find useful:  Seller Information

  • Naples real estate market statistics
  • Comprehensive Market Analysis
  • Distressed property owner information
  • Short Sale vs Foreclosure

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We value our relationship with every homeowner who lists their home with us.  Therefore, we proudly feature these listings in the top slider bar on the home page and special pages throughout this site.   Check out our agent’s listings of homes for sale in Naples Florida under the Featured Listings tab.

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If you are interested in renting a house or condo in the Naples area you can find our current listings under Rentals.  We have seasonal rentals and annual rentals.  You can also use the advanced search tool to find other rentals in Naples and surrounding areas.

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Coach Home For Sale in Naples Florida

000_0001_00Coach Home For Sale in Naples Florida

Rarely Offered in Huntington Lakes
Duval Model Features 1,995 sq ft under A/C

Only $248,500

Lovely and spacious furnished and immaculate coach home for sale in Naples Florida. This condo is a pleasure to show, looks like a model home ! Many amenities including a lake view, wrap around rear porch, spacious eat-in kitchen, spacious living room with separate dining area. Master suite with separate shower plus a Whirlpool bath. This ‘home’ offers lovely decor and beautiful furnishings, 2 car attached garage, long driveway with plenty of private parking, Just listed and won’t last on the market long if your buyer is looking for a wonderful community, immaculately furnished spacious condo, nice lake views, extra parking for just your guests. Huntington Lakes is a convenient and beautiful Naples Fl community offering many amenities including 3 pools, hot tub, fitness center, clubhouse, game room, community room and much more. Call Angela Kniep today @ 239-877-2325

530 Augusta Blvd – St Moritz Club – Naples FL

Listed Price: $129,900
Address: 530 Augusta Blvd 201
City/State Naples, Florida
Development St Moritz Club
Square Feet 1,294
Bd/Ba 3/2
Floor 2nd
Agent Maura Davenport
Contact 239-293-3485

SECOND FLOOR END UNIT WITH THREE BEDROOMS AND FABULOUS VIEWS OF THE GOLF COURSE AND LAKE FROM YOUR LANAI! THE ST. MORITZ COMMUNITY OFFERS QUIET LIVING AND FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS. BRAND NEW CARPET & PAINT MAKE THIS READY FOR A NEW OWNER. SPLIT FLOOR PLAN ALLOWS OWNERS AND GUEST THEIR PRIVATE AREAS SEPARATED BY A DEN OR THIRD BEDROOM. VAULTED CEILINGS, NEW AIR CONDITIONER AND STORM SHUTTERS ARE AN ADDED BONUS. THE COMMUNITY POOL, CLUBHOUSE AND TENNIS COURTS ARE JUST STEPS FROM YOUR FRONT DOOR FOR ADDED CONVENIENCE. ST. MORITZ IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED 10 MINUTES FROM OLDE NAPLES AND THE PRISTINE GULF OF MEXICO BEACHES.

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