Aging in Community: With A Little Help from Our Friends

With a little help from our friends…


A year ago we explored some new models for seasoned adult living, beyond assisted living or standard retirement communities. In With A Little Help from Our Friends, aging expert and journalist Beth Baker takes us on a journey through expanded innovation that elders themselves are co-creating.reverse mortgage news

Aging in place is only as good as the place you’re aging in, writes Baker. Today’s mature adults are less likely to swim in the river of denial and more apt to be proactive, taking charge of their current and future independence by focusing on interdependence, the watchword of successful aging in place. And reverse mortgage can play a valuable role in enabling this to happen.

Some of the creative community options reverse mortgage professionals need to be aware of as Boomers become clients:

    1. Villages. Launched with Beacon Hill (a Boston suburb) in 2002, Villages are not actual structures, but neighbor-to-neighbor support systems designed to enable older adults to remain at home as they age. They’re volunteer run, usually with one or two paid staff, and provide everything from a ride to the doctor, to help changing a lightbulb, to grocery shopping — or “just” a friendly ear. Members (the seniors who receive assistance) pay an affordable annual fee, and are encouraged to volunteer to the extent they are able and willing. Villages also organize social events and outings, exercise classes or computer training; whatever the members want. The model is growing rapidly, with nearly 200 Villages now open nationwide and another 150 in development. The Village to Village Network helps communities establish and maintain their own Villages.
    2. Cohousing. The brainchild of a Danish architect, cohousing emerged in the U.S. in the 1980s, and like Villages, is mushrooming. The model enables each household to own (or in some cases, to rent) their own house or condominium, while sharing common space, weekly meals, and other social and lifestyle needs (e.g., cars and lawnmowers). Cohousing is collaborative, non-hierarchical, and can be multigenerational or dedicated to those 55+. Moving to a cohousing community can be an excellent way for seniors to downsize, perhaps with a HECM for Purchase, while creating a wider support network of neighbors and friends for their later years.
      Some cohousing models are designed for a specific elder niche, such as the Babayagas’ House that opened in a Paris suburb in 2012, an affordable urban site for women 50+ whose residents pledge to perform ten hours of weekly chores, and to care for one another with no professional staff. The model has caught fire in Canada, with Baba Yaga Place launching in Toronto.

      For those who become ill while living in cohousing, it may also be a way to live one’s final months without needing to resort to a nursing home. Baker relates the story of one single, childless 60-year-old man living in an intergenerational cohousing community, who developed colon cancer. His neighbors accompanied him to medical appointments, delivered meals, etc., enabling him to live nearly twice as long as his prognosis and to die peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and loved ones who sang to him in his final hours. This is an aspirational vision for both how to live and how to die.

    3. Cooperatives. Similar to cohousing in terms of community focus, housing cooperatives have a distinct legal and financial structure. Autonomy and affordability are two bywords, along with democratic member control and concern for the wider community. While most housing coops are multigenerational, senior housing coops are growing. Community relationships that support elders as they age are one of the strongest reasons seniors cite for choosing this form of retirement living.
    4. Housesharing. While creating community with friends or strangers may seem the purview of college students and twenty-somethings, housesharing is also an economical and creative way for elders to find companionship and reduce expenses in their later years. Some people opt to live among peers; others are comfortable with an intergenerational arrangement, and some just want to rent a room to defray costs — though they may find the tenant becomes a friend. The National Shared Housing Resource Center can help seniors find a shared housing organization in their community.


Affording the Future

In the third section of her book, Baker dives into “getting from here to there,” including accepting help (even if that means a robot assistant or smart home technology), advocating for direct care workers (another term for caregivers) and examining the ways seniors can plan for the unknown.

In lieu of pricey long-term care insurance, Baker suggests that reverse mortgage might be a viable way for mature adults to turn their home equity into cash to use as needed. She writes, “Many of us will likely turn to the value in our home to help pay for care.” With a combination of home healthtech, direct care workers, community support, and available home equity, the next wave of retirees may be able to remain at home until the very end.

You Must Remember This

Memory Goes Digital


In the Harry Potter novels, the professors at Hogwarts (and presumably other magical people as well) have the ability to remove a gossamer strand of memory from their minds and deposit it elsewhere for safekeeping, or to share visually with others. Wouldn’t it be terrific to have such powers?

We’re getting surprisingly close. Now there’s a “cognitive assistant” that will function as a personal search engine for memories, so that, once the assistant learns your mind and behaviors, you’ll be able to search for “Where did I put my health insurance card?” and receive a specific answer. Spooky cool.

While we’ve explored a backup memory app, smart ways for seniors to age-proof their brains, the importance of creativity in maintaining brain health and some tried-and-true methods to keep the hippocampus sharp, being able to Google your own memories breaks new ground.

Googling Your Mind

reverse mortgage newsApplied neuroscience inventor James Kozloski envisions specific applications for aging — especially for those who suffer from diseases like Alzheimer’s. “The loss of ability to access memory in the moment is the beginning of the breakdown of normal cognitive function: the ability of individuals to interact with others, take care of themselves, clothe themselves, cook meals,” he said.

Imagine “if your cognitive assistant knew that when you dial a certain person’s phone number — your niece, let’s say — it should also remind you of the name of her husband. The system might also know that, because of the time of day when you’re calling, the husband is more likely to pick up the phone. Or that, by checking a calendar, it happens to be his birthday.

“‘All of that context becomes the basis for inference as to what name should be spoken when they pick up the phone,’ Kozloski said.”

How Memory Loss Can Heal Relationships

And sometimes, memory loss can result in a familial healing, as Sheryl Hirsch-Kramer relates in this touching story of her mother’s dementia, “celebrating her magnificent spirit and the extraordinary help both she and I received during the 21 months she lived in memory care. With fierce honesty, Hirsch-Kramer acknowledges the gifts in her mother’s memory loss:

“My mom was beautiful, brilliant, kind, unique, and dearly loved. We had an awful relationship for the first 43 years and a beautiful relationship for the final 15 years. You have taught me the power of reaching for more in all of my relationships. You have taught me what can happen when we surround ourselves with people who truly love us and distance ourselves from those who can’t or don’t. And you have taught me things through partnering with you during your final years that will make me a better, a more caring person for the rest of my life.”

Perhaps sweetest of all, there’s now a multimedia memory time capsule that can serve as the repository of an elder’s life and wisdom. Even Hogwarts didn’t have that.

Never Too Late for That Dream Job:

How to Switch Careers Later in Life



When my friend Susan moved back to California with her family in the summer of 2014, she began job-hunting for the first time in fourteen years. At 56, this might have seemed a daunting endeavor — a generation ago. As it was, Susan sent out resumes somewhat casually for a few months, and by late autumn she had two solid job offers within easy commuting distance. Now, at 58, she’s considering spreading her work wings in a grander direction, and has already had one interview.

reverse mortgage newsClearly, this is not your mother’s career trajectory.

Whereas once upon a briefcase few employers would have given a second glance to the resume of someone less than a decade from retirement, today, with longevity creating an entire additional generation of life for many active adults, the 50s are prime time for companies to harvest talent at its peak.

Consider Alice Longworth, who says getting laid off at 62 was “the best thing that ever happened to her.” She decided to leave non-profit fundraising and start fresh in graphic design, something she’d always enjoyed. After taking courses at both the School of Visual Arts in New York and NYU’s School of Continuing Education, Longworth interned at age 66 (which makes the movie, The Intern, starring Robert DeNiro as a 70-year-old intern, seem not at all far-fetched), later landing two part-time positions that utilize her new skills.

Driven to Help

And as we explored in this post, Longworth is on the youthful side of the career reinvention spectrum.

With the advent of just-in-time services to rival traditional businesses, mature adults are also expanding the definition of what elder employment can look like. For instance, while two years ago we explored elder driving and when your reverse mortgage clients and prospects ought to consider relinquishing the keys, today older adults aren’t just requesting rides from services such as Uber and Lyft — they’re providing them!

Carol Sue Johnson, 73, is an Uber driver, one of a growing number of seniors who are augmenting their retirement income by getting behind the wheel on a part-time basis. Drivers are in such demand, in fact, that in 2015 Uber and Life Reimagined (a subsidiary of AARP) formed a partnership to recruit more 50+ drivers. Older drivers are prized because as a group they are careful, insured drivers who keep their vehicles in good repair, and tend to have fewer accidents than their younger cohorts.

And older drivers appreciate the freedom and flexibility, as well as the cash. Since they’re not depending on these ride services for full-time income, they can fit driving into their schedules, leaving them plenty of time to enjoy other activities while supplementing their Social Security or other sources of income (such as a reverse mortgage).

So however your still-spry reverse mortgage clients choose to spend their days, a part-time job that meets their needs may be the perfect way to reimagine work that’s a lot like play.

 

What Matters Most

A 70-Year Old’s View


 

Can you imagine us, years from today, sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange to be seventy…

-Lyrics from Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel-

How times change. Simon and Garfunkel recorded these lyrics nearly half a century ago (1968). And while today, far fewer people may be sitting forlornly on park benches at age 70, reaching this milestone can still feel “terribly strange” — and sound a wake-up call for those of us yet to reach it.

I met a lovely, lively almost 71-year-old artist at the library the other day. Our hour-long conversation ranged across topics from where we’ve both lived (California and back East), to second careers, to our respective fathers’ adoption of computers and the Internet late in life, to how she perceives time now that she’s 70. It was like a crash course in Becoming Ripe.

Although Nina (pronounced with a long “i”) is in good health, teaches art part-time and thrives on seeing her two-year-old and four-year-old grandkids blossom, her words when we discussed books surprised me. She said, “I only want to read the classics now that time is short.” While I admired her dedication to great literature, I was perplexed by the latter part of her statement.

The Possible vs. The Practical

reverse mortgage news“You could live another 25 years!” I exclaimed, expounding on the Third Age that today’s older generation enjoys. And while she acknowledged this as a possibility, she then told me that both her parents had dementia — her mother with early onset at just 59 — and died by their mid-seventies. I asked whether she’d read Still Alice, a fictional account of EOAD (Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease) or watched the movie, but she said no, it hit too close to home. “I might only have four or five good years left,” she quipped. Her words carried a sobering subtext.

This potential reality brought me up short. How much time do we squander, thinking it’s boundless — especially in an era of relentless texting? Certainly most of us have a different perspective by midlife than we did in our twenties, when we’re only looking ahead. If you’re a reverse mortgage professional on the far side of 50, do you have a sense of finitude? If so, imagine how much more pronounced it is for your clients in their seventies, eighties, or nineties.

Yet acceptance of this end game can also laser-focus our purpose and actions. Nina loves her husband, her children and grandchildren, her art classes, her friends, and seemingly everything else about her life now. With minimal reading time available, she chooses to focus on what will enrich her mind and her life. Our brief connection was a clarifying moment for me, as bracing as a deep dive into winter surf.

I came away from our conversation feeling I’d been gifted with a peek into my future. Think about how you spend your time. If some area of your life is not fulfilling, now is an excellent time to change it. You may have decades of life ahead. Why waste any of this precious time on activities that don’t nourish your heart and soul?

Owning and Enjoying Aging in Peace

Insights on Growing Older & Facing Death


Personal growth pioneer Louise Hay, still a tour de force in the field at 89, is known for saying, “Make the rest of your life the best of your life.” Her words aren’t aimed specifically at seniors, though they’re most apt for this cohort group, many of whom have a difficult time making peace with the changes growing older brings.

Several older participants in a women’s networking group recently asked, “How do you think about and deal with your feelings about aging — and death?”

Here are some ideas you may wish to share with your reverse mortgage prospects and clients or their family members, as well as with other elders in your life.

On growing older

  • Start or join a support group. Aging alone can be challenging, and the number of seniors minus any kind of support is mushrooming as the Boomers enter their elder years. Deepening Our Connection: A Guide for the Wisdom Years offers guidance for how to create “intentional family” later in life (or ideally, much earlier).reverse mortgage news
  • Have conversations with your younger self. Remember what used to light you up, or areas of life you always longed to explore but never did. (Painting class? Hiking club?) Now might be the perfect time to revisit these intentions.
  • Reframe aging as an adventure, and journal about it as you would a trip to a foreign country.
  • Read uplifting memoirs of people who’ve been there, such as Greedy for Life: A Memoir on Aging with Gratitude or The Measure of My Days, by Dr. Florida Scott-Maxwell. I read the latter in my early twenties. Scott-Maxwell’s book is a timeless testament to the issues we face throughout our lives, such as how to maintain individuality in a mass society, and how to emerge out of suffering, loss, and limitation with something approaching wisdom. Written when Scott-Maxwell was in her eighties, her voice is that of the “grandmother wisdom” often absent in Western culture.
  • Adopt a digitized four-footed companion. Did you have pets in your younger years but feel unequal to the task of caring for one now? Robocat provides all the love with none of the responsibility: no need to feed this cat, or clean the litter box. May be especially beneficial for someone with mild cognitive impairment.

On facing death

  • Embrace your role as an elder. When our parents and those of their generation die, we have an opportunity to redefine relationships within the family. In other cultures (and past generations) elders were revered. Now, as a senior, you have the freedom to serve as the voice of wisdom where you live, whether that means a major city, a nuclear family, or a retirement living community. Perception makes the difference.
  • Absorb the virtues of inspirational loved ones who have died, and allow the memory of your beloved departed to remind you that you’re still ALIVE.
  • Live in the now. This 92-year-old offers five simple rules for happiness that any senior (or younger person) can embrace if they choose.
  • Give back. Think you’re too old to serve others? A 105-year-old nun is still a font of encouragement to prison inmates. Her dedication to helping others may be one reason she’s lived so long. Instead of focusing on death, or her infirmities as a centenarian, she continues to enrich the world with love and outreach.

Looking for more reverse mortgage news, commentary and technology? Visit ReverseFocus.com today.

Our Mother’s Keeper: Part 1


A Resolution to Last All Year & Beyond

reverse mortgage newsWe all know how ephemeral New Year’s resolutions can be. With the best of intentions the first of January, you plan to join a health club, spend more time with your family, watch fewer ball games on the weekends… Whatever is on your checklist, chances are it’s relegated to the bottom of the to-do’s by February.

There’s one area that all reverse mortgage professionals can resolve to improve in 2016, however: situational awareness and action with the seniors with whom you interact.

Here’s a potent example:

Just before the holidays I watched an elderly man attempt to refill his prescription — at the meat counter in our local market. The young butcher explained that he needed to go to the pharmacy, about a mile away. I was concerned that a) the man was obviously confused and b) it was much too far for him to walk, especially in the dark. The deli worker told me not to worry. “We know him; he comes in here all the time. This is only the second time he’s asked about his medication, though,” he said, amused. When I reiterated that I was worried about him walking all the way to the pharmacy, and possibly getting lost or tired, the deli worker replied, “Oh, he has a car.”

What’s wrong with this picture? This is precisely the type of scenario where timely intervention can be crucial. While the gentleman in question may still be OK to drive, and only a little disoriented on occasion, what I witnessed could signal the beginning of a mental decline, or be a clue to some underlying health issue, or “simply” mixing up his medications — and is a red flag for a medical check-up and family awareness.

How can loan officers become more attuned to such health and safety issues?

  • When you make a home visit, look for telltale signs of a senior who may need help: uneaten food on the table, or prescription bottles scattered across the counter. The reverse mortgage professional may be the point person, perhaps even before a family member, who may gloss over what they see because they’re not ready to admit their loved one needs help — or because they visit so often, they’re accustomed to the disarray.It’s easy to become desensitized to what’s around us. I once insisted I smelled gas at a friend’s house where I was a frequent visitor. Finally, to humor me, he called the gas company, clarifying that although he didn’t think he had any leaks, his friend did. The next time I stopped by, to my amazement he said, “I’m a believer!” The gas technician found and fixed leaks in both the stove and wall heater. My friend didn’t suffer any ill effects, but imagine if this had been an elderly person, and the gas had been leaking for months or even years…
  • Take appropriate action. On a home visit, one loan officer noticed that the smoke alarm was “chirping”. The reverse mortgage client dismissed it casually, saying, “Oh, it’s been like that for months!” The savvy LO took it upon himself to go to the nearest hardware store, buy fresh batteries, come back to the client’s home and install them. Such small steps can make all the difference between someone being able to remain at home, or needing to go into assisted living — or perhaps being misdiagnosed with early-stage dementia when the truth is, they’ve been unknowingly breathing toxic fumes for months!
  • Communicate with discretion. If you’re already in communication with family members who are actively involved with your client’s care, it’s probably a good idea to gently mention what you’ve discovered. If this would be inappropriate, you can be a silent Samaritan — and make an extra effort to ensure this client or prospect is receiving the care and assistance they need.

With a resolution like this, you’ll not only be able to keep it, but will also improve the lives of the seniors you serve. Happy New Year!

 

Looking for more reverse mortgage news, commentary and technology? Visit ReverseFocus.com today.

Hard Holidays


When You’re the Caregiver, Not a Guest

reverse mortgage newsThe songs tell us this is “the most wonderful time of the year”. Holiday shopping, relatives visiting from afar, friends dropping by to exchange presents and share the latest news over eggnog or mulled wine…

Perhaps.

The reality is, many people don’t enjoy the holidays. For seniors with health challenges — and for the caregiver, often a family member, who lives with Mom or Dad or Grandma or Auntie, rather than dropping by in late December to spread holiday cheer — the holidays can be extra challenging.

Help is at hand, and not just during the holiday season. The key is to know what resources are available — and for caregivers to reach out and request assistance.

The following information can help your reverse mortgage clients, prospects, family members and other seniors or caregivers in your sphere to feel more supported, especially during the holiday season:

  • Turn “big E’s” into ease. Instead of expectation and emotional overwhelm, stay in the moment with loved ones. Holidays are notorious for bringing up old hurts, resentments, and regression to childhood behaviors, which only amplify stress. Both the senior who receives care and the caregiver can collaborate on a commitment to accept what is, and let go. It sounds simple, and is. And it works.
  • Be authentic, not automatic. A corollary to the above is to switch autopilot to “off”. The holidays can be so frenetic that cruise control becomes the default setting, which is counterproductive to happiness and well-being. Think and plan ahead, then be present with what is happening right now.
  • Relinquish the superhero cape. For someone new to caregiving, it may be tempting to assume you can (or should) be able to do it all. This guide provides an excellent overview of how to manage the caregiving role effectively so that both elder and caregiver receive the support they need.
  • Seek tech assistance. From virtual pet companions to wristwatch sensors to cities that cater to tech-assisted retirement, there’s a wealth of digital assistance available to support a caregiver and provide respite. As you discover relevant resources in your area, make a list and keep it handy so you can get help quickly when you need it.
  • Recognize the symptoms of caregiver burnout before you become desperate. This article describes how to prevent and deal with caregiver stress, including resources for respite care.
  • Reach out and touch someone. The old telephone company slogan had it right: a simple hug can go a long way towards restoring mood, and even help the body heal. Many seniors are touch-deprived. Stroking someone’s hand as you talk with them, a comforting touch on the shoulder, or a full body hug (if appropriate), can help both elder and caregiver recharge. Watching funny movies together, singing, or spending time in nature (even if that’s just bringing the wheelchair onto the back porch for ten minutes) are some other excellent ways to dispel senior doldrums — and support the caregiver as well.

Looking for more reverse mortgage news, commentary and technology? Visit ReverseFocus.com today.

The Kids are All Right


Six Tech Startups to Help Seniors Age in Place

From robots to wearable safety detectors, end-of-life decisions to daytrips for dementia patients, 20- and 30-somethings are turning their immense drive and creativity towards helping seniors and their family members as never before. These young entrepreneurs are filling senior market gaps, some of which we might not have conceived of until the visionary company appeared.reverse mortgage news

Such as a ride service for patients with early stage Alzheimer’s disease. Yes, Silver Sedans offers rides to all older adults in need of transportation. But they also offer a specialized ride service for Alzheimer’s patients that provides mental stimulation along with the ride.

Or Attendant, an aptly-named platform that aggregates tasks for the family of a just-deceased loved one, from funeral arrangements to death certificates and beyond — “from social security to social media” says the site — so families can focus on grieving rather than on details at a time of loss. The startup team is young enough to be a reverse mortgage client’s grandchildren — which may be precisely why they understand the importance and value of such a service.

Robots to the rescue

We’ve written before about how robots are infiltrating the senior landscape to make life easier, such as with household chores. Now Luvozo is developing SAM, a robot who’ll be able to roam senior living communities, assist residents with non-medical tasks, and participate in activities. For those who may be lonely, with few people to talk to, SAM might be a welcome friend. Hopefully he’ll be programmed to be a good listener and scintillating conversationalist.

Women are often at the helm of disruptive health care technology startups, such as Caremerge, a health tech company that’s revolutionizing care coordination and communication for seniors by providing a HIPAA-compliant, web- and mobile platform that allows family members to communicate in real time with their loved ones’ doctors and other health care providers.

Humetrix puts medical intelligence in a senior’s hands, literally: the company’s mobile applications give consumers their own health IT systems for improved patient safety and cost control, from a customizable ICEBlueButton (In Case of Emergency) to an iBlueButton, a patient-controlled button that enables consumers to easily and securely pull, receive, aggregate, store and share their emergency medical records summary at any point of care or in a telemedicine scenario.

Finally, when a senior needs to move, the very thought of sorting through and packing up a lifetime of memories can be overwhelming. Senior Move Success helps manage the transition to assisted living or independent housing, providing the compassionate support that can smooth the way to an older adult’s next, and likely final, place of residence — by planning, finding, arranging, coordinating, and managing all of the resources necessary.

All of these startups and many others point to the extensive support both youth and the healthcare IT sector are devoting to an aging population, welcome news for both reverse mortgage professionals and the seniors you serve.

Looking for more reverse mortgage news, commentary and technology? Visit ReverseFocus.com today.

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence promises all Americans the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — the last a fine distinction that’s all too easy to overlook. Like the proverbial carrot on a stick, we are encouraged by the Founding Fathers to follow our hearts, even if we never quite attain a state of contentment and joy.joy-world

But there are some surprisingly simple steps all of us — especially seniors who may be feeling low during the upcoming holiday season — can take to increase our level of happiness, say neuroscience researchers at UCLA. Here are four tips you can share with the seniors you serve:

  1. Ask, what am I grateful for? When we’re unhappy, the brain spirals into guilt, shame and worry — which activate the brain’s reward center, but in a negative way (worrying at least makes you feel like you’re doing something.) Going to gratitude boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin, which provides the same feel-good response as Prozac, without the side effects.
  2. Put the bad feeling into words. According to researchers, labeling our negative emotions as sad, anxious, angry, etc., actually reduces their impact. This is why psychologists have long encouraged people to express rather than suppress what they feel.
  3. Decide. Many people are so flummoxed by major life decisions that they waffle until the choice either gets made for them, or the time to make any decision passes. Instead, it’s smarter to make a decision that works for now; you can always tweak it down the road. The perfect moment hardly ever arrives, in any aspect of life: relationships, jobs, whether to get a reverse mortgage now or later…
  4. Reach out and touch someone. Embrace the old phone company slogan, only this time, do it in person. Ask for a hug. Hugs release the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin, a natural antidepressant that sends negativity plummeting in the brain. In fact, research shows that receiving five hugs a day for a month generates a huge happiness boost.

Can remote friendships fill the gap? Possibly; at least partially. Retirees 65+ are flocking to Facebook, both to stay connected with grandchildren and to connect with friends who may live far away – or who are less mobile than they once were. But even with video available, touchscreens are a poor substitute for face-to-face human contact. So while the growing senior movement towards technology is a boon for loan originators who now have an additional way to reach reverse mortgage prospects and clients, an office or kitchen table meeting might still be the most beneficial gathering for all.

For more reverse mortgage information, tools and technology visit ReverseFocus.com today.

Now What? New Retirement Part 1

The New Retirement (Part 1): Now What? A Resource Guide

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reverse mortgage newsBoomer retirees are nothing like their predecessors. Not only are today’s retirees looking at possibly decades of life ahead, they still have much to contribute, as one LO noted in response to last month’s post about knowing when it’s best to relinquish the reins.

He wrote, “I would appreciate additional sources for my personal direction at this point in my life. At age 68 I am looking at retirement (with one eye only) but want to stay active and perhaps be of service to others. Can you recommend books, etc.?”

Following are some of the best “new retirement” books and websites we’ve found, curated for easy sharing with your reverse mortgage clients, prospects, friends, and among yourselves:

  • The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife. Author Marc Freedman is an “encore careers” expert who defines what this “Third Age” looks like. His website, Encore.org, contains a number of Resources for Encore Seekers who want to use their next act for greater good.
  • SHIFTonlne.org is a second careers network focused on helping people in midlife and beyond fuse productivity and purpose to create meaningful later life work for social causes.
  • Life Planning Network (LPN) is a community of professionals and organizations from diverse disciplines dedicated to helping people 50+ navigate the next phase of their lives. LPN has a network of nationwide chapters and consultants to help people identify and move toward their goals in the second half. They’ve also published a guidebook, Live Smart After 50!
  • The Transition Network (TTN) is a national member organization for “women 50 and forward” who are in transition. A unique TTN service, The Caring Collaborative, provides members with hands-on support when circumstances require it, such as a broken leg or temporary illness. The program offers a variety of services chapters can adopt depending on their needs.
  • The Center for Conscious Eldering, which we highlighted in detail in this post, can guide you or your reverse mortgage clients and prospects on their inner journey. For many, addressing deep questions about meaning and purpose becomes important later in life, especially if they haven’t explored these subjects earlier.
  • Vital Aging Network is a non-profit whose mission is to promote self-determination, civic engagement, and personal growth for people as they age, through education, leadership development, and opportunities for connection.
  • Sixty&Me is a site by, for and about woman 60+, focusing on life and career reinvention, retirement, travel, health, money, friendships and more. Upbeat and chockfull of useful information in a digital magazine format.
  • Suddenly Solo, started by a sociologist in his eighties, is “A lifestyle road map for the mature widowed or divorced man.” They’ve published a book with the same title. The site focuses on solo living for older men who may be living alone for the first time, and includes advice on dating and relationships, health and fitness, finances, and more.
  • Leading Age is a non-profit consortium of 6,000+ organizations representing the entire field of aging services, including 39 state partners and hundreds of businesses, consumer groups, and foundations. The site provides portals for aging services technologies, applied research, housing services and advocacy, and offers a plethora of opportunities to get involved.
  • Retirement Café’s Fun Things to Do When You Retire. While Ernie Zelinki’s site is basically a promotional vehicle for his book, How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, it’s also informative, and focused on loving your life as a retiree.

In addition to this list, many retirement websites are location-specific, so you may want to search for retirement support resources in your area. There are hundreds of sites to guide you, your clients, and friends on their evolving journey. If you find the above list useful, please let us know and we can develop a follow-up post.

 

For more reverse mortgage information, tools and technology visit ReverseFocus.com today.