Upsize your Lifestyle...Downsize your Worries

I had the great pleasure this past Wednesday evening to co-host an event at The Legends Estate Winery down by the Lake in Beamsville. As a Senior Housing Professional dedicated to helping the 55+ and senior crowd with downsizing moves, I teamed up with Elaine Kelly alongside a couple of guest speakers to present “Upsize Your Lifestyle…..Downsize Your Worries”.

Guests were able to enjoy some wine tasting before our very informative presentation: Planning for a Move, Planning for Healthcare Costs and Planning for Your Loved Ones. These particular topics are of special significance to me, as well as Elaine, as we both continue to navigate these areas with senior family members, friends and clients. Drawing on personal experience, I see the immense stress put upon family members when we or our loved ones are caught in a “crisis with healthcare and/or living situation” without a plan. I’m not aware of anyone who doesn’t want to have a say in where they are going to live and how they are going to be cared for should those decisions need to be addressed; and yet we continue to encounter those who haven’t discussed these things in advance. The primary goal of the presentation was to educate our guests, get them thinking and talking about “what if” and to consider “planning” for their future needs.

I began the conversation with tips for downsizing your home and creating a plan that fits your lifestyle and future needs whether rightsizing, downsizing or simplifying. Deciding when, where, how and even if it’s time to move can be overwhelming and by planning ahead we can reduce the stress for ourselves as well as our family members. Various types of 55+ and senior living options were discussed including retirement communities, assisted living as well as issues to consider when making decisions for yourself or a loved one regarding Long Term Care.

Elaine and her guest speaker provided information about a variety of health and travel insurance options. There are products available that provide living benefits, where payouts are triggered when you are disabled, critically ill or unable to perform the tasks of daily living.

Alanna Stephens, our guest lawyer, spoke about Wills, types of Powers of Attorney and important considerations for Estate Planning. There are new rules in effect for Estate Administration in Ontario as of January 2016 and Alanna discussed the responsibilities of an Executor as well as the implications with adding children on title.