Cosmetic Changes Increase Property Value

Just as the mini skirt goes in and out of style, fashions change for housing as well. The architectural features that our parents couldn’t wait to erase from their homes are now coming back into favor as a new generation of homebuyers embraces all things Retro.

If you are thinking of selling your house in the near future, or even if you are waiting until the market picks up again, there are some things that you can do to make your residence more inviting to prospective buyers. My advice is not to undertake ambitious remodeling jobs. Who knows what may please buyers. That old linoleum in your basement may fit right into their idea of the perfect family room. The pink and green bathroom tile popular in the fifties, so rare after more than half a century of boudoir makeovers, is once again a prized style element.

When keeping prospective buyers in mind, think more about neatness and good repair. Curb appeal has become an oft-heard phrase in the last few years, and a new coat of paint and some judicious pruning and trimming can add thousands of dollars worth of market value. Roofs are always a concern to buyers. If yours is beginning to show wear and tear, repair or replace before listing the house. A new roof is a great selling point.

Inside the house, making sure that the plumbing and heating are functioning well has more of an impact on selling price than wallpaper or the color of the paint. Most people are going to repaint regardless of how tasteful your palette may be. Obvious signs of disrepair or poor maintenance can leave prospective buyers wondering what’s going on inside the walls and between the floors.

If you are in doubt about how to put your financial resources to good use, consult an inspector. Most buyers will have an inspection performed before finalizing their offers, and a favorable inspection often is a prerequisite for receiving funding. It is not unusual for an inspection to uncover conditions of which the homeowner had been unaware. A pre-sale inspection can prevent unwelcome surprises that could stall closing.

Although sometimes circumstances dictate a speedy sale, if you have the luxury of time, it makes sense to give your home a bit of a makeover before putting it on the market. A small investment in maintenance and upkeep can translate into thousands in selling price.

Dave Douglas, John L. Scott Real Estate, 206-618-3037

Physical Fitness Promotes Mental Health

Maintaining good heath comes with the added benefit of keeping your body fit and fabulous. To achieve both goals, staying physically active is essential. Physical activity also significantly reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, thereby protecting against risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

Experts advise that if you have a chronic disease, such as a heart condition, arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure, or symptoms that could be due to a chronic disease, it's important that you consult with your doctor about the kinds and amounts of physical activity that are appropriate for you. Not doing any physical activity can be detrimental, no matter your age or health condition. Your health benefits will increase with the more physical activity that you do.

Growing evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that exercise does not have to be strenuous, nor does it require a major time commitment. It is most effective when done regularly, and in combination with a brain-healthy diet, mental activity, and social interaction.

Aerobic exercise improves oxygen consumption, which benefits brain function and has been found to reduce loss of brain cells in seniors. Walking, bicycling, gardening, exercise groups, tai chi, yoga, and other activities of about 30 minutes daily get the body moving and the heart pumping. Physical activities that also involve mental activity – plotting your route, observing traffic signals, making choices – provide additional value for brain health. Doing these activities with a companion or in a group offers the added benefit of social interaction.

Everyone's fitness level is different. This means that walking may be a moderately intense activity for you, while for others it may feel vigorous. It all depends on you: the shape you're in, what you feel comfortable doing, and your health condition. What's important is that you choose physical activities that are right for you and your abilities.

For help in assessing the levels and types of activities that may suit your lifestyle, consult your SPOS Physical and Occupational therapist. She can help you to develop a routine that is best for you.

Summit Pacific Rehabilitation www.summitpacificrehab.com 425-315-8200

Affordable Insurance Aids Preventive Care

Although we still haven’t found the fabled fountain of youth, modern science is helping us lead healthier, happier, more active lives well into our retirement years. We might have accumulated enough experience to call ourselves senior citizens, but we’re not nearly as old as our grandparents were at this age. We look younger, we act younger, and we feel younger. 

Healthier lifestyles and a better understanding of what it means to take care of ourselves have allowed us to defy many of the stereotypes of aging. Sensible eating, daily exercise, and regular visits to the doctor are the three biggest favors we can do for our bodies. 

Unfortunately, as medical researchers discover new pharmaceuticals and treatment methods, the costs to patients seem to rise almost infinitely. Medicare, which was established as part of the Social Security Act of 1965, was designed to address the issue of affordable health care for those on fixed incomes. Since then, efforts to keep older Americans healthy, financially as well as physically, have led to the supplemental insurance market, whose policies cover the 20 percent of service costs that Medicare assigns to patients, and, most recently, to the Affordable Care Act. 

The recent health care reform legislation seeks to reduce medical costs by encouraging preventive treatment, such as regular checkups and screenings. This June is our nation’s first Prevention and Wellness Month, and, on June 16, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its National Prevention Strategy, which “outlines the ways that public and private partners can help Americans stay healthy and fit and improve our nation’s prosperity.” 

The HHS web site contains helpful information about prevention and wellness services that may be covered at no cost, preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries, and recommendations for screenings and precentive services based on age ane gender. If you’d like to discuss what the new laws mean for senior health care, or if you have any other Medicare questions, I’d be happy to answer them for you at any time. 

For now, we’ll lift our glasses of antioxidant-rich cranberry juice in a toast to Prevention and Wellness month, and being happier, healthier, and ever more youthful senior citizens.

Walden Insurance Services         425-530-3669

Harbour Pointe Seniors Plan Active Calendar

Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest have many reasons to count our blessings. In addition to spectacular natural beauty and a (usually) mild climate, we are fortunate to be within easy commuting distances to excellent restaurants, first-rate cultural events and unparalleled outdoor recreation sites.

At Harbour Pointe Retirement and Assisted Living, we offer our residents a variety of activities that take advantage of what our region has to offer. Our monthly calendars are filled with events close to home, as well as some farther afield, including trips to Aviation Day at Payne Field, viewing the tulips in the Skagit Valley, or brushing up on local history at the Nordic Heritage Museum. We also like to take in the occasional show, maybe a play or concert performed by local talent, or cheer on the Little League players.

We have great restaurants in the area, and enjoy dining out. One day, we’ll savor ham and eggs at Patty’s Eggnest. Another might see us lunching on General Tso’s chicken at Golden House, burritos at Azteca, or trying a little bit of everything at Tulalip Casino’s buffet. Once a month, we plan a nice dinner out, perhaps at the Red Lobster or Arnie’s, with its great view of the Mukilteo ferry dock.

We Northwesterners do enjoy a good meal, and we have plenty of fun and unusual grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, famous for its out-of-the ordinary delicacies, and Central Market, which carries an amazing variety of produce and ethnic specialties. In the summer months, we can buy fresh local berries and flowers at the Mukilteo Farmers’ Market, in addition to enjoying the large selection of hand-crafted goods.

Almost every Saturday afternoon, we head out for a Mystery Drive, a chance to do a little sight-seeing and maybe blow away a few of the cobwebs. Other days, we might catch up on our errands with a trip to the bank, the drug store and the post office. The Sno-Isle library system has a branch just behind us, and every Friday, we wander over to check out new books to keep us entertained even when the sun isn’t shining.

Getting out and about is more than just visiting local areas of interest, however. It’s a chance to share experiences with the new friends we have made, as well as a way to keep our lives fresh and interesting. If you’d like to find out more about Harbour Pointe and the programs we plan for our residents, please give us a call. We’d love to hear from you.

Harbor Pointe Retirement        425-493-855

Transportation Plans Keep Seniors Mobile

 More than four in five Americans aged 65 or older worry that they will be stranded and unable to get around when they can no longer drive, according to a survey released by the American Public Transportation Association. Additionally, 98 percent of those seniors interviewed said that maintaining their independence is extremely important. Giving up our driver’s licenses or cars does not mean that we have to stop getting out into our community or give up doing the things that we love to do. The first step is: Know where you can find a ride.

 I never go anywhere.

I would go, but I don’t have a ride.

I am afraid that I will fall if I try to go to the store.

My daughter is so busy, I don’t want to ask her again.

My husband really shouldn’t be driving anymore.

I am afraid of imposing on anyone, so I will stop going.

If these statements sound familiar, it’s time for you to put together a transportation plan, a list of all the ways that you can get around. Your transportation plan might include any or all of the following:

• Rides from friends and family

• Facility outings to stores or events

• Taxi

• Bus or train

• Senior shuttle

Start by making a list of where it is that you would like to go, church, visiting a friend, shopping, doctor’s appointments, etc. Next, look at the best option for getting there. Does your community offer bus outings to the store or doctor’s appointments? Do you have a friend at church who might pick you up? Try to look at each activity and the best way to get there.

If you need help creating a transportation plan because of physical disability, such as vision, hearing, or mobility loss, your doctor can get you started with a referral to your SPOS Occupational or Physical Therapist. We will be happy to work with you to help you keep busy with the activities you enjoy.

Summit Pacific Rehabilitation  425-315-8200