Staying Independent At Home

Last week, health columnist Jane Brody wrote an excellent piece on successful aging in one's own home and community. 80 to 90% of American seniors want to remain in their homes. But they can't do it alone. It takes community support. Fortunately, organizations have sprung up all over the country that provide exactly this kind of support. Read the article, "Staying Independent in Old Age, With a Little Help."

Full disclosure: I am a founding member and a current board member of Aging in Place+Gallivant, an organization that provides precisely the kind of help Jane Brody writes about, but for older adults in Darien, Connecticut. We provide transportation, handyman services, referrals and information.

Banishing the Grinch from Christmas

When I walked into my 87-year-old friend's kitchen, she didn't even say hello. Instead, she said, "I hate Christmas. Well, not when the kids were little. But now. I hate Christmas."

She motioned to the envelopes, cards, an address book and pen spread out on the table. But I knew the real reason. Last year, on Christmas Day, her only daughter had died. I can't imagine facing Christmas under such circumstances. So I looked her in the eye and said, "If I were in your shoes, I'd hate Christmas, too."

She nodded.  Her eyes said it all.

Then, I started admiring the really clever Christmas cards she had chosen, which had been designed by a British artist. And we got into quite a discussion about artists, family histories and generator installations in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Out of the blue she said, "Before you leave I have to show you the dog."

She explained that she had gone to all the CVS drugstores in our area trying to find more dogs just like the one she was going to show me. She wanted to have one for herself and give others to friends and family. She had managed to snag only three.

There on the kitchen counter sat a stuffed dog. She pushed the "Push Here" button on his paw. And the dog started singing a Christmas song, moving around and flapping his ears in time to the music.We both burst out laughing.

"Isn't he great?" she asked.

I left her house marveling at how the Grinch hadn't actually gotten away with stealing my neighbor's Christmas completely. She still had a lot of resilience and even Christmas spirit left. That's probably why she's lived so long.

Still, in this highly commercial world, I hope we can all keep the true spirit of Christmas and this multi-cultural Holiday Season alive. Joy, peace, hope, love. Let the light of what's ultimately good overcome the darkness. 

Candlelight Concert at First Congregational Church - Free Rides from Gallivant

Christmas Candlelight Concert at First Congregational Church

Get in the Christmas spirit at the beloved annual Candlelight Concert at The First Congregational Church of Darien on Sunday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. The evening will feature performances by The Darien High School Tudor Singers under the direction of Chris Andrade, the church’s Senior Choir soloists, world-class pianist Max Pakhomov, and a carol sing-along. Dan Hague, First Congregational’s Music Director, has also promised “a few surprises.”

John Stuart, Chair of the church’s Music Committee, said, “This is a Christmas gift to our entire community. I find the concert very special, even magical. It’s an event that simply is not to be missed, and all are welcome.”

There is no charge for the concert, but the church will be collecting a free-will offering to benefit ElderHouse of Norwalk, CT, one of the worthy causes supported by the church’s Outreach efforts. ElderHouse Adult Day Center is committed to providing aging seniors with a safe, nurturing environment where they can share time with others while receiving the care they need. Learn more about Elderhouse at http://www.elderhouse.org.

For Darien seniors 60+ who would like a ride to and from this evening event, Aging in Place+Gallivant is offering free transportation using their volunteer Friendly Drivers. Just call Gina Blum, Executive Director, at 203-585-4094. Aging in Place+Gallivant is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to help older adults in Darien to live independently, comfortably and with dignity in their own homes for as long as possible. It is generously supported by community members, including the First Congregational Church. Learn more at www.aginginplacegallivant.org.

The First Congregational Church of Darien, UCC, is located at 14 Brookside Road in Darien. For more information about the concert, please visit the church website at www.uccdarien.org or call the church office at 203-655-0491.

Dangers of Reverse Mortgages

Yesterday, The New York Times ran a front-page article on the financial dangers of reverse mortgages. Unsuspecting seniors, lured by deceptive sales pitches or lack of full disclosures, who took out reverse mortgages are losing their homes. Defaults are running high. Reverse mortgages allow homeowners 62 and older to borrow money against the equity they have built up in their homes. They pay back the loan when they die or move.

Some people look at their homes as a bank, and they can use the money from a reverse mortgage for a vacation or to pay for school for grandchildren or for healthcare needs. These are practices fraught with peril for many seniors.

The article, "Abuse Growing in Loan Option for the Elderly," (print title) not only profiles people who have lost their homes, but also gives tips about things to look out for.

•  The fees may not be affordable.
• You still have to pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance.
• Make sure both spouses are on the deed. If your spouse and dies, and he or she is the only name on the deed, then you'll lose the house and have to move.
• Read the details of the loan. There are no standards.

 You can learn about more about reverse mortgages by reading the article on the NY Times website: 

"A Risky Lifeline for the Elderly Is Costing Some Their Homes

Regulators are noting new abuses tied to reverse mortgages, which let people 62 and older borrow money against the value of their homes and not pay it back until they move out or die."

Time for Good Food

I love summer. I love gardening. I love good food. Those three things naturally go together.

Most of us want to eat well. That means preparing fresh, seasonal foods that taste great. This summer, I have a bounty of cherry tomatoes and cucumbers in my garden. I also am growing dill, parsley and garlic. When I was invited to a beach picnic, I decided to create a Greek dip (tzatziki) by combining plain Chobani Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, parsley and garlic to serve with my freshly harvested vegetables.

The people at the beach picnic practically inhaled the appetizer. Who says eating healthy food is boring? Not only that, but a recipe like this is very easy to prepare.

Greek (Tzatziki) Dip
1 6 oz. package nonfat Greek yogurt
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs. freshly chopped dill
1 Tbs. freshly chopped parsley
1 finely chopped garlic clove
pinch salt (to taste)

Wash all the herbs carefully, then dry and chop them.
Mix together all the ingredients and refrigerate for at least an hour to meld the flavors.  
Stir before serving.

I also use this dip on my homemade chicken souvlaki, made with fresh herbs, which I serve with Greek salad and pita bread.

Connecticut Tax Free Week Coming Up

I just received this notice from Terrie Wood, my state representative. It's good to keep in mind that you can buy clothes and shoes under $300 without paying sales tax for a week, starting August 19.

With the start of school just around the corner, I wanted to remind you to take advantage of the upcoming “Tax Free Week" which runs from Sunday, August 19 through Saturday, August 25.

The one-week event eliminates Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax on all clothing and footwear costing less than $300 per item and runs from the third Sunday in August through the following Saturday.

Since sales tax is calculated after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price is less than $300, the sale is exempt from taxes. Clothing or footwear under $300 either rented or put on layaway is also tax-free.

Purchases totaling more than $300 will have sales tax calculated on the full cost.

Tax Free Week was first enacted in 2000, and applies to most clothing and footwear purchases that are intended for everyday use.  Goods not covered under the program include items that are solely intended for use in sporting activities and accessories such as jewelry, watches, handbags, and wallets. 

For more information, visit the Department of Revenue Services website at  http://www.ct.gov/drs/.

Best Regards,

Terrie Wood

Aging in Place+Gallivant

Aging in Place+Gallivant is being featured this month (August 2012) as the Client of the Month by 341 Studios. 341 did amazing work for AIP+G, helping us build local awareness of our relatively new nonprofit and its services. Aging in Place+Gallivant is the place to call for transportation and referrals to agencies and vetted services that can help Darien seniors remain in the homes they love as they age. (More information at: www.aginginplacegallivant.org.)

Take a look at 341's work:  http://www.341studios.com/341-clients/client-stories/client-stories-home/aging-in-place.

3.4.1 Studios, LLC, is a marketing and design agency that applies a mix of creative and strategic intelligence to the design of high-quality traditional and digital marketing communications materials.