Saturday, May 10th was the kickoff event for a week-long program on issues related to senior housing. “No Place Like Home – Dollars and $ense” is a collaboration between Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Mt. Airy USA, Center in the Park, and Ralston My Way. Marilyn Silberstein, an EWR Realtor and a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), had the idea of providing a forum for seniors and/or their children to learn about resources for seniors as they cope with the serious dilemma of housing.
“Do I stay in my home?” If so, how do I manage? How can I find reliable contractors? What do I need to do to make my house safe? How do I cope with rising taxes and insurance on a fixed income?
“Do I sell my home?” If so, how do I do that? What do I do with 40 years of accumulated treasures? Where should I go? What’s available?
The kickoff event featured Estelle Richman, former Secretary, PA Dept. of Public Welfare, who is now retired and a Chestnut Hill resident. She talked about the issues of health, Housing and Community – all issues that impact seniors. She later joined a panel with Lydia Hernandez Velez, Deputy Managing Director for Aging for the City of Philadelphia and Bette McTamney, Immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. They discussed the issues presented by Ms. Richman as well as topics that will be presented in workshops throughout this week.
Those topics include
- Understanding the Affordable Care Act
- Budgeting and Financial Management
- Protecting Yourself from Financial Exploitation
- Letting Go: Emotional Aspects of Moving
- The Process of Selling your Home
- Reverse Mortgages and Tax Liens
- Household Needs and Safety
- Managing Finances and Stress
- Tools to Manage Mortgage Challenges
- Understanding Advanced Directives and Wills
The workshops will be held at Mt. Airy USA, Center in the Park, and at the office of Elfant Wissahickon Realtors. It’s not too late to sign up! To register, call (215) 844-6021 or visit NO PLACE LIKE HOME
