Category Archives: Senior Living / Retirement

By Jenna Burger
You and your spouse got married, bought a home, and raised three beautiful children. You’ve lived and loved your home for 30 years, but the kids have moved out and started their own families.
Now you’re living in the 2,500 square foot home, half of which you don’t use other than the five times a year when “the kids” come to visit. The question arises, why do we have all this space when most of it rarely gets used? Does it make sense to downsize? What opportunities can come about if we let this large home go? What are the pros and cons of downsizing as we are planning on retirement?
There is a lot to consider with downsizing. Whether a house, townhome, or apartment, moving to a smaller space can have its challenges, but if planned well, the next chapter of your life can bring less maintenance and more fun. When relocating to a space that is a fraction of the size, there is a great likelihood that you’ll need to reduce the amount of furniture and decor that has been collected over the years.

By Susan Elise Campbell
When time comes for a senior citizen to downsize or enter assisted living, the physical and emotional aspects are more taxing than for someone who had fewer memories connected to their home.
Regardless of age or time spent at their address, many people desire a smooth transition between their current residence and the next place they’ll call home. That is what Barbara Morris set out to provide when she started Smooth Transitions locally in 1998, now a national company with 44 offices.
Keith Reed is president of one—the New York licensee of the company Morris originally incorporated as Moving for Seniors. He said the name was changed to reflect both the broader demographic served and the types of assistance the company has evolved to provide.
Like the company’s founder, Reed said, “My philosophy, too, is to help folks out. With five counties in the Capital District, there are enough people to help around the area.”
His area includes Saratoga and Warren counties and he can also provide service in Washington County if situations arise.

By Susan Elise Campbell
As the 50-plus population continues to rise, communities are experiencing seniors as a vibrant demographic.
This is not a generation for rocking chairs and knitting needles. Today’s retirees are contributing to the economy in unexpected ways, not only rejoining the work force but also traveling extensively and giving generously to charity, officials say. a
In Saratoga County the senior population is one of the fastest growing in the state, according to Lois Celeste, executive director of the Saratoga Senior Center. There are more than 55,000 in this age group who are primarily mortgage-free homeowners with access to assets and credit.
“I am amazed at the number of companies knocking on our door to approach the center and our seniors,” said Celeste. “Businesses are popping up everywhere to serve the senior market. They come from diverse industries like health care, transportation, tourism, financial services, automotive, housing, law, and many others that the older population touches.”

By david kopyc
In January of this year, I wrote an article about what I anticipated for the stock market in the year 2020. In that article, I mentioned a Black Swan Event and little did I know that it would come to fruition.
The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on investors, employers, employees, deficit spending and the possibility our lives may have changed forever. Words such as social distancing, masks, freedom, travel, congregations, concerts, etc., have all taken on a new meaning to all of us. We will all look back at this event in our lives with different thoughts, opinions, and memories, whether they be good or bad.
As I write this article, the NASDAQ has just hit an all time high, and the Dow and S&P 500 are a few points shy of reaching their all time high. I bring this up because so many individuals went to cash when the pandemic came roaring into our lives and the doom and gloom that was predicted has not come to Wall Street that so many of the Monday Morning Quarterbacks said would happen.

By David Kopyc

Most Boomers do not have a pension plan and need to take their retirement assets they have accumulated over their working careers and create lifetime monthly income.  For most of the boomers the defined benefit pension plan has been replaced by 401k plans that leave the responsibility to you and not your former employer.

Before you make a decision on the investment program that is best suited for your appetite for risk and the ability to weather the storm when markets become volatile, you need to consider the drawbacks of each decision you make.  Never make a hasty decision that is irreversible that you may regret.

By Jill Nagy

“It sure is a busy place,” said Kate Bunster, marketing director of the Saratoga Springs Adult and Senior Center at 5 William St. in Saratoga Springs.

With 100 to 150 people coming by on a typical day, the center offers a wide variety of activities for people over the age of 50, both for participating and volunteering.

“The social part is the biggest piece,” she said. For seniors who feel isolated or feel the need to make new friends, the center “creates a space to go during the day.”

A new program, for example, called Super Social Fridays, began in January. The program every Friday might feature a speaker like local author Richard Cerasani, who wrote a book about Mount Rushmore, or even a showcase for dancing dogs. Other programs are centered on craft projects.

For card players, the center hosts canasta, bridge, rummy and mah jhong games. There is also a pool table. Fitness activities include yoga, Zumba, tai chi, aerobics, and strength training. Groups also meet to crochet, knit or hook rugs.

Community Connect helps people find volunteer activities in the community or at the center. It trains volunteers to provide assistance to seniors in Saratoga County. Its mission is to help seniors maintain an independent lifestyle.