hall we go, or shall we stay?” That’s a question many baby boomers, empty nesters, and those who find their house too big, may be asking themselves. And if the decision is to move, the next question is: What kind of place do you want and where? Do you want a smaller home on one level, one in an over-55 community with lots of activities, or are you thinking ahead and want a place that offers independent living with more care in the future, namely a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?

Anyone who thinks that a CCRC is only for “old folks” hasn’t met the Minks. Susan Minks, 75, is a “Senior Poster Child” for Blakehurst, a CCRC located in Towson. “It’s like living in a five-star resort,” says Susan. “Everyone here is happy and helpful, and you could be busy every minute of the day if you want.”

Susan, a Baltimore native, and her husband Tom, 76, were living in a townhouse half the year and in Florida the other half when they decided to return to Baltimore full time. “At that point, we realized it was time to reassess where we were going to live,” Susan explains. “At first, I thought we were too young to go into a CCRC, but then we thought, if one of us gets sick we’d still be on the same campus or maybe in our condo and a CCRC would save our children a lot of trouble later on.”

When the Minks met with Elizabeth O’Connor, the director of marketing and sales at Blakehurst, O’Connor was unbelievably accommodating about everything they asked for and showed them how an apartment could be renovated. They then knew this was the right place. “And the location is perfect—it’s close to Tom’s children, our country club, doctors, and many of our friends,” says Susan. The Minks had the apartment renovated and moved in in January 2022.

“The staff is incredible. The food is excellent. We just had Smith Island cake that was unbelievable. I’m so happy I don’t have to cook. I made one dinner since we’ve been here and it was terrible,” laughs Susan. The vibe at Blakehurst is very positive. The couple participate in many activities. They attend lectures, use the pool, the gym, walk on the private walking path, and meet friends at the bar and for dinner. The residence offers trips, a putting green, transportation to doctors’ appointments, to the grocery store, and so much more. “Tom plays gin rummy two or three times a week and I’ve signed up for a garden plot. There isn’t a party I haven’t been involved in,” says Susan, who is on the party committee and just joined the hospitality committee. “I just love it.”

O’Connor says, “Just like the Minks, other boomers are arriving at Blakehurst earlier than previous generations. They are not waiting for a health scare to move in.

Is a Continuing Care Retirement Community Right for You?
A CCRC is a type of retirement community that is part independent living, part assisted living, and part skilled nursing home. Today, many communities offer memory care, too. And there’s usually rehabilitation therapy on site. All levels of care are on one campus. According to AARP, a CCRC offers a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ changing needs. Upon entering, healthy adults can reside independently in single-family homes, apartments, or condominiums. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into assisted living (sometimes all they might need is extra help in their apartment), memory care, or nursing care facilities. These communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their life, with much of their future care already figured out.

A Co-op CCRC
Bill and Paula Lecky had lived in their McLean, Virginia, home for 45 years when their children started constantly saying that they should think about moving. That was four years ago. Bill, now 89 and an accomplished architect who has left his mark in Washington, D.C., (he was the architect of record for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the architect of the Korean War Veterans Memorial) says, “I knew I was getting up there in age, and realized maybe we should move, even though Paula at the time was only 76.” With one daughter in Silver Spring and a son in Annapolis, they started their search in Silver Spring, but quickly decided they didn’t want to live there and turned their attention to the Annapolis area.

Bill remembers, “We drove past one community in Annapolis, but said, ‘Keep driving.’” Then they saw Baywoods of Annapolis and wanted to explore further. Besides Baywoods being a CCRC, it’s a resident-owned-and-run co-operative community, where residents provide vital input regarding the operations of the community and have a voice in how it’s run.

“There was one apartment that overlooked the water that interested us. But what really sealed the deal was the woodworking shop.” Bill, who loves making small replicas of animals similar to those made by the Hopi Tribe of the Southwest, was blown away by the shop’s size. “It was five times the size of mine.”

Given Bill’s more than 50 years of experience as an architect, it’s no surprise the couple put a lot of work into making changes to the apartment they bought. They knocked down walls and added lighting, but the most dramatic change was to the porch overlooking the water. “There was a series of windows and doors that we took down and instead put in an eight-foot-high, 14-foot-wide glass door.”

Besides woodworking, Bill makes jewelry and Paula paints. Not gym rats, the Leckys instead prefer taking walks along the water. In addition, Bill has given talks about his years creating the Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans memorials. His architectural expertise has now led to a new gig, consulting with management about future residents’ plans for changes to their apartments. And, oh yes, this busy couple still has time to socialize with their friends at Baywoods.

Rental CCRC
Retia Scott Walker had been an educator for more than 40 years, first at Texas Woman’s University, next at the University of Maryland on the Eastern Shore, and then at the University of Kentucky. Later, her research emphasis was gerontology with a focus on older African Americans, rural elders, older women, and inter-generational issues. In addition, she studied aging in Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

“When I retired in 2005, my daughter kept asking me to move back to Maryland. For 17 years, I told her I would,” says Walker, who was living in a five-bedroom, three-story home in Kentucky.

“It wasn’t until the pandemic that I felt very lonely and isolated and knew I needed to move. It was funny, one time while visiting my daughter, we took a tour of the Atrium, a CCRC. I told my daughter then; it would be my next home.” In 2022 Walker, now 82, moved to the Atrium.

“While doing my research, I found out how important it is to be part of a community.

That’s what the Atrium provides. Every night I have dinner with the same group. During breakfast it’s open seating and I try to meet new people,” she says. And there are lots of activities at the Atrium. Walker goes to music performances, participates in exercise programs, and goes to lectures. As a matter of fact, she will soon be giving a lecture. Another advantage is that her daughter lives only five blocks away and gets to see Walker several times a week. “I’m very lucky,” she says.

Over 55 Community
Joann Myrland,72, is a semi-retired travel agent. Her husband Paul, 74, is retired. They knew they wanted to move, but the big question was where. “We have a four-bedroom home, and now only use the family room, kitchen, and bedroom, and of course bathrooms,” says Joann, “and I’ve had foot and knee surgery and am tired of the stairs.”

The couple knew they wanted a single-family home with everything on one level, and where there would be no yardwork, all within a 55-plus community. They also had some other requirements. “We have two children who live in Denver and both of us love to travel, so it was very important for an airport be an easy drive,” says Joann. “Other must haves were a clubhouse and activities so we could meet new friends. And if it was near the water, that would be a nice plus.”

They began their search in Delaware, but after realizing how long it would take to get to an airport, it was a no go. “We have made several trips to look at Four Seasons in Kent Island. It really checked off most of our boxes,” says Joann At the time of publication, they had not yet decided.

According to real estate agent Veronica Lawson, an associate broker at Real Broker, LLC, over-55 communities are ready made for people like the Myrlands, for whom physical and emotional wellbeing are key components addressed through clubhouse amenities such as fitness centers and resort-like pools, as well as social clubs that encourage interaction to the degree desired. Most communities also offer walking and bike trails, dog parks, and other outdoor social activities, as well as planned trips to local events such as plays and concerts.

This interaction between neighbors creates a strong sense of community that in turn creates a fun and safe environment. Fifty-five-plus communities are becoming more popular, as many retirees are still very active and looking for engaging communities once retired.

Whatever place someone chooses, O’Connor, the director from Blakehurst, says, “Retirement is a time to continue to engage and maybe even reinvent oneself.”

Your Guide to Regional CCRCs

Looking for the retirement living situation that is just right for you?
Here is our guide to some of the area’s continuing care retirement communities.

Asbury-Solomons Island
11100 Asbury Circle
Solomons, MD 20688
410-205-4501
asbury.org/asbury-solomons

Bayleigh Chase
501 Dutchman’s Lane
Easton, MD 21601
410-673-4405
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/bayleigh-chase-easton/

BayWoods of Annapolis
7101 Bay Front Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-268-9222
baywoodsofannapolis.com/

Blakehurst
1055 W. Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21204
410-296-2900
Blakehurstlcs.com

Broadmead
13801 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-527-1900
broadmead.org

Carroll Lutheran Village
300 St. Luke Circle
Westminster, MD 21158
410-848-0090
clvillage.org

Charlestown Retirement Community
715 Maiden Choice Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-705-7058
ericksonseniorliving.com/charlestown

Edenwald
800 Southerly Road
Towson, MD 21286
410-339-6000
edenwald.org

Fairhaven
7200 Third Avenue
Sykesville, MD 21784
443-300-4047
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/fairhaven-sykesville/

Ginger Cove Annapolis Life Care
4000 River Crescent Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-266-7300
gingercove.com

Glen Meadows Retirement Community
11630 Glen Arm Road
Glen Arm, MD 21057
410-319-5034
presbyterianseniorliving.org/glen-meadows-retirement-community

Goodwill Retirement Village
891 Dorsey Hotel Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-5194
goodwillhome.org

Heron Point of Chestertown
501 Campus Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620
443-214-3556
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/heron-point-of-chestertown

Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant
9000 Fathers Legacy
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-465-2005
millersgrant.org

Maryland Masonic Homes
300 International Circle
Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-316-9129
mdmasonichomes.com

Mercy Ridge
2525 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD 21093
410-561-0200
mercyridge.com

Mosaic
450 Willow Lakes Drive
Willow Street, PA 17584
888-893-1423
mosaiclancaster.com

North Oaks
725 Mount Wilson Lane
Pikesville, MD 21208
410-602-0318
northoaksseniorliving.com

Oak Crest Village
8800 Walther Boulevard
Parkville, MD 21234
410-469-8053
ericksonseniorliving.com/oak-crest

Roland Park Place
830 W. 40th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
410-243-5700
rolandparkplace.org

The Residences at Vantage Point
5400 Vantage Point Road
Columbia, MD 21044
888-680-6324
vantagepointresidences.org

The Village at Augsburg
6811 Campfield Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
410-834-4143
thevillageataugsburg.org

Willow Valley Communities
450 Willow Lakes Drive
Willow Street, PA 17584
717-464-6800
WillowValleyCommunities.org

You read a lot about downsizing, age-restricted developments, and retirement communities, but there’s another reality at work regarding seniors and housing: Surveys show most older homeowners really don’t want to leave their homes of 30 or 40 years.

So then how do you make your home safe and functional when you know that, sooner or later, you may lose mobility or suffer declining health?

Actually, it doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking, says Joe Smith, a partner for 17 years with Owings Brothers Contracting, which has won numerous industry awards for construction and design—it’s about a lot of small, relatively inexpensive, changes to the home. (More on those in a bit.)

But first, there’s another trend he sees going on that could be an alternate answer to aging in place: Let’s call it “Living like The Waltons.”

“We’re seeing more cases of ‘merged living,’” says Smith, “where the multigenerational house will be adapted for use by the parents, the grown children, and the grandchildren to live together.” And in some cases, it’s the parents bankrolling changes to a home to accommodate the whole brood.

That sometimes means more major projects like additions, or renovating a walkout basement as living quarters, while trying to keep the spaces separate enough to preserve some privacy.

“It’s important, though, to make sure changes don’t have a negative impact on any future sale of the home—and that’s where you really need professional design,” says Smith.

But in cases where only the seniors will be living there, the changes needed are much simpler.

You might consider ramps at entry points, and handrails in key spots, for instance. “My own Dad uses a walker, so I’m really sensitive to things like this, or considerations like those patio stones or pavement lips that might trip someone,” says Smith. Other changes often include things like low-threshold sliding-glass doors (so there’s no metal lip across the floor to stop a wheelchair), wider doorways, grab bars, or levers instead of doorknobs.

Jeff Rubin, president of the modestly named Baltimore Handyman Company—he’s actually a career design-build expert and an architect—agrees grab rails are essential.

“You really need ADA-approved grab bars in showers, bathtubs, and similar locations,” says Rubin. “The bathroom is probably the most dangerous room in your home. Slips and falls can be extremely dangerous or even deadly as we age.”

“We also recommend upgraded lighting,” says Smith, “so the homeowners will see transitions in flooring. We try to avoid transitions in flooring [those little half-inch step-ups you could trip on], but you might want different-colored flooring to make the transitions visible.”

Equally important are smoke and carbon-monoxide (CO) detectors, says Rubin. “As we age, we become even more vulnerable to fires becoming life-threatening because of a lack of mobility, health issues, or diminished eyesight or hearing,” he says. “A proper system is composed of 10-year sealed-battery smoke detectors and CO detectors—especially if your home has any type of combustion appliance such as a gas furnace or oil burner. They should be on each level of your home, in hallways at bedrooms, and in each bedroom. The detectors must be interconnected and, if possible, hard-wired into your home’s electrical system. Detectors that have a flashing light upon being triggered can assist those who have diminished hearing.”

Another must, says Rubin, is a personal alert system so that, in an emergency, you can contact the police, fire department, or other emergency services.

Also consider kitchen tweaks, from reworking the height of the sinks and appliances to making sure cabinets are accessible, Smith adds. And in the bathrooms, think sit-down shower stalls and hand-held shower heads.

“Not everything, such as elevators, has to be a major project,” says Smith.

“There is new elevator technology, but it’s an expensive undertaking. And how do you access it on each floor? Sometimes they have to be boxed additions on the outside.”

What’s more, an elevator is likely unnecessary since chair-lift technology has gotten a lot better, he says.

“But the bottom line is no one wants their home to look like an infirmary, so that’s where an architectural sense comes in, to make the changes subtle,” he adds. “And fortunately, there are a lot of new products now that don’t look cold. It’s actually very rewarding to come away from one of these projects and know that you didn’t make it look institutional—you made it look good”

A POSTSCRIPT ON PROJECTS

We read lots of guides on aging and canvassed home-building and senior-living experts to find more tips, and came up with no shortage of ideas:

Clear the excess: Any unnecessary furniture or rugs should be removed. “The more space you allow in each of your rooms, the better. Make sure there are clear pathways and plenty of space to walk in without bumping into anything, especially in the rooms you spend a lot of time in.”—seniors blogger Kristen Hicks at senioradvisor.com

Create at least one no-step entry into the home: “It’s definitely a good idea to have at least one of these. But there’s a host of related issues that go beyond the construction work. Outside, you’ll probably want a covered entry to protect you from the elements. And you need good drainage since the doorway will be level with the walking surface just outside the door. Once inside, you’ll need space for maneuvering. If it’s too complicated or expensive to create a no-step entry at an existing doorway, think outside the box. Could you turn a window into a doorway to enter a larger area or turn a small or underused room into a new foyer? A fringe benefit could be making the living room less of a hallway.”—Louis Tenenbaum, 8 Things to Consider Before Remodeling to Age in Place

Pocket doors may make mobility between rooms possible: Not only will
the door be out of the way when opened, the hinge will prevent any catching on wheelchairs. “For your existing home, you may merely need to widen some doorways, and pocket doors may be useful to you when a swinging door just won’t work.”—Senior Home Remodel magazine

Ditch the traditional tub: “A senior opting to age in place also should consider home modifications for the bathroom, particularly the bathtub. One option is to replace the bathtub with a walk-in shower, which provides much easier (and safer) entry and exit than a bathtub.”—Assisted Living Today

LIVING IN THE CLOUDS

When Lisa Mason retired, she and her husband, Kip, planned to move from their home in Gaithersburg to a high-rise condo so they could spend time in Naples, Italy— where Lisa grew up—and not have to worry about the security of their untended single family house. Although the couple lived alone, “being an Italian mother, the children had to have their own bedroom when they came to visit,” says Kip of the home in Gaithersburg. “So we had to buy a big four-bedroom house for two people.”

Although they would lose space in the downsizing, moving into a condo would make traveling back to Italy easier, “so that when we leave it for six months a year, we will feel safe that our furniture will be there when we get back,” says Kip.

The couple’s search spanned condominiums from the National
Harbor in Washington, D.C., to Rockville and Old Town Alexandria. “But we just kept coming back to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor,” says Kip. “It’s just a spectacular place to live.”

After looking into waterfront developments from Canton to Federal Hill, the Masons decided on Scarlett
Place in Harbor East, a 14-story building overlooking the harbor. The couple loved its proximity to shopping, movies, and dining—plus, Little Italy is steps away across President Street. “Around here, everything is walking distance,” says Lisa. Their car spends most days in the parking garage.

It took 18 months for the Masons to chose— and close on—a unit on the water side. But the wait was worth it, they say. Their 10th-floor, one-bedroom condo provides sweeping panoramas of the harbor in every room. “I love the view,” says Lisa, who says it reminds her of her apartment in Naples that looked out over the Mediterranean Sea.

Although the couple downsized, they still entertain company. The apartment provides a perfect opportunity to watch the fireworks during their annual New Year’s Eve party with other residents of the building. And when relatives visit, the large couch in the living room converts to a comfortable bed.

“The security aspect was perfect for
us, too,” says Kip—access to the front door, elevator, and parking garage are controlled by key cards, while the front lobby is manned 24 hours a day.

The Masons also enjoy the sense of community in the building, which is home to people of all ages, from professionals to other retired couples. Despite the fact that they have lived in 13 different locations during their years together, Scarlett Place feels like home. “This is the place I like the most,” says Lisa. “It’s more like where she grew up,” explains Kip. “I would go to Italy and come back, and this is home to me now.”

---

SOLUTION: Scarlett Place
COST: Condos start at $235,000.
FEES: $.50/square foot monthly.
THE PLUSES: Easy walk to shops and restaurants, close to city cultural attractions, water views, 24-hour front desk, attached secure garage, indoor pool, fitness center, and meeting room.

OPTING FOR A CCRC

After his wife died in 2010, Ned Jarrett lived by himself in their rancher set on two acres in Owings Mills. “It’s a pretty lonely existence when you live out in the country,” says Jarrett. When he had a mild heart attack two years later, Jarrett decided it was time to sell the home and move to a senior living facility. “I found out I wasn’t as indestructible as I thought I was,” says the 83-year-old. And he was tired of living alone, anyway.

With the assistance of his two sons, Jarrett began looking into Baltimore-area senior communities in the fall of 2012. Although still in good health, he decided to make the move sooner rather than later. “I didn’t want to become a burden on the boys,” says Jarrett.

After comparing medical resources offered by various retirement complexes, as well as activities and amenities, Jarrett settled on Blakehurst in Towson. After about six months on the waiting list, Jarrett moved into his onebedroom apartment in June 2013.

“I never thought I’d live in an apartment complex, but that’s where I am,” says Jarrett, acknowledging the

sometimes challenging transition for those used to single-family homes. But what he lost in space he regained in the community. “There are people around all the time. In the halls, everybody says, ‘Good morning,'” says Jarrett. An alumnus of Gilman School’s class of 1949, Jarrett also reconnected with former classmates also living at Blakehurst.

With a plethora of activities to choose from, there’s something to suit all personalities, from iPad training to golfputting competitions. “I learned how to play croquet,” says Jarrett. “I never thought I would.” Blakehurst also gives residents the opportunity to keep many hobbies they may have enjoyed in their prior homes, like gardening and woodworking. Jarrett adds, “If you’re bored, it’s your own fault.”

While some senior homes have a reputation for ho-hum cuisine, that’s not the case at Blakehurst. “The food is absolutely phenomenal,” says Jarrett. “You never hear anybody complain.” With flexible dining times and multiple facilities, meals don’t get repetitive. And family and friends can join residents for dinner or drinks as part of their monthly dining budget.

Jarrett tells friends considering a move to an over-60 community to check out the medical facilities and consider how the various medical plans fit into one’s budget. Beyond that, “it depends on what your health is, what your lifestyle is, and what you’re willing to give up,” says Jarrett. “I gave up a living room, a hall, three bedrooms, two baths—all of which I had to pay taxes on, heat, and

clean. I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Most of all, Jarrett values the relationships he’s made through the community. “You meet new friends,” says Jarrett. “It’s been a very pleasant experience for me.”

---

SOLUTION: Blakehurst (CCRC)
COST: Entry-fee pricing begins at $291,000 for a single-occupancy, one bedroom unit.
FEES: Monthly fees start at $3,000-5,000.
THE PLUSES: On-site health center, two dining facilities, housekeeping, laundry service, Wi-Fi, pool, putting green, woodworking and art studios, croquet courts, billiards and game room, fitness center, and salon, plus activities including iPad classes, professional lectures, opera and concert excursions, day trips, and volunteering.

A CRUISE SHIP ON LAND

Jude Kotarides and his wife, Carole, never planned to move from their 25-year home in Perry Hall. Yet things changed in 2005 when a volunteer job brought Jude to Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace. Once the avid golfer stepped foot inside the Bulle Rock community’s welcome center, he was immediately enamored. “I got an overwhelming feeling that I wanted to live in this community,” says 61-year-old Kotarides. “I called my wife, Carole, and told her that we should move if we could get our house sold. She was flabbergasted.”

But her initial shock turned to agreement, and she acknowledged that the Residences at Bulle Rock was a perfect solution. The Kotarideses moved into their new three bedroom home in the spring of 2006.

Although the couple didn’t reduce square footage with the move, they now have a master suite on the first floor—something important to them as they age.

A mix of home types make up Bulle Rock’s 27 neighborhoods, each named after Triple Crown horses and venues. The two story, 37,000-square-foot residence center includes a gym, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, and game rooms. Kotarides likes to compare the amenities to “a stationary cruise ship” with lifestyle director Kathy Harper as the “cruise ship entertainment director,” organizing events throughout the year like luaus, talent shows, and movie nights.

Although the Bulle Rock community is vast, living there fosters a sense of fellowship. “I’ve met so many new friends here that were around our age,” says Kotarides, who sits on several community boards and is involved with the golf club that helped plan a first annual summer golf tournament in which Bulle Rock’s neighborhoods play each other. “You get the chance to meet a lot of different people,” says Kotarides. “When I lived in Perry Hall, I might know a couple of people on my street. We might have 20 or 30 neighborhoods here, but they’re all in Bulle Rock so you meet a lot more people that you couldn’t really get to know in a standard neighborhood.”

For Kotarides, Bulle Rock’s location adjacent to a world-class golf course and the Chesapeake Bay lets it live up to its slogan, “Life imitates vacation.”

“I have no interest in a vacation home,” says Kotarides. “It is the only place that I have ever lived where, after a vacation, I am not sad to come home, but instead enjoy being back.” And now, the Kotarideses are joined by their daughter, who recently moved from New York into a neighboring Bulle Rock community. At Bulle Rock, Kotarides has found his forever home. “I pinch myself living up here,” he says.

---

SOLUTION: Residences at Bulle Rock
COST: Single family homes start at upper $290,000s.
FEES: $333 monthly homeowners association fees.
THE PLUSES: Five-star golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, billiard and game rooms, spa and sauna, fitness center, ballroom, lawn maintenance and snow removal, and Silks Restaurant at Bulle Rock. Activities include tennis club, gardening club, book club, winetasting club, various committees, golf leagues, kayaks, and fishing.

A COMMUNITY BEHIND THE GATES

Although David Dukehart isn’t retired, the 57-year-old financial adviser had his eye on the future when he moved in 2013 to Rockland Ridge, just off the Jones Falls Expressway in Brooklandville, a new gated community of what will eventually be 72 stone villa-style townhomes.

Dukehart sold his five-bedroom house on one and a quarter acres in Phoenix, partly because he wanted an improved quality of life and more convenience. “I also wasn’t going back into a big home like that because I wasn’t sure of the marketplace,” says Dukehart. “For me, this is the right place for now.”

While he enjoyed his former home, he sees moving to a community like Rockland Ridge as something those nearing retirement and looking for a residential community should do

sooner rather than later. “I am enjoying a smaller home in a neighborhood townhome community,” says Dukehart, who has found a sense of community in the neighborhood’s social events. “Don’t
wait until the last minute. Move while you can really get engaged with your community and your neighbors.”

Living in Rockland Ridge gives Dukehart a sense of freedom, especially when it comes to travel. Not only does the location on the Falls Road corridor allow for easy access to the expressway, the location is close to downtown Baltimore while avoiding Baltimore City taxes. “Not paying the city taxes is really critical—especially when you’re saving for retirement,” he says.

Tucked away in a lush, wooded enclave, Rockland Ridge feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of nearby communities and is just minutes from the trails of Robert E. Lee Park. “We don’t see traffic up here,” says Dukehart. “I can come and go with ease and travel without worry.”

Dukehart’s three-bedroom townhome, while slightly smaller than his previous home, has a spacious 2,500 square feet of living space. “I think the whole idea of first-floor living with the opportunity

to still have guest- room capabilities is really wonderful,” says Dukehart. “And to have a full basement with walkout into the backyard is an added bonus.”

For Dukehart, moving to Rockland Ridge was like returning to his roots. “I grew up three blocks from the old [Memorial] Stadium in a townhome,” he says. “That’s where my start was. And now I’m back to it.”

---

SOLUTION: Rockland Ridge
COST: Townhomes start at $575,000.
FEES: $215 monthly homeowner fees.
THE PLUSES: Snow removal, lawn maintenance, two-car garage, and controlled community entrance gate, plus quick access to I-83 and convenient both to Baltimore City and Towson-Lutherville- Timonium shopping.

Imagine a couple of boomers who, let’s say, are still working, but, as empty nesters, hardly use half the rooms in their house and are tiring of the upkeep. Maybe they want to travel and don’t want to worry about the house. Or maybe they want to move, but not too far from kids and grandchildren. They might even be thinking about a place that offers independent living with more health-care support in the future.

Oh, we’re sorry, were we talking about you?

If we were, you’re not alone—real estate experts will tell you that many older homeowners debate this regularly, but often remain in their big houses almost by default, because it’s hard to wrap their heads around the task of moving.

But others in the over-55 set are making the leap and shedding the responsibility of owning a big house. They know they’re ready to make a move and start the next chapter of their lives, be it in a city condo, an over-55 community, a continuing-care retirement community (CCRC), or a rental in a country setting.

Meet empty nesters Roberta, 65, and Ira Greenstein, 66. The Greensteins were living in a four-bedroom, three-and-half-bath single-family home in Columbia and wanted to downsize, but Roberta admits, “The thought was daunting.” Then, one day when Roberta was in a hotel, she had an epiphany. “I realized that the hotel room had everything I needed. I didn’t really need all my possessions, though there were a few that could be deal-breakers. I knew that whatever apartment we bought, there needed to be room for my two couches. One was my mother’s, the other my grandmother’s,” she says. So it wasn’t long before the Greensteins found a 1,745-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath condo in Fells Point. And yes, there was room for the couches, one in the bedroom and the other in the living room.

Their condo has a city view, but a common terrace has a water view and is great for watching the fireworks. In addition, the condo has an outdoor pool, a gym, and storage space, and the couple has two parking spaces. “That’s something I really appreciate, since we only had a one-car garage, and I no longer have to clean off the car when it snows. And having someone at the front desk 24/7, the condo is turn-key, making it very easy to travel,” says Roberta.

While the Greensteins liked living in Columbia, they were very familiar with Baltimore because Ira works there and their temple is there. They love everything that the city has to offer—the restaurants, theaters, museums, and sports arenas. On nice days, Ira can even walk to work. And though he never minded the chores of homeownership, now that he doesn’t have to do them, he has a lot more time to do what he enjoys, like riding his recumbent bike.

In Good Company

Another couple who got sensible about senior living was Steve Holdiman and his wife, Corinne, who were living in an over-55 community in Fredericksburg. But for them, it was more about being close to family than big changes in square footage.

“When our son relocated away from the area, and with our daughter and grandchildren living in Annapolis, we knew we had to move across the [Potomac] river,” says Steve. “The traffic was unbearable.”

The Holdimans, in their 60s, looked around and chose The Villages at Two Rivers in Odenton. Also an over-55 community, The Villages will have 800 homes when completed. All have a first-floor master bedroom and laundry, providing for one-level living. Buyers have their choice of attached or single-family homes and 23 different floor plans.

Two other Two Rivers believers are Paul Brachfeld and his wife, Ellen, both in their 60s, who had been living in their Silver Spring neighborhood for 30 years. “I was ready for a change of lifestyle,” says Paul. “Florida was out of the question since our children and grandchild live in the area.” And their new digs in Two Rivers is actually larger than their Silver Spring home.

The community amenities are attractive, too: The clubhouse features a glass-walled indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and yoga and exercise rooms. Paths within the community connect to the WB&A trail. Come spring, there will be garden plots to rent.

Residents in the community are far from idle. Steve is organizing a community tennis group to play once the weather gets nice. There’s also a golf group that gets together and plays different area courses. Steve hits the community gym twice a week for weight training, and Paul plays pickleball several times a week and jogs.

“The people here are so warm and friendly,” says Paul. “We have monthly dessert parties and gatherings at the clubhouse.”

Just a Country Girl

If a new home purchase is involved, downsizing very often costs more than staying put, but there’s another option—renting.

After living in a three-story, five-bedroom, 100-year-old house in Ruxton for 24 years, Evelyn Zink’s three daughters were grown with families of their own, and Zink, 69, didn’t need such a large house, or all the chores that went with it. Retired, Zink first thought about moving to Elkridge Estates or Roland Park Condos. But then Zink’s sister said she’d found the perfect house for her, a 1720 rental cottage in Phoenix. Zink was intrigued.

“I love old houses—they have character, but no ghosts,” says Zink with a laugh. And she’s very happy renting. “I don’t have to make that financial commitment or worry about the tax laws.”

And she loves living in the country. When it gets warm, she’ll plant a vegetable garden. For now, though, she’s busy reconnecting with friends and is on the board of Ladew Topiary Gardens.

Seeking a Support
System

Eighty-six-year-old Dr. Monique Shapiro owned a two-bedroom condo in Winthrop House in downtown Baltimore and loved living in the city for the restaurants, theaters, museums, and friends. But after a few falls, and not being in perfect health, living alone didn’t seem like an option any more.

While Shapiro has one daughter in the area, she didn’t believe children should have to take care of their parents, financially or personally. “I had three prerequisites,” she says. “I wanted to remain in the city, be able to bring my cat, and I wanted a CCRC.” So she decided on a one-bedroom apartment with a screened-in balcony in Roland Park Place, an upscale CCRC.

Dr. Shapiro dug right into the activities at the CCRC: She joined an activities planning group, volunteers, and is taking a drawing class that she says is great fun. In addition, Roland Park provides transportation to the doctor. “That’s a great comfort,” she says. “I hated relying on a cab. You never knew if and when they would come. Also, when I got a bad cold, there was a nurse practitioner who was very comforting.” And she knows that if she needs more care there, CCRCs by definition have assisted living and comprehensive/skilled nursing care.

Her story offers yet another example of how well a carefully thought-out move can work out, no matter how intimidating it may seem at first.

When they made the move, the Greensteins were motivated by a particularly positive attitude: When they were contemplating their move and wondering if it was the right one, her son quoted American entrepreneur and author Jim Rohn, “If you don’t like where you’re at, move; you’re not a tree.”

“Even though we were on the young side, not yet 68, we didn’t want all the chores anymore,” says Reed. They first considered a condo, but realized that they would probably have to move again. “Moving twice was something we really didn’t want to do,” he recalls. So they started to entertain moving into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).

Part independent living, part assisted living, and part skilled-nursing facility, a CCRC offers a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ changing needs. Healthy new arrivals typically live independently in single-family homes, apartments, or condominiums on the CCRC campus. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into assisted living or nursing-care facilities. And that means seniors live in one location for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out, which can provide for a great level of comfort.

For some seniors, it’s younger family members who help in the search for new living options. That was the case with Lucille Jacobson, 83 and recently widowed, who has three children living in the area. Five years ago, the Jacobsons’ children did a thorough search of CCRCs for their parents, who were moving from a single-family, six-bedroom home out of town.

“My children did a great job when they found BayWoods in Annapolis, a CCRC that is owned and run by the residents,” says Lucille. “We really liked being totally involved in the entire decision-making process. And, most importantly, they allowed dogs.”

But maintaining her super-active lifestyle was also a priority, and BayWoods, located on 14 acres overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, promised to help her do that. A former teacher at Penn State, Lucille teaches mindful-walking meditation, directs two brass bands, teaches memoir writing and knitting, and plays the washboard. She also does yoga and other exercise programs, as well as swimming—indoors in the cold weather and, in the summer, off the dock in the bay. And she can easily get off campus and see the sights: No longer driving, she goes on trips with fellow BayWoods residents to Baltimore and Washington.

“I’ve made lots of friends because I’m involved,” she says. “I recommend that to anyone moving here.”

CCRCs come in all sizes and vary in their services, conveniences, social activities—and in their costs. But all include three meals a day for assisted and more acute care. So, like Goldilocks, you’ll have to find the one that’s just right for your needs and lifestyle. And that’s just what the Hutners did.

When the couple started looking, there were a few must-haves. “My wife is from Baltimore and has relatives and friends here, so she didn’t want to move away from the area. We also wanted a large community with a variety of activities and dining options,” says Reed. After checking out several, they chose Oak Crest, an Erickson Living community in Parkville. Set on 87 landscaped acres, it has more than 100 resident-run clubs, classes, and activities. And they got very good vibes from the place when they visited and spoke to several residents. They also appreciated that there was enough parking for their two cars, and they liked that they could get everywhere on campus without going outside.

There was, however, still that moving thing on the horizon. But to make that easier, they hired a professional.

“We used Heather Murphy, director of Move Management Services [Abilities Network] in Towson,” says Reed. “They did an incredible job. I love to read and they packed up 52 boxes of books. The most amazing thing was that they put the books back in the bookcase in the exact order I had them in my house.”

Once settled into their new digs, the Hutners immediately got involved in activities. Today, five years later, they are on the welcoming committee, the committee to bring performers to the facility’s on-site pub, and other groups. Kathleen uses a doctor at Oak Crest’s on-site medical center. And, yes, they’ve made lots of friends.

Just don’t call it retirement.

“Nobody retires anymore,” says Maureen Cavaiola. “I’m re-
fired.” A sociologist with a masters degree in aging, Cavaiola is chair of the Maryland Baby Boomer Initiative Council, a body designated by the legislature to, in her words, “make sure the state understands that we have a huge contingent of educated, working boomers.”

Even terms like “boomer” irk her. “As soon as you draw the line in the sand” by defining a group according to age, she says, “you enter ageism.”

The truth is, 75 million people were born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964, the so-called “baby boom,” and few consider themselves old. Neither, they insist, should anyone else. In Maryland, the percentage of people over 60 is projected to increase to 25 percent of the overall population—that’s 6.7 million—by the year 2030. But don’t expect them to blindly follow the previous generation’s retirement rule book.

“This is also a generation that is used to saying, ‘If I don’t like your rules, I don’t have to follow them,’” says Judah Ronch, dean of University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Erickson School of Aging Studies, so it’s unlikely they’ll go gentle into that good night.

The Boomer Initiative Council was created to take advantage of the energy and talents of the mature population, says Cavaiola. “In the past, we’ve looked at aging as something that will suck the resources out of our community.” But the upcoming elders “will be assets,” she says. The highly educated older adults in Maryland will continue to work, many at “re-firement” careers, mentoring, and giving back.

And of course, others will just want to take advantage of the perks that come with leaving the stresses of full-time work. But don’t expect too many from this generation to be sitting in a rocking chair at an old folks’ home.

Nevertheless, for all the boomer denial going on out there about aging, there are still some changes you’ll have to consider. And we’ve tried to itemize them, from financial planning and housing options to technology, personal enrichment, and downsizing.

---

Senior Housing: To Move or Not to Move?

American society’s notions of aging are outdated, says the Erickson School’s Ronch. And one of those notions from the World War II generation is that you’ll have the equity in your home to make new housing choices in your 60s or 70s.

“The assumption that you buy a house in your 20s and it becomes a repository for cash is no longer a universal situation,” he says. And that often means no nest egg for a move to a posh retirement community or a waterfront golf development in Florida.

Furthermore, many of today’s retirees, unlike their parents, aren’t looking for a peaceful place to live out their golden years surrounded by people just like them. While the continuing-care retirement community (CCRC) continues to make sense for those with declining health and the money for the entry fees, “the CCRC is based on a model of aging as leisure and decline,” Ronch says. “I’m hearing from CCRC operators that younger boomers are saying the model doesn’t work for them.”

Even so, Ronch says, “there’s an opportunity for the [retirement-housing] businesses that get it, and can pivot.”

What does that pivot look like? “Programs, options, and services will change,” says Scott Townsley, a consultant in national senior living with the firm Clifton Larson Allen, and a lecturer at the Erickson School. “Even the name has to change.”

The biggest shift in CCRCs, he says, is their expansion beyond brick-and-mortar facilities to offering services to non-residents, known as the “CCRC without walls.” At the same time, retirement communities are opening their doors to outsiders, to downplay the reality of age segregation. He points to Towson’s Edenwald, which offers its cafeteria to the public for lunch. “It’s in an area with a lot of businesses,” he says. “So now you’ve got younger adults coming in and saying, ‘This is pretty cool.’”

Dining is in many ways a litmus to determine whether a CCRC is playing to the incoming generation, says Ronch: “Younger boomers don’t want to eat at 5 p.m.” Townsley says he can tell if a retirement community “gets it” based on “whether they have craft beer on draft.”

Another area is fitness facilities, says Townsley. “People will want to move in if they think they will be healthier and live longer.” Communities should not “underestimate the size and scope of the facilities they will need moving forward,” he says. Many are building “eye-popping” wellness centers with swimming pools, weight training, and fitness classes along with the traditional physical therapy and rehab.

That doesn’t mean the CCRC as we know it will just fade away. “The idea of a communal setting, where people can socialize and enjoy recreation while getting seamless health care won’t go away,” Townsley predicts. “But there will be more options.”

One of those options, industry observers predict, will be retirement communities designed for residents of like interests, such as retired academics, health care professionals, or veterans.

---

For Aging in Place, You Need a Strategy

The aforementioned concept of a “CCRC without walls,” in which established residential institutions provide care to those who remain in their own homes, is a page taken from the playbook of the “village plan,” which steps in to help people age in place, Townsley says.

The Village Movement started in 2001 when a handful of older residents in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood banded together to help each other stay in their homes for as long as possible. They enlisted the able-bodied among them to check in on the more feeble, help with yard work, and drive to medical appointments, understanding that the favors would be returned in the spirit of old-fashioned neighborliness. The notion has grown exponentially, and more than 120 villages are currently operating in the U.S. and Canada.

Susan Newhouse has been working hard for the past five years to establish a village in Baltimore; started in Roland Park, Baltimore Village at Home is open to residents in 23 city neighborhoods. “The village offers a sense that you’re not alone,” says Newhouse, a specialist in geriatric care. “Even if you’re living alone, the village is behind you with resources and information.”

Along with its network of volunteers, villages typically maintain lists of “approved” contractors from roof repair to massage therapists for members, who pay an annual fee. Membership in Baltimore’s Village at Home is $800 for individuals or $1,200 for a household.

“The CCRC may have once been the ‘Darth Vader’ to The Village Movement,” says Townsley. The early proponents of villages were doing it expressly to avoid moving from their homes into age-segregated communities. But recently, CCRCs have actually started their own villages, setting up volunteer networks and offering specialized services to folks at home. “It makes sense,” he concedes, “when you consider that CCRCs are in the business of assisted-living and skilled nursing care.”

At the same time, the generation that makes its own rules is beginning to rethink its concept of home, according to Ronch. “Creative solutions come as second nature to boomers.” Co-housing and group-living arrangements, not unlike the communes of the ’60s and ’70s (only with more bathrooms) are becoming more common, he says. “This is a generation that knows about groups. We grew up with group therapy, consciousness-raising, and political activism. I expect to see a landscape of options.”

---

Enrichment in the ‘Dividend Years’

Remaining relevant and continuing to make a contribution to society is much more important to boomers than it was to most retirees in previous generations. And that’s what inspired Maryland House Bill 288 (and Senate Bill 700), which established the Baby Boomer Initiative Council, a group designed to explore ways the “50-plussers,” as Monica Schaefer calls them, can continue to play a serious part—whether or not they retire.

“Boomers are 78 million strong,” says Schaefer, a council member. And most over 50 “have two or three more decades of life.” The council was designed, she explains, “to look at what we can do in the dividend years, what we can do to remain productive after retirement.”

Schaefer started a nonprofit called the Visionary Institute for Total Ageless Living (VITAL) that provides resources to older adults, from job searches to nonprofit work. “I’m trying to match people in transition with nonprofits, agencies with a social mission, or encore careers,” she says.

Continuing education is one route to personal and professional enrichment: People over 60 can take courses at the University of Maryland—and most of the state’s community colleges—for free, Schaefer points out. Some in that demographic may take classes for a career boost, while others might be looking to pursue a dormant passion.

In the same spirit, Peabody Prep, normally the place for would-be child prodigies and young musicians, also has an Adult Continuing Education program, ACE. “Most are people who might have studied when they were kids,” says ACE director Larry Williams, who is also a professional horn player. “At this point in their lives, they want to do something for themselves, they want to pick up an instrument or study voice.”

Another member of the Boomer Council, Wesley Wilson, has put together a section on the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s website called “A Guide to Being a Boomer in Maryland.”

Wilson, chief of the State Library Resource Center at the Central Library, says today’s boomers aren’t interested in sitting still. “They want to get out into the community. There’s a hunger to stay active.” Users (see “Guide to Being a Boomer in Maryland”
at prattlibrary.org) can search for jobs by industry or by skill, as well as search for cultural events, outdoor activities, and volunteer opportunities.

“People over 65 these days don’t want to go on bus tours,” says Marian Madbury, who founded the women’s adventure travel firm In Good Company a dozen years ago, when she was 50. The guided trips—most involve hiking, biking, or boating—aren’t age-segregated and Madbury says most have a wide range of participants. A recent backpacking trip in the Himalayas, for example, was populated by mostly women in their 50s. “We had one woman over 70, and two were going to celebrate turning 60,” she says. “We like to say, ‘It’s not your age, it’s how physically active you are.’”

Madbury has a good role model. Her mother, who died two years ago at the age of 98, went on a trip to South Africa when she was 88. “When she was 70, she came out to the Boundary Waters (in Minnesota, where Madbury lived at the time) to learn whitewater rafting.”

---

Packing Up is Hard to Do

“Aging in place” is a goal for the majority of aging Americans, according to the AARP. But that doesn’t necessarily mean staying in the shingled Ruxton Victorian with 1.5 acres of manicured lawn. And sometimes, health issues make staying put unfeasible.

For most, there’s eventually a move—one that generally comes sometime after kids have launched and before it’s time to repaint the shingles. Again.

These empty nesters aren’t ready for the old folks’ home, but they are ready for some maintenance-free living, often in busy city neighborhoods where they can enjoy restaurants and cultural events, as well as a concierge to sign for packages.

Ron and Donna Kurasik moved from their 3,500-square-foot Homeland house of 22 years to a condominium of half the size in a classic Charles Street high rise less than two miles down the road. “It wasn’t a big house, but it was a big maintenance project,” says Ron of the former residence. “Here, I don’t have to drag garbage cans out to the curb. There’s a garbage chute at the end of the hallway.”

The one-story living is also a plus, he says. He and his wife Donna “have knees that aren’t what they used to be.”

Moving was tough, says Ron. “It was hard giving up my eighth-grade shop projects” and he sold a 1910 barber chair that wouldn’t fit in the new digs. Sally McCabe, owner of Next Step Baltimore, a firm that specializes in moving and organizing, helped the couple figure out what to do with all their stuff. “She gave us suggestions about antiques shops and consigning,” he says.

When she initially meets with couples who are downsizing, says McCabe, “They’re like a deer caught in the headlights. They don’t know where to begin.” She helps them sort through their stuff to decide on its value—real and sentimental. “A lot of people will have children who can take things off their hands,” she says. She will suggest specialists for old and rare books and let people know that metal file cabinets are nearly impossible to unload. “The one thing that people can’t part with is the 4,000 boxes of family photos,” she says. McCabe has a list of firms happy to digitize them all.

McCabe encourages clients to hang on to the things they love. “If it’s Great Aunt Mimi’s Duncan Phyfe sofa that they grew up with and can’t imagine not having, I encourage them to find a spot in the new space,” she says. On the other hand, getting rid of things “can be very cathartic.”

The Kurasiks worked with McCabe and a decorator, Carroll Frey, to set up a floorplan for each room in the condo, so they would know exactly what to take. “We were able to fit almost all the furniture,” says Ron. “We think things look better here than they did in the old house.” The barber chair, alas, had to go. But Kurasik says he got a good price for it on eBay.

We’re gonna pay for this how?

Wayne Zussman is the founder and president of Triton Wealth Management, a financial planning, investment management, and tax planning and preparation firm with multiple locations in Maryland. He advises individuals, families, estates, and small-business owners on a range of investment and financial matters.

What is the value in delaying Social Security benefits?

According to the SSA’s statistics, 73 percent of retired workers received reduced benefits because they elected to take their benefits before full retirement age.

The first things to consider are your health, your longevity, and your family history of longevity. If you are not in good health, you might consider taking benefits earlier. If you are married, one of you might consider starting benefits. But in most cases, I like to see people delay as long as possible.

If you suspend Social Security benefits beyond your normal retirement age, you can earn delayed retirement credits. Each year you delay beyond your normal retirement age, up to age 70, you can receive about an eight percent annual increase in benefits received. Delaying benefits even by a few years can make a big impact on your long-term finances.

You can’t get that guarantee on any investment. If someone takes Social Security at 62 or 67, versus waiting until they turn 70, the break-even point (of money collected) is in the late 70s. If you expect to live past that—and the actuarial tables say you will—waiting is the wiser move. If you have sufficient savings to get you through, I recommend you take money out of your portfolio before collecting Social Security. The person who hasn’t saved will have fewer choices.

Is it too late to start saving?

It’s never too late. Start looking at things, tightening your belt. At the very minimum, max out your 401K by contributing $23,500 per year. Remember, you’re potentially looking at a 25-30 year retirement without income. Someone who is making $200,000 and wants to continue their lifestyle for 30 years without a paycheck has to save. It’s a fair amount of money.

What are some good retirement investments?

Keep it simple, stick with what you know. I have rental property, which is great. I will get a stream of income in my retirement. That’s my annuity investment. But I have to work at it. It’s my second job. As for investments, I use a baseball analogy: In retirement, you want to go for singles and doubles, you don’t want to go for home runs, because you’ll strike out. If you take on too much risk and 2008 hits again, then you’re in trouble. You don’t want to get fancy in retirement: Minimize costs, live within your means. In addition to investments, everyone (whether or not one is retired) should question and shop around for the everyday necessities of life. Ask yourself, “Am I paying too much for blank?” Fill in the blank with cell-phone service, groceries, dry cleaning, cable TV, life, or auto and homeowner’s insurance.

A lot of those hitting 60 are still putting kids through college. Any advice on that?

That’ll be me. A lot of times, the child dictates where to go to school; they’ll decide they want to go to a college out of state, and there may be no cost benefit for a lot of kids. You should save for your retirement before you pay for children’s educations. You can borrow for education, but can’t borrow for retirement. If someone’s going to med school, hopefully their income can pay for their own loans. Know your child, know the major, their drive. I tell my kids, “I’ll give you a state school. If you want more than that, you need to get loans, scholarships, and summer jobs.”

---

To your Health:

Here’s our primer on the increasing complexities of health insurance in the post-Obamacare era:

What is the difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) are a way to get your Medicare coverage through a private plan. They are managed-care plans and often referred to as HMOs and PPOs. Medicare Advantage Plans are run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. They include all benefits covered under Medicare A and B, and may cover prescription drugs and extra benefits. Individuals pay monthly Medicare Advantage premiums in addition to paying Medicare Part B premiums.

What is a Medigap plan and how do you know if you need one?

Medigap (Medicare Supplemental Plans) are sold by private insurance companies to fill in “gaps” and help pay for some health-care costs that Medicare does not cover. There are 11 Medigap plans offered in the state of Maryland. Individuals pay monthly Medigap premiums in addition to paying Medicare Part B premiums. It is important to join a Medigap plan during your open enrollment period, that is, six months from the time your Medicare Part B begins. Different rules for open enrollment apply for Medicare beneficiaries under and over the age of 65 regarding which plans you may choose. The Maryland Insurance Administration’s website,
mdinsurance.state.md.us has important information regarding Medigap plans and pricing. If you consider purchasing a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or buying a Medigap plan, then note that the start date for Medigap coverage or a Medicare Advantage Plan should coincide with the start date for Medicare.

What is long-term care insurance and when is the best time to buy?

Long-term care insurance is designed to cover long-term services and supports, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings such as your home or in a nursing home. It is sold by private insurance companies. Insurance companies use the principle of medical underwriting to determine health status, pricing, exclusions, and limits for coverage. Companies differ in their medical underwriting practices, so consumers are encouraged to comparison-shop for the best product and price. Many companies have upper-age restrictions on issuing coverage, therefore it is recommended to consider coverage early. The Maryland Insurance Administration has excellent information on long-term care insurance at
mdinsurance.state.md.us.

Has the Affordable Care Act changed my Medicare coverage?

The Affordable Care Act does not reduce or take away Medicare coverage. Beneficiaries can still choose their own doctors or continue to see their current doctors. This standard applies to beneficiaries with original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.

If you have prescription-drug coverage through Medicare, then the “donut hole” is a temporary limit on what the drug plan will cover for drugs. The Affordable Care Act reduces the percentage of payment while in the coverage gap or donut hole. By the year 2020, individuals will pay the same co-payments until they reach a catastrophic coverage level, and their co-payment responsibilities are much smaller.

Our source was Michelle P. Holzer, program manager of the Maryland Department of Aging’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased, confidential counseling and support in every county to help Medicare beneficiaries understand their health insurance coverage and options. Holzer has been studying Medicare and managing the state’s SHIP since its inception more than 25 years ago.

---

Mr. Technology is your Friend

Following their mother’s stroke, Steve Frantz and his five siblings were able to share the tasks of caring for her so she could remain in her home. Frantz, who lives in Mt. Washington, says he’s grateful that the family could band together. “I’ve run into others who didn’t have that extensive support network,” he says.

An information technology project manager, Frantz began to volunteer for Baltimore Village at Home (see story, page 150), helping older residents with their technology needs—from hooking up a smart TV to helping upgrade a computer, he says.

In the coming years, says Erickson Dean Judah Ronch, “technology will be a game-changer” when it comes to assisting the aging population. Not only will medical records be more integrated, but people will be able to monitor their own health, and, when necessary, share information with family and friends. Technology will help with social interaction, mobility, transportation, and safety within the home, he says.

But first, says Galina Madjaroff, developers have to recognize the vast market potential. “Most technology is being developed for the 25-35 age group,” says Madjaroff, a doctoral candidate at UMBC specializing in technology and older adults. “There’s a huge gap between what the older generation needs and what the industry is providing.”

Helena Mentis, assistant professor of information systems at UMBC and Madjaroff’s thesis adviser, agrees. She points to wearable technology, seen by some as the next frontier. FitBit, a bracelet that monitors physical activity, sleep, and other inputs “has taken off with healthy twentysomethings,” she says. But that technology could also be used for older folks “to make sure they’re moving enough,” and in some cases, “to see if they’re engaging in social interaction.”

Mentis describes sharing Google Glass with a 72-year-old, who became excited about taking snapshots throughout the day to share with grandchildren. And the same technology, she says, could be used to monitor daily activities. Wii Fit-style programs are being used for physical therapy, and so-called “smart homes” will get even smarter, adjusting climate, lighting, and other systems to keep residents healthy and safe, Mentis says.

Most boomers will be quick to point out that they aren’t intimidated by technology—after all, their generation invented it. And it’s impossible to lump the over-50s into one group, says Mentis. Some may be comfortable with a Bluetooth phone, while “someone in their 90s may say if it’s not attached to wall, I don’t know what to do with it,” she says. “But in this day and age, when families are separated, the ability to use a cell phone and Skype can improve everyone’s life.”

---

For a list of retirement housing and resources in the region, please visit our Retirement Resource List below.