Attention seniors! Reach out and ask – and oceans of help will flood your way.
Gerontologist Catherine Ramey believes this to be so, she explained at a presentation she gave to seniors at the Danville Public Library last week, organized by the town Parks and Recreation Department.
Her presentation, “Seniors on the Move: The Inside Scoop on Relocation,” talked about the process of moving and gave a step-by-step plan for making change as smooth as possible.
“You want to make an informed decision,” Ramey said. “The more information you have, the more control you have. They just don’t know what’s out there. It’s hard for them to come to a decision.”
Seniors might decide to move to be closer to their grandchildren, it will allow them more vacation time or to let go of housekeeping, she said. Some may need assistance with their daily activities.
Ramey said only a small percentage of the elderly are institutionalized. She noted that many are lively and energetic, and some still date.
“Age is just a number,” she said. “It’s really a distinction.”
She said when older people decide to relocate they must be aware of four major aspects: making the decision; planning and preparing; making the move; and settling in. She also discussed defining what a “home” is, selling property, and selecting a new lifestyle and getting the most out of it.
Folks must decide why they are moving and where before they begin to relocate, she said. After these decisions are made, they must make sure they are financially secure and also must check out their new environment.
During relocation, Ramey recommended the elderly give serious attention to what belongings they want to bring and what they want to discard.
“It’s really important you have control over your belongings,” she said. “You create your environment with your belongings.”
“Moving can be horrendous,” she added. “It depends on how you approach it.”
Upon completing the moving process, she advised settling into the new place by getting to know the community and building a social network – whether it is a church, friends or family.
At the workshop, the audience raised issues they had faced when they left their old homes. One local resident complained that it’s difficult to live alone and make decisions by herself.
Irma Konecny said transportation is a big issue. She said there is not enough public transportation in the area, and the high cost of real estate posed financial challenges when she and her husband Anthony moved to San Ramon. She added that elderly communities in the Danville area are “cliquey.”
But despite the struggles of moving from Oregon and Oklahoma to
California, she and her husband Anthony wanted to be closer to their grandchildren.
“It’s very positive,” Irma Konecny said, about the Ramey’s presentation.
Ramey is a member of the Gerontological Society of America, American Society on Aging, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, and National Council on Aging and American Society on Aging Joint Conference. Additionally, she is a Realtor for Intero Real Estate Services.
She said she combines her real estate and gerontology background to help seniors.
“I could be talking about this forever,” she said.
‘Helping you help mom and dad resources’
Senior Information and Referral(800) 510-2020
Isolation
Assistance League of Diablo Valley: 934-0901Senior Helpline Services
Reassurance Phone Friends: 284-2207
Rides for Seniors: 284-6699
Caring Hands for Caregivers: 284-6699
Caregiving
Family Caregivers Alliance: www.caregiver.orgEldercare Locator
(800) 677-1116
www.eldercare.gov
Driving & Technology Resources
Contra Costa County Connection: 676-7500Link (paratransit door-to-door for seniors): 676-7500
Senior Helpline Services: 284-6161
Elder Abuse
Adult Protective Services: (877) 839-4347Food and Nutrition Programs
Hot Meals Programs: 973-7310Meals on Wheels: 937-8607
Grief
Senior Peer Counseling: (800) 833-2900Dementia, Alzheimer’s Resources
Alzheimer’s Association: 284-7942Diablo Respite Center: 210-6196
Help to Stay at Home
Geriatric Care ManagementAging and Adult Services Bureau: (800) 510-2020
Jewish family and Children’s Services: 927-2000
Multi Purpose Senior Services Program: 335-8720
Diablo Valley Foundation for Aging: 945-8040
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers: www.caremanager.org
Adult Day Care Network of Contra Costa County: 284-7942
provided by Catherine Ramey
