Voting Tips for Seniors

I found this article with some great information on voting day, thank  you! http://exclusiveseniorcare.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/voting-tips-for-senior-citizens/

 

Here are quick tips for voters, including seniors, before heading to the polls:

1. Be sure you are registered to vote. Click here to contact your local election official to double check if you are registered to vote.

2. Know where and when to vote. To check your voting location and poll hours, click here. Most polls close between 6pm to 9pm so be sure to check the poll hours. Note, that the voting location might have changed from the last time you voted so it will be wise to check the location and poll hours before you vote.

3. Find out the ID requirements. Please note that it might vary per state. Click here to check the ID needed in your state to cast your ballot. Bringing your passport or your driver’s license should be okay, but checking ID requirements is recommended.

4. Allocate Time. Allocate plenty of time. You’ll never know if you’ll hit be bad traffic and if there will be long lines. Usually, mid-morning or early afternoon won’t be as crowded.

5. Bring your sample ballot. This will definitely help you complete the official ballot faster.

 

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers! ™

NJ Senior Moves

I was called to help a customer that was moving from Toms River NJ to an assisted living facility.

When I met her, she was just getting back from the doctors. Her arthritis has gotten so bad that the simple things are sometimes just to hard to do. Cooking is impossible some days, and getting dressed can be an ordeal.

Moving day

We will help with all the packing. The packers will arrive the day before the move to make sure everything is ready to go. On moving  day we are scheduled to start at 8am at her house. We should be on the road by 1030 or so. By 2 in the afternoon, everything we have been moved and our unpacking team will be there to get everything organized by dinner time. If we had tried to do the packing, move and unpacking all in one day, it would run much longer than the average person has the patience for. This way, there is much less stress.

At our estimate I make a phone call to a great cleaning company to help our client with that last big clean.

The only reason you hire a mover is make your life easier!

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm)

Senior Moving Specialist

I did an estimate yesterday for a senior moving to the Buffalo NY area. I have not been so charmed by anyone in quite awhile.

She met me at the door with a huge smile. We walked through the house and she pointed out what is going and what is staying.

He house in immaculate and she is almost all packed already. She is so positive about life and the new apartment. I was there way too long and had to call my next appointment to let them know I might be a few minutes late.

After another successful senior move, smiles and pictures

We will supply Mrs M with boxes for her to finish packing. We will pack the pictures for her. We will load and travel straight up there for unloading the next morning. We might drop a couple of pieces off at a nieces for her.

The conversation roamed into other things on her mind. We discussed a lawyer to update her will. We discussed a handyman to help fix some minor issues a the house.

When she calls with a firm moving date, I hope I’m on the job!

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm)

NJ Senior Move Specialist

I did an estimate for moving yesterday for a couple moving to North Carolina. They are moving to be closer to their children. The daughter found me and asked us to go out and determine the needs and costs involved.

This couple is into their 90′s and very sharp. We went over what would go and the packing they required from us.

We came up with a plan that included them doing some of the packing and we would do the china and fragile pieces. We will deliver the boxes they need so they can get started soon.

Recent move to the Poconos with BD Movers

Some items will not fit in the new home and we supplied them with contacts that either bought furniture or auctioned it off. We suggested a handyman to help with some minor repairs the house needs before it can be sold.Some items will be delivered to the daughters house when we move mom and dad.

The daughter will be kept in the loop on all arrangements and suggestions.

We are discussing moving dates that will accommodate the parents and daughter, and making them firm. No vague “windows of time” for loading and delivery. We give a set time and date to load and a set time and date to deliver.

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm)

Why do Seniors Move?

There are many reason why we decide to move, new job, better schools, bigger house. That fits the bill for 20-50 year olds but why do seniors move? You may be surprised by a couple of these.

• Closer to family. Obvious, we all would have guessed this. In fact it is one of the top reasons why any of us move.
• Yard work. They are just tired of it and are looking for a place that either provides this service or eliminates it, like assisted living.
• Downsize. The house is just too large, too expensive and has too many stairs. Seniors are downsizing but not by much. In general they still have all that stuff and don’t want to get rid of it yet. Some of the senior developments near me offer homes that have over 4500 square feet of living space. It appears we downsize but it is relative to what we are moving out of. Rarely does anyone move to a one bedroom apartment from a 4 bedroom house.
• Cost of living. They move to reduce taxes and cost of home ownership. New Jersey is seeing a huge movement of people moving south. The average tax we pay on a home in NJ is $7300.  I have friends in Florida that pay half that for more house.

Health plays a huge role also, it is often the driving force behind the other reasons.

The reason most mentioned to me on estimates? Yard work.  They do move into smaller places, they do move closer to kids and they do reduce their taxes but, the yard work and house upkeep is just too much now.

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm) your senior move specialist.

National Association of Senior Move Managers

What is or who are the NASMM?

Mrs Albanese, day of move, working with BD Movers, Senior move specialist

Well they describe themselves this way :
The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is a 501(c)(6), not-for-profit, professional association of organizations dedicated to assisting older adults and families with the physical and emotional demands of downsizing, relocating, or modifying their homes. As the only professional association in North America devoted to helping the rapidly increasing 55+ population with middle and later life transition issues, NASMM members are committed to maximizing the dignity and autonomy of all older adults.

What do they do? Again, taken from their web site, they describe the job as:

Although specific services vary, most Senior Move Managers can help with some or all of the following:

• Developing an overall move or “age in place” plan
• Organizing, sorting and downsizing
• Customized floor plans
• Arranging for the profitable disposal of unwanted items through auction, estate sale, buy-out, consignment, donation, or a combination of the above
• Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers
• Arranging shipments and storage
• Supervise professional packing
• Unpacking and setting up the new home
• Related services, such as cleaning, waste removal, shopping, senior escort, assisting with selection of a realtor and helping prepare the home to be sold.

I’m proud to say I am a member and I endorse the use of any member you see on the site. I have used a few myself and I have always found them to be very helpful and knowledgeable. The web site is http://www.nasmm.org

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm)

Strangers on moving day

Pleased BD Movers client

Consumer agency’s tell us that our seniors, as a group, are the most taken advantage of in our country. They tend to more trusting (a good thing) but that leads to bad decisions sometimes.

Can we stress enough the importance of knowing who is coming into the house ? The company hired should do background checks on all employees and have insurance for mistakes. You don’t want someone who subcontracts the work or hires day workers, (they may be great but who are they?)

Service people  have the greatest opportunity to be unethical.  We are usually in the house unsupervised and have access to more that we should.

Summary; Service companies or contractors that work in your house,  know what you have, they know where and how you live, and they know who is vulnerable.

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers(tm)

Senior Care Facility Checklist

La Dolce recently published one of the best check off lists I’ve seen yet. Their contact link follows the article.

La Dolce Living’s Senior Care Home Checklist

Name of Nursing home:____________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Telephone number: ___________________ Email: ­______________________
Contact Person: ______________________ Date of visit: _________________

Here are some questions to ask when touring a Senior Care Facility. Please feel free to add more questions, if you need to.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Is there a waitlist? If so, for how long?
Are visitors allowed anytime?
Do you like the atmosphere in the facility? Is it home-like?
Does the facility maintain a comfortable temperature for residents?

LOCATION

Do you like the location?
Is it close enough for family and friends to visit?
Is Guest parking available?

SAFETY

Facility has smoke detectors and sprinklers in all the rooms and hallway?
Does the facility have proper lighting?
Exits are clearly marked and unobstructed?
Does the facility have handrails in hallways and grab bars in bathrooms?
Are the areas accessible to walkers and wheelchairs?
Are there door alarms installed?
Does the facility have good security in case a resident wanders?
Are the floors non-skid?
Are the Call buttons in the rooms and bathrooms accessible?
Does the facility have fire extinguishers that are strategically located?
Is there an Emergency drill on a regular basis?

ROOMS

Are the rooms and bathrooms clean?
Is the furniture comfortable and nice or can residents bring furniture?
Is there enough storage space in the room (drawers, cabinets)?
Are there different sizes of room options (singe or double occupancy)?
Are TVs, Cable, Radio, Internet, Telephone available for each room? If so how much is the fee?

MEALS

Does the food selection vary from day-to-day and meal-to-meal?
Does the facility offer nutritionally balanced meals seven days a week?
Are snacks available?
Can a resident request a special meal?
Do residents follow a meal schedule or can they eat anytime?

COST

Are there any upfront costs? (Deposit and other fees)
Do they charge extra for care and supplies?
Are there different costs for different levels of care?
What type of insurance is accepted?

1. Medicare
2. Medicaid
3. Medigap
4. Long-term care
5. Private Insurance

How much does the facility charge on a monthly basis?
How much will the insurance cover?
How much will Medicare cover?

STAFF

Are they friendly?
Are the staff members dressed appropriately?
Do they wear nametags all the time?
Does the facility offer continuing education and training for staff?
Does the facility owners do background check for each staff?
Are the staff trained to handle emergency situations/conditions?

ACTIVITIES

Does the facility offer organized activities with daily schedule postings?
Are there any activities/events held outside of the facility?
Are daily exercise programs available?
Can residents make choices on their daily routine/schedule?

SERVICE

Is transport service available if the resident needs to go to the bank, church, grocery, etc.?
Is staff available 24 hours to assist resident, if necessary?
Does the facility provide housekeeping services for resident’s room?
Any Spiritual Service available?
Does it meet your cultural and language needs?
Does the facility provide updates to family members regarding resident’s condition?

MEDICATION AND CARE

Does the doctor or nurse check on the residents regularly?
Can residents self-administer their medications?
Does the facility have arrangements with a nearby hospital in case of emergency?
Are there different levels of care available, including future needs?
Will the facility arrange delivery for prescription and other medical supplies, if necessary?

COMMENTS: ­____________________________________________________

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About the Author: Catharine D. Allado- Writes articles for www.ladolceliving.com – the most trusted and comprehensive online directory of care homes in California, Florida and the rest of the United States.

Copyright © 2008-2010 La Dolce Living, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is BD Movers!(tm)

NJ Mover, BD Movers, sighted as an industry leader

We are blessed with some great press.

We were recently featured  in an article titled “Senior Move Management: A new niche for movers?”  The full article link follows this excerpt.

Specialized niche for qualified movers

As the need for senior care specialist continues to grow because of the number of aging boomers, some well established local and long distance moving and storage companies and national van lines have recognized the need to provide provide seamless quality move management relocation services for older customers and their families.

Anthony Baumer is a good example. As the owner and President of BD Movers, Tony operates a well established, mid-sized local and long distance moving company in Manahawkin that’s been servicing customers in and around Ocean County, New Jersey since 1989.

As one of the more involved participants of the New Jersey Warehousemen & Movers Association, and a sitting member on the Board of Directors, Tony has long recognized the unique physical and emotional needs of the moving industry’s older customers.

Initially, his company partnered with local NASMM business owners in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania by providing specially trained moving crews for their clients. Since BD Movers sits in the shadow of the greater New York City market, however, his office was constantly being contacted by retired snowbirds who participate in the annual ritual of moving between the NY-NJ shore and warmer Sunbelt states, or directly by older NYC residents or their families who required professional help to plan their ‘special needs’ move.

Recently Tony decided to become an NASMM member . His familiarity with the organization combined with the growing number of word-of-mouth (WOM) requests for his specially trained BD Movers SSM crews made the decision pretty easy. When contacted about this new role, he responded:

Senior moves are a unique move.  The mover should be familiar with the facility the move is into or at the very least, get the contact information for the management or move in coordinator.  The often have rules much like high-rises on hours of availability and parking areas. Often they have “off limit” areas when residents may be taking lunch or common areas for meetings. Occasionally we must avoid an area of offices for doctor screenings.

The management will usually have a fact sheet they provide the move with their rules. Most are common sense, and will most likely have the requirement of a certificate of insurance to be provided in advance. Expect that some may require the move to be completed within a specified time, especially if they are scheduling an elevator for multiple moves. They may  require that all packing material be removed also.

Before the move, we meet with the client and or the family. Many variables are common, kids are out of state, parents are in the hospital, one spouse may have recently passed away. We cover all the moving requirements but most likely the discussion will include cleaning , hauling away old items, donating items the family does not want but is in good condition, delivering to multiple locations (kids, grand kids, storage, etc).

I may offer the services of a estate sale planner. Sometimes the home needs minor repairs and we provide the contacts to that. Our client may not be up to arranging all the peripheral chores involved with moving, either because of health or distance. We step up and do that. – Tony Baumer, BD Movers

Definitely not the kind of options provided by your typical ‘full service’ local mover!  And what’s more remarkable, when you consider all the value-added SSM services that BD Movers provides, is that the company doesn’t charge anything extra to make their senior customers’ moves as worry and problem free as possible.

The complete article can be found here http://reloroundtable.com/blog/featured-stories/senior-move-management-a-new-niche-for-movers/

Biggest Concerns of Seniors Moving

The  cornerns I hear most often from our Seniors when I give them a moving estimate are:

“I don’t know if I’ll like there”  Number 1 by far if they are moving into assisted living or moving in with their children.

“I don’t know if it will fit”  Usually they are down sizing and everything has a history and value to them.

“I don’t think I can get ready” You hire professionals to make your life easier, they can do anything you require.

I rarely hear how excited they are to make the move nor do I hear of the things they are looking forward to doing there.

Keep this in mind when Mom, Dad or even your spouse seems reluctant. They may be like everyone else moving, scared.

Faith can move mountains, for everything else there is  BD Movers!(tm)

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…