The Aged Sage Communique January 2024
Lazy Lady Seems Smarter
but new technology carries the freight!
- In their own words, “ChatGPT is designed for natural language understanding and generation. It has been trained...and is capable of performing various language-related tasks, such as answering questions, generating human-like text, translating languages, and more.”
- This user was sceptical but, what the heck, let’s give this app a shot with some easy questions:
- “Great hidden-gem coastal vacation spots?” I was thrilled when The Shetland Islands was on the list. (Watch “Shetland” on Britbox if you want to see why, plus it’s a great series.)
- “Best family dog breed?” Labrador Retriever. Correct answer since we have a Labradoodle.
- “Best dad joke?” Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. (ba dum dum - oldie but goodie?)
It can also address serious conundrums, such as, a good sugar cookie recipe, snowfall predictions or how to begin researching your family tree. Download the app and give it a go!
BOOM BOOM BOOMERS! Traditional Boomers
Story 4 of 6
June shocked her husband with the casual remark about “moving in a couple years.” His comeback, “They’ll carry me out in a box.” June loves her 2-story farmhouse with the fields and barns but, some days, her left knee aches. In contrast, her husbands right knee hurts due to an injury, so he limps and is putting off knee replacement surgery as long as possible.
The house worked when it was full of kids, followed by a couple of years when they took in her mother. The kids moved on with their lives and mother went to skilled nursing. Now June is wondering if the place is too big for them to take care of.
There’s the garden and numerous flower beds she gets such joy from tending. While 4 acres is a lot of upkeep, they both love sitting on the porch and seeing the animals, wild and domestic, roaming around the property. Of course, there’s all the trees, leaves and snow. But, that’s country living and they have plenty of equipment to handle all that. Stairs and bedrooms on the 2nd floor make it hard on aging knees. In order to stay in the home they love, they decide to be pro-active and look for options to stay there longer. They are working with a contractor to estimate a 1st floor bedroom and bathroom expansion.
The bottom line is, neither of them want to move from the family home and all the memories. Instead, June and her husband decide to make the necessary adjustments as their circumstances change. That makes everyone happy.
Traditional Boomers are independent and self sufficient, not liking to depend on others for help. They are generally homeowners of single family residences willing to make adjustments to accomodate aging in place. They like the idea of the family home and family tradition.
*Baby boomers are those born between 1944 and 1964. According to the “Seniors Real Estate Specialist® Council”, there are 6 major types. While no one falls entirely into one of these categories, the similarities are interesting to explore.
The Buzz on Bees in the Winter
Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and a valued pollinator for the majority of crops around the world. What happens to these powerhouse insects when cold weather hits? Basically, like the rest of us, they try to keep warm. Unlike us, they wouldn’t survive outside the hive in cold weather. During winter in the hive, they come together forming a cluster where they vibrate their little bee bodies to create heat. They can actually maintain a 50 degree temperature if left alone - in other words, don’t get nosy and open the lid to see if they’re OK. This isn’t to say that all survive the winter. We lost a hive when the lid blew off during a blustery snow storm. Bees survive the winter by eating the honey they’ve produced in warmer weather. However, if a beekeeper has taken some honey out (we do in July-ish and October-ish), they will need to supplement the hive with ‘bee cakes’ (sugar/pollen patties) so they have enough food to make it through the winter. So when they finally emerge in the spring, welcome these industrious little insects and celebrate their arrival. They are one marker to the healthy of our ecosystem!
Protect Your Assets
long-term care & Medicaid eligibility
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust and is a popular choice for families trying to plan ahead in the event you might need long-term care through Medicaid.
This irrevocable trust ensures protection for assets and allows you to qualify for the benefits of Medicaid long-term care. Transfering assets into this type of trust will exempt them from consideration in Medicaid eligibility.
Benefits: you get to start an effective and efficient estate plan while also increasing your chances of being approved for Medicaid in the future. Like other trusts, a Medicaid Trust will avoid probate. They have additional options some trusts don’t including the ability to hold assets from multiple jurisdictions, safeguards for special needs beneficiaries, and ease of management.
To exempt assets from consideration for Medicaid home care coverage, assets must be in the trust for years beforehand. Therefore, start to plan sooner rather than later.
There is no restriction to the type of assets you can place into these trusts. You could protect your home from being considered in Medicaid eligibility, and you won’t have to further protect your home from risk should your assets be depleted in securing long-term care. The sale of a home placed in these trusts will count against your eligibility for Medicaid, so you should be willing to commit long-term to have the home remain in the trust and in the family.
Ultimately, these trusts can provide you with peace of mind and familiarity at a scary time when long-term care needs arise.
Miller Law Firm PC specializes in elder law, estate planning, trust estate planning and other legal services. Our focus is to help our clients protect their loved ones and their own legacies by planning for the future in a number of different ways.For more information or a consultation, contact: Steve Miller at (855) 936-3886 • millerlaw-pc.com
More Reasons To Celebrate!
Spring holidays vary depending on cultural, religious and area traditions. Other interesting holidays include:Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil appears live to look for his shadow, scientifically determining whether there will be 6 more weeks of winter (or not) - Feb 2!Easter: Celebrated by Christians worldwide, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Passover (Pesach): Jewish festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Nowruz: Persian New Year, celebrated by communities in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Holi: Hindu "Festival of Colors," is celebrated in India and parts of South Asia. Cherry Blossom Festivals: Held in Japan and cities in the U.S. to celebrate the blooming of the cherry trees.May Day: May 1st in many countries. Often includes dancing arount the May Pole and other celebrations of spring.Cinco de Mayo: Celebrates the Mexican army's victory vs the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862.Queen's Day/King's Day (Koningsdag): Netherlands celebration marking the birthday of the reigning monarch. Arbor Day: Celebrated in many countries, focusing on tree planting and environmental conservation.Beltane: Celtic festival marking the beginning of the warmer season, usually celebrated with bonfires and festivities.
Senior-Focused Seminars
Senior Care • Financial Planning • Real Estate
Medicaid • Legal Matters • Senior Living Options
Available Services • and much more!
These free seminars and panel discussions are geared toward empowering attendees to make informed decisions and plan for their senior years with confidence and security.
Hosted by the Senior Focus Business Alliance, a dedicated assembly of professionals from various fields committed to addressing a wide array of essential senior issues.
Email margie@margieyohn.com to receive updates on dates, times, locations and topics.
Hot Colors For 2024 are Feeling the Blues!
Gray is out and the newest colors for 2024 are taking inspiration from nature: earth, water, sky and the things that grow there!
Shermin Williams Color Of The Year for 2024 is called “Upward: a breezy, blissful blue - the color found when we slow down, take a breath, and allow the mind to clear.”
According to Better Homes & Gardens, colors of the year are “soothing earth tones, deep moody hues, and various shades of blue. Earthy, nature-inspired tones will be especially big this year.”
Pantone’s Color of the Year is “Peach Fuzz, a warm, welcoming shade that resonates with compassion and offers a tactile embrace. It effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless and can add softness to any room.”
Benjamin Moore has picked “Blue Nova: a rich, grounded blue that works just as well on an accent piece as it does covering a color-drenched room.The color... represents the blend of modern and traditional styles that are popular in home interiors right now.”
Interior colors figure prominantly in setting the tone in a room and can play a big difference when selling a home. According to Zillow, “the right paint colors could put money in your pocket, while the wrong ones could cost you.” Buyers want to imagine themselves in the home they purchase, so it’s best to stick with neutrals or whites when preparing a home for sale with fresh paint. If it’s blue for you, there’s many choices in 2024!
Downsizing Easy
The free guide that answers important concerns about downsizing!
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E-book or print available - Visit margieyohn.com/downsizingeasy
• “Can I afford to move?” • “Where should I go? • “What do I do with all my valuable stuff?” • Advice & services for smooth moves • 3 different plans to suit your timeframe