You’re over at your parents’ house for Sunday dinner when you notice it: a stack of unopened mail on the counter, a slight trip on a rug, or the way your father grips the banister just a little tighter than he used to. It’s a “senior moment” for you—the adult child—where the realization hits that the family home, once a place of total Security, might be becoming a source of concern.
As the “Sandwich Generation,” you are balancing your own career and children while trying to ensure your parents maintain their Dignity & Respect. At Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, we know that these transitions are emotional for the whole family. That is why we launched the Aging in Place Podcast—to provide you with the expert resources you need to navigate these changes with love and clarity.
Meet Our Guest: Jennifer Drohan
For our first episode, we are joined by Jennifer Drohan, an award-winning Realtor with Keller Williams who brings a lifetime of local expertise to the table. Having grown up right here in Naperville, Jennifer has been an area resident her entire life. She doesn’t just know the market; she knows the neighborhoods, the history, and the local nuances that matter when a family is considering a move.
Jennifer’s compassionate approach perfectly aligns with our core values. Just as our Seniors Helping Seniors® caregivers provide support through the shared experience of aging, Jennifer provides a guiding hand to families facing the daunting task of “right-sizing.”
Watch the Full Episode Below
In this episode, we explore how to start the “housing talk” with your parents and how local expertise can simplify the move to a safer environment.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode
During our conversation, Jennifer shared invaluable insights for families navigating the current real estate landscape:
- The 55+ Market Today: An inside look at the current demand for senior-specific communities and what availability looks like for those ready to transition.
- The Rise of Multigenerational Living: Why more families are looking for homes that accommodate multiple generations under one roof and how to find the right layout.
- Starting the Conversation: Practical advice on how to talk to your parents about “right-sizing” without making them feel like they are losing their independence.
- Safety & Logistics: Identifying when a home is no longer a safe environment and how to manage the logistics of a move while working and raising your own family.
- The Naperville Advantage: How Jennifer’s lifelong residency helps her identify the best local resources and “senior-friendly” neighborhoods in our community.
Additional Resources
If you are feeling overwhelmed by your parents’ real estate needs and want to speak with a local expert, you can reach out to Jennifer directly:
- Contact Jennifer Drohan (Keller Williams): 630-292-2696 (Call or Text)
Want more expert tips delivered straight to your device? Be sure to like and follow our podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music—it’s a simple …a way to give and to receive® valuable information for your family’s future.
To learn more about how Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services can provide caregiver services to support your parents during this transition, visit our [Services Page].
Dan Drews: Hello everyone and welcome to Aging In Place, the Greater Naperville Areas Family Guide.
Dan Drews: Our goal is to help the sandwich generation. This is middle-aged adults, kind of in your forties and fifties who are squeezed by the responsibility of simultaneously. Supporting aging parents as well as their own children. We want to help their parents age as gracefully as possible and reduce the stress through education and community connection.
Dan Drews: It takes a village folks, and there are a lot of great resources and ideas that we try to uncover through expert guests that know the local area very, very well. I’m your host Dan Drews. And this is my co-host and sponsor, Mr. Brennan Roberts, the owner of Seniors, helping Seniors, uh, for the Greater Naperville area.
Dan Drews: Brennan, tell us a little [00:01:00] bit about seniors, helping seniors.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah, thanks Dan. So, seniors, helping seniors, our mission is really to help seniors in our community kinda live independently for as long as possible with sort of the dignity and grace that they deserve. Uh, so we provide non-medical in-home care services such as.
Brennen Roberts: Companionship support with daily living and personal care, and we do it through this very, what we feel is a very unique intergenerational model. So our caregivers are sort of active, loving, mature seniors themselves, and they’re able to provide more of a peer-to-peer support for our clients that really we think benefits our caregivers just as much as our clients.
Brennen Roberts: And we recognize, you know, we’re just kind of a sliver of the, the care and issues and our, our, our vision is really to help alleviate stress on families as well as kind of make connections within the community for our families. So we’re excited to be a sponsor of the podcast and be part of the conversation, and I’m excited [00:02:00] about learning more and, uh, how we can help our families with issues like today.
Dan Drews: Well, thank you Brennan, and a very important sliver nonetheless too, right? Yes, it
IMG_7728: is.
Dan Drews: Folks, our show today is gonna focus on the home and real estate and how that plays into plans for seniors at different stages of their retirement process. And to help with that, I am so excited that we are joined today by a Naperville real estate icon, Jennifer Drohan.
Dan Drews: Jennifer grew up in uh, Naperville, and she has happily been serving the western suburbs since. 2003 with more than 22 years of experience as a realtor. She is an expert in her field. Jennifer is a relocation specialist and an accredited, certified staging consultant. In 2019, folks, she was the. Number one individual agent enlisting volume at Keller Williams Infinity.
Dan Drews: Jennifer, welcome to the uh, show. Thank you. And thank you so much for joining us today.
Jennifer Drohan: Thank you both. I’m honored to be here.
Dan Drews: Great. [00:03:00] Well, listen, did I miss anything in that flowery introduction for you?
Jennifer Drohan: No, no. You did great.
Dan Drews: Okay. Sounds good. Brendan, listen, we’ve got a big topic to cover today with Jennifer.
Dan Drews: Where do you wanna start with this big mammoth topic?
Brennen Roberts: Yeah, well, I would, I thought we’d start kind of big picture like this is interesting. I think. I think like intuitively, people kind of know the shift. There’s some shift in demographics going on, and when you look at the numbers, sometimes it’s a little.
Brennen Roberts: Staggering, I guess, you know, we’ve seen this, you know, massive increase in sort of the number of the size of the population. That’s 65 plus. I mean, you can see this little chart shooting way up to the right, and even if you projected this out even further, the number of people that are 65 and over. Uh, in the country is gonna expect it to double in the next 40 years.
Brennen Roberts: And the number of people 85 and over is supposed to triple even. So, um, and it really, it really hits home. Like this is interesting. Like we’ve seen, uh, sort of in the, like just the [00:04:00] Western DuPage County, like the population, uh, has really remained flat. If you look at sort of the census data, uh, overall.
Brennen Roberts: But you’ve seen that the. 65 plus population is really going up significantly. So you can see, uh, these numbers just in 20 2010, it was like 10% of the population. And by just in 20 years, it’s expected to be almost 18% of the population in the area. So, uh, so I’m just kind of curious like. Big shift in demographics, like how is that impacting the real estate market overall?
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm. So, e especially in our area, focusing mainly DuPage County, et cetera, uh, we’re seeing a tremendous lack of inventory of available homes. There are a big chunk of degeneration now that want to age in place. So we’re seeing less and less inventory for our new buyers to purchase, uh, because a lot of, uh, our residents here are wanting to stay in their homes.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah, I think like our, the things that we’ve seen, and obviously, you [00:05:00] know, seniors, helping seniors likes to help people live in their homes. And we, we’ve seen like, uh, our studies show like 90% of people, if you ask ’em, like, I wanna age in my home as long as I possibly can.
Jennifer Drohan: Exactly.
Brennen Roberts: But you know, particularly when you’re getting up to the 85 plus mm-hmm.
Brennen Roberts: There’s a huge percentage of that need help and they do stuff. Right. So I imagine you’re, you’re in homes, homes all the time. Like what, what kind of things are you seeing with. People making modifications or changes to their house to help kind of enable that aging process?
Jennifer Drohan: Sure. So if a resident has been in their home for years and years, or decades and decades and they really wanna stay, there’s modifications that can be done to the home to make it easier for them.
Jennifer Drohan: We always would recommend pulling up any sort of carpeting, um, laying down either hardwood tile or even luxury vinyl plate. Flooring now is a preferred, um, material to be used. Ease of using wheelchairs, walkers, et cetera. Um, things that can be installed such as grab bars and bathrooms. Um, we’re also seeing a lot of chair [00:06:00] lifts in two story property.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, we’re also seeing as much as putting on an addition onto the existing home to accommodate a first floor primary suite.
Brennen Roberts: Interesting. And does it, does that have any impact on like. If you’re looking down the road at resale values mm-hmm. Do you see that like having a negative, is it a positive?
Jennifer Drohan: Not necessarily a negative.
Jennifer Drohan: Uh, some of those items may need to be removed. Um, a chair lift, for example, is a lot of nuts and bolts going up, uh, up the stairwell. Mm-hmm. And for a buyer who may be a different age demographic, that might be a little intimidating for them, so that might wanna be removed. Before that comes on the market for sale.
Jennifer Drohan: Yeah. For example,
Dan Drews: Brennen, I was just, uh, thinking about this too. So my parents are in their early eighties and they’re going to do a bathroom conversion right now, but those are the types of things that they’re gonna be adding in, in grab bars and things like that. In, in your experience, are there companies that kind of.
Dan Drews: Focus on those, uh, those type of, uh, revisions [00:07:00] or, uh, alter alterations.
Jennifer Drohan: Most, most handyman builders can take care of something like that. Actually, it’s probably a lack of corporation that we have that would do adjustments like that. So it’s a pretty good business idea to, to come in and do something like that for people.
Jennifer Drohan: Yeah.
Brennen Roberts: There’s, there’s a few in the area mm-hmm. That specialize in that. Mm-hmm. You know, obviously. Um, you know, part of our role sometimes is coming in and like helping make advising and like mm-hmm. Things that we’d point out. But, you know, we’re really thinking about how does the senior stay in place Sure.
Brennen Roberts: For bigger things. There’s certainly companies like a one-on-one mobility in the area that are, people can call and they’ll come in and do a more broader assessment and help with things like wheelchair ramps and figure out they’ve got some services. But yeah, I think a lot of people depend on like handyman.
Brennen Roberts: And thinking about they gotta do it this house, but there are, there are some resources in the community for them to do that.
Dan Drews: Jennifer, when you find that, uh, families are kind of in this transition period, is it. Typically you see it initiated by the older [00:08:00] homeowner or sometimes the other family members kind of having the light bulb moment, like, I think we better do this for mom and dad.
Jennifer Drohan: The majority is the older homeowner. Yeah. You know, is not wanting to leave. Yeah. And the, the middle or sandwich generation, which I’m a part of as well. Um. It oftentimes does want them to downsize, get a little more simple with their living. Um, get a little more maintenance free in their housing. However, if the resident wants to stay, um, it probably would be the.
Jennifer Drohan: Children, the, the, the sandwich generation helping to make these modifications, helping connect them with the companies and suggesting what would be helpful, you know, what they need. Sometimes they can do even an ADA compliant vanity or a kitchen, if they are wheelchair bound, um, doorways may need to be widened, et cetera.
Jennifer Drohan: So that’s a little bit bigger process.
Dan Drews: Yeah. I wonder. I, I have found it difficult sometimes engaging with my parents on mm-hmm. These steps that, that [00:09:00] they need to take the modifications that need to happen in the home. And I’m wondering if, uh, any family members ever tapped you on the shoulder and say, Jennifer, can you please talk to mom?
Dan Drews: And of course, you know, of course. ’cause sometimes that third party
Jennifer Drohan: coming from the middle man, yeah. It sometimes it’s just a little smoother, a little easier to digest for the people who wanna stay in the home. Yeah. So, absolutely. Yep.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. I imagine there’s some times when you’re walking in, you’re like, okay, the amount of.
Brennen Roberts: Modification we have to make right. This home livable for you is kind of beyond the benefit. Is it gonna outweigh looking at downsides? Correct. And, and, uh, you know, so, so, yeah. So speaking of that, there’s always gonna be a time like, you know, a lot of people. They raise their kids in their home. You know, they think about like, I wanna have extra bedrooms when people come home for the holidays and all that stuff.
Brennen Roberts: But really their house is way too big. Or they wanna downsize, but they also love the community. They love the neighborhood. Like what? Like. Talk us through, like family’s kind of decided or talked to you about it, like, Hey, we wanna downsize, and what does that mean for somebody [00:10:00] today?
Jennifer Drohan: Yeah. Oftentimes it might be a family decision, especially if it were down to one parent.
Jennifer Drohan: If one is a widow, um, the children may be really heavily advising. So number one, really we’re looking at. How maintenance free do we need to be? Um, there’s two different sort of downsizing that they could do. Are we needing a maintenance free living that is a downsized, smaller square footage property where the lawns, the snow, everything is taken care of for them on the exterior?
Jennifer Drohan: Or are we really needing some sort of intervention with. Some care. Are we needing something more along the lines of like a Tabor Hills or like a Monarch Landing Assist? Uh, at some point, which, um, weighing the options, it, it, the first step is generally a downsizing of a 55 and over community is generally the first step of a downsize.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. And, and, um, I mean we’re, I’ve seen a lot, a lot more of those, it feels like. Popping up in the area coming ‘
Jennifer Drohan: cause we need them.
Brennen Roberts: They’re
Jennifer Drohan: coming.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. So [00:11:00] what about like, uh, when I think about downsizing, a lot of times like. When my mother went through it, you know, it was going from a, you know, larger home to like a condo kind of in town.
Brennen Roberts: Is there, is there even like, availability is, is the, is there any inventory for that kind of thing?
Jennifer Drohan: Like 55 and over sort of community?
Brennen Roberts: Well, I guess there’s like the, like the 55 and over. Maybe you can talk a little bit about those, but also like, like, hey, like what are my options, I guess. 55 and over community or maybe like a small condo or a small ranch style house.
Brennen Roberts: Like is there inventory in the area? A
Jennifer Drohan: little, a small, a small amount of inventory, yes. Um, there’s gonna be a bit more inventory available in the true 55 and over communities such as the Caron or the Dell Webbs. Uh, they’re starting to expand outside of DuPage County, of course, sort of heading. Toward Oswego, Yorkville, et cetera.
Jennifer Drohan: There’s gonna be more coming in. Um, there is truly a need for these communities and generally they sell out pretty quickly. Uh, there’s one new one in Aurora down south on Ola. It’s Dell Web. It’s absolutely beautiful. And I think they [00:12:00] might be in their final phase now, right? I think there’s simply Ranch Think
Brennen Roberts: phase.
Brennen Roberts: They’re starting phases four on five. Yep. But yeah, it’s been very,
Jennifer Drohan: very popular. They’ve been with building, they’ve been, they’ve been pre-selling out before. They’re, they’re constructed. There’s no spec models to purchase, so it’s only built to suits. Mm-hmm. Um, and beautiful clubhouse, they really are coming in with the luxuries that make it, um, a resident wanna stay here versus almost.
Jennifer Drohan: Moving to Florida or moving to a warmer climate, if they still have family in the area, they really are gonna wanna stay local. And that’s this market, that’s, that’s what we’re seeing is they don’t wanna leave the neighborhoods and an area and friends and doctors that they grew up with. So they’re comfortable downsizing into something maintenance free.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, inventory wise is, you know, it’s a little tight. Um, our areas we’re building huge subdivisions, huge monster homes. You know, 3000 square foot, not generally Two story,
Dan Drews: not too many new ranches. I,
Jennifer Drohan: not too many new ranches at all. Yeah. Unless it is 55 and over.
Dan Drews: [00:13:00] Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: So yeah. We’re, we’re, we’re seeing a lot of that.
Dan Drews: I’m curious on the, when these new developments come up, like the, the Carolon and the Dell web, I imagine you guys get the first heads up that these developments are coming in sometimes. Do they have like a. Open house. Like do they, do they cater to the realtor market to say, Hey, listen, when you’ve got these clients, let’s kind of, it’s tell your clients, let let you know.
Dan Drews: Kind of a show and tell, if you will.
Jennifer Drohan: Sometimes.
Dan Drews: Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: Yep. Sometimes we’re invited. Yeah. Yep. And, and always it’s of. Course, if you’re looking, we need to accompany that very first visit to get you registered because mm-hmm. As a realtor, we do wanna represent you mm-hmm. Through the full transaction. If you need assistance with anything, even reviewing the contracts.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, the builders we work with are great there. Mm-hmm. But we have. The best interest at heart for our clients. So we’re kinda looking out for making sure they see, you know, anything that they might question that they, they don’t think of. So we’re kinda looking things over for them and guiding them through the whole transaction as well.
Dan Drews: Gotcha. So clients start with [00:14:00] you? They
Jennifer Drohan: do. And
Dan Drews: then you can open up the catalog, right. There’s,
Jennifer Drohan: right, when it comes to designing the new property, there’ll be one-on-one with the design centers. Mm-hmm. Unless they want us to accompany work. Absolutely happy, happy to do so.
Dan Drews: Mm-hmm.
Jennifer Drohan: Uh, but reviewing the contracts, looking at timelines, helping with financing, and most people don’t think that they need a, an inspection on new construction.
Jennifer Drohan: We highly recommend it. So we can recommend our Oh, interesting. Our instructors to come through and, and really do a final, um, final check on that property before they take possession.
Brennen Roberts: I think getting that perspective on the contracts, because they can be, if you’re building to spac, especially like in a place like Dell Web where they’re.
Brennen Roberts: Promising different services and amenities, which is one of the reasons you’re buying, but Right. There might be things about the timeline, so. Sure. So I, I know like some of the residents that got in early at Dell Web, uh, are a little frustrated because a lot of the amenities they expected mm-hmm. In the contract.
Brennen Roberts: It’s not until like phase buy [00:15:00] is done and here they are. I’ve been living in this area for sure two years now, and I’m still waiting on. The gate to be down and I want security, but
Jennifer Drohan: Right.
Brennen Roberts: It’s very clearly written in the contract that we’ll write it there. Right. But I, it’s not something I think most people are gonna
Jennifer Drohan: catch
Brennen Roberts: on their own.
Jennifer Drohan: Right. We just like to be devil’s advocate and look out for our clients. So, um, most builders do require them to be registered on the first visit with us anyways. Mm. And it is helpful. It’s helpful. We’re just, we’re just looking out for their best needs.
Dan Drews: I would imagine too, some of your older clients, it may have been.
Dan Drews: 30 years since they built, bought their last home. Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: Complete. Everything’s changed.
Dan Drews: Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: And especially if they’re needing financing. Mm-hmm. Uh, we can absolutely help guide them, keep them within their timelines for appraisals and applications, et cetera. So yeah, just to have that guidance, um, that’s what we do.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. You, you’d mentioned before in our previous conversations there, there’s potentially like. When financing or discounts available for seniors that mm-hmm. Are out there? Like what? What is that? [00:16:00] What are those?
Jennifer Drohan: Right. There’s different sort of exemptions depending on their qualifications. So senior exemptions, depending on the county, there’s an age stipulation, but that will reduce their taxes.
Jennifer Drohan: We are all obtaining homestead exemptions on our homes, on our primary residence. That’s a given. When you close the property, the attorney will file that for you, and we’re all getting that. However, seniors are able to apply for more if they have income restrictions. They can also get something called the senior freeze on their taxes.
Jennifer Drohan: However, this is most likely needing to be applied for year over year. So if they let it. It’s going to go back to the full tax amount. Hmm. So, uh, senior freeze is income dependent. It’s a lower income, um, tax freeze literally will freeze the taxes on a certain amount for them. Um, senior, uh, exemption is an age restriction.
Jennifer Drohan: And per your county, you would apply there.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. Okay. So what I’m, I, so again, the idea of getting a professional to kind of help you out mm-hmm. And do that transition, particularly government move for 30 years. [00:17:00] So
Jennifer Drohan: Sure.
Brennen Roberts: I’m also hearing like a lot of these. 55 plus communities, which are great in many ways.
Brennen Roberts: It sounds like you really gotta be thinking ahead. Mm-hmm. Because it, I, I imagine there’s like a waiting list, or they are selling very quickly. They do in the area. So
Jennifer Drohan: they do, there’s, there’s a couple of carons right within the Naperville kind of window. Uh, there’s one in Aurora, there’s one in Naperville.
Jennifer Drohan: Naperville is the. Only one that I’m aware of that actually has a freestanding condo style building as well. Um, with one and two bedroom condos, underground parking, et cetera. Um, for truly turnkey living. Um. They have all the amenities of Caron, the pool, the golf, et cetera. Um, however, it’s, it’s in a, I think there’s maybe six, six level to that building that’s a gated community in Naperville.
Jennifer Drohan: The Caron there. And that’s, that’s quite rare to see an actual condo 55 and over in one of those communities.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. And I imagine, just ’cause you’ve mentioned inventory is so low, if somebody’s like, yep, [00:18:00] hey, I don’t wanna move there. I wanna stay somewhere near my own neighborhood. Mm-hmm. And I need a smaller home.
Brennen Roberts: Mm-hmm. Or something like that. Like, don’t expect to have a bunch of choices available. Sure. So you’re right off the bat and. Like, do you find that some of your clients you’re working with on downsizing, like the process can take, you know, a year or longer? I don’t know what, what’s,
Jennifer Drohan: hopefully not, but it depends on what their needs are.
Jennifer Drohan: So it, it, it, you know, if they’re in a position where they can purchase their new home. Without selling the existing, which many people are not in that position.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm. But if they are, we highly recommend that we get their new home settled up first.
Brennen Roberts: Mm.
Jennifer Drohan: They transfer over the furnishings, the personal property that they want from the larger home first, and then they can go through the sell process with us, with their existing larger home being.
Jennifer Drohan: Vacant, empty. They don’t have to go through the hassle of the showings and making sure beds are made and dishes are done every day. That’s a lot. Having through people, through your home constantly, through open homes, et cetera. So ideally, [00:19:00] if we can do that, that’s great. There are finance options where they may be able to pull equity out of that existing home to go and purchase the new.
Jennifer Drohan: And we have lenders, of course, that can assist with things like that. Um, if they’re not in a position, we’re just gonna make it as simple as. Possible, um, make it as easy as possible, such as showing time restrictions, no showings until after maybe 10 or 11:00 AM If it’s a little harder to move around in the morning to get the house ready, no showings after perhaps dinner time so that they have the evenings free.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, we’re gonna work with them to make it as comfortable as possible.
Dan Drews: Yeah. Wow. And then I imagine, so you’ve got a big house with a lot of stuff. You mo you downsize to a smaller place.
Jennifer Drohan: Right?
Dan Drews: I imagine you would probably have contacts or work with some estate sale folks. We do too, to help liquidate whatever it is that.
Dan Drews: Doesnt want to be had. I know my parents always ask me, well, what do you want? I go, correct. I have all these things. I don’t
Jennifer Drohan: need them. I don’t need 10
Brennen Roberts: Christmas
Jennifer Drohan: trees.
Brennen Roberts: Here’s
Dan Drews: our, I don’t
Brennen Roberts: need
Dan Drews: another couch. Grandmas
Brennen Roberts: China.
Dan Drews: Yeah,
Jennifer Drohan: it’s [00:20:00] true. It’s really sad. The amount of China scent and crystal, we see it like a goodwell now because.
Jennifer Drohan: There just isn’t a market for it. But absolutely, if they’re really wanting to sell, we really need to de stuff. I hate to call it clutter because it’s their personal, you know, they love these items. They’re very precious to them. However, today’s buyer don’t want to see that when they’re walking through the property.
Jennifer Drohan: They wanna see it as minimal as possible. Yeah. So step one is always have any relatives family come through and exactly what you’re. Parents did. Mm-hmm. Please take the items that you’d like, or, you know, we don’t, you don’t want us to sell a estate sale, would really be next. Leaving any minimal items for comfort of living.
Jennifer Drohan: And then if they’re not able to take all those items with to their new property, um, there are companies, donation companies, and Downers Grove, Aurora and Neighborville, et cetera, that can pick up, they can do resale and if there’s nothing that can be resold, there’s obviously the companies that will just come and haul out.
Jennifer Drohan: Things that would be considered junk items. Yeah.
Dan Drews: Yeah. [00:21:00] Well, Brendan, I, I would think in your experience too, this kind of falls in that bucket of let’s have the conversation today. Yes. So we don’t have to get caught behind the eight ball tomorrow. Right.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah. And I think, you know. Things are personal. You know, there was a trip they went on or you know, somebody gave it to ’em and it was very personal.
Brennen Roberts: So, you know, those are the kind of stories I think are helpful to have with your parents as they’re aging and understand why it’s meaningful. Of
Jennifer Drohan: course,
Brennen Roberts: therefore, you might look at, you know, if you wait too long and you might look at this vase over here and it might not mean anything to you, but if you That’s right.
Brennen Roberts: If you know the story behind it.
Jennifer Drohan: Right.
Brennen Roberts: You know, it might, might take on something totally different you don’t wanna do, it’s true. Mm-hmm. So, you know, I think it’s, uh, part of the conversations you have with your parents ongoing and then as you talked about, like it’s a huge burden on families if like, unfortunately, you know, when people pass and they haven’t done that.
Brennen Roberts: That’s right. And for the kids to have to come in and. Sort of figure out what to do with all this stuff. It is very, it’s [00:22:00] overwhelming. It’s very overwhelming, so, yeah,
Jennifer Drohan: it is.
Brennen Roberts: So, and it’s nice to know, there’s obviously professionals like you, you can reach out to and they’ll help, help facilitate the process and connect you with the right people.
Jennifer Drohan: It’s a process. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
Dan Drews: Jennifer, I wanted to ask a question if I, if I could B Brendan kind of about. Modifying current homes. Mm-hmm. Like if, uh, I know that we’d have to say, mom’s gonna move out and now she’s gonna move in with me.
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm.
Dan Drews: Like, is there a lot, do you see a lot of that modification on current homes of the sandwich generation where they’re trying to have mom live with them now?
Jennifer Drohan: Sure.
Dan Drews: Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: So we have a lot of clients that are faced with this. Issue. So there’s a couple ways they can handle it. If they have a large enough property, they may be able to build on for mom and dad. Mm-hmm. Mom or dad. Mm-hmm. Um, with a extra primary suite, if they have, um, a good amount of land, they may be able to even put something, they call it a granny pod, which is po, which is a freestanding.
Brennen Roberts: Okay.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, suite, if you will, on the property, that’s gonna be a lot more difficult to get zoning [00:23:00] for. So in our area, that’s not really allowed. However, if you’ve got some acreage out toward us, we go Yorkville, et cetera. Mm-hmm. Playing field, you may be able to do something like that. Do a whole separate, freestanding, almost building for them.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, also what we’re seeing is some of our sandwich generation folks selling all of the homes. And looking for a property that can accommodate every, everybody
Brennen Roberts: I was gonna Interesting. Yeah, I was gonna say, I, I feel like that’s probably a shift in what people are looking for in many cases. Like I completely, we saw this stat here about like the number of Gen Xers mm-hmm.
Brennen Roberts: That are buying and that’s like one of their main criteria. So I was, imagine you’re hearing that more often. Like, I need
Jennifer Drohan: a
Brennen Roberts: place to accommodate aging care. I need a place where either.
Jennifer Drohan: We
Brennen Roberts: are mom’s gonna live with me now, or I wanna be prepared to have mom live with me. So
Jennifer Drohan: even just having a first floor full bathroom is massive, huh?
Jennifer Drohan: Because most cases people are not using their big living room, especially houses that were built in eighties, nineties, huge living rooms that serve no purpose for us anymore. If there’s a full bathroom in place or [00:24:00] room to extend, they can turn that living room into a suite. Really. They can wall, I mean, builders can do anything these days to wall that up, put some nice doors on it, attach it to a bathroom, or C, create a full bath out of a powder room by borrowing from closets or borrowing space from the living room.
Jennifer Drohan: If it can be modified in that way, that’s gonna be a much less hassle, easier way to do than both of you combining it to a brand new property. Mm-hmm. But. If not a, a new property might be in order and, and chances are they may be able to afford more of a property if mom or dad are contributing to the new home.
Brennen Roberts: That’s a good
Jennifer Drohan: point. The combining resources. So they may be able to get something with, uh, a larger, two primary suites, three car garage, et cetera, and then they’re, they’re there with mom or dad able to help out every day a little bit more.
Brennen Roberts: Yeah, that’s a great point. That’s a great point. So, um, yeah, I, what, what, um.
Brennen Roberts: I guess we talked about a couple things, like planning ahead and all that stuff. Mm-hmm. Like any, any kinda like general [00:25:00] words of advice to people either navigating this today or might be planning ahead of time from
Dan Drews: clients or your own
Jennifer Drohan: experience. Sure, sure. Yeah. Um, research, you know, research, research, research and contenting company like you to kind of assist, guide them with that.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, I think it, it’s two big components. Are we downsizing into a 55 and over? Are we very mobile? Still, are we still very independent or are we really looking for something where we are needing a lot of extra assistance? It’s two totally different markets, and if they’re still very mobile independent, but need that assistance with some things.
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm. Maybe dishes, laundry, et cetera, you know, they’re still wanting to stay either in their home or they’re downsized 55 and over. Just maintenance free living. To contact your company and really get that assistance in just for those, especially if they don’t have relatives nearby, which may be the case.
Jennifer Drohan: They’re still here and they wanna stay here. All the family has moved down to other states, et cetera, and they don’t have that [00:26:00] support system to lean on. So they need, um. Really someone to help but research really, you need to be comfortable. I think they need to visit multiple 55 and over communities and maybe they don’t want 55 and over.
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm. Maybe they still want a community where there’s a school in the neighborhood where there’s a lot of action. A lot of kids, they still wanna see children and people out walking their dogs, et cetera. We can find ranches. They’re a lot more few and far between, but we can find them. If you have a little time on your side, we can find them.
Jennifer Drohan: Um, but yeah. If you’re doing a assisted, really move in needing some care. Um, it’s all gonna depend on where you’re comfortable with and looking at the reviews and et cetera, and what kind of level care you’re needing.
Dan Drews: That’s great. That’s great advice. Brendan, dovetailing off of that, in your experience and in your experience with your dad mm-hmm.
Dan Drews: Any other advice you’d, uh, add onto that?
Brennen Roberts: I mean, I, I’d just say start the conversations early, you know, ’cause I find a lot of our clients of. My personal case, it [00:27:00] unfortunately happened. It’s when you’re in. Crisis mode and you’re having to navigate like medical issues and working through all that. You know, other issues about long-term home and the state and sizing and all that is just, it’s daunting, overwhelming, right?
Brennen Roberts: And it’s really doesn’t become a priority, but it has to be dealt with. So I think like starting the conversations early. Uh, talking through, you know, what their wishes are, you know, and, and again, we wanna say, you know, people let’s, we wanna age as gracefully as possible. Sure. And you know, just ’cause somebody’s been in a home forever and they think that’s the only place there are other.
Brennen Roberts: Places where they can be happy and fulfilled and
Jennifer Drohan: Right.
Brennen Roberts: Social and all that. So yeah,
Dan Drews: I’d probably add onto that too. Make sure you’ve got all the estate planning I dotted and t’s crossed as well. A
Jennifer Drohan: hundred
Dan Drews: percent as well. A hundred percent. So that, you know, power of attorneys and all those things mm-hmm.
Dan Drews: Are just in place. So you don’t get caught flatfooted when the time comes. Yeah.
Jennifer Drohan: Have a trust
Dan Drews: in
Jennifer Drohan: place, have at least wills, [00:28:00] but a trust is that next level up where Yeah. Uh, we’re looking at doing that now because we, I just went through it a couple years ago, uh, with my dad passing. We put everything for my mom in a trust.
Jennifer Drohan: Mm-hmm. So it simplified for, for our wellbeing mm-hmm. When that time comes. So yeah, we are the sandwich generation for sure. We’re
Dan Drews: Yep. Time to parent our
Jennifer Drohan: parents and times we’re in the middle
Dan Drews: right. Yeah. Well, Jennifer, thanks so much for your time and expertise today. Welcome. You are fabulous. Thank, thank you.
Dan Drews: Enjoyed having you here too. Thank
Jennifer Drohan: you.
Dan Drews: If people need to reach out to you for your services mm-hmm. What’s the best way to get ahold of you?
Jennifer Drohan: Just my phone. Call me or text me, and the number is 6 3 0 2 9 2 2 6 9 6. You won’t be routed through a whole team, um, of, uh, people. You’ll talk to me directly. So call me or text me anytime.
Jennifer Drohan: I’m happy to talk. Happy to help.
Dan Drews: Excellent. Excellent, excellent. Uh, Brennan, thank you again too. I appreciate it. Jennifer, thank you again for taking the time with us today and for helping our efforts to find ways to assist seniors to age in place in their golden [00:29:00] years. Brennan, we appreciate you as well and seniors helping seniors sponsor this program and being part of the Naperville Area guide on this topic.
Dan Drews: We look forward to all of you joining us next time for our next guest. And until then, remember. It takes a village. So play your part in the village. Thank you for joining us. Thank you. Thank you. Now we’ll talk here. I’m just gonna Rhythm
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April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shining a light on a condition that affects millions of individuals and families around the world. In the United States alone, nearly one million people are currently living with Parkinson’s disease, and experts estimate that about 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. As our population ages, that number is expected to continue growing in 2026 and beyond, making awareness, education, and community support more important than ever. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that impacts movement, balance, and many everyday activities most of us take for granted. While it is often associated with aging, Parkinson’s can touch people at many stages of life and can deeply affect both the person living with the disease and those who love them. At Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, we see firsthand how Parkinson’s shapes daily routines and relationships, and this month is an opportunity to raise awareness, encourage compassion, and highlight helpful resources. 
St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration – a little music, maybe a splash of green, and of course, festive food. But for older adults, holidays can sometimes come with heavier dishes that don’t always leave us feeling our best.
Spring has a way of inspiring fresh starts. The days grow longer, sunlight fills our homes, and many of us feel a renewed sense of energy. For seniors, spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up—it’s an opportunity to stay active, feel more organized, and create a home environment that supports comfort, safety, and peace of mind. With a little extra help from a Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, this seasonal refresh can feel less overwhelming and a lot more enjoyable.
As tax season begins, many families take time to reflect on the past year’s finances. It’s also an ideal moment to look ahead to 2026 and beyond. For seniors and their families, financial planning isn’t just about numbers — it’s about peace of mind, independence, and feeling prepared for what lies ahead.
The world feels a bit slower when Winter rolls in. The sun sets earlier, the days feel shorter, and the quiet of the early morning can become a comforting space all on its own. For many seniors, this time of year offers a perfect opportunity to savor peaceful routines that help them feel grounded, energized, and connected.
January often brings a sense of fresh beginnings — a perfect time to welcome comfort, creativity, and the simple joy of making something with your own hands. For older adults, creative expression is far more than a pleasant hobby. Research shows that arts, crafts, and everyday creative activities can support healthy aging by stimulating the brain, boosting emotional well-being, and encouraging meaningful social connection.
Winter may bring colder temperatures and early sunsets, but it doesn’t have to cool down your social life. When the season settles in, even the most outgoing person may feel less motivated to socialize. For many older adults, reduced mobility, limited transportation, and fewer daylight hours can quickly add up to feeling more isolated than usual.
In your life, your skin will experience decades of smiles, sunshine, and everything in between. Over time, skin naturally becomes thinner and more delicate, making consistent care increasingly important. Healthy skin plays an essential role in maintaining comfort, confidence, and overall wellness, especially as we age. Maintaining a consistent skin-care routine can help protect against dryness, irritation, and other common concerns.
Stay Steady, Engaged & Confident in the Winter Months
Each November, Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month invites us to learn, reflect, and show support for the individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other memory challenges. Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 6 million Americans, gradually impacting memory, communication, and daily routines. Our Seniors Helping Seniors® team believes that supporting memory means fostering connection, dignity, and joy in every season of life.
Hydration Meets Comfort This Fall
The arrival of fall also marks the start of flu season. Typically running from October through May, staying healthy takes a little extra care during this time – especially for older adults. Seniors face higher risks from the flu, not only because of age-related changes to the immune system but also because the flu can worsen existing health conditions like diabetes, COPD, or heart disease. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, and fatigue may hit harder and linger longer for older adults. That’s why proactive measures are key.
As the seasons change, our daily routines often shift with them. For senior caregivers, autumn can bring new challenges, from managing busy schedules to keeping loved ones safe as the days grow shorter. Caring for an older loved one takes time, energy, and patience, but new technology is stepping in to lend a hand. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are evolving to become practical resources caregivers can use to stay organized and keep loved ones safe.
Autumn Adventures Are Just a Tap Away
Seniors, Embrace Wellness This August
National Farmers Market Week (August 4-10) is the perfect invitation to embrace wellness. It’s the perfect time for seniors to reconnect with their community and enjoy an outing that’s as nourishing for the spirit as it is for the body. With a compassionate Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver from providing a ride and companionship, a wonderful trip to the market is always possible. Keep reading to discover the wonderful benefits of a market visit and tips for making the most of your day.
July is National Anti-Boredom Month. For our senior loved ones, especially those spending more time at home, boredom can sometimes creep in, turning quiet moments into feelings of loneliness or disinterest. It’s more than just “having nothing to do” – a lack of engagement can truly impact an older adult’s well-being. This special month highlights the importance of engagement and meaningful activity in boosting spirits and maintaining overall health. In this Seniors Helping Seniors® blog, we’ll discuss why combating boredom is crucial for senior well-being and offer inspiring ideas to help your loved one stay engaged, vibrant, and connected all year long.
The Fourth of July is here, seniors! We’re excited for patriotic parades, delicious backyard barbecues, and of course lively firework shows. While these spectacular displays are a highlight of the holiday, the celebratory sounds can present a challenge for mature adults with sensitive hearing. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team wants to ensure your loved ones can comfortably enjoy the festivities. That’s why we’ve put together simple tips to protect their ears and offer alternative ways to celebrate, ensuring everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day. Keep reading for our full guide to senior hearing protection this Fourth of July.
Namaste seniors! The Seniors Helping Seniors® team is excited to shine a light on International Yoga Day this June. Yoga is a gentle, low-impact form of physical and mental exercise that improves strength, flexibility, balance, and peace of mind at any age. Whether you’re looking to improve your balance, strengthen your core, or simply enjoy a few quiet moments of mindfulness, yoga is a fantastic option. It’s non-strenuous, adaptable to all mobility levels, and can even be done in a chair. From easing joint pain to reducing stress, yoga encourages movement that feels good and supports your overall well-being.
Happy National Best Friends Day from all of us at the Seniors Helping Seniors® team! This special day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the friendships that bring us joy, laughter, and love; especially the kind that grow between seniors and caregivers. At its core, our mission is about genuine connection. We’ve seen time and again how a supportive Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver can become a trusted companion, creating a bond that uplifts both individuals and enriches daily life. For many seniors, having a friend they can count on makes all the difference in staying active, engaged, and emotionally well.
On the last Wednesday of May, thousands of older adults across the country participate in National Senior Health & Fitness Day. This day encourages seniors to make fitness a part of their lives, with fun, low-pressure activities designed to keep you moving. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team sees it as a joyful reminder that taking care of your body and mind is always a good idea and is always worth celebrating. From walking and swimming to gentle stretching, there are plenty of gentle ways to get in some movement that feels good and helps keep you strong, healthy, and independent. Keep reading for our top exercise ideas for seniors to try out on National Senior Health & Fitness Day.
As springtime blossoms, digging into the joys of gardening is a great way to welcome the season. Many seniors can find comfort and peace in the process of planting a seed and watching it grow. For older adults, gardening is more than just a relaxing pastime. It’s a delightful way to stay active, enjoy the fresh air, and brighten each day with purpose. Whether you have a spacious backyard or just a sunny windowsill, this fun and accessible hobby can be easily adapted to your space and ability. In this Seniors Helping Seniors® blog, we’ll discuss how gardening supports healthy aging and share tips to help you, or your loved one, create a manageable garden that brings color and joy to everyday life.
Aging comes with its fair share of challenges. Health concerns, changes in routines, and everyday worries add up, making stress common for many seniors. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that you’re not alone. April is Stress Awareness Month, a gentle reminder to put your well-being first. While a little stress is good for the body, too much can leave you feeling exhausted and anxious. Whether it’s a racing mind at bedtime, tension in your shoulders, or feeling overwhelmed by the “what ifs,” stress has a sneaky way of creeping in. The key is finding small, manageable ways to invite more calm into your daily life. From simple relaxation techniques to leaning on a trusted companion, there are plenty of ways to de-stress and feel your best.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a time to educate, support, and empower those living with Parkinson’s disease. Whether you or a loved one have been touched by this disease, know that you’re not alone. With Parkinson’s, you know that every day comes with unique challenges, but also opportunities to find joy, connection, and strength. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team is honored to provide compassionate, one-on-one support that brings stability, confidence, and connection to those living with this movement disorder. This month, we celebrate their strength and share practical ways to help navigate the journey with grace, dignity, and joy.
Recognized every March, American Red Cross Month draws attention to the organization’s humanitarian work and commitment to communities around the world in times of crisis. With over 65,000 crisis responses each year, the Red Cross reminds us all—especially seniors—of the importance of emergency preparedness. Seniors can take proactive measures to prepare for unexpected situations by having a well-stocked emergency kit at home. To help you get started, the Seniors Helping Seniors® team has created an easy-to-follow guide to help you in gathering the essentials for an effective emergency kit.
Have you heard? Today is World Hearing Day. This annual awareness campaign, led by the World Health Organization, highlights the importance of protecting your hearing and recognizing early signs of hearing loss. It’s the perfect time to talk about ear health and why protecting your hearing matters for seniors. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, about 1 in 3 adults between 65 and 74 experience some form of hearing loss. But because symptoms appear gradually, many seniors don’t realize the changes right away.
Today, we celebrate the heart and soul of the Seniors Helping Seniors® team: our incredible caregivers! National Caregivers Day is a moment to recognize these compassionate individuals who pour their hearts into supporting seniors and their loved ones. Whether preparing meals, lending a listening ear, or offering companionship, they’re more than caregivers—they’re trusted friends who empower seniors to thrive at home.
Your heart is one of your body’s hardest-working muscles. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to all your vital organs, keeping them functioning properly. Recognized each February, American Heart Month reminds seniors just how important it is to keep their hearts in tip-top shape. Now is the perfect time to check in with your ticker and adopt simple, healthy habits that can lower your risk of heart disease and keep your heart strong. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team has put together a list of easy-to-follow tips that’ll help you stay heart-smart all year long. Continue reading for our advice to keep your heart in rhythm this month and beyond.
The internet is an incredible tool for staying connected, informed, and entertained, but it’s not without its risks—especially for seniors. Cybercriminals often target older adults with scams, phony emails, and other online threats. Staying safe online doesn’t require technical expertise—just a little awareness and a few simple precautions.
Happy New Year! 2025 is here, and it’s the perfect time for seniors to prioritize health and wellness. Whether you’ve set big fitness goals or just want to feel your best, scheduling your annual health checkup is a fantastic first step for every senior. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team believes proactive care is the key to staying healthy and happy all year long.
Winter’s cozy charm comes with shorter days and cooler weather—and for some seniors, it can bring Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This winter-linked depression can dampen one’s mood, making it hard to enjoy the season’s comforts. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team is committed to helping your loved ones thrive no matter the season. Learn what SAD is, how it affects seniors, and our top tips for boosting spirits during winter’s chill.
The holidays have arrived, bringing winter weather, sparkling lights, and the quest for that perfect gift. Stumped on what to get the senior in your life? We’ve got you covered. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team has curated a list of thoughtful gift ideas for seniors. Whether they love exploring new hobbies, staying cozy, or just enjoying the festive season, you’ll find inspiration here. Keep reading to unwrap the best holiday gifts for seniors and make their season truly special!
The holidays bring cherished time with loved ones, joyful gatherings, and, of course, plenty of delicious food. But for seniors managing diabetes, holiday treats and big meals can be a challenge. With holiday spreads often packed with carbs, sugars, and rich dishes, it can be tempting to let healthy routines slide. But you don’t have to opt out of the festivities completely.
Tis the season for joy, togetherness, and… fall hazards for seniors. As the holidays approach, so do unique risks for falls that can make this time of year a little less merry for older adults. Festive lights, slick surfaces, and that extra holiday clutter can turn even familiar spaces into potential fall zones.
Halloween isn’t just for kids; it’s a fantastic opportunity for seniors to embrace the fun and festivities of the season. The spooky holiday offers a wonderful opportunity for seniors to connect with family and friends through enjoyable activities that brighten their spirits. Whether it’s crafting seasonal decorations, baking delicious treats, or enjoying classic Halloween movies, there are countless ways to create lasting memories. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team came up with a list of thrilling ideas to help you have a hauntingly good time this Halloween.
Fall is in the air, bringing with it pumpkin patch adventures, apple picking, baking sweet treats, and watching the leaves turn vibrant shades of red and gold. While this time of year offers plenty of seasonal excitement, it’s also important to focus on mental well-being—especially for seniors. The shorter days and cooler temperatures can disrupt daily routines, making it harder to stay active and get outside. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team understands these challenges and wants to help you stay happy and healthy this season. That’s why we’ve put together a list of simple tips to beat the seasonal blues. Keep reading for our advice on staying positive, active, and engaged this season.
As the summer days fade and September welcomes a new season, many seniors find themselves adjusting to changing routines and shorter days. This shift can sometimes bring on feelings of social isolation, which can impact mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The Seniors Helping Seniors® team understands how challenging it can be to stay connected with loved ones, especially if they’re far away.
As fall arrives, we say farewell to the zesty, bright flavors of summer and embrace the warm, comforting tastes of autumn. Whether you’re a pumpkin spice enthusiast or a fan of fresh squash and zucchini from your local farmer’s market, there’s a fall recipe for every palate. This September, the Seniors Helping Seniors® team is here to help you enjoy the season with simple, healthy recipes that complement the cozy, cooler days. Read on to discover the benefits of a healthy fall diet for seniors and check out our top fall recipes!
August marks the end of carefree summer days and the beginning of the back-to-school rush. As children nationwide squeeze in their last fun moments in the sun, parents and guardians scramble to prepare everything for a successful academic year. It’s a busy time for families, from buying art supplies for elementary students to sorting out tech gear for high schoolers.
Birdwatching is more than just a delightful pastime—it’s a wonderful way to connect with nature, boost your mood, and enjoy some gentle outdoor activity. For seniors, creating a backyard haven specifically designed for birdwatching can offer endless hours of joy and relaxation.
Welcome to the future of exploration, where travel is just a click away! Thanks to the power of virtual museum tours, discovering the world has never been more accessible or exciting! These virtual tours offer a fantastic opportunity to explore global treasures, stimulate your mind, and enjoy a vibrant cultural experience—all from the comfort of your home. Picture yourself strolling through the halls of the Louvre, admiring the Mona Lisa, or delving into ancient artifacts at the British Museum without leaving your favorite armchair.
This July, the Seniors Helping Seniors® family is happy to be feeling blue – that’s because it’s National Blueberry Month. These little blue gems are packed with flavor, nutrients, and antioxidants, making them a delicious super fruit with incredible health benefits for seniors. Reaching their peak ripeness in the summer heat, now is the perfect time to incorporate them into your diet. Whether you love them in baked goods, sprinkled over a summer salad, or as a solo snack, we’ve gathered our favorite blueberry recipes just for you.
Ah, the dog days of summer! And no, we’re not just talking about the heat. Longer daylight hours and warm weather make it the ideal season for fun-filled adventures with your furry friends. On days that are too nice to stay indoors, why not have some fun in the sun with your dog (or daring cat)?
Did you drink any water today? Summer weather can be intense, with temperatures often soaring into the 90s and humidity making it feel even hotter. It’s easy to get dehydrated quickly, especially when you’re out enjoying the sunshine. If you want to increase your water intake, the Seniors Helping Seniors® team has your back with some delightful tips to help you stay hydrated all summer.
Every year, on the last Monday of May, citizens celebrate Memorial Day to honor the brave US service members who sacrificed their lives for our country. It’s an impactful opportunity to remember and appreciate their selflessness and dedication.
This May, join the Seniors Helping Seniors® team in recognizing Older Americans Month. To celebrate, we want to share expert advice and tips to help seniors age healthily and happily at home. This article suggests simple lifestyle adjustments that make home life better for seniors.
April showers bring May flowers… and a dusting of pollen. While we welcome the arrival of warmer days and sunny skies, many Seniors Helping Seniors® clients face symptoms from springtime allergies. As we age, weakened immune systems or pre-existing health conditions can make older adults more vulnerable to allergies. With the allergy season peaking in April, symptoms like congestion, itchiness, and sneezing often come in full swing. If you’ve been struck by spring fever this year, the Seniors Helping Seniors® team wants to help. In this blog, we’ll review seven senior-focused tips for navigating the allergy season. Keep reading to discover our best advice for enjoying the beauty of spring while minimizing the annoying symptoms of allergies.
Celebrated each April, National Occupational Therapy Month recognizes the valuable contributions of this specialized form of healthcare. While Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services provide daily support for those we serve, occupational therapy is another method that helps seniors maintain their independence. In this Seniors Helping Seniors® blog, we’ll review the field of occupational therapy and explore the ways it can enhance the lives of seniors. Keep reading to learn more about National Occupational Therapy Month and the holistic advantages your Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver can help provide and practice.
Seniors, it’s time to make every dollar count and thrive financially with our Seniors Helping Seniors® exclusive budgeting tips. In today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, seniors in the southern region must manage their finances wisely, to ensure a comfortable and stable future. In this blog, we will explore various practical strategies and resources. From taking advantage of senior discounts offered at grocery stores to utilizing budgeting apps and automating savings, we’ll cover all the essentials. Whether you’re looking to extend your retirement savings, protect your investments, or explore sustainable energy solutions such as solar panels, our guide is here to help. Join us as we embark on a journey to empower seniors with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. Keep reading and let’s dive in!
How did you sleep last night? The Seniors Helping Seniors® family is celebrating National Sleep Awareness Week from March 10th to March 16th. It’s an excellent opportunity to reflect on your habits and consider any adjustments you can make to enhance the quality of your sleep.
Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, there are no rules on when you can show gratitude toward those who matter most. Throughout the year, Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services demonstrate that Love is in our Care®. We do this with heartfelt acts of service and compassion. Our caregivers work tirelessly to provide exceptional assistance to seniors nationwide, and we cannot thank them enough for their hard work!
While physical fitness is crucial for seniors’ health, nurturing one’s mind is equally as important. Brain exercises enhance cognitive abilities, memory, and focus, similar to how diverse workouts target specific muscle groups. At Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, we understand the unique needs of our clients in the Northeast. That’s why we’ve gathered eight enjoyable memory games designed to improve mental skills and keep the mind agile. Read on to discover these delightful, brain-boosting activities and let’s play!
Every passing year leaves behind its own set of special memories. The Seniors Helping Seniors® family loves helping those we serve to reflect on the past and document its most meaningful parts. The result is a tangible keepsake showcasing our clients’ treasured moments and personal growth.
The holiday season calls for joy, celebration, and connection! Technology can help increase accessibility during this festive period; however, many seniors feel overwhelmed navigating the digital space. To help our clients stay active and engaged during the holiday season, the Seniors Helping Seniors® team has put together a handy guide with easy-to-follow tech tips designed to elevate every experience during this special time of year.
Autumn represents change and reflection, making it the perfect backdrop for seniors to embrace the therapeutic benefits of music. During this transformative season, sentimental and nostalgic feelings often arise. Creating an uplifting fall song playlist can be a cathartic way to express emotions. In this blog post, we explore music’s profound impact on seniors’ emotional, physical, and social well-being. Continue reading for a few Seniors Helping Seniors® recommendations on curating an inspiring autumn soundtrack.
The Seniors Helping Seniors® family takes pride in facilitating meaningful, lasting connections between caregivers, clients, and families. We base our mission around the importance of forming a positive relationship between those giving and receiving in-home senior care.
Crafting beautiful and festive pumpkins doesn’t have to involve sharp tools and a big mess to clean up. For seniors in the Heartland looking for an orderly and safer way to decorate their fall gourds, the Seniors Helping Seniors® family has gathered a range of creative options that promise all the charm of pumpkin decoration without the fuss.
Growing older can be an amazing experience, and having your aging parents involved in your life and your children’s can be an enriching and wonderful thing for all concerned. However, as our parents move through their golden years, some additional challenges may emerge around 
Healthy Aging Month, celebrated every September, brings awareness to the physical and mental changes seniors experience as they age. This month-long observance also reminds seniors to care for physical and mental health throughout the golden years. Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services enable older adults to lead a vibrant and fulfilling life. A kind hand and a positive perspective will help you or your senior loved one remain connected, curious, and content as you navigate the later years.
Everyone views aging differently. To some, the idea of getting older is scary. Others embrace it with a youthful ferocity! At the end of the day, your mindset is more important than you think. It plays a large part in the quality of life experienced throughout your Golden Years.
Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services is committed to inspiring others to age gracefully and independently. One of the ways we encourage our care recipients to make the most of their senior years is by promoting “positive aging” techniques.
What Is Positive Aging?
Positive aging is all about mindset. It refers to the idea that if you maintain an optimistic outlook in your senior years — coupled with healthy habits, social engagement, and mental stimulation — you’ll feel good about yourself, remain physically active, and continue to engage fully in all aspects of life!
Incorporating positive aging techniques into your daily routine might sound difficult, but it’s easier than you think. Of course, our Seniors Helping Seniors® caregivers will stand by your side, ready to help you create and practice a program that will do your mind and body good!
Now that you know why positive aging is important, let’s discuss five simple ways Seniors Helping Seniors® care receivers can work the power of positivity into everyday life!
1 – Embrace Your Age!
Age is just a number, after all. Maintaining a youthful outlook and adapting to your changing abilities can help you accept that growing older is a normal part of life – one that every person (including your Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver) is attempting to navigate.
The first step in discovering the power of positive aging is to accept the aging process by working with it and not against it. This makes it easier to cope with the challenges this stage of life presents, and instead, start looking forward to the possibilities!
2 – Make Fitness A Priority
Just thirty minutes of daily exercise can revolutionize your health. It can help you look and feel younger, complete tasks more easily, and prevent accidents and falls – all of which are essential for maintaining a positive outlook. Try the following Seniors Helping Seniors® suggestions to jumpstart your fitness routine:
Go for a walk
Walking is an excellent way to get the blood pumping while improving heart health, boosting mental clarity, and lowering blood pressure. Commit to a daily walk with a friend, family member, or your Seniors Helping Seniors® companion!
Explore senior fitness classes
There are plenty of exercise options for active seniors! Look into what classes your local senior center, gym, or fitness studio offers. Activities like water aerobics, chair yoga, and body weight workouts are popular among seniors and provide low impact workouts that will still make you feel the burn!
Don’t get discouraged if it’s tough to keep up at first. Your workouts will become easier as you build strength. Be consistent and you’ll soon look forward to your daily exercise regimen!
3 – Stay Connected
Building and maintaining close relationships is also essential to a positive aging plan. Doing so can combat loneliness, improve self-esteem, and foster a sense of belonging. Not sure where to begin? Try one of the following to make new friends or reconnect with some old pals:
The Seniors Helping Seniors® family loves seeing our care receivers enjoy the best parts of each season. With summer fast approaching in the Northeast, it will soon be time to break out the shorts, light the citronella candle, and dust off the patio table for the season’s first outdoor feast!
April is National Occupational Therapy Month and Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services is taking a moment to champion this life-changing treatment. Occupational therapy (OT) helps people of all ages maintain, or regain, the skills necessary to perform everyday activities.