Santa Cruz Real Estate's Blog: Seniors issues and topics in Santa Cruz and beyond

No one is happy about it, but no matter how we try, our bodies eventually begin to grow old.  Just because we get old, however, it does not mean we have to accept a life filled with misery.  In fact, given the right location and surrounding, there is no reason why your senior years can’t be just as fulfilling as your younger years were.  Not only can you find your elder years to be a very enjoyable time, when given the right location and activities, you can continue to find yourself growing closer to your family as well.

Of course, the right location to help you stay active and involved with your family would need to have pleasant weather year round, be located near places of stunning natural beauty, have a healthy climate with limited pollution, and…

Seniors… how to extend the joy in your life in Santa Cruz, Ca..

Avoiding the Foreclosed Home Pet Syndrome

Saving money is something most of us like to do. Over time we realize there is a difference between cost and value. One of the things that is a joy to me and many, is friends and pets. Both can go together or be individually enjoyed.

As we age, we sometimes lose friends or a mate. It has been found that having a pet extends peoples lives and gives purpose. Many times when we lose loved ones, a part of us starts to ebb away. We need purpose in our lives to continue on. Often when a mate is lost the other can quickly lose their will to live. We have seen it time and again particularly for the much older seniors who have been together for four, five,…

National Nursing Home Week ® begins on Mother’s Day, May 11 and continues until May 18, 2008. Many nursing home residents are the people who lived and worked locally and made our community what it is. They have been parents or relatives, teachers, business people, and people from all walks of life. Many of us have had parents and others in our lives that have needed care, such as provided at a place like Pacific Coast Manor, in Capitola.

They are celebrating with patients and staff his week  to honor these special residents, as well as the families, staff, volunteers, and community. As one of the leading local rehabilitaton facilities in Capitola , in the Santa Cruz ,California  area, they know what having good people means. Celebrating those that work…

Senior communication help in California

The California Telephone Access Program ( CTAP) governmental program designed to help seniors with communication access on the phone. This state program is free to qualified seniors as well as other qualifying Californians. Seniors who have problems accessing the telephone can get help. Some instances may be due arthritis, hearing, visual issues or other physical impediments. You will need a doctor’s note in part to qualify, and to have phone service.

If you or a senior can benefit from this program, call, or have someone call in our native language, English TTY: (800) 806-4474 Voice: (800) 806-1191 for more specific assistance.

In Scotts Valley at the Scotts valley Senior Center, they will be having a…

Santa Cruz Seniors have the benefits of a local Santa Cruz Seniors program to help with their taxes,how nice is that! Taxes are tough enough early in life, and easier later in life, sort of . The Project Scout helps seniors with their taxes for free. Yes that magical word,FREE, that is golden especially to seniors, is the cost, besides your time. Contact them for assistance. You will need the following.

• Valid picture ID for taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly)
• Social Security cards and birth dates for all members of your family
• All forms; W-2, 1099's, etc.

If you can also bring your tax form for 2007 that was mailed to you as well as you last years return those will be helpful too.You can call them at 1-877-373-8297

What will you be remembered for when you are gone? For some, these are trying times, just trying to stay alive, for others it is preparing for going. Life is a cycle, just as birth proceeds death. We trumpet death more than life or birth, for reasons unknown to me. So as we contemplate getting our will and trusts in order, what will we be remembered for or by?

We can get our things in order, and you should have something set up early in life. As we all know, life is an uncertain gift that can be revoked at any time. While we march or forge or slog though life, we come across people and organizations of interest. Some are charities, others are people we value for their insight, or their ability to make us laugh or think.

In Santa Cruz there is an…

Some good things come if you wait. Yes we were told that often and wondered, how long. Well as a senior you can live high on the hog at Aegis of Aptos, a senior care facility. This place is nicely appointed, and is managed by Diane Savard, the executive director.

Aegis is the type of place that one can now get, if you are on a fixed income below $28,450, a lovely room for only $3,000 per month. This is full room and board. Additional care, if necessary, is extra. Normally a room would cost about $4,000, so this is a substantial savings.

The staff is cheery, and Patrick the chef, cooks up good meals.Having eaten there many times, I can attest to that. The location is an easy walk to the shopping centers in Aptos if you want to get something. The access to…

A gift in hindsight to Santa Cruz County Seniors

Locally a woman has bequeathed money to the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. This gift from the estate of Margaret W Nielsen was for the benefit of senior residents of Santa Cruz County. Ms Nielsen left funds in the amount of $75,000 for the improvement of the Simpkins Family Swim Center. The swim center is located behind the Shoreline Middle School buildings, in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz, Ca.. The well regarded swim center project was spearheaded by Brigid Simpkins with plenty of assistance from Edie Rittenhouse and many private donors. It took many years and lots of work to bring it to fruition in 1998. This gift will help the center.

The Simpkins Swim Center is a much needed,…