Mallard Landing Blog

3 Tips for Painless Downsizing to a Maryland Retirement Community

If you're like many retired seniors dealing with the Maryland real estate market, you wish you could just snap your fingers and have the whole process of getting into your dream home in a retirement community completed.  Unfortunately it is not that easy these days.  There are a variety of factors to consider and many steps to take from the time your home goes on the market to the time you select the community of your choice.  Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding where your next adventure will take you.

• Imagine what will your lifestyle be like? How big of a space do you need? For example, if you're moving to large retirement community with many activities and events there are so many options for socializing and entertaining outside of your home that you probably won't need a full dining set that seats 12 and a china cabinet.  Think about what your life will be like, and plan what furniture based on that.
• Make a list of all the places you've dreamed of retiring to over the years.  Get creative if you can... "remember that resort we used to go to near the shore?" Maybe your highest priority is to get closer to kids and grandchildren.  Now is the time to consider ALL of your options.  This list is about general areas, rather than specific communities.  Start wide and then narrow down the list, until you've eliminated all but two or three.  THEN you follow through by sifting through each community in your chosen area.
• By all means...feel free to ask for advice, recommendations and suggestions from people you trust, but this decision is about what YOU want.  Consider the fact that you probably won't want to make another move so it should be all about what makes you happy. 

Remember: Downsizing is all about simplifying and streamlining your life so you can enjoy YOUR retirement on YOUR terms.

If Eastern Shore retirement living is an area that you are considering for your future, make sure to look us up at Mallard Landing Retirement Community.  For over a decade, Mallard Landing Retirement Community has won Best Retirement Community on the Eastern Shore each year by Metropolitan Magazine.  If you would like more information on how Mallard Landing may be the community for you, call (410) 912-1211.

Find Retirement Communities That Have a Sense of Humor

If you are looking to find retirement communities on the Eastern Shore that take life less seriously you're in luck.  Because Mallard Landing Retirement Community offers just that... 

Sure you've probably heard that "laughter is the best medicine" and "he who laughs, lasts,"  but have you ever considered these funny phrases to be medically true?  They are.  According to a University of Arkansas study, "Humor, Laughter and Aging" there are physical, mental and social benefits to laughter.

• Physical benefits include improved health, reduced pain, enhanced immune system and muscle relaxation.
• Mental benefits include improved disposition, reduced tension and stress, increase in energy, enhanced creativity.
• Social benefits include positive changes in behavior, decreased loneliness, enhanced ability to communicate, and that it MAKES US FEEL GOOD!

But let's face it... Finding the bright side of life can be difficult when you're busy worrying about everything else: your health, the upkeep of your home, your next doctors appointment, your roof that needs to be fixed, your spouse's health, your financial situation, what type of food you have in your fridge, what you will make for dinner.  How do you juggle everything and keep a positive attitude?

What if I told you the Mallard Landing offers affordable retirement living in MD that can help ease the daily stresses in your life?  At this top senior living community in Maryland, all exterior maintenance is done for you, meal plans are available, there are no confusing payment structures, transportation is provided, and the clubhouse has a beautiful fitness center.  Mallard Landing will take away most of the worries listed above so you can enjoy a carefree lifestyle.  For more information on how to achieve the retirement of your dreams, contact us.

Is Winter the Time To Buy at a Maryland Retirement Community?

The answer: At Mallard Landing, YES!

The traditional home buying season historically mirrors school calendars.  Parents do not want to move to a new town during the school year and want to allow ample time for their children to acclimate with the area and meet new friends over the summer.  These trends are not just nationwide, but apply to Maryland real estate, too.

But what about those people whose children are out of the house?  Why must they follow the same rules just because Spring weather is "nicer" for home searching?  Here are some reasons from MSN.com Real Estate why winter is a perfect time to buy a home in an eastern shore retirement community during the winter, like Mallard Landing!

• "While much is made of curb appeal, a winter tour may reveal a less orchestrated look at a property...  In the summer, you can't have that fireplace going."  So there are winter benefits you won't notice in the summer, and vice versa.
• "Cold weather lets buyers experience first hand how well the heating works and whether there are cold or damp areas of the house."

Plus... why wait?  There are so many benefits of a retirement living community it doesn't make sense to hold out until the weather warms up.  The huge benefit of buying this time of year is the ability to wash your hands of shoveling snow for the rest of the season! If you buy one of our fabulous condo units, you don't even need to step outside for restaurant dining.  Covered and heated walkways mark your path to the Clubhouse, where dinner with great friends awaits.

For more information on why now is the time to buy a new home at Mallard Landing Retirement Community, contact us for a personal consultation.  We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Independent Living in Maryland, For Your Own Good!!!

The statistics are quite telling....independent living in Maryland, in a Retirement Community, improves your life and lifeSTYLE, and adds years to the time you can actually live on your own! 

If you've made the (wise) decision to move to an official "retirement community", you probably already know this.  For those who are still deciding how to spend their golden years, this list of benefits might make you take a more serious look at the lifestyle of a resident of a retirement community.

• Retirement communities are safer.  This means that typically the homes and common areas of a retirement community were planned, constructed and are maintained with the needs of an aging population in mind. There are usually no areas that aren't accessible to a resident, whether they're walking alone, with a walker, or are using a "scooter' or wheelchair. Ramps, elevators, and all other safety elements are there already.  There is also usually a security system in place, and the staff is specially trained to offer assistance without hesitation should it be needed.
• There should be planned activities, events and outings for a resident to participate in. This should be a well-rounded calendar with things for every level of ableness, and cover all kinds of tastes.  This enables a resident to stay active, maintain a social life, and keep them vital and interested in the world around them.
• Most quality retirement communities offer their residents on-site dining.  This is a wonderful element of living in a retirement community, allowing residents to enjoy restaurant-style dining without having to leave the property. In the case of Mallard Landing Retirement Community in Salisbury Maryland there is the informal Mallard Landing Pub for lunch and the Mallard Landing dining room for dinner.  Food service should be an added benefit of life in a retirement community, and in the case of Mallard Landing it certainly is.
• Access to services should be seamless.  A resident of an independent living community usually has to order housekeeping, maintenance, or other assistance as an extra, since independent living is just that- INDEPENDENT.  If, however, you find yourself in need of help with the housework, or perhaps some furniture moved around, or maybe just a light bulb in a high up fixture needs changing, you should be able to have a staff member come and offer the assistance with a single phone call.  At Mallard Landing you sure could!

The best way to know if you're "retirement community" material is to visit several such communities, spend some time there, speak to current residents, and decide if you enjoy the feel of the place.  If you do it right, your retirement era should be the best one of all!

 

 

 

9 Ways to Reduce Retirement Living Housing Costs

According to an online article in the series "12 Weeks to Plan Your Retirement" on CBS Money Watch at CBSnews.com, housing costs constitute one-third of the average American's household budget. In week nine of this series the author, Steve Vernon, lists 9 ways to reduce your retirement living housing costs. Not all of the suggestions will resonate with everyone, but it is worth considering what your options are. Here's a brief summary of the list:

Reduce Retirement Living Housing Costs:

1. Downsize to a smaller house.
2. Move to a less expensive location.
3. Move to a less expensive part of the country.
4. Move to a less expensive country.
5. Consider renting out a room or two for additional income.
6. Share housing with other retirees.
7. Consider a reverse mortgage to generate retirement income.
8. Move in with one of your children. (or not!)
9. Sell your home and rent something that better fits your needs. (There's even a buy vs. rent calculator to help you determine if this is feasible.)

If you are reaching, or are at, retirement age you may need to consider how you can reduce your housing costs and still maintain your quality of life. The author states that "many retired couples stay in their homes too long, and then get in a situation where they start to make decisions in a panic." There's a lot of emotional attachments to one's home but there is no reason to allow yourself to become a slave to a house that is too big, or that you can't physically manage any more. Another consideration, as the author points out, is being "isolated and lonely, as you are less able to get around. It's best to move before it becomes difficult to move."

So don't wait for a life changing event that may force you to make uncomfortable and inconvenient decisions during an already difficult time. Be proactive, know your options, think about what you can do to reduce your cost of living and ensure that you can maintain your independence for as long as possible. For information on leasing or owning a home in the best Independent Retirement Community on Maryland's beautiful Eastern Shore give us a call at 410-912-1211 or visit our website at www.mallardlanding.com.

 

 

The Retirement Living Decision Making Process

There are many great articles about how to choose a retirement living community, but few discuss how to approach the retirement living decision making process. So when I came across this great article in the Chicago Tribune yesterday written by Jill Schlesinger I thought it was timely, relevant, and worth sharing.

The article is titled  "The Phases of Retirement" and the author points out that the choice of where to retire is more than just a financial decision. There are many considerations that  should be taken into account. However, this article has a unique viewpoint about the decision making process for those considering retirement living. She states that "what seems attractive at 65 might not make sense at 80, which is why retirement isn't one event, it's more like three phases." You can read the original published article here.

The three phases of retirement living are defined as:

1. Retirement Phase 1 from ages 65-72: The emphasis at this stage of retirement is family, friends and familiarity. Most people are content to stay in their current homes or downsize within their current communities.
   
   
2. Retirement Phase 2 from ages 72-85: The emphasis at this stage of retirement is engagement, activity and accessibility. This is the stage where most people consider moving to a retirement community.
   
   
3. Retirement Phase 3 after age 85: The emphasis at this stage of retirement is companionship, care and convenience. (My experience is that this is the average age that most people consider assisted living.)

The author is certainly not suggesting that we move three times to accomodate our needs in each of the phases. She does suggest that "while there's no doubt that your financial circumstances will influence where to live the later part of your life, the three phases of retirement might help you think about how you want to live it."

When making your retirement living plans consider these three phases of retirement and how you can accomodate your needs in each one. Perhaps taking extended vacations rather than moving away from your family and friends is an option. Many retirement communities, like Mallard Landing in Salisbury Maryland, also have assisted living facilities located on the same campus if and when you should need respite care, short-term rehabilitiation, or long-term assistance with activities of daily living.

Independent Retirement Communities recommended by Adult Children

Why would independent retirement communites be recommended by adult children? Perhaps because adult children realize that they can't meet all of their parents needs. There are many things adult children can and should do for their parents. However, although they are available to help and support mom and dad, they can't provide all the social and emotional support they may want or need

The great thing about independent retirement communities is that they are inhabited by people in the same stages of life. Seniors want to engage in activities, socialize, and have some fun, but they also enjoy their solitude, freedom, and independence. If they want to get up in the middle of the night and fix breakfast and watch TV they can. If they prefer to take a nap in the middle of the day they can do it without being disturbed. At this point in their life they deserve to do what they want, when they want to it.

For many parents who live with their adult children their days consist of sitting in front of the television waiting for someone to come home from work. By the time the adult child gets home, prepares dinner, and does a few chores, they probably aren't going to be very good company!

The residents at Mallard Landing Retirement Community have a full schedule of activities and events they can participate in every day of the year. There are places to go, things to do, and people to share experiences with. If they don't feel like preparing lunch or dinner they can go to the Pub for lunch with their friends, or have dinner delivered to them. Who wouldn't want that kind of lifestyle for their parents?

 

Important GOP Viewpoints for Any Senior Living in Maryland

The 2012 Presidential Campaign has officially begun with the Iowa Caucuses.  As a senior living in Maryland, regardless if you are a registered Republican, Democrat, or Independent, chances are you’ve seen the coverage of the GOP race on a daily basis.  You’ve seen the candidates bicker about opposing opinions, previous voting histories, who is more conservative than who… but what about the IMPORTANT topics.  What about the issues that we face today and in the not so distant future?  The issues that directly affect the aging population of theUS:  Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

AARP.com recently released profiles on all six GOP Presidential Candidates.  If you haven’t taken the time to learn where each candidate stands on the important issues facing the aging population ofPennsylvaniathis website is a great source of information.

 

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid:  Where the Six Stand

Newt Gingrich :  “In his updated “Contract With America,'' Gingrich proposes allowing private-sector alternatives for both Social Security and Medicare recipients. For the retirement program, Gingrich would allow younger Americans to put a portion of their Social Security payments into a personal account. Medicare recipients would have the option of using the government subsidy for a private insurance plan”

John Huntsman:  “On retirement issues, he has been walking a careful line, refusing to criticize his GOP colleagues for their more drastic proposals for Medicare while still suggesting that he might favor some tweaks.”

Ron Paul:  “Paul frequently targets the nation's entitlement programs. He calls Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid unconstitutional, although he acknowledges that ending them would be politically implausible. In a 2008 debate, Paul said he would like to abolish Social Security, "but not overnight." Instead, he would take care of those who already depend on the system but "allow the young people to just flat out get out of the system."

Rick Perry:  “In his book Fed Up! Perry calls Social Security a "failure" that "we have been forced to accept for more than 70 years now." On both Medicare and Medicaid, Perry has also called for more flexibility. In January, he signed an open letter to President Obama from governors calling for an end to the "one size fits all" approach to Medicaid. He does not favor getting rid of the Medicare prescription drug benefit.”

Mitt Romney:  On the campaign trail, Romney has advocated smaller benefits hikes for wealthier Social Security recipients. On Medicare, Romney wants to offer patients a "generous defined contribution" to buy either Medicare or private insurance. "Lower-income future retirees should receive the most assistance," Romney said in an op-ed laying out the plan, and those now at or near retirement would not be affected. Like many in his party, Romney wants to cap spending for Medicaid, turn it into a block-grant program and give control of it to the states.”

Rick Santorum: “Santorum also has been a longtime voice on the reform of Social Security.  While exploring a presidential run, Santorum called for the repeal of the health care overhaul law and backed the plan by Rep. Paul Ryan to replace the current Medicare program with a voucher system, whereby citizens now 50 or younger would buy their own insurance. Medicaid, too, needs to be cut and converted into block grants to the states, he says. It should be reformed as welfare was in the mid-1990s.”

If you are a senior living in Maryland and are interested in learning more about retirement living on the Eastern Shore, click on the link below to request more information.  Mallard Landing Retirement Community is full of people that enjoy discussing topics like this! We invite you for lunch and a tour to see how enriching life at Mallard Landing can be.

 

FREE 2012 Delmarva Calendar for Active Seniors in Maryland

Are you interested in knowing about great things to do, beautiful places to go, fun events, and interesting desinations you can enjoy all year long in the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia area? For a limited time only Mallard Landing Retirement Community is offering these 2012 Calendars created by award winning local artist Dana Simson for FREE (while supplies last).

You'll find information on events every month, and in the back of the calendar there is a list of local support groups, farmers markets, historic downtown events, live music, entertainment, performances, special offers and more that take place on an ongoing basis! There's plenty of room to enter appointments and personal information on each day of the week.

This calendar is beautifully illustrated and will be the perfect addition to your home in 2012. Get your calendar here. For more information about Mallard Landing click the button below.

Video: What the Best in Eastern Shore Retirement Living Looks Like!

So you're thinking about moving to a retirement community in Maryland.  You want to be close to the beach but not TOO close that you're stuck in a traffic jam between memorial and Labor Days.  You want to maintain a vibrant lifestyle full of opportunities to meet new people, learn new things, and visit new places.  If this is simlar to what your after, look no further than Salisbury, Maryland... home to the best of Eastern Shore retirement living.

Mallard Landing Retirement Community

• 30 minutes or less from the beach
• Minutes from Salisbury University
• Walking paths at your doorstep
• Beautiful clubhouse to meet friends and neighbors
• Many historical and cultural opportunities
• Nature trails within minutes
• Golf
• ... and more!

But don't just READ what we're talking about... Watch for yourself.  If you like what you see, click this icon to have a DVD mailed to your home.