As a realtor I often meet people who are in a period of transition from one type of home to another. In the case of seniors, as people age they often find they are in need of a different type of home than they have been living in most of their lives.  Some of them choose to live in a retirement community that they purchase like Hacienda Carmel or Del Mesa. These are condominium communities ten minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea where you purchase your own condominium and there are supporting services geared toward an aging population with activities, a dining room, exercise rooms, swimming pools and security. These communities while they offer help to their residents, are for independent living only.

Other seniors don’t wish to own their own home any longer and wish that the responsibilities of home ownership be handled by someone else. Some facilities are purely rentals and some are life care facilities that you “buy into”. Many facilities have graduated care depending on what the person needs so a person can transition  from independent living to assisted living care when needed.

What’s right for you? And how do you find out what is available in areas close to you or close to your family.

SeniorAdvice.com has made this easy. It is an industry-leading senior care organization dedicated to providing tools and essential resources to help enhance the lives of older adults. Their resources provide extremely well-detailed and thorough information for families and senior citizens who are researching available care options and programs.

Click on this link to find out what your options are in the area you wish to live. Senior Advice

As a daughter I had a crash course in caring for an elderly parent who lived to the ripe old age of 97. God bless her.  Luckily, it worked out so my mother was able to live with me and have her own independent space. That isn’t always possible for a senior and frankly sometimes it is not ideal. A senior community can offer many social aspects and activities that living at home with family doesn’t.

As a realtor I have represented numerous  seniors who were transitioning from a residential home on the Monterey Peninsula to an independent living situation or a care facility. I take pride in the fact that not only can I provide representation  to make sure that they get the highest possible price for their home, but also, I have a whole “rolodex” of resources and vendors that can help seniors make that transition easily –  and I am there too “with my sleeves rolled up”.

Helen and Dean were two such people who I represented in the sale of their home in Pebble Beach. They had decided it was time to simplify and  move into one of the Retirement Homes in Pacific Grove. The picture below shows my husband, Allan, and I along with Helen and Dean celebrating the closing of their Pebble Beach home at Roy’s at the Inn at Spanish Bay Resort.

They were so sweet and wrote me the nicest letter about our experience together.

“It has been several weeks since we sold our home in Pebble Beach. I want to again express our appreciation for your friendly and professional service as our agent for the sale. We are happy in our new home and speak often of the quick responses and helpful suggestions to our questions. We look back in wonder at the several professionals you provided for estate sales, charity donations, cleaning and hauling, inspections, escrow services, and closing procedures . We were quite anxious about selling our home that we owned for 28 years, but you made the whole process “without drama” and did everything you said you would do. We are sincerely grateful and would be very pleased to recommend you to anyone contemplating buying or selling their home.”

Dean and Helen T. (Pebble Beach sellers)

Since my experience caring for my mother into her late 90’s, I feel I am very qualified to meet the special needs of a senior selling their home to transition into another living situation. If you are thinking of making a change, please call me so I can advise you of our local options and don’t forget to make use of the Senioradvice.com web site which has a plethora of information on this subject.

Call me if I can help you find the next step in your journey!

Susan Clark, realtor, Carmel Realty Company, Carmel CA #00929953   ~  831-320-6801

www.StreetsofCarmel.com. ~  sclark@carmelrealtycompany.com