Caring Transitions of Rockville

As the leaves change and the temperatures drop, we reflect on a year that’s winding down. Did you set goals for 2024? If so, did you accomplish them? It’s easy to feel a bit defeated if we didn’t, but it is a great time to begin again. And for older adults, it’s important not to let what we haven’t done get in the way of what is still possible. Embracing new beginnings is vital because it reminds us that life is an ongoing adventure, not a destination. It’s about realizing that age doesn’t define us—our mindset does. Starting over is a chance to break free from outdated expectations, rediscover passions, and prove to ourselves and the world that we are capable of extraordinary things at every stage. When we step into something new, we cultivate curiosity, purpose, and vitality. By embracing change we remind ourselves that the best chapters are the ones we’re brave enough to write now. How to fall into a new beginning? We’ve got a few tips for growth, connection, and renewing sense of purpose. ? Learn Something New Explore a hobby, language, or skill you’ve been curious about. Lifelong learning keeps our minds sharp and opens doors to fresh opportunities and new possibilities. ? Prioritize Your Health and Wellness News flash! Someday is not a day of the week. Have you been putting off exercise or changing your diet? Why not search for opportunities to join yoga, tai chi, or walking groups? Many communities offer free nutritional or cooking classes, and insurance plans may pay for a consultation with a nutritionist. Focusing on physical and mental well-being boosts energy and confidence for new adventures. 3. Volunteer or Mentor Are you recently retired? Why not pay forward your knowledge? Share your knowledge and experience with younger generations or the community is a way to build meaningful connections, but this time you’re the boss. ? 4. Embrace Technology Not a techie? It’s easier than you think! There are in-person and online classes that will help you use devices and apps to stay connected with loved ones or join virtual hobby groups. Technology bridges gaps and opens exciting avenues. ? 5. Join a New Community Maybe it’s singing, knitting, building model trains, or shopping in vintage stores - Whatever floats your boat, there’s a group for that! Search community meetups or Facebook groups in your area to find one. It takes bravery to venture out and meet new people, so ask a friend to come along! Perhaps you’re thinking of moving into a new community. If so, enlist help in that as well. Whether you’re downsizing into a smaller home or moving into an independent or assisted senior living community, Caring Transitions of Rockville can help with cleaning out, packing up, and settling you in your new space so you can enjoy living there on Day One. Remember, new beginnings aren’t just for us—they’re for the people we love, the communities we serve, and the legacy we leave. It’s never too late to grow, to give back, and to live boldly.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor and recognize the millions of Americans who provide care to loved ones and raise awareness for resources and services that can help the millions of caregivers across the country. As former First Lady Rosalynn Carter famously said, “There are four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” No matter which of those stages you may find yourself, we must embrace and recognize the need for some challenging conversations that can provide massive benefits to us all. Not only can the caregiving journey become easier to navigate, but by embracing difficult conversations now, you have the potential to create beautiful memories with your loved ones in the path ahead. Amy Cameron O’Rourke is a dedicated care manager passionate about helping people and their loved ones find peace and joy as they age. “Give up the idea that you are reversing roles,” O’Rourke advises. “We’re not reversing roles with our parents, we’re just in a new stage of the relationship. It requires open, honest communication that is managed with your own feelings and your own desires.” Caregiving experience gives us a chance to share our feelings, desires, and fears and learn about one another. When we admit the challenge of this life stage, it can become a collaborative journey instead of a combative one. We all are in this together. It’s a life stage that if we open it up to a more collaborative process, older adults can share fears, worries, needs are, how hard it is to ask for help, and fears about running out of money. While you embrace the opportunity to share your fears, wants, needs and emotions in the caregiving journey, use this as a chance to examine how a loved one needing care would like their living situation to transition too. Does they want to age in place? Do they want to join a retirement community? Do they anticipate needing extra care that would be best suited in an assisted living facility? Do they want to move closer to family and friends, or to a state with a warmer climate? No matter what the answers are, the good news is that you never have to tackle a life transition alone. At Caring Transitions of Rockville we are seasoned senior relocation experts who care about their community and have years of wisdom from helping others in the same journey. Whether it is downsizing, relocating, managing an estate sale, avoiding falls and hazardous home setups, or just performing a home cleanout, our experts can create an individualized plan for your family, and take care of all the heavy labor so you can focus on what matters most: each other. Caregiving can be frustrating and difficult to navigate, but also be one of life’s greatest blessings, allowing us to create precious moments of joy for loved ones in our care by celebrating what remains instead of focusing on what’s been lost

The holidays are headed our way! November and December can be a season of joy, beauty, and traditions, but also overwhelm and tension. Navigating time with multiple generations of family can be challenging, but we can create opportunities to celebrate connection, resilience, and shared joy. ? The holidays are a opportunity to bring everyone closer to what really matters: a shared sense of purpose and love. Be clear on what you to experience. Maybe it's quality time over quantity or a chance to share stories and create memories. Make it a purpose-driven holiday and watch the magic happen. ? Traditions anchor us, but don’t be stuck in the past. Blend time-honored customs with fresh ideas. Older generations can teach us the "why" behind beloved traditions, while younger ones bring new energy and ideas. Maybe it’s a new recipe or creating a new ritual, like a family gratitude circle. The holidays are also a great time to gift items to others. Sharing family heirlooms allows memories to live on in the family. Think about how you can honor the past and embrace a bright future together. ? Encourage everyone to bring their talents to the table. Giving each generation a role helps everyone feel valued and lightens the load! Holidays are full of joy, but they can also be overwhelming. Build in time to recharge. Everyone benefits from time to reset and refuel. The goal is to keep spirits high and energy up for the moments that matter most. ? Every family member deserves respect for their boundaries. Let everyone choose how participate without judgment, and respect differences. Everyone should feel free to be themselves, keeping the door open for real, honest connection. The end of the year is also a good time to create and communicate plans for the next year. Are you thinking about selling the family home and moving to a smaller space? Or perhaps you’re an adult child who has observed that your parents could use more support. Find the time to begin having these important conversations now, so no one is caught off-guard. And when you are ready, your Caring Transitions of Rockville team is here to assist you. From decluttering, packing, estate sales in-person or online, or setting up a new space, contacting our experienced professionals is the first step. ? The most powerful holiday moments don’t have to be picture-perfect! Focus on moments of laughter, sharing, and supporting each other. Look through old photos, play games, cook a meal together, or even have a dance party. The goal is to celebrate uniquely, with love and enthusiasm for life. ? Gratitude is the glue that bonds a family together. Whether it’s a shared meal, a handwritten note, or a simple hug, remind each other that togetherness is the greatest gift of all. The holidays are more than just days on the calendar. They remind us of the connections that give us strength, the love that inspires us, and the memories we create. This holiday season let’s celebrate our legacy and live with purpose!

There's a Zen proverb that says, "Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something." In the media business, letting go of something every day is called “editing” and it provides a bigger lesson that we can all learn from to improve our lives during life’s transitions. We’ve all likely edited things many times in our lives - essays, letters, invitations to parties, photos on our phone, a video for social media and even drawings we make with our kids and grandkids. These changes and trims almost always make the finished item better. Our products become leaner, cleaner and more focused. Mistakes are corrected and our creations become more unique. Successful aging is also a process of editing. It's doing less of what doesn't bring you joy and more of what does. Do you know people who don't inspire, encourage, or support you or your life’s dreams? The ones who fail to see the beauty in life? Do some editing! Make a change. Find community in groups and teams who share your interests and enthusiasm for life. You know the unhealthy foods you used to eat in your youth that now cause havoc to your stomach? Do some editing! Embrace a healthier diet that supports a longer life. Does running that 10K now hurt your knees? Replace it with a new way to stay active, like yoga, swimming or power walking! And how about that garage full of stuff you never use? The attic overflowing with endless odds and ends accumulated through the years? The closet that is full of clothes that no longer fit? Let’s do some editing together. The senior relocation experts at Caring Transitions of Rockville are masters at life editing. Your cherished belongings will be handled with care, and for the items you no longer need, they’ll find new homes through a managed estate sale or on the online auction platform, CTBids. This process not only puts extra money in your pocket but also returns the gift of a clutter-free home. No matter what it is in your life, whether it is activities, routines, things or more, if it no longer sparks joy, make a change to let it go. And while you're letting go of things, let go of self-doubt, anger, grudges, guilt, envy, jealousy, resentment, and regret. Let go of the desire to be someone you’re not. Embrace the person you are and give yourself grace. When you edit your life, you let go of attachment to anything that no longer brings value to your life. You'll be amazed at the space you create for the people, the places, and the things that enrich your world. Now is not the time to shrink back or settle for anything less than what brings you joy. It’s a time to embrace life fully, to spend these years doing what you love, in the places you love, with the people who matter most. Celebrate this chapter and make it one to remember.

Planning today empowers you to make thoughtful decisions now that not only shape the life you want but also ease the potential burdens on those who care about you. Create long-term plans in six key areas 1. Financial Planning Create a Retirement Budget: Review your current income sources (pensions, Social Security, savings, etc.) and expected expenses. Remember to include healthcare, housing, daily living costs, and entertainment Maximize Social Security: Understand when to start claiming Social Security to maximize benefits. Consider Long-Term Care Insurance: Individuals over 65 have a nearly 70% chance of needing long-term support. Those costs can be a significant burden, so evaluate insurance options that cover nursing home care, assisted living, or in-home care Estate Planning: Ensure you have an updated will, trust, or power of attorney. Consider working with a financial advisor or estate planner to handle inheritance and minimize tax implications 2. Healthcare and Medical Planning Medicare and Supplemental Insurance: Review the ABCDs of Medicare coverage and consider additional supplemental insurance (Medigap or Medicare Advantage) to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses Advance Healthcare Directives: Complete a living will or healthcare power of attorney to ensure your medical preferences are respected Regular Health Screenings: Keep up with preventive care and regular health screenings to catch any issues early 3. Housing and Living Arrangements Aging in Place: Modify your current home to support aging in place. This might include adding ramps, widening doorways, or installing grab bars in the bathroom. Caring Transitions of Rockville can assist you with this process! Consider Senior Living Options: Research assisted living communities, independent senior housing, or continuing care communities Discuss Caregiving Needs with Family: Have open conversations with family members about future caregiving needs. Identify potential caregivers or professional services 4. Legal and Documentation Organize Important Documents: Make sure all your important documents are up-to-date and are secure but accessible Power of Attorney: Designate a trusted individual with the attorney to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf 5. Stay Engaged and Active Social Connections: Social connection is key to longevity. Maintain strong social ties and stay involved Mental Health: Stimulate cognitive function with puzzles, games, or learning new skills. Address feelings of loneliness through therapy or counseling Physical Health: Stay active with exercises suited to your abilities, such as walking, swimming, or yoga to maintain mobility and overall well-being 6. Tax and Legal Implications Review Tax Strategies: Speak with a tax professional about strategies for withdrawing from retirement, gifts or charitable giving Trust and Will Updates: Regularly update your will or trust as life circumstances change. Make sure beneficiaries and executors are correct

Do you find yourself in the endless cycle of keeping up with a tidy home only to find it’s a never-ending battle? Sometimes the thought of change can be overwhelming and exhausting. Don’t give up. With an organized game plan, you can declutter your home and reap the benefits. A tidier home reduces stress, boosts the immune system, improves mood, increases focus and mindfulness, and reduces the risk of falls. When we remove the clutter, our lives change for the better. Homes overcrowded with odds and ends have led to a rise in minimalism across the country. According to a recent study, 63% of Americans say they own “too much stuff,” and 37% say they have felt extreme anxiety because of a messy garage, attic, or closet. In fact, more than 20% say they have lost sleep over these areas! If you find yourself nodding along to these statistics but aren’t sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered. 1. Baby Steps Rome wasn’t built in a day. While your kitchen counters and cabinets may seem insignificant, they could be a great place to start your decluttering journey. Start small. Think of this like running a marathon – if you go too fast out of the gate, you might not reach the end of the race. Pace yourself - pick one little area of your house to begin. 2. Don’t Tackle The Project Alone Don’t try to climb this mountain alone. Call your local Caring Transitions team to lend a hand. With experts by your side, you’ll be able to work on an individualized plan to tackle each room and have help deciding what to keep and what to discard. While our Caring team takes care of the heavy lifting, you can relax and give your brain and body a rest. 3. Create a Timeline for the Whole House We all perform better when we set achievable, trackable goals. This includes decluttering your home. Create a timeline with due dates to tackle each room in your house. And be sure to give yourself grace and keep it reasonable. It might take a whole weekend to tackle your bathroom, and then you may take a break for a week before you move on to that pesky hall closet! The key is not to rush yourself but to give yourself a realistic schedule you can track. 4. Use Containers, Baskets and More Use this time as an opportunity to get organized. Some of those papers and knick-knacks have real value and need to find a home. Use containers, baskets, and more to neatly organize the things that were taking up space on countertops and inside cabinets and closets, so you know where your items are without creating a mess. If you need more storage solutions, take a look at Rockville.ctbids.com! 5. Don’t Throw it All Away – Turn a Profit! While your body will benefit from a tidier home, your wallet can benefit from the decluttering process too! Through our online auction platform, CTBids, your items are connected to thousands across the country. You’ll be happy to have the extra space and a little extra money to reward yourself after the hard work of decluttering your home.

Fall is here, whether the temps in your area show it or not! Change is all around us, as the weather turns colder, sleeves get longer and your drink of choice is likely hotter. This season isn't just about changing leaves—it's the perfect time to refresh your home or help update the home of your parents or loved ones. A recent article by the Huffington Post reviewed how decorating for the fall can improve our well-being. Fall colors, especially shades of orange and yellow, can evoke happiness. So, embrace the chance to feature pumpkins and other fall favorites in new tablecloths, seat cushions, and more around your home. Arranging fall decorations can evoke happy memories, improving mood and self-esteem while relieving stress. Take the time to remember who made each item, or who gifted them to you, as you place them around your home and feel your spirits lift. Decorating for fall helps mark an important point in the year. For some, the first eight or nine months of the year may be busy and draining. Studies show that fall is an ideal time to slow down. Viewing the changing season as a chance for a fresh start has tremendous mental benefits. Shop Antiques and Treasured Belongings from Across the Country Don’t just rely on the items you’ve accumulated through the years for your fall decor. Take this opportunity to find new items, while honoring the memories and legacy of others’ treasured antiques. Caring Transitions of Rockville?isn’t just a senior relocation company. While our teams are experts at creating an individualized moving plan for you or your loved one, we also have years of experience connecting buyers and sellers across the country, ensuring treasured possessions find the perfect new home. Our online auction platform, CTBids, allows you to bid on thousands of items. You can find everything from furniture to art, collectibles, books, clothing, jewelry, and more! “It has really started to intertwine the generations again,” says Carrie Coumbs, senior strategic advisor for Caring Transitions. “CTBids is a way that you can honor generations now, past, and in the future, because these memorable items that are shared on the auction platform, just bring new memories to life. “Do you know who benefits? The senior. They were able to pass along these memories and items to people who would love them and cherish them, and the funds that are raised go towards the care they need in a very important time of life.” If you feel like less could be more in your home, this change in season is also a perfect time to declutter and put a little extra money in your pocket. The experts at Caring Transitions of Rockville have years of experience assisting families with what to keep or discard and can assist with home decluttering. The items taking up space in your garage or your attic will go to good use. With extra space around your home, you can embrace the fall festivities and host gatherings at your house with friends and family in the weeks to come.

Each fall, the International Council on Active Aging celebrates Active Aging Week, highlighting seven pillars of wellness. The first is Emotional Wellbeing. Human beings are designed to emote. It's a reaction that we really don't have any control over. What we do have control over is what we say or do with that emotion. Emotional well-being is what gets us through life's ups and downs. It centers us and grounds us. Learning to embrace our entire spectrum of emotions, from joy and excitement to stress, anxiety, and grief creates balance in our lives and helps us learn from our experiences. ? 1. Practice Gratitude When we learn to focus more on what we have and less on what we lack, our entire world can change. Adults who practice gratitude experience less stress, more happiness, stronger relationships, better sleep, and improved physical health. ?2. Learn to Slow Down It's about being present, in the moment, doing one thing at a time. Life can move at a seemingly unstoppable pace. The hustle and bustle of daily life can add stress, increase thoughts of frustration and despair, and impair our emotional well-being. A great way to calm the mind and center thoughts on our emotions is to literally “stop and smell the roses.” This idea has rapidly grown in popularity, leading to what has been called the “Slow Movement.” When we learn to live life instead of racing through it, we have more time to process what we are feeling in the moment and can act on our emotions.? ? 3. Talk with Someone Share happy times with others. Love more, laugh more, and share goodness with the world. And in tough times, don't hide from pain. Talk to someone and share your journey. We can strengthen our emotional well-being when we lean on our support systems for help, and when we offer help back to those we love. Whether you’re downsizing or moving yourself or a loved one into a retirement community, your local Caring Transitions of Rockville can provide peace of mind with an individualized plan that honors your belongings and handles all the physical labor. We also take care of all items you’re ready to let go, through either donation or through our CTBids auction platform. ? 4. Embrace an Emotional Outlet The emotional spectrum can be overwhelming. Whether it’s pain and grief, or even an overflow of excitement from an unexpected happy event, we all can benefit from activities that serve as an emotional outlet. When faced with overwhelming feelings, having a hobby like writing, painting, singing, playing sports, and crafting can alleviate stress. These activities help us get out of our heads and connect physically, increasing our endorphin levels and allowing us time to process intense emotions until they pass. Emotional well-being can have an immense impact on extending our health span. Emotional resilience comes from the perspective and wisdom gained from life experience. It is a journey worth traveling and sharing with others as we embrace active aging.

The time has never been better to embrace a life transition and start envisioning the next chapter. The culture of aging is shifting, and more and more are rejecting the ageist stereotypes that the later years are a time to withdraw from life and fade away. Instead, people in their 80s, 90s, and even 100s are leaning into life, pursuing their dreams, and leading lives full of passion and purpose. Data from a recent US Census Bureau Report reveals that those over the age of 85 are more likely to move homes than other younger seniors 85+:?8.4% moved locations 75-84:?6% moved locations 65-74: 5.9% moved locations While more than half of older adults (58%) elected to move within their same county, it is important to note that those 65+ were more likely to move to an entirely new state. And they weren’t just hopping one state over. Many older adults who decided to pursue their next chapter in a new state moved to an entirely different region of the country! So, what were the biggest reasons for all these moves? Warmer daily climate, Closer to family, Seeking housing and neighborhoods to fit their healthcare needs, and Economic advantages. Whatever your reason is for your own move, or the move of a parent or loved one, don’t fall into the statistic of 83% of people who report they get stressed out by moving! Caring Transitions of Rockville is built upon years of experience handling senior relocations and has earned the trust of thousands upon thousands of families across the country. Our team can handle it all. We’ll create an individualized plan to fit your specific needs, whether you are just moving down the road, one state over, or across the country. We offer a wide range of services that can be customized to any living situation. Your local Caring Transitions team within Washington DC, Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and other communities in Montgomery County will handle all the physical labor, so you can spend less time stressing and more time focusing on the things that matter in your next chapter. Whether you are looking for more space or less space in your home, to be closer to family and friends, seeking a new adventure on your own, or are ready to join an active adult community or an assisted living facility, embrace this next life stage with enthusiasm and excitement. Now is the time to reimagine your future. Our later years are a blessing to be celebrated. It’s a time to do the things we love most, with the people we love most. So, whether you are passionate about art, music, sports, family, food, fitness, reading, nature, entrepreneurship, spirituality, or anything in between, view your next move as an opportunity to spend more of your time on your passions and purpose in life.

What labels do you wear? Mom, Dad? Aunt? Grandparent? Retiree? Boomer? Empty nester? Widower? Once we hit a certain age, ageist culture is quick to define us. But labels limit us. It’s our own opinion that counts, and the decisions we make define who we are as we age. Sometimes we put limits on ourselves. For decades there has been a frantic search for a new word to for aging - Terms like wisdom workers, grand elders, older adults, super agers, perennials, golden agers, modern elders. We believe that when we stumble upon the right descriptive word, we'll feel better about ourselves and society will appreciate our value. Did you know that 65 was established as the retirement age by Social Security in 1935, when the average life expectancy was only 62? Retirement quickly became associated with a short transition from relaxing to withdrawing to declining, a chance to make yourself comfortable at home while getting affairs in order. 65 is not the time to retire from life. It's not the beginning of the end. It's the beginning of what's next, and we get to decide what that is. We get to choose how we spend that time and where we want to live. We get to decide what growing older looks like. Are you happy where you are? Is your home the right size for you now? Or is it time to start thinking about downsizing? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the options. What about a 55+ senior community? Have you been to one or labeled it ‘not right’ without taking a visit? There are vibrant communities filled with people of all different interests and physical capabilities. It can’t hurt to take the first step and investigate for yourself. Whatever you decide is right for you, your local Caring Transitions team within Washington DC, Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and other communities in Montgomery County is ready to assist you. From helping you decide what to keep, donate or sell, to packing up your current home and moving you into your new home, Caring Transitions of Rockville provides you with customized support throughout the process to make it as easy as possible. Changing the culture of aging in an extremely ageist society is a monumental challenge. We have to work toward the goal of cultural transformation one life at a time. For ordinary people creating extraordinary lives as they age, there's no one right way to do it…aging’s not a one-size-fits-all outfit. It's about continuing to grow, to evolve, and to reinvent ourselves as we age. We can't change societal belief systems until we change our own. We do that by changing the way we live, and by changing beliefs about what's possible. Yes, words do matter, but we can't allow ourselves to be bullied by them. We can't be fooled into thinking that a new word will magically transform our later decades. If we listen to ageist culture, we'll know others have decided life looks like in our older years. Welcome to the Age of Liberation.