The Senior Zone
The Senior Zone is the DMV’s #1 weekly radio program dedicated to empowering adults 50+ to live fuller, healthier, and more informed lives — now available on demand as a podcast.
Hosted by Shawn Perry since 2012, The Senior Zone features thoughtful conversations with trusted experts, community leaders, advocates, and everyday people doing extraordinary work in aging, health, finance, caregiving, and purposeful living. From timely resources and consumer protections to inspiration, wisdom, and real talk — this is where experience meets opportunity.
Whether you’re planning your next chapter, supporting a loved one, or simply committed to thriving beyond expectations, The Senior Zone delivers insight, clarity, and encouragement — one meaningful conversation at a time.
🎙️ New episodes weekly
📍 Originally broadcast on WYCB 1340AM (Washington, DC)
The Senior Zone
Ep. 703 | Plan It Now. Live It Fully: Taking Control of Your Future
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What does it truly mean to stay in control of your life—especially when it comes to your healthcare and housing decisions? This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry brings you a powerful and practical conversation focused on planning with purpose.
We begin with Legal Counsel for the Elderly attorneys Holly Eaton and Lisa Brown as they walk us through essential life planning documents and how to ensure your voice is heard when it matters most. Lastly, we explore real housing solutions—from home sharing to counseling services—that can help seniors remain stable, independent, and empowered.
Segment Highlights:
• Advance care planning & healthcare decision-making
• Housing support, home sharing & financial stability
Signature Features:
• Weekly Vitamin: “Peace comes from preparation”
• Later Life Lowdown (DC, MD, NoVA resources)
• Birthdays of the Week
Listen On Demand:
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow.
Opening & Weekly Vitamin
SPEAKER_03Welcome to the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_07Well, we connect older adults with the organizations and resources that start them.
SPEAKER_03The Senior Zone's goal, aims to educate, empower, enlighten, entertain, and engage older adults with the tools and information to stay healthy, happy, and secure.
SPEAKER_07Great guests.
SPEAKER_03So get ready to take notes.
SPEAKER_07It's now time for the senior zone.
SPEAKER_01Good morning, good morning, my good people, and welcome to the Senior Zone, the DMV's number one weekly radio program. Thanks to you for the 50 Plus community, proudly serving since 2012. I'm Sean Perry, your host, and as always, it's a blessing to be with you, to walk with you, to talk with you, and to grow with you. Now, let me ask you something. Have you ever had one of those moments where something small reminded you of how quickly life can shift? For me, it was the other day. Nothing major, just a simple conversation about what if. And it hit me, so many of us spend time planning vacations, planning dinners, planning birthdays. But when it comes to planning the things that matter most, our care, our wishes, our voice, we tend to put that off. Not because we don't care, but because we think we've got time. And maybe we do, but maybe we don't. Which brings me right into today's weekly vitamin. Here we go. Peace doesn't come from avoiding the conversation. It comes from preparing for it. I'll say that again. Peace doesn't come from avoiding the conversation, it comes from preparing for it. Let that sit with you for a moment because today's show is all about empowerment, not fear, not pressure, but preparation. Making sure that your voice is heard even when you may not be in a position to speak it. And speaking of staying informed and empowered, don't forget the Steam to Zone podcast is now available on demand. So if you missed the live show or want to go back and catch a moment that spoke to you, you can listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and more. Now, in our first segment today, we're shifting into a conversation that truly centers on control. Not control over everything, but control over what matters most. We're talking about how to make sure your healthcare wishes are known, respected, and protected before life puts you in a position where decisions have to be made quickly. Joining me are two trusted advocates from Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Holly Eaton and Lisa Brown. They are attorneys here to guide us through what it really means to plan ahead with purpose. And then in segment two, we turn our focus to housing because where you live impacts how you live. We'll explore real local solutions from innovative home sharing opportunities to trusted counseling services designed to help you stay stable, informed, and secure in today's housing landscape. And before we wrap things up today, we are bringing you our birthdays of the week, a transition into Dear Grave Woman, featuring my friend Joel Simone, and of course, the later life lowdown with current news, announcements, and helpful resources for seniors across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. And before we take this next break, this quick break, I want to send some love and gratitude to our sponsors and partners. So thank you, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP of the District of Columbia, AARP of the State of Maryland, Compassion and Choices, Jewish Council for the Aging, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. Folks, we'll be right back after this short break, brought to you by Legal Counsel for the Elderly, providing free legal and social work services to D.C. residents most in need. Sean Perry in the scenes on I promise. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_07Legal Counsel for the Elderly champions the dignity and rights of DC elders by providing free legal and social work services to those in need. Worried about eviction or foreclosure? Need help obtaining social security or veterans benefits? Call Legal Counsel for the Elderly at 202-434-2120. Income eligibility applies. LCE is an affiliate of AARP 202-434-2120.
SPEAKER_04Attention, listeners, criminals are consistently developing new ways to steal your hard-earned money and personal information. But the AARP Fraud Watch Network is here to help you protect yourself and your loved ones. See or report scams in your area with our scam tracking map. Get guidance from our trained fraud specialists, and sign up to receive information on the latest scams. Knowledge is power. If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. Get more tips and resources at aarp.org slash fraudwatch network.
Legal Counsel for the Elderly
SPEAKER_01Welcome back, family. You're locked into the senior zone. I'm your host, Sean Perry, and on this segment, we're talking about something that doesn't always make the top of the conversation list, but absolutely should. We're talking about staying in control, your voice, your choices, your care, especially when life throws the unexpected your way. And the truth is, it's not just about paperwork, it's about peace of mind. So joining me today are two trusted voices in this space from legal counsel for the elderly attorneys, Holly Eaton and Lisa Brown. They're here to help us understand how to protect ourselves and our loved ones through proper life planning. Holly, Lisa, welcome to the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_09Hello. Thank you for having us.
SPEAKER_01It's a pleasure to have you both. Holly, I'm going to start with you. Let's set the foundation for our listeners. You're a senior attorney with LCE's Office of the DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Remind our audience what your office does and who you serve.
SPEAKER_05Certainly. The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a federally mandated program in all 50 states. The DC office is part of the legal counsel for the elderly. As far as what we do, we are advocates and I represent DC residents in living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and those receiving long-term care services at home. We do outreach in facilities. We educate residents about their right to live with dignity and self-determination. We assist with resolving complaints, which can be anything from I don't like the food to the nurse gave me the wrong medication, which is very serious. And we challenge facilities that illegally try to evict residents. And so if I could, I would like to uh let your listeners know that if they or their family member has uh living in long-term care has an issue or question that they would like to um learn more about or hopefully resolve, you can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman helpline, which is 202-434-2190. That's 202-434-2190. You can leave a confidential message and someone will get back to you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the work of the DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman or any Ombudsman office throughout the country is such important work, especially as I've learned it, uh Holly, for those navigating the care environments where advocacy such as yours really, really uh matters. Lisa, I'm gonna bring you into this conversation right now. You're an attorney with LCE's Homebound Elderly Project, also known as Project Help. Uh break that down for us. What is Project Help and who benefits most from it?
SPEAKER_09Yes, Project Help provides legal assistance for DC residents who are homebound. Those residents are either in hospitals, in nursing homes, assisted living, or they might be at home but have difficulty leaving the house. Project help uh assists those clients by drafting, excuse me, drafting last will and testaments for them, transfer on death deeds, financial powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills. Today we're going to be focused on the health care documents, but we provide assistance with all those things, and we do other legal uh assistance for them as well. People who are homebound and need legal assistance should call legal counsel for the elderly at 202-434-2120. That's 202-434-2120 if they need legal assistance.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I love Project Help when I first learned about it. Lisa, it's meeting people where they are, especially when um things like mobility become a uh challenge. But I want to take it back, uh Lisa, to the why. Why is it so important at any age, but especially for older adults, to have medical decision-making documents in place?
SPEAKER_09Good question. Those documents help to ensure that your wishes are honored. Um, if at some point you become physically unable to communicate your wishes, the documents have a record of what you want to happen. Uh also, the process of getting these medical documents prepared gives you an opportunity to think about what you want under different scenarios. It's important to know that you have to be competent at the time that you're getting these documents done. So now is probably the right time.
unknownUh-huh.
SPEAKER_09And also that if you don't make those decisions for yourself and get them documented, it's possible that someone else can make those decisions for you. In that event, those documents, that decision may or may not be exactly what you want. So it's a good idea to get the your wishes recorded on these documents.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and that right there is the part many people don't think about until it's uh too late, which is why we have these conversations ongoing. I'm gonna stay with you, uh Lisa Holly. I'm bringing you back in, I promise. Uh Lisa, but let's get practical for a moment. What are the most important documents people should have prepared when it comes to their medical care, and what does each one actually do?
SPEAKER_09Yes. So the two most important medical documents in this context are the health care power of attorney and the living will. The health care power of attorney allows you to appoint an individual who can make health care decisions for you in the event that you're unable to make those decisions for yourself. Decisions include choosing a doctor, choosing a hospital, accessing medical records, choosing which procedures are appropriate, which surgery, um, whether to go forward with it or not, different medications, and also at-home care. A living will, on the other hand, allows you to document your preferences regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining measures if you become terminally ill, if you're incapacitated, or if you are permanently unconscious and unable to communicate. The living will gives doctors and caregivers directions regarding things like resuscitation, feeding tubes, or ventilators in accordance with your wishes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And that's the clarity, uh, Lisa, that we all need with respect to these documents because it removes the fear, it removes confusion for those that will tend to our affairs, you know, uh post-issue, right? Post-health, post-uh, anything else. So thank you, thank you, thank you. Holly, I'm bringing you back, uh, my friend. Uh let's talk mindset before paperwork. When someone is getting ready to prepare uh a living will, as Lisa just mentioned, or a healthcare power of attorney. What should they be thinking about first?
SPEAKER_05Good question, because most people are not thinking about it. And um that's why it's important. Um there are three steps that I would recommend. First, one should reflect on your values. What is important to you? For example, how do you feel about letting nature take its course? You might feel I've lived a long life. When it's my time to go, just let me go. I just don't want to put anyone through the difficulty of making decisions. That's a perfectly okay decision to make. Um perhaps you want to preserve quality of life. You want to receive care, but nothing extreme and invasive. If you're awake and aware, it's one thing. If you're in a coma, unable to speak or hear, unaware of who anyone is, tubes and wires going in and out of you, perhaps you would not consider that quality of life something to think about. Um a third consideration is staying true to your spiritual beliefs and traditions. Perhaps you want to be sure that your faith is taken into consideration when making end-of-life decisions, in which case you might want to choose someone familiar with your faith practices who will know and honor your wishes and your faith practices. I'm sorry. Um just be sure to spell it out in your living will anyway. Um, and then last is the one that most people choose because they haven't really thought it through, and that is living as long as possible, regardless of quality of life. And that is an option. You simply say that you want all possible care given. Um so that's the thinking about it part, the preparation about it. Next, you need to be more specific about what kind of care you want and what you do not want. For example, um, do you want CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or just allow a natural death? Generally, the older that you get, it is common to get what's called a DNR, do not resuscitate. So the the the the default for all healthcare workers is to see to provide CPR. Um so if allow a natural death, you don't want CPR, it can break your ribs, it is not, uh it is invasive, um, perhaps you don't want that. So that's one thing to think about. Um interventions, do you want full treatment? Anything necessary to prolong life, selective treatment, avoid burdensome measures such as um intubation, where they stick a tube down your throat, a gastrointestinal tube out of your stomach. And then the last is comfort focused. Give me pain relief, give me medications, give me oxygen, um, but nothing that's that's too intrusive. And then the final is um you need to talk to your loved ones. Don't keep it to yourself. Just because you fill out the form, you need to actually talk to your loved ones to let them know what you would want if you were unable to express your wishes. It gives them the peace of mind knowing that it's what you would have wanted.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and all of what you said, uh Holly is just, you know, simply just powerful. That's the word that comes to mind in this moment because it does start with values, knowing your values before it can ever become a document, as as and that's what you uh bring to the table in part. Let's break it down a little further, Holly, uh, for our listeners. When you sit down with someone to talk about a living wheel, how do you help them understand their options as well as make decisions that they're comfortable with?
SPEAKER_05Well, um, good question again. And this is where you need to understand what these measures might be. So the full treatment I mentioned before, that would obviously include CPR, which is invasive, intubation, putting a um tube down your throat. If if you lose oxygen at any time, it causes brain death, and you're not either gonna last long or you're not going to come back as you were. So air, uh preserving access to air is the most important thing. That's gonna be the most invasive. Um, then there would be gastrointestinal tubes, and I mean you could just be all full of wires and tubes and IVs, um, and it would include admitting you to the ICU. Um for selective, it's burdens avoid burdensome measures. I don't want to be intubated, but I want to receive IV fluids, for example. Um it would not include admitting you to the ICU. You would get some level of care, but not the extreme level. And then in the comfort care, they seek to relieve your pain and suffering with medication, oxygen. If you're at home, they wouldn't transfer you to the hospital unless that was necessary for comfort. Um, but it's to let nature take its course, but with something that makes you comfortable till the end.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Lisa, I'm bringing you back shortly, my friend. I promise. One more question for you, uh Holly. Uh and for, you know, as as folks are wondering, uh, because I would be thinking the same thing as well, do you need an attorney to create a living will or a healthcare power of attorney, or can people do this on their own?
SPEAKER_05Well, it's not necessary to have these documents drawn up by an attorney. There are requirements to be considered valid in DC, in Maryland, in Virginia, um, which Lisa can talk about more, at least um for valid documents in DC. So it's generally advised an attorney be involved to be sure that everything is in order. Um she does this all the time, so she knows what goes into it. Um I do presentations to nursing homes and assisted living residents all the time. And when I do, I mention two additional measures to consider. One is called a MOST form. It stands for medical order for scope of treatment. It's for people with terminal illness. It's a standardized form that must be completed with and signed by a DC medical professional. It is then filed with the DC Department of Health and it follows you wherever you go, even out of state. It addresses the very most basic parts of the of what we've just gone through, but it's checkboxes, it's not really going into much detail. But if you end up in a hospital and you have a most form, they can access it and they at least know the basics of what you want. But you'd have to ask your uh primary care physician probably to help you with it. Um there's another um thing that that we recommend. Aging with Dignity is a nonprofit organization that supports all people as they approach the end of life. It was actually uh Mother Teresa was part of getting it started. They have something called the Five Wishes Advanced Care Planning Program, which offers thoughtful questions. Um you can do it online or on paper to assist with producing documents you can use to express your wishes, um, and it's just for a modest fee of five dollars. Um so that website is agingwithdignity.org. That's all one word, agingwithdignity.org.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. Well, thank you, uh Holly. Alisa, I'm bringing you in, my friend. Let's talk about the human side of this. When helping someone prepare a healthcare power of attorney, what conversations do you have? And how should someone choose the person who will speak on their behalf?
SPEAKER_09Yes. So there are a number of things I discuss with someone getting these documents prepared. One of them is that the doc the health care power of attorney becomes effective if the individual cannot make their own health care decision. So if they're able to make their own own healthcare decision, then they should be able to do so. But if they're not, then the agent steps in and is able to make that decision for them.
unknownUh-huh.
SPEAKER_09Another thing I discuss is the fact that a health care power of attorney or a living will can be terminated or revoked in writing. And you know, that just lets individuals know that they're not they're not permanent. If you change your mind, um you can always uh update your documents, revoke them altogether, or or change them in in whatever way you want to do. And then finally, uh it's important to let people know that m many people will get a second agent in place. So if they have a primary uh health care power of attorney agent, they will often get a secondary person or a successor agent just in case the first person is unable to serve. In terms of how to choose an agent, um, it should be somebody that you trust. Um, it should be somebody who understands medical issues or will be able to understand it if a doctor, you know, or a healthcare professional explains things to them, they'll be able to uh uh make decisions on your behalf. It should be somebody who knows you well, who you're comfortable discussing these issues with ahead of time. And obviously somebody who can handle these type of decisions. So not everybody is good at everything. So it might not be your closest family member. It might be, you know, the person who you recognize can handle this type of role.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's a it's a huge uh decision because we're not just choosing a person, we're choosing a voice, right, to represent us in our future. Let's talk uh Lisa mobility as well as travel. If I have these documents prepared say in DC, are they valid in other states? And what should people know if they travel or relocate?
SPEAKER_09Yes, absolutely. So generally speaking, a document, medical document drawn up in DC will be valid in other states. However, it's a good idea if you're going to relocate to another area, another state to have those documents reviewed by an attorney or someone familiar with the laws in that state because there are different rules different laws that might be different and that could affect your documents. So for instance in DC, a healthcare power require of attorney requires two witnesses. It does not require a notary. However, if you move to another state that state might require a notary in addition to witnesses or instead of witnesses. So that kind of local law issue you know could come up and your documents might not align with the uh the laws in the state that you relocate to. With regards to localities having access to your medical wishes if you're traveling there is a website that allows you to upload documents that will be on their registry and then your documents might be available to physicians or facilities in a place where you're traveling. I would advise you to do research on your own regarding whether or not this option works for you. The website is mydirectives mydirectives com.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. It's important because you know in this area we can be in another state five or six states within an hour uh drive so that's why I asked that uh question. We are nearly running out of time uh ladies but I want to get through all of this because it's just that important. Holly let's shift to a sensitive but important situation. For individuals that are in long-term care facilities can an employee serve as a healthcare power of attorney or even act as a witness during uh document signings?
SPEAKER_05That's an easy one. No. An employee of a of a facility would not be a proper witness as it creates a potential conflict of interest.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. And while I have you uh Holly we're wrapping up a volunteer appreciation uh month tell us uh more about you know that what it means to volunteer with LCE's Ombudsman program and how someone listening right now if they want to they can get involved absolutely our program is always looking for volunteers who want to assist residents of DC nursing homes and assisted living facilities it is a significant time commitment but extremely rewarding volunteers undergo intensive training supervised by our office staff and are expected to visit assigned facilities regularly to observe, take complaints and attempt to resolve issues that come to their attention it's extremely valuable and rewarding experience.
SPEAKER_05Visiting talking with residents you may be their only visitor. They may have had an issue that they haven't felt comfortable telling anyone you can make a difference in many ways large and small. If you are at all interested um I would tell you to call our helpline and I gave that number before but I'll give it again 2023 2190 that's 2023 2190 leave a message and someone will get back to you.
SPEAKER_01I love it I love it serving others while protecting our dignity it's it's a win-win for for everyone. Lisa while I have you my friend let's close the loop on that spirit of service what does volunteering look like with Project Help and how can someone sign up to make a difference?
SPEAKER_09Yes thank you for that question. Project help is eager for volunteers to assist mostly as witnesses when we go out in the community to the hospitals or to the nursing homes and we help individuals get the documents that we talked about signed and notarized we bring volunteers with us and generally they serve as witnesses witnessing the signature of the principal who's getting the documents completed. We also have volunteers who are notaries as well but you don't have to be a notary again anybody can serve as a witness if you are interested in being a volunteer with Project Help you should contact Greta Mombaya at 2023 2449. Again her number is 2023 2449.
SPEAKER_01Yeah both of these are just beautiful opportunities for anyone out there uh looking to give back in a meaningful uh way and we can post those numbers uh online as well I'm gonna close it out with you thank you Lisa by the way Holly I'm gonna close it out with you please share with our listeners again the best ways to contact LCE if they need help or just want to get started with these important documents.
SPEAKER_05Absolutely for DC residents in long-term care or their family members the LCE Ombudsman helpline is 2023 2190 that's 2023 2190 leave a confidential message and someone will get back to you. For DC residents with legal assistance needs you can call the LCE legal hotline at 2023 2120.
SPEAKER_01That's 2023 2120 got it I've given out that number a million times it seems Holly 2023 2120. Again folks 2023 2120 well Holly Eaton and Lisa Brown from Legal Counsel for the Elderly thank you thank you thank you both for not just the information but the reassurance you've given our listeners uh today family here's the takeaway planning ahead isn't about expecting the worst it's about protecting your best your voice your wishes as well as your dignity and the beautiful part you don't have to figure it out alone Holly and Lisa thank you for joining us thank you Sean it's been a pleasure being with you today. It's been mine. Folks stay with us we've got more senior zone coming your way right after this next break which is brought to us by Compassion and Choices empowering everyone to chart their own end of life journey we'll be right back.
SPEAKER_10And life choices matter compassionate choices is here to support you on your journey our organization provides a wealth of resources to help you navigate difficult decisions with compassion and understanding guidance on end of life choices visit our website at compassionatechoices.org for a range of informative articles toolkits and personal stories our compassionate team is just a call away ready to assist you because let's face it talking about death is not gonna kill you compassionate choices empowering you to make choices that reflect your values hi neighbor I'm inviting you and your wife to my husband's 65th birthday party next week great has he applied for Medicare yet not yet it's very confusing.
SPEAKER_00Call Montgomery County Ship they help me with questions about my Medicare coverage.
SPEAKER_02What's Montgomery County Ship?
SPEAKER_00It's ship like a boat Montgomery County State Health Insurance Assistance Program they help seniors like us or people with disabilities or caregivers and families with Medicare insurance questions.
SPEAKER_02Can anyone call them?
SPEAKER_00Sure as long as you live in Montgomery County you can call them at 301-2554250 or check out their website at www.medicareabcd.org what's that number again? Montgomery County Ship 301250 made possible with a grant from the U.S. Administration for community living through the state of Maryland and Montgomery County when you hear the chirp it's time to do some work.
SPEAKER_12Change the battery working smoke alarms save lives including yours for more information on smoke alarms and other fire prevention and safety tips contact the DC Fire and EMS Department Fire Prevention Division at 2027 1614 or email us at FEMS dot fireprevention at DC dot
Housing Solutions Segment
SPEAKER_12right family welcome back to the senior zone I'm your host Sean Perry now listen housing isn't just about where you live it's about how you live and for many of our seniors finding affordable stable and supportive options can feel like a challenge but today we're bringing you solutions.
SPEAKER_01Joining me are Michelle Higgs Community Outreach Coordinator and Carmen Castro Conroy Associate Director of Housing Counseling and Services both are with housing initiative partnerships also known as HIP Michelle will walk us through the Montgomery County Home Sharing Program and Carmen will share powerful resources designed to help seniors protect their homes reduce costs and plan smarter so let's get right into it Michelle welcome good morning Sean thank you so much for having me today thank you and Carmen welcome to you as well but I'll be getting back to you shorter shortly thank you okay so Michelle let's start with you for listeners who may be hearing about this for the first time what exactly is the Montgomery County Home Sharing Program and how does it work?
SPEAKER_11Home sharing is a program where you have individuals generally seniors who have spare bedrooms in their homes that they will share with someone who is looking for a safe and affordable place to live. It gives an option to a renter who might ordinarily have a problem finding a space in Montgomery County which is a pretty expensive place to rent an apartment. We started back in 2021 basically during the pandemic when seniors were isolated in their homes and they had spare spare rooms their families had moved and grown up and gone elsewhere and they needed some support and they needed additional income and they they had space to share.
SPEAKER_01Yeah well thank you uh and help us uh Michelle understand what this looks like in real life like who is this program really designed for are we talking mostly about seniors who have extra space or does it also support people looking for affordable housing options?
SPEAKER_11You're absolutely right we're on both sides of that uh primarily the profile of the homeowner would be a senior because they can afford a space that is large enough to have extra bedrooms. They've raised their families their families have gone on to raise their families and then we have the flip side of that which are renters who may have been displaced or you know lost their jobs they have financial challenges and they cannot afford to rent an apartment which would be in excess of you know $1800. They have to look at something more affordable and something that's sustainable and will allow them to reach some level of stability so that they can once again get out on their own.
SPEAKER_01Yeah because I imagine uh Michelle this is one of those win-win situations when it's done uh right let's talk benefits right beyond the financial uh piece what are some of the emotional or lifestyle advantages that you've seen from home sharing well the first one is the the the relationship building uh it's an opportunity you have two strangers here and uh you have people who are they're they're in a situation where they're challenged to create a new life and so one of the things that we do is help them to to match we make a a profile we look at their interests and their needs and we really do an intentional uh process of trying to find a a balance between the two individuals so that it's sustainable and workable and like you said a win-win you know so that both people are getting the best possible benefit from the process.
SPEAKER_11We share with them you know each person's uh individual needs we let them know what the uh what their situation is we go through a very rigorous vetting process on both sides so that we're not just throwing two individuals together and and not being certain of what they might be able to to accomplish together. So it's a it's an intentional process which I always say it's it's not just a fly by night kind of uh thing you know we really look at it carefully yeah and and as you were talking uh Michelle you know one of my thoughts was safety right and that comes to top of mind for me as well as I'm sure for our uh listeners as well so what kind of screening or matching process is in place to make sure people do feel comfortable and secure it's a step-by-step process each person talks to we're we're a team we're a team there are about four of us and each person talks to uh has an in an entry point which is me and then I pass the information on to our housing counselor who goes through their income expenses we do a background check a credit check a housing history check and we have a personal face-to-face interview with each person who comes in homeowner and home seeker and once we get past that point we have a um a virtual conversation to discuss the the space that they're looking to rent we have a it may be a virtual or an in-person visit between the homeowner and the renter to see the space meet one another so it's it's step by step and it's layered so that by the time we get to a match we know who each person is and how this is going to work. And we create a lease six months to a year which they both sign off on and we monitor that carefully month by month to see that everything's getting paid everybody's getting along if there are any problems we're there to to talk to everybody and try to get them all on track.
SPEAKER_01Yeah can you share Michelle a short success story or example of a match that really made an impact for both the homeowner and the person that was moving in? Oh my personal favorite I have a personal favorite I have a a gentleman um two gentlemen actually uh one is a 90-year-old uh veteran former um Montgomery County public school teacher uh but he's mobility challenged he has a lovely home but he can't go up and down the stairs and he can't do a lot of things for himself and then we have another gentleman oh about 30 years younger who had some health challenges and um some financial problems and he needed a place that was uh affordable but he could still do some things so we got these two gentlemen together and you know had a meeting and we decided that um that the renter had some uh he could help with some things around the home that the homeowner couldn't do like getting packages taken out the trash moving the the recycling and so forth and when we got them together they got along like a house of fire and the rent the homeowner was he didn't even want to charge rent to this gentleman but we had to say you know this is in order to make this relevant and valuable you have to do a little something so he charged him a little something which was just enough that this gentleman could afford and he was so moved that I mean we all were in tears when it was when the match was made because it it just fit so perfectly when they get together they watch football together they're just a pair you know they're just yeah great great story I'm sure you have many more uh my friend gotta have you uh back again for folks that are interested uh Michelle in home sharing whether they are a homeowner or uh a rent tour uh how can they reach out to you? Okay well our um phone number we have a dedicated phone number for the program and that's 301 857 4273 and that will go directly to me or they could get our um website which is h-ip h o m es dot org forward slash home dash sharing and that will give them an online way to enter the program gotcha gotcha and we are and we are post that you know uh uh on our social media as well so thank you thank you thank you Michelle uh Higgs that was just powerful stuff right there and what I love about that connection is it's not just about housing it's about connection dignity and making the most of what you already have so now let's take this to another step the next step that is uh because whether you're renting owning or somewhere in between there are resources available to help you make smarter decisions protect your investments and even save money along the way and that's where my next guest comes in Carmen welcome to be here with uh Michelle uh we're part of the home sharing team and the hip team as well well I appreciate you uh Carmen so let's just jump right into it Carmen give us the big picture what does housing counseling and services through HIP offer especially for older adults trying to stay financially stable in today's market sure uh quickly so housing initiative partnership it's a uh nonprofit housing developer and had approved housing counseling agency and we serve uh residents in uh Montgomery County Maryland uh Bridgeworth County as well so many of our clients are older adults that um are facing uh uh challenges or some kind of housing instability or uh just the high cost of housing and they are uh connected with our resources services and meet with our staff to go over all their options housing options programs that uh we can connect them with so that their housing becomes more stable and with that we serve everyone regardless of age or income criteria and our services are free of charge. Gotcha and because I know your work really touches multiple areas of housing a common let's talk about some of those key services rental counseling foreclosure prevention post-purchase support how do these programs help seniors stay on track and avoid costly mistakes sure thank you I think that's um very important because not a lot of people are familiar with uh housing counseling uh as a service um that it's um available in most areas like um anywhere not just limited to the state or the counties where we serve but there are housing counseling agencies throughout the country and um the services that we provide is like connecting with our the clients that we serve so that they could like have a conversation that's private and um they'll share their situation with um a certified housing counselor that's trained and well informed about all housing options.
SPEAKER_06So like for instance rental counseling can cover topics like uh available rental housing options for seniors, um for people different ages foreclosure prevention can um expose clients to like loss mitigation options through services or like just programs that could Lower their housing costs. Same thing with post porches and the other types of uh supports that we offer is that I the idea is that we connect our clients with services and we also um answer their questions and explain um specific uh situations and and uh provide some solutions or um resources.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, important stuff, especially in a time when one wrong move can really set someone uh back. Let's shift and talk about taxes. They can be confusing for a lot of folks, including myself. Can you break down how programs like the renters tax credit as well as the homeowner tax credit can put money back into people's pockets?
SPEAKER_06Yes, thanks for the question because that's one of the things that we do, like uh promote the programs that are available and that are not well known. And in the state of Maryland, we have two really good tax credits that relate to housing. Um, one is the homeowners tax credit for homeowners making less than sixty thousand a year, they can see a significant reduction in their property tax now. Uh actually, the state allows seniors 70 and older to apply to this program three years retroactive so they couldn't get the money back from the property taxes they already paid. So we screen all of our clients, and this program is available to residents and homeowners, regardless of age, making less than sixty thousand a year to see if they qualify for the credit and get that money back. And for the renters' tax credit, it's a great program, um, especially for seniors 60 and older. So this program does age matters and income as well. They could make up to like 72,000 depending on their uh proportion of the rent. Even if they get a subsidy, they can also apply if they're 60 and older. And they benefit of getting a credit from the state for up to $1,000. So these two programs are available to all Maryland residents. We screen clients, we provide assistance with application to all um residents that qualify. We um can meet with clients uh in person by phone in our office, or we want to bring it to them and make sure that they can uh apply and qualify for the credit.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And comment, just like I asked Michelle, if someone is listening right now and thinking this could help me, what's the best way for them to contact your team and get started?
SPEAKER_06I would say our phone number and um I'll share the number is 3019165946, and also our website. So you can Google Housing Initiative Partnership and it will take you to our website or go to hipholmes.org and find all our services and how to connect with it.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. And what is that telephone number one more time, Carmen?
SPEAKER_06Yes, uh, that's 301-8916-5946.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you, thank you, thank you. Uh, family, this is what we're talking about right here: real solutions, real resources, real people doing real work to make sure our seniors can live with dignity, stability, as well as peace of mind. So whether you're opening your home in a way that creates connection as well as income, or tapping into counseling services that can help you protect what you've worked so hard for, just know this. You are not alone in this journey, and the help, it's closer than you think. For more information, you can visit Housing Initiative Partnership at HIPHOME.org. That's HIP homes dot or G and take that first step toward making your housing situation work better for you. Michelle and Carmen, thank you for joining us.
SPEAKER_06Thank you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01You are welcome, you are welcome. Family, stay with us. This next break is brought to you by AARP DC, your wise friend and fierce defender in Washington, D.C. When we return, it's birthdays of the week, followed by Dear Grave Woman, featuring Joelle Simone and your later life lowdown. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_10Today is your day to connect with AARP and DC. AARP is here in the District of Columbia working hard to make it an even better place to live, work, and play for people of all ages, and you can help. Put your skills and talents to good use as an AARP volunteer where you can help lead local events or become an advocate for the issues that matter in your community, like funding for programs that help district residents age with dignity and independence. AARP is also helping you get the most out of life. Check out their educational workshops where they can help you grow as a caregiver, find a job, and teach you about the latest technology, or enjoy a night out at any of their exciting local events, like their happy hours and free movie screenings. Today is your day to connect with your community and with AARP. So let's take on today and every day. Learn more at aarp.org slash DC. Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday.
Birthdays / Dear Grave Woman / Later Life Lowdown
SPEAKER_01So whether you're celebrating yourself or someone you love, these birthdays are going out with joy, gratitude, and a whole lot of senior's own love. First up, we have Paula Prescott, 64 today, Monday, April 27th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Paula Midget Parker, 71 on Tuesday, April 28th from Annapolis, Maryland. Happy birthday, Midget Robert Poole, 72 on Tuesday, April 28th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Robert Gable Newman, 74 on Tuesday, April 28th, also from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Gable. Robert Warren, 66 on Tuesday, April 28th from Chevrolet, Maryland. Happy birthday, Robert Justice Burke, 59 on Tuesday, April 28th from New York City, New York. Happy birthday, Justice. This one is special to me as one of my homeboys, my longtime friend, like a brother from another mother, Ken Applewhite 62, Social Security eligible on Tuesday, April 28th from Columbia, South Carolina. Happy birthday, Mr. Applewhite. Jack Hart is 76 on Wednesday, April 29th from Los Angeles, California. Can you believe it? Los Angeles, California. Happy birthday, Jack. Sharon Martin, this is Family 75 on Wednesday, April 29th from Detroit, Michigan. Happy birthday, Sharon. Anthony Cerrillo, 69 on Wednesday, April 29th from Charlotte, North Carolina. Happy birthday, Anthony. He was a guest on the show several times. Judy Robinson is 77 on Thursday, April 30th from Oxen Hill, Maryland. Happy birthday, Judy. Sue Onteviros is 72 on Thursday, April 30th from Chicago, Illinois. Happy birthday, Sue. A couple more here. We have Bolutha 62, Social Security eligible on Saturday, May 2nd from Arlington, Virginia. And last but not least, a big list today, we have Charlie Corey 76 on Sunday, May 3rd from Alexandria, Virginia. Happy birthday, Corey. From all of us here at the Senior Zone, happy, happy birthday. May your year ahead be filled with good health, great moments, and continued purpose. And hey, if you've got a birthday coming up or someone you want to celebrate, send it over to the senior zone. Send it to INFO at theseniorzone.com. That's info at the seniorzone.com. We'd love to show you some on-air love. Well, family, coming up next, it's time for a segment that continues to touch hearts and open minds every single week. It's Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone, where real questions meet thoughtful, compassionate insight. Joelle, take it away, my friend.
SPEAKER_08Hey Sean, and welcome back, everyone, to Dear Grave Woman. My name is Joelle Simone. I'm the host of this segment. I'm known all over the world as The Grave Woman, and this is your three-minute segment on the senior zone where I answer your questions about life, death, grief, and planning for the end. Today I have an email from Michelle in Greensboro who says, Dear Grave Woman, I'm writing because my mother, whom I've watched decline in health and in mind for the past three years, has recently been diagnosed as having Alzheimer's. Is it common to feel as if I'm mourning my mother even though she's still alive? Michelle, I just want to say thank you so much for your vulnerability and for taking time to write into the show. I also want to start by saying that you're grieving someone who is still here. That is a very real feeling based on all of the research that I've done in preparation to answer your question. And this is a theme that I've seen repeated in almost every support document that I could get my hands on. And I want to just say to you that that kind of loss is real, is valid, and it's deeply complex. There's nothing wrong or incorrect about the way that you feel. I also want to say that it's okay to hold both the love that you have for your mother and sorrow that you have in realizing that eventually she may not recognize or know who you are in the future at the same time. Even as her memory fades, your connection and care that you're giving her still matter. The last thing that I want to say is that you do not have to carry this grief and this weight alone. Your grief deserves support, softness, and a space to be honored. And because of that, I would strongly recommend it. Even if all you do is get on Google and Google support groups for families of color, navigating an Alzheimer's diagnosis, or if you get on Google and search for a therapist or mental health counselor who can help you navigate the grief that you have with this diagnosis, as well as the level of anticipatory grief that you may be experiencing and thinking about your mother no longer being here. That would be a tremendous step forward and an amazing support system, not only for you, but your loved ones, and maybe even for your mother as well. Again, thank you so much for writing in. And if you or anyone else has questions that you'd like answered here on the senior zone, email them directly to me at thegravewoman at gmail.com. Sean, back to you for the later life lowdown.
SPEAKER_01And as always, we thank you, Joel, for bringing clarity, bringing comfort, and a whole lot of wisdom to situations we all may face at some point in life. So thank you, thank you, Joel. Now it's time for your later life lowdown, your weekly roundup of resources, programs, and opportunities designed to help you live better, longer, and stronger right here in our community. So let's get to it. In Washington, D.C., the DC Department of Aging and Community Living continues to offer free transportation services for seniors through their Senior Med Express program. If you need help getting to medical appointments, you can call 844-322-7732 to schedule a ride. That's 844-322-7732. Also in DC, if you or someone you know needs help navigating benefits like SNAP, Medicare, or utility assistance, don't forget about benefitscheckup.org, powered by the National Council on Aging. It's a free and easy tool that could connect you to programs that you didn't even know you qualified for. In Maryland, the Maryland Department of Aging reminds residents about the Senior Call Check Program. It's a free daily check-in service for older adults. It's simple, it's reliable, and it brings peace of mind. To enroll, call 866-502-0560. That's 866-502-0560. Also in Maryland, local area agencies on aging are offering caregiver support resources, including respite care and counseling. To find services near you, call 410-767-1100-410-767-1100. And in Northern Virginia, Fairfax County continues to provide in-home support services for older adults who want to age in place safely. For more information, call 703-324-7948. That's 703-324-7948. Also in Northern Virginia, Arlington County offers nutrition and meal delivery programs for seniors to learn more or to sign up. You can call 703-228-1700. That's 703-228-1700. And that wraps up this week's Later Life Lowdown where the info is fresh, the love is real, and the goal is always to enrich your journey.
Show Close
SPEAKER_01And one more thing, the senior zone has always been about more than just a moment. It's about building something that lasts. That's why we are now available as a podcast so these conversations can live on. They can be revisited and shared. Just search the senior zone wherever you listen to podcasts. Well, family, the pencil broke. That is all she wrote. That's our time for today. I want to thank you for tuning in, for trusting us, and for continuing to walk this journey with us week after week. Remember, every day is a gift, and how you use it matters. So until we meet again, keep your head high, keep your heart full, and always be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. Love you. Peace.
SPEAKER_03Be sure to join us on our next broadcast.
SPEAKER_07Until then, live simply, love generously. Speak kindly.
SPEAKER_03Have a wonderful week, and God willing, the senior goal will be here for another informative and entertaining hour next Monday morning at 10 AM.
.png)