Retirement Living September 2014

R e tirem en t LIVING September 2014

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FEATURES

6 Helping youth is retiree’s latest calling 8 Pros and cons of reverse mortgages 12 How volunteers benefit 4 local agencies 16 Advice for aging athletes

to consider when building

18 Things an in-law suite keep Williamsburg 20 Volunteers Botanical Garden growing

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Starting your second act How to choose your next career

24 Help Seniors Fight Fraud 26 Baby Boomers prefer sports cars are not your grandmother’s 28 These

retirement homes 32

Seniors on the Go: Last-minute vacation rentals

LIVING is a series produced bi-annually by THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE 216 Ironbound Road Williamsburg, VA 23188 Phone 757.220.1736 Fax 757.220.1766 www.vagazette.com Layout & Design | Peter Dewey Design Support Kathy Sturgeon Sandy Xander Cover Photo | Ann Efimetz LIVING also appears in THE TIDEWATER REVIEW 5

Helping youth is retiree’s latest calling Howard Robins has been a member of Kiwanis for 15 years, and for one important reason – it’s a service organization focused on children.

“Children have their own whole lives ahead of them and it’s important to me to help get them off to the best start possible,” says Robins, 79, who resides in the Governors Land neighborhood in James City County with his wife, Pat. They have two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His volunteer work with kids started long before his three retirements – 1995 after 42 years with NASA; 1998 after an executive-in-residence stint at Virginia Tech; and 2008 after working as an independent management consultant.

While living and working on the Peninsula, southern California and northern Virginia over the years, he coached Little League and Babe Ruth League teams, and officiated at basketball and football games.

Determined to stay active physically, mentally and spiritually in retirement, he stepped up his game, taking on more hours and projects with Williamsburg area organizations.

With Kiwanis, he tutors at Blayton Elementary and Hornsby Middle schools, and helps raise funds for Hornsby athletic programs.

“Tutoring is a one-on-one opportunity to help children who are struggling academically,” he says.

“It’s a chance to help increase the passing rate of public school students on standardized tests.

“I hope to see us become even more effective and our club is working with the school to do this. Most of the kids respond well, and we hope to get all of them performing to the best of their abilities.

“Sports are important, too, because funding for these programs has been cut.”

Robins’ volunteer work also extends to students as they move up the educational ladder. As a member of the Executive Partners of the William and Mary Mason School of Business, Robins helps graduate students turn their required second-year projects into successes. He’s also a member of Virginia Tech alumni organizations that support and promote the university and its College of Engineering.

He attends Williamsburg Community Chapel, and is on the board of directors at the Governors Land country club.

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Weekly, when school’s in session, Robins estimates he spends about 10-15 hours in volunteer work. Volunteering fits well into his lifestyle because its priorities are second only to his family.

He suggests anyone who wants to volunteer to first research what they want to do and align it with your interests and experience so you maximize your contributions.

“It is very rewarding to see the results of your efforts in the type of activities I volunteer in, and our client organizations appear to sincerely appreciate our help,” he says.

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Pros and cons of reverse mortgages

Chances are you have come across an advertisement for a reverse mortgage and have probably wondered what this type of mortgage is all about. Geared toward seniors, reverse mortgages are growing in popularity and inspiring the curiosity of older homeowners. continued on p.10

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A reverse mortgage is a loan offered to people over the age of 62 that enables borrowers to convert part of the equity in their homes into cash. People of retirement age may find that their limited income can make monthly expenses more difficult. Reverse mortgages were conceived as a method to helping people at this stage in life use the money they put into their homes to pay off debts or cover routine living expenses.

The loan is dubbed “reverse mortgage” because instead of the homeowner paying money to a lender as is customary with a traditional mortgage, the lender makes payments to the borrower. What’s more, the borrower is not required to pay back the loan until the home is sold or vacated. As long as a person is living in the home he or she is not required to make any payments toward the reverse mortgage loan balance.

However, the borrower must remain current on insurance and tax payments.

When a person takes out a reverse mortgage, he or she may borrow a portion of the market value on the home. As of 2012, the maximum loan amount available in the United States was $625,000. Any outstanding existing mortgages are paid off with the proceeds of the reverse mortgage, and either a lump sum of the balance or monthly payments are established. A homeowner may also opt for a line of credit with the reverse mortgage proceeds. Here is a more in-depth look at the pros and cons to reverse mortgages.

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A reverse mortgage enables seniors to live in their homes for the rest of their lives without fear of mortgage payments.

Because there are no payments being made during the life of the loan, borrowers do not have to meet income requirements or credit checks.

As long as the borrower continues to maintain residence in the home, he or she is still eligible for the monthly payments received through the reverse mortgage. This money can be used for any purpose and is tax-free. Borrowers can opt to modernize their homes or make safety improvements. The funds can also be put toward medical expenses or travel or to help family with their own financial needs.

Because the government insures the reverse mortgage program, borrowers need not worry about receiving their payments. Should a lender fail to make a payment, the borrower is eligible for that money and a late fee as well.

Another benefit of reverse mortgages is they protect homeowners against falling home prices. If the value of the home drops after the loan is negotiated, it will not affect the equity value assessed for the life of the loan.

Cons

Medicare are not affected, Medicaid and other government assistance programs can be affected if a senior has a surplus of funds from a reverse mortgage that are not spent during the month.

One down side to reverse mortgages is that the loans have higher up-front fees than other types of financing. Borrowers have to pay not only an origination fee and closing costs, but mortgage insurance costs as well. These initial costs can be several thousands of dollars.

Unlike a traditional mortgage, where the balance gets lower and lower over time, with a reverse mortgage, no payments are being made on the loan. This means the loan balance simply gets larger over time depending on how much money is drawn from the home’s equity. At the end of the loan, when the homeowner moves from the property or the premises is vacated upon the borrower’s death, the value of the estate decreases based on the pay-off value of the reverse mortgage loan. Heirs will pay off the mortgage by selling the home and will only inherit the remaining money after the reverse mortgage lender has the loan satisfied. This means men and women will be leaving less money for their heirs, but those heirs will not be personally liable if the home sells for less than the value of the mortgage. The mortgage lender has to claim a loss and request reimbursement from the Federal Housing Administration.

A reverse mortgage is a long-term solution. People who are looking for a short-term fix will find that this type of loan probably doesn’t meet their needs. Furthermore, it is hard to be approved for reverse mortgages on newly purchased homes.

Lenders usually like to see at least six months or a year chain of title on a property before issuing a reverse mortgage.

Many seniors often find reverse mortgages confusing. Seniors may unwittingly agree to a loan without fully understanding the scope of the reverse mortgage. It is advisable to seek counseling on reverse mortgages before applying for one.

-Metro Editorial

Something many seniors may not be aware of with regard to reverse mortgages is that these loans can affect eligibility for some need-based programs. Although Social Security and

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How volunteers benefit 4 local agencies Community service organizations in the Williamsburg area will quickly tell you volunteers are invaluable, giving hours upon hours to help make the community a better place.

Here, four local agencies discuss the important work their volunteers do day in, day out.

rewarding and fulfilling to know you are truly making a contribution towards improving the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

Learn more about The Arc at www.thearcgw.org.

Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg

The Arc of Greater Williamsburg The Arc of Greater Williamsburg has more than 300 regular volunteers who help with weekly activities in four program areas: Adapted Wellness, Quality of Life, Arc & the Arts and Self-Advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Left Rich Circeo (volunteer), right is Katie Hill (volunteer), middle Jesse “Tyler” Watson (Arc Member/Client)

Plus, there are large groups that help regularly, bringing the overall number to about 1,000 volunteers.

“We could not do what we do without our volunteers,” says Jennifer Stout, executive director.

“The Arc is a staff of only three part-time people and we rely heavily on the support of our volunteers every week. Our volunteers work side-by-side with our clients and staff to help them achieve program objectives.”

Historically, The Arc has served adults only, according to Stout, but the board of directors recently decided to open all current programs to teens and adults. In addition, The Arc is beginning to serve children with disabilities through a local soccer league called TOPSoccer in partnership with Virginia Legacy. And, it’s working on future programming to help families find resources, organize informational workshops, and start support groups for caregivers.

Eventually, The Arc would like to provide day support for adults with disabilities.

More than 400 volunteers log over 15,000 hours a year with Hospice House & Support Care, according to Janet Reid, deputy director.

Services include short-term (1 week) respite and end-oflife stays at Hospice House for those who have a terminal diagnosis; weekly visits that provide respite for caregivers Cindy Zangardi and Karen Forster in homes with terminallyill loved ones; formal and informal bereavement programs; and medical equipment loans.

“Quite simply, we could not do what we do without the support of our volunteers,” she says.

“The many hours of service they provide allow us to keep our costs down, helping maintain Hospice House so it remains a place of beauty and tranquility. More importantly, however, our volunteers provide compassion to those approaching the end of their journey and to those grieving a death.”

Formed in 1982, Hospice House in Williamsburg is also unique because it’s among only a handful that operates as a volunteer, non-medical hospice, she continues. Services are offered at no charge, and no reimbursement comes from insurance or Medicare/ Medicaid.

“All of these new ventures will require additional volunteer support,” says Stout.

Anyone of almost any age can volunteer, continues Stout.

Currently, the volunteer age range is fifth-grade students through 80-something seniors. Entire families come and volunteer together, she adds.

“Several family and board members have been active volunteers with The Arc for more than 30 years,” she says.

“Our volunteers say The Arc has changed their lives. It’s 12

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While some volunteers work with patients, others help with tasks that are necessary to keep a house operating: gardening, handymen, cooking and baking. Volunteers also serve as board members, publicists, telephone/reception clerks, office support, special event organizers, Speaker’s Bureau members and musicians for Hospice House. Even teens get involved with the Hospice Teen Outreach program.

“Many volunteers say they get far more out of their experience with Hospice House than they give -- that their work here provides them with a sense of purpose,” says Reid.

“Hospice House & Support Care celebrates living life to the fullest, of providing compassion and comfort to those who need it.

We invite any interested parties to join us in fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of living for those facing end-of-life and to support those who love them in any capacity they feel able.”

Learn more about Hospice House at www.williamsburghospice.org.

Senior Services Coalition of Greater Williamsburg Working closely with the Peninsula Agency on Aging, the 2002-established Senior Services Coalition of Greater Williamsburg has more than 160 volunteers, according to director Diane Hartley. Those helping hands are individuals as well as representatives from more than 30 area organizations, including Riverside Health System, Colonial Behavioral Health, Sentara

Healthcare, Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center.

“Our volunteers have implemented a number of programs aimed at making the Greater Williamsburg area a healthier, more livable community for seniors,” says Hartley.

“These include a hands-on training program for family caregivers, a how-to- manual that helps seniors remain in their homes as long as feasible and the ‘Keys to Healthy Aging’ program that provides easy-read summaries on topics of interest to seniors and caregivers.”

“Volunteers provide roughly 1,600 hours per year in support of the Coalition.”

As the community ages, the Coalition needs more volunteers to help implement new programs. For instance, this fall, the Coalition’s Williamsburg Aging and Disability Resource Center will launch at the Historic Triangle Community Services Center at 312 Waller Mill Road.

“We’re looking for volunteers with public relations experience to design promotional materials to promote awareness of the center to seniors and family caregivers as well as volunteers to act as advocates to help promote the center in their neighborhoods,” says Hartley. continued on p14

Left Rich Circeo (volunteer), right Katie Hill (volunteer), and Jesse “Tyler” Watson (Arc Member/Client).

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The Coalition is also recruiting volunteer facilitators for the Experienced Employees in Transition Job Club, which serves under- and unemployed older workers. Volunteers will facilitate Job Club meetings, identify and schedule presenters for meetings, help job seekers network and share employment opportunities.

The Job Club meets 9-10:30 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesday monthly, also at the Historic Triangle Community Services Center.

growing needs in our community. Well over 16,000 hours are given by volunteers.”

“The Coalition’s volunteers bring together skills and talents that help seniors in our community,” says Hartley.

Finally, the organization needs volunteers to assist with the new shelf stable meal project that impacts all of Virginia. Before hurricane season and again mid-winter, existing clients have received a meal pack with soup and a breakfast bar to keep on hand in case there is weather that prevents volunteers from delivering meals. This year, the project ships 2,500 packs to more areas; the charitable gaming company called V-Tabs is distributing these packs to Veterans of Foreign War halls and Moose lodges that have signed up to be part of the statewide humanitarian effort.

“Volunteers are involved from the time the idea is generated until its implemented, and we couldn’t operate without them.”

Learn more about the Coalition and its programs at www. seniorservicescoalition.com.

Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels Mondays through Fridays, without fail, more than 140 volunteers with Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels deliver hot, nutritious food to more than 120 people 18 and older with physical or mental impairments.

“Having volunteers deliver our meals reduces the cost a meal substantially,” says Catherine Upton, executive director of the organization established in 1974.

Volunteers also help with events. In November, helpers are needed to get 7,000 fund-raising letters ready for mailing Volunteers will also help – parking, ticketing and raffling -- with May’s 2015 Foodapalooza Festival of Taste.

“New volunteers are encouraged to work with us,” says Upton.

“They are our foot soldiers in the community, and without them we couldn’t continue to feed those in need in our community.

“Our organization has been able to maintain a strong force of volunteers who have been with us for more than 20 years -- they are the ones who make the difference.”

- Kathy Hogan Van Mullekom

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Advice for aging athletes Retired professional athletes often speak about the difficult moment when they knew it was time to retire from professional competition. The transition can be easy for some but far more difficult for others. But aging amateur athletes know you need not be a professional to realize there comes a time when your body is telling you it’s time to ease up.

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Athletes are used to pushing themselves and stretching their limits, but some limits are best not pushed. Such is the case with the limits posed by aging. While athletes don’t have to completely fold up shop and hang up their cleats, tennis shoes or other athletic equipment as they approach senior citizen status, there are steps aging athletes can take to ensure they aren’t pushing their bodies too far as they grow older.

• Recognize your new recovery time. Veteran athletes tend to have a sixth sense about their bodies, knowing how long they need to recover from common ailments like ankle sprains, knee pain, back pain and shin splints. Despite the body’s remarkable ability for recovery, it’s not immune to aging, and that recovery time will increase as the body ages. Whereas a sprained ankle might once have been as good as new after a few days or rest, aging athletes must recognize that the same ankle sprain now might require more recovery time. Returning too quickly from an injury can only make things worse for aging athletes, so don’t push yourself.

• Take more time to warm up. As the body ages, its response time to exercise increases. This means the body needs more time to prepare itself for cardiovascular and strength training exercises. Increase your warm-up time as you age, gradually increasing the intensity of your warm-up exercises until your body feels ready for more strenuous exercise.

• Focus on flexibility. The more flexible you are, the more capable the body is of absorbing shock, including the shock that results from repetitive activities. But as the body ages, it becomes less flexible, which makes it less capable of successfully handling the repetitive movements common to exercise. Aging athletes should focus on their flexibility, stretching their muscles before and after a workout.

In addition, activities such as yoga can work wonders on improving flexibility for young and aging athletes alike.

• Don’t stop strength training. Some aging athletes mistakenly feel they should stop strength training as they get older. No longer concerned about building muscle, aging athletes might feel as if they have nothing to gain by lifting weights and continuing to perform other muscle strengthening exercises. But the body gradually loses muscle mass as it ages, and that loss puts the joints under greater stress when aging athletes perform other exercises. That stress can put people at greater risk for arthritis, tendinitis and ligament sprains. While you no longer need to max out on the bench press or challenge yourself on the biceps curl, it is important to continue to make strength training a part of your fitness regimen as you age.

Aging athletes need not associate aging with ceasing their athletic pursuits. But recognizing your limitations and the changes your body is going through is an important element of staying healthy as your approach older adulthood.

-Metro Editorial

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Things to consider when building an in-law suite

Perhaps thanks to a struggling economy and an unpredictable stock market that has resulted in many retirement nest eggs being decimated, more and more adult children are welcoming their aging parents into their homes. Such living situations have led to a growth in in-law suites. In fact, in 2010 the National Association of Home Builders found that 62 percent of builders surveyed were working on home modifications related to aging.

In-law suites are often created by converting a room in the house, such as the basement or even a garage, into a livable suite. Such suites can benefit elderly relatives who might have been dealt an unforeseen financial blow. But in-law suites can also benefit younger homeowners who want to see their parents more. In addition, when older men and women move in with their adult children, they can provide some necessary relief from the escalating cost of daycare.

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But before building an in-law suite in their home, homeowners might want to heed the following tips.

• Be certain it is legal. Making changes to your home may require a permit, particularly if your in-law suite will be an entirely new addition to your property and not just a strict room remodel.

Contact your local zoning board to ensure the project is within your rights as a homeowner.

• Consider the health of your in-laws when making plans. Many in-law suites are occupied by aging relatives who might not be able to get up and down stairs as easily as they used to. That makes accessibility of the suite a top priority. Typically, it’s best to locate in-law suites on the first floor, so relatives won’t find it difficult to get in and out of the suite.

• Don’t overlook privacy. Just because your parents or in-laws will be moving in doesn’t mean they don’t still value their privacy.

Chances are your relatives will initially feel as though they are invading your space and your privacy, so be sure the suite affords adequate privacy to all members of the household. It might be best to build the suite so it has its own separate entrance from the rest of the home. The suite should also have its own full bathroom and, if possible, its own kitchen area so your in-laws can cook for themselves and entertain their own guests without feeling like a burden. A second kitchen is also something to discuss with a zoning board, as some locales prohibit having two complete kitchens in a single residence.

• Tailor certain amenities to the elderly. If your in-laws are older, install certain amenities, such as grab bars in the shower and bathroom, during the initial construction so you won’t have to make changes down the road. Install easy-open drawers and make sure the suite has ample lighting.

• Remember to install safety features. Safety features like fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are a necessity. Make sure the alarms on each of these detectors are loud enough so elderly men and women who have hearing loss can hear them without issue. Make sure all walkways leading to the in-law suite have motion detecting lamps at night to reduce risk of falling. Also, if the suite will be a separate building from your house, such as a converted pool house or detached garage, install an intercom system that connects with the main house so your relatives can easily reach you in case of emergency.

In-law suites are becoming more popular as a greater number of older adults are moving in with their adult children. Such suites can bring families closer together and prove beneficial for all parties involved.

-Metro Editorial

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Volunteers keep Williamsburg Botanical Garden growing Two local women are mainstays of that effort – Helen Hamilton, 82, and Dorothy Whitfield, 94.

Hamilton photographs blooming plants and makes posters for the kiosk and interpretive center, and organizes ongoing educational programs for kids and adults.

Nowadays, Whitfield spends about an hour Friday mornings at the garden, weeding, trimming and deadheading.

“It’s always rewarding, giving time, money and effort to organizations that reflect your passion,” says Hamilton. The James City County resident is a retired biology teacher, past president of the John Clayton Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society and co-author of the recently published book, “Wildflowers and Grasses of Virginia’s Coastal Plain.”

Whitfield, who lives near the botanical garden, started volunteering at the botanical garden soon after it was established.

“I like the atmosphere of the garden, watching how it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds,” she says. A 1941 sociology graduate of the College of William and Mary, Whitfield worked 30 years at Princeton University before going to the Eastern Shore, Md., to live.

“The garden is special because it educates people about what they can do in their own yards.”

Whitfield moved back to Williamsburg 22 years ago because she wanted a college-town atmosphere. She lives on an acre of mostly woods and wetlands that has allowed her to pursue two of her favorite pastimes – gardening and birding. Whitfield still drives, and even weeds her gravel driveway.

“I weed a little bit of it each day to make it look neat,” she says.

“My yard is very natural so I like the driveway to look nice.”

Over the years, Hamilton’s passion has focused on gardening for wildlife – bees, birds and butterflies in particular. She’s also tried to teach people to garden with minimum, preferably no, chemicals so the environment is protected from toxins in soil and waterways.

It’s a “green” message she carries everywhere she goes, even on her hair, which is always dyed green – a special color called Spring Green.

“I walk the walk while I talk the talk -- Go green to save Earth,” she says.

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Dorothy Whitfield

While mobility problems have slowed both of them somewhat, they each still value the hours they can give to the two-acre site that was graded and planted in 2005 and dedicated in 2006.

“I never watch TV, never have,” says Hamilton.

“Volunteering allows interaction with other people, and they are usually grateful for our efforts. It’s so rewarding to see the botanical garden covered with blooms – from bare ground early in 2005.”

At the botanical garden, volunteers regularly maintain themed sections – native woodlands, therapy, herbs, perennials, wetlands and heirloom. Other sections with little regular caretakers include meadow, butterfly, native and patio gardens.

“The garden is stressed from the lack of dedicated volunteers,” says Hamilton.

“We would love for people in the community to volunteer time, adopt a section of the garden, become a member and donate.”

The botanical garden is located in Freedom Park on Centerville Road in James City County; learn more about it at www.williamsburgbotanicalgarden.org.

-Kathy Hogan Van Mullekom

Helen Hamilton

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Starting your second act How to choose your next career The days when professionals would spend their entire professional lives with a single firm are largely a thing of the past. In fact, many people not only switch companies multiple times before retirement, but some even switch professions before retiring.

As exciting as it can be to pursue a new career, men and women over 50 know that such a decision is not without risk. While younger professionals with few obligations can often handle bumps in the road on their way to a second career, older professionals making a similar move often must consider the potential effects such a pursuit might have on their families, finances and futures, including their retirements. But as difficult as it may seem to pursue a second career after your fiftieth birthday, there are steps men and women over 50 can take when pursuing a new career to ensure their second act is as successful as the first. * Decide what you want, and not just what you want to do. The desire to pursue a second career no doubt stems from more than just dissatisfaction with a current profession. Many people switch jobs or even careers because they find their current careers too demanding, leaving little time for family or hobbies that have nothing to do with work. If what you really want is more time at home or more time to pursue a particular hobby, then keep this in mind when looking for a second career, and make sure that career won’t demand too much of your time. For example, if your goal in finding a new career is to get more work-life balance, then starting your own business, which can require long hours at the outset and even after the business has established itself, might not be for you.

But if what you want is a more challenging career and to be your own 22

boss, then you will likely find the cost of achieving that goal, even if that cost is more demands on your time, is worth it. * Assess your skillset. Professionals over 50 have lots to offer, but it’s still important for such men and women to make an honest assessment of their skillset and find a career in which those skills are transferable. Some men and women might want to pursue a second career that will make little to no use of their skillset, and that’s perfectly alright.

But extra schooling might be necessary in such situations, and going back to school oftentimes requires a considerable commitment of both time and money. For those who simply want to put their existing skills to use in a different field or environment, assess those skills and look for lines of work in which they figure to be especially valuable. If there are any particular aspects of your current job that you want to avoid in the future, consider that when assessing your skills and choosing a second career. Even if they don’t know it, established professionals over 50 have many transferable skills, and such skills can be a considerable asset when pursuing a second career, especially when those skills have been assessed and can be applied to a new profession. * Make a trial run. Nowhere does it say that professionals can’t take a trial run at a second career while still fully engaged in their first career. In fact, testing the waters before you jump in is a good way to gauge your interest in a potential second career and how well your skillset applies to that field. A trial run, which can be conducted by volunteering with a nonprofit organization or through a part-time job or

simply offering your services to a company free of charge in exchange for a chance to learn how the business operates, can shed light on the inner workings of a particular industry, showing you how things work behind the curtain. Testing the waters may reaffirm your belief that a certain line of work is for you, or it might send you back to the drawing board. Either way, it’s valuable experience that may reassure you that whatever decision you ultimately make is the right one. * Don’t go it alone. Switching careers after 50 carries some risk, but it’s certainly a risk that many before you have been willing to take. If you know any people, be it a friend, family member or former or even current colleague, who has reinvented themselves professionally, then speak with these people and ask for any advice they might have. If you know you want out of your current career but aren’t quite sure of what you want to do next, those who have faced a similar fork in the road may be able to help you narrow down your options. The notion of changing careers is exciting, and you can expect your personal and professional confidantes to share your excitement and be willing to help you in any way they can.

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Help Seniors Fight Fraud Seniors are too often victimized by telemarketing fraud. Studies from the American Association of Retired Persons have shown that many elderly fraud victims simply don’t suspect the person soliciting money on the phone could be a criminal.

The FBI reports that there are as many as 14,000 illegal telemarketing operations going on at any given time. These illegal operations

generate as much as $40 billion a year. Relatives of seniors are understandably concerned, particularly if those seniors live alone and no one is around to monitor how many calls they’re receiving from

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telemarketers. Concerned relatives can share the following information with seniors to reduce their loved ones’ risks of being victimized by telemarketing fraud.

• Legitimate marketers are not in a rush to sell products or secure donations. A legitimate marketer or charity will not try to pressure prospective buyers into making a purchase over the phone or prospective donors into making immediate contributions. Explain to seniors that a legitimate marketer will accept a person’s desire for written information about the products or charity and will gladly send such information to a prospective buyer or donor’s home.

• Payments are typically not picked up by a courier service. Telemarketing fraudsters often employ couriers to pick up payments. This is not the action of a reputable charity or business, and seniors should never agree to buy a product or donate money to

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any telemarketer who offers to send a courier to their home to pick up payment.

• Sweepstakes cannot legally require payment to win a prize. It is not legal for contests or sweepstakes to require “winners” pay a fee before they can enter a contest or claim a prize. Seniors should be made aware that this is the law and that any contest or sweepstakes demanding payment is bogus.

• Be especially wary of companies offering to recover money paid to fraudulent telemarketers in the past. Companies offering to recover past money lost to fraud are often fraudulent themselves. These companies will offer their fraudulent services for a fee.

• Money lost to a fraudulent telemarketer is likely lost forever.

Men and women concerned about elderly friends or relatives being victimized by telemarketing fraud should explain to their loved ones that money lost in a telemarketing scam is not likely to be recovered.

This should help highlight the importance of receiving official documentation from any telemarketers before buying a product or making a donation. If seniors are aware their money isn’t likely to be recovered should it be going to a criminal, they are much less likely to make hasty decisions over the phone.

To learn more about fraud, visit the National Consumer League’s Fraud Center at www.fraud.org.

–Metro Creative

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Baby Boomers prefer sports cars People born between 1946 and 1954, collectively known as Baby Boomers, are trading in their family vehicles for something with a little more power -- sports cars. When the nest is empty (and sometimes before), the vehicle of choice becomes a sporty, fast little ride that may be the envy of all who see it.

Baby Boomers tend to have a higher income and/or a surplus in savings after retirement and choose to expend some funds on a car that will make waves. Convertibles are a popular choice among this demographic, as are other roadsters that turn heads. Here are some of the more popular models you’ll see cruising the roadways with Boomers behind the wheel, according to statistics from TrueCar.com.

• Chevrolet Corvette: The quintessential American sports car, Corvettes are especially popular among Baby Boomers. Boomers flock to Corvettes more than any other age group, with nearly 64 percent of buyers belonging to the Boomer generation.

• Volvo C70: A turbo-charged, 5-cylinder engine provides enough power to give a thrill to many Boomers. And with a convertible top option, it’s possible to have a breeze running through their receding hairlines, too.

• Mercedes Benz SL: If it’s status and substance that Boomers desire, then there’s no looking beyond a Mercedes. Affluent Baby Boomers can enjoy a V8 engine and plenty of electrical gadgets to make their rides fun.

• BMW 6 Series Convertible: Another premier car for the elite Boomer, the BMW sees 80 percent of its sales going toward Boomers. The 6 series is quick and has understated good looks, which also helps the vehicle serve as a status symbol for those behind the wheel.

• Porsche Boxter: For those who have always aspired to be behind the wheel of a Porsche, the Boxter is small and sporty, perfect for handling the turns on the way to a country winery or maneuvering around traffic in an urban setting.

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According to industry experts, Baby Boomers have long driven the direction of the automotive industry. Many desire to stay away from the brands and styles their parents drove, preferring something with more pep and style.

In addition to the makes and models mentioned, CNW Marketing Research, a firm that looks at the reasons behind car purchases, says Boomers make purchases not only for the style of the car but also for the image the brand offers. The firm lists these vehicles as other popular purchases among Baby Boomers.

• Dodge Viper • Toyota Avalon • Cadillac DTS • Chrysler 300 • Jaguar XK • Lexus LS 600h • Lexus SC 430 • Audi A8/S8 • Infiniti FX • Lincoln MKZ Form and fashion drives the purchase of many Baby Boomers looking for a new vehicle. With more disposable income, many can afford to splurge on a car that is sporty and will garner “oohs” and “ahhs” from others.

–Metro Creative

It is an honor to serve those who served U.S.

We celebrate each of you who have served our great country, and we invite you to join us for a complimentary lunch and tour of our community. Please call 757-585-7006 today.

Patriots Colony, sponsored by Riverside Health System, is a LifeCare and Residence and Services retirement community for former and retired honorably discharged officers of the seven uniformed services, former and retired federal civil servants (GS 7 and above), and their spouses.

6000 Patriots Colony Drive Williamsburg, VA 757-585-7006, ext. 106 or 800-716-9000 patriotscolony.org 27

These are not your grandmother’s retirement homes As the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement age, there has been an increased demand for services that meet the needs of this segment of the population. Amenities such as active-living communities that boast top-ofthe-line features typically are the first things individuals seek.

Age-restricted, 55-plus communities cater to what the name implies -- people who are age 55 and older. However, these home developments are a far 28

cry from what they used to be. Now they rival some of the best resorts in their features and are designed entirely around the needs of a group of active, amenity driven people. Plus, considering there now are more Americans age 65 and older than in any other point in history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, developers understand the benefits of catering to this group of people.

Therefore, there are more high-end active-living communities now than ever before.

There are many choices with regard to active adult retirement communities. Many of these developments boast everything from detached, single-family homes to villas to condominiums. These

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Call Lynn today to schedule your tour residences are built with the active adult in mind. Here are some of the benefits that these communities boast.

Community companionship Due to the age-restricted nature of active-adult-home-developments, the residents are all in a similar age range, and may have similar interests. At a time in life when friendships from work may waver due to retirement, and older children may be busy with their own lives, these communities can help foster new friendships. Whether through community-sponsored activities or just through home proximity, residents can enjoy one another’s company and never worry about feeling lonely into their retirement years.

The Hidenwood provides both independent and assisted living, so you can customize your care as needed and spouses requiring different levels of care can remain together. We have also recently completed major renovations all over our community.

Enjoy upgraded apartments with basic phone & cable included, a new courtyard, a state-of-the-art movie theatre and much more!

Low- or no-maintenance living One of the biggest attractions to active-adult living is that these homes are built to provide worry-free living. Included in the home ownership fees are provisions to take care of much of the interior and exterior maintenance. That means should a pipe leak or the lawn needs mowing, maintenance staff rather than the homeowner will handle the problem. This peace of mind enables residents to pursue interests rather than worry about the upkeep on their homes. Many times the community is expertly manicured, helping to create an aesthetically pleasing environment. continued on p30

50 Wellesley Drive, Newport News,VA 23606 (757) 930-1075 • www.thehidenwood.com 29

Activity-based fun Many communities build activities into the living plan. Therefore, there may be a workout room, the game center, exercise classes, movie nights, and many other attractions to keep residents busy. Active-adult communities may be similar to all-inclusive vacations and cruises in that they have their own activities coordinator on staff. Should residents prefer solo activities, the property on which these homes are built are often created with recreation in mind. There can be walking paths or areas for cycling. Pools and spas are often part of the living package as well.

Security Individuals who are no longer bogged down with work requirements may be more likely to take vacations or go visiting. In a traditional home, there may be worries about leaving the home unattended for a period of time. However, in 55-plus residences, homes may be in gated communities or have security patrols. Also, the sheer number of homes in a townhouse-style building can camouflage homes that are currently vacant, easing the minds of those who are planning on going away.

Concierge services Some of the more exclusive communities may have staff who can help with everything from booking vacations to helping with moving details. There also are developments that offer transitional homes, and

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New someone may be available to help with the transition from an activestyle home to one that has nursing staff or assisted living offerings at that time in life when it is needed.

Active-living communities offer many of the features that recently retired people seek in homes that do not compromise on amenities.

Individuals who are looking for comfortable, maintenance-free homes often seek out these developments for the convenience and services they offer.

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Seniors on the Go: Last-minute vacation rentals With all the travel writers urging “rent early,” you might think that “last-minute vacation rentals” is an oxymoron. Fortunately, it isn’t. A newly launched British website, snaptrip.com, focuses on last-minute vacation rentals, and the industry giants HomeAway and Flipkey allow you to locate various special deals, including last-minute offers.

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Newcomer Snaptrip provides a friendly search system. Enter a destination -- either a town or a county -- plus dates, length of stay, and number of beds, and the site posts available results. The price displays account for your length of stay; they post full-stay prices rather than prices per night. The top menu also includes a “top deals” option that returns, as you might guess, the best available deals for your dates throughout the UK, listed in order of percentage discounts.

I tested the site for one-week stays at the industry standard Saturday to Saturday periods: For a stay starting one week after the day I tested, the site returned 33 properties with discounts ranging from 6 percent to 29 percent, with several above 15 percent, and about the same results for rentals starting two weeks after my test. By the third week, discount percentages dropped sharply, and by the fourth week, only four deals were available. Snaptrip also displays a map with deal locations highlighted.

I focus on Snaptrip because, to my knowledge, it’s the first website devoted specifically to last-minute vacation rentals, and the pricing pattern provides some insight as to how the market operates. All in all, Snaptrip is a well-planned and user-friendly website, making lastminute searches easy within its relatively small universe of rentals in the UK and Ireland. But I wonder how scalable it would be for really large worldwide databases.

Given the typically high cost of last-minute airfares, a last-minute rental in the UK is a very limited market for North Americans. So continued on p34

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Snaptrip is more interesting as a template for potential U.S.-based search systems than as a resource for typical North Americans.

Presumably, interest in last-minute rentals concentrates on destinations within comfortable driving distance rather than those that require you to buy airline tickets. The giant rental websites do post some last-minute deals, but they’re generally not as easily accessible as those through Snaptrip.

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The industry’s giant, HomeAway, continues to be puzzling.

Altogether, it lists more than a million properties, worldwide, well ahead of Flipkey’s 300,000. Although HomeAway seems to be consolidating some of its many subsidiaries, it still operates four separate English-language systems: Homeaway.com, VRBO.com and VacationRentals.com that cater to North American markets plus UKbased ownersdirect.co.uk.

For some reason, Ownersdirect seems to have the friendliest lastminute search system. Log on, select the “Find a Deal” button, enter country and region, and you get a list of deals. Examples include percent discounts, fixed “reduced” rates, and extras such as a rental car. This site has limited coverage of North America, however, with only 13 properties in the United States, of which 12 are in the Orlando area, and none in Canada or Mexico.

Although the main HomeAway site doesn’t post specific “lastminute” deals, it does allow you to filter your search by prioritizing “special offers.” VacationRentals tags some listing as special deals, although its former last-minute blog seems to have been discontinued.

VRBO does not screen by special deals -- or at least I couldn’t find it.

Flipkey’s primary property display page includes a “deal” button that filters results according to special offers. The display does not show the exact nature of the special offer, however, just that it’s a deal.

In addition to varying deal display, the big online sites encourage you to sign up for periodic bulletins that feature any specials that might arise. Clearly, that’s a good idea if you’re at all interested in spur-of-the-moment vacation rentals. And regardless of the online posting prices, you can always email or phone a property owner to ask about any special promotions that might be available for the dates you want to visit: Owners are free to negotiate as they choose.

- Ed Perkins

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Live It.Your Way. At WindsorMeade, you’ll find it easy to make new friends – people just like you who are living life to the fullest.

When you want it, you’ll find plenty of company for recreation, dining, entertainment and those special events and hobbies you enjoy. There has never been a better time to begin life at WindsorMeade.

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