Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Working with Seniors”
What is an “Owner’s Manual” for a household? A few months ago, I wrote here about creating an Owners Manual with essential contacts, financial, and household information in one easy-to-access place. So what do I mean by an Owner’s Manual? Start by reading that short blog post. I create custom Owner’s Manuals for clients (and keep them up-to-date). But whether …
It’s not an easy lesson. And I learned it the hard way…. One spring evening in London, I went to hear Robert Bly recite his poetry. He had won the National Book Award for Poetry in the US a few years earlier in 1967, yet the audience was small. Afterwards, we all went to the local pub for a pint. …
Remember when we were taught “the magic word”? That word was “please”. And it opened doors. We were also taught two other magical words: “Thank you.” At the start of this grinding pandemic, new attention was paid to those on the front lines—in healthcare, government offices, and the supermarket. Even those at the other end of the phone—to answer our …
No two Personal Money Manager™ clients are alike. But one thing they do have in common is that they each have an Owner’s Manual—though they didn’t have one before we met! What is an “Owner’s Manual” for a household? While some clients have an abundance of files and filing cabinets and many have lists in their heads, they all benefit …
My writing inspiration this month comes from two different childhood sources. One was Writers at Work, a book my Mom gave me with interviews with authors about their lives. (Mom wanted me to become a writer, and I chose Personal Money Manager™ with a blog). The other was a memorable sermon one Shabbat morning. They both had the same theme: …
I learned as an insurance broker and disaster recovery planner to consider worst case scenarios. It helped me design air-tight insurance programs and risk management procedures for my clients. We reduced uncertainty and everyone could sleep better at night! In those days, my focus was on risks such as forklifts, deep fryers, and youthful drivers. As the State Farm ad …
This story took place back in the fall, pre-vaccines, before we could see what we hoped was the “light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.” Still, I think it’s worth sharing this for the valuable lesson learned. It was our monthly Zoom call. We were all professionals working in the “senior world” like I do as a financial organizer …
“Too organized?” I don’t hear it often from clients or prospective clients who reach out to Personal Money Manager™. But occasionally over the last 12 years I’ve heard: “Maybe I’m too organized.” This stops me in my tracks. After all, if someone is TOO organized why would they be calling me for professional organizing assistance? Clearly, “too organized” (if there …
What worries keep seniors up at night? What “elephants in the room” remain unacknowledged? Many of these “elephants” exist for clients and their families. Here are some of the concerns my senior clients have shared with me. They may sound familiar: “I will start to slip and important things will fall through the cracks.” “l’ll be a burden on my …
You may remember that I’ve written about what I learned from my new kitten. Rosie Mittens has grown up beautifully. Now I’d like to share some paperwork pointers from another living thing in my house: my sourdough starter! This, too, informs both my personal life and my professional life as a financial organizer / daily money manager. Hold out for …