Proposed development at corner of Lincoln Ave. and Willow St.

A new development is being proposed at 1130 Willow Street (corner of Willow and Lincoln). The overall project proposes landscaping, office space, public gathering areas, a parking garage, new retail stores, and restaurants with outdoor seating. Willow Street Pizza and Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt will remain open and will be integrated into this project.

A drawing of the view from Lincoln Ave. can be seen at: http://www.socialwave.net/attachments/1743/

Another drawing of a view from the corner can be seen at: http://www.socialwave.net/attachments/1739/

Questions, suggestions, or comments may be forwarded to Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio at District6@kSanJoseCA.gov

This looks like an exciting addition to our downtown area.

Regards
Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Willow Glen AARP Meeting

The Willow Glen chapter # 5193 of AARP will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, January 26, 1:00 pm in Room 11 at the Willows Senior Center. The program will be a presentation entitled "Maximizing Your Memory".

We continue to hear how the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease increases as the average age of our population increases. It is the most common form of dementia and has no current cure. However, there are efforts worldwide to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing. And the more we can learn about exercising and improving our memory, the more we will be helping ourselves deal with this issue.

The program will be presented by the Alzheimer's Association.

Socializing and refreshments will begin at about 12:45, with the meeting starting at 1:00. All visitors are welcome.

Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Excerpts from an article in AARP Bulletin Today, by Patricia Barry, October 24, 2008

Before deciding whether to sign up for Medicare drug coverage, you need to understand how the program works together as a whole. Grasping the big picture makes it easier to deal with the details.

Who can get Medicare drug coverage?
Anyone on Medicare (with either Part A or Part B) is entitled to drug coverage (known as Part D) regardless of income. No physical exams are required. You cannot be denied for health reasons or because you already use a lot of prescription drugs.

Do I have to sign up?
For most people, joining Part D is voluntary. However, if you now get your drugs from Medicaid, you must get them from a Medicare drug plan as soon as you become eligible for Medicare.
You won’t need to sign up if you have other drug coverage that is better than Medicare’s—for example, benefits from a current or former employer or union. (See Deciding Whether You Need Part D.)
But if you don’t have other drug coverage that’s considered as good as Medicare, and you delay signing up, you’ll incur a late penalty that adds to your premiums for as long as you’re in the program, except in certain circumstances.
Related Questions:
• What is the late enrollment penalty?
• Can I wait and sign up later when I need coverage?
• How can I avoid a late penalty?
• How do I tell if my current coverage is better or worse than Medicare’s?
For answers to these questions and to read the entire article, click on the following link:

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/how_medicare_part_d_drug_coverage_works.html

This article includes a lot of really good information.

Regards
Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Cell Phone - Do Not Call Registration

Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this week.

REMINDER... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222 .It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.. It takes about 20 seconds.

I hope this is helpful.

Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Note: I received a comment that this is isn't the actual situation. However, I registered just in case. Sorry for any confusion.

Penalty Waived for Retirees for Mandatory Withdrawals in 2009

Article from the AARP Bulletin Today, By Carole Fleck, December 23, 2008

Thousands of older Americans who are legally required to take distributions from their shrinking retirement savings accounts will get a break this year (2009). President Bush today signed legislation that will temporarily waive the penalty on adults age 70 and a half and older who don’t withdraw their annual minimum required distribution (MRD) from their retirement accounts in 2009.

The law places a one-year moratorium on those penalties for IRAs, 401(k)s and 403(b)s, so that older people aren’t forced to take their withdrawals from savings plans that have incurred dramatic losses. AARP praised Congress for passing the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, though it pressed lawmakers for a freeze that would be applicable this year as well. “By making minimum withdrawals from retirement savings accounts optional rather than mandatory for next year, older Americans are poised to hold on to more of their diminished nest eggs,” says AARP Legislative Policy Director David Certner. “Now every older American, who was forced to make a choice between taking a withdrawal that was calculated based on a much higher value in their retirement account or face a high tax penalty, will be eligible for this financial relief.”

Read the entire article at:

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/retirement/articles/penalty_waived_for_retirees_for_mandatory_withdrawals_in_2009.html

Have a great day

Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Discounts for Adopting and Owning a Pet

Discounts for Adopting and Owning a Pet Date: January 15, 2009 Author: David Smidt, SeniorDiscounts From Seniordiscounts.com newsletter

Pets make great companions and research has shown that pets can increase their owners' quality of life. A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that independently living seniors with pets tend to have better physical health and mental well being than those without pets. Seniors with pets are generally more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health.

Some of the benefits of owning a pet:
Pets Lower Blood Pressure - A recent study showed that people over 40 who own pets had lower blood pressure than people who did not have pets.
Fewer Trips to the Doctor - A US survey of 1,000 Medicare patients indicated that elderly people with pets sought doctor's services much less frequently than those without animal companions.
Less Depression - Studies show that seniors with pets do not become depressed as often as those without pets.
Seniors Become More Active - Seniors with pets go for more walks and are generally more active than those without pets.

Adopting pets from shelters is a great way to help animals that need homes. There are various services that provide assistance to older adults looking to take in pets. These national organizations can help with some or all of the adoption costs and may provide assistance with necessary vaccinations.
The Pets For the Elderly Foundation pays the fees at participating animal shelters throughout the United States for seniors who adopt a companion dog or cat from a participating shelter - this includes the adoption fee, pre-adoption veterinary exam and spay/neuter.http://www.petsfortheelderly.org
PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society)Provides a "Seniors for Seniors" program where mature cats and dogs (typically over 7 years of age) are placed with qualified senior citizens who are 60 years of age or older. The PAWS "Seniors for Seniors" program offers a special reduced adoption fee, and includes many benefits to help seniors who are living on a fixed income.http://www.paws.org/cas/adopt/seniors.php

United Animal Nations helps ill or injured animals whose caregivers or rescuers cannot afford the cost of the lifesaving veterinary care they need.http://www.uan.org
There are dozens of other local programs to help older adults find and care for pets. We have posted a useful list of some of the local organizations around the country on our web site. Click here:http://www.seniordiscounts.com/articles/articles-sd-petservices.aspx

Many cities require that pet owners register their pets and pay a one-time or annual fee. We have found that most cities offer discounts on the registration fees to qualifying seniors. Check your local city's web site for details.
Many city shelters and humane societies will also provide discounts on pet adoption, as well as necessary vaccinations or to have one's pet spade or neutered.
Don't forget that there are hundreds of veterinarians and animal hospitals that provide discounts to seniors and their pets. Check with a local vet or visit the SeniorDiscounts search area on our web site to locate veterinarians in your area.
© SeniorDiscounts

Obviously I'm a pet lover and have talked about them before, and I believe pets can provide so many benefits to us seniors. I would love to get your comments about your experiences with pets.

Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Year-End tax tips for Seniors

Year end--Tax time--Some ideas

As the end of a challenging financial year comes to a close, many senior citizens are searching for new ways to save money during their retirement. Retirement expert Eric Bachman and Certified Public Accountant Jeanne Duhe share six year-end tax tips that are simple yet intelligent ways for senior citizens to save money on their 2008 taxes.

This article includes lots of ideas that we can all use. Read the entire article at:

http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-12-30/retirement-experts-share-year-end-tax-tips-for-senior-citizens/

Happy tax time!!!

Tom

Refining Medicare

In the drive to fix the country’s ailing health care system, Medicare is likely to undergo some changes.

From article by Patricia Barry, AARP Bulletin Print Edition, January 7, 2009.

In the drive to fix the country’s ailing health care system, Medicare is likely to undergo some changes. Campaign promises from President-elect Barack Obama and a white paper issued by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, suggest that some specific Medicare proposals will get serious consideration this year.

Longtime ideological battles over whether Medicare should be a public or privatized program won’t melt away overnight, but may ease, experts say. “I think if President Obama has any influence, he’ll try to steer Congress away from that,” says Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change in Washington.

At a time of rising unemployment, Medicare’s finances could worsen faster than expected because of lost revenue from payroll taxes. Yet Medicare could lead the reform field if it reins in escalating health care costs. “The policies Medicare adopts are often taken up by private payers,” says John Rother, AARP’s director of policy. “Medicare is so large that it’s the only system with enough leverage to get doctors, hospitals and other health providers to change.”

See full article at:
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/refining_medicare.html

Regards
Tom Binder

Time for a Reverse Mortgage??

During the current economic downturn, we are all taking a fresh look at our cash position and plans for meeting expenses in the future. Even though we may have a great deal of equity in the home that we have owned for many years, that equity isn’t helping us pay our day-to-day bills.

Reverse mortgages are ways to tap some of that equity to help us through this crunch. You may be dealing with one of a variety of situations, but a couple that have been identified are:

1. You have been living off of your investments but find that, with the current market slide, you no longer have the cash flow to meet your needs. Thus, a reverse mortgage can be structured to add some cash inflow to make sure you meet your expenses.
2. You haven’t needed to tap your investments in the past but have been approaching the point where you will need to begin using those assets. However, now with the market down and your nest egg is at a smaller value than a couple of years ago, you are reluctant to dip into that pool of money that is much smaller than you expected, and you really want to wait. A reverse mortgage could give you the cash inflow to further delay drawing on your nest egg with the plan to let it again appreciate as the economy improves.

While nobody really knows what will happen with the economy in the near future, and I would be the last to make a guess, a reverse mortgage might just give you the flexibility to put together a strategy that better fits your needs and expectations.

Although reverse mortgages had some bad press when they first came on the scene, and there were some mistakes and abuses early on, the industry has developed much better guidelines and processes that make them a safer and more secure financial approach. So if you are disciplined, do your home work, and work with a reputable, experienced lender, a Reverse Mortgage might be a good strategy for you.

Please share any opinions and experiences by adding your comments.

Regards
Tom Binder

Caregiver Burnout

If you are a primary caregiver for a loved one, you are well aware of the daily stress and emotional and physical impact it can have on your health.

An article posted on About.com by Carrie Hill, PhD states:

“Caregivers who use respite care often tell me that although caregiving is one of the hardest jobs they've ever had, they wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Helping a family member or close friend who has Alzheimer's disease can provide a sense of purpose and great satisfaction. Still, the emotional and physical demands of caregiving make it hard to be a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite care -- a temporary break from the demands of caregiving -- you may be more susceptible to the effects of caregiver stress, such as depression, exhaustion and other health problems.

Be on the lookout for caregiver burnout. It can creep up on you without your noticing it. Caregiver burnout symptoms can include:
-depression
-anxiety, irritability, or anger
-feelings of exhaustion
-self-criticism
-Withdrawal from usual activities
-trouble with handling caregiving responsibilities
-substance abuse

Read the full article on Caregiver Burnout at the following link:

http://www.longtermcarelink.net/article-2008-12-17.htm

Good food for thought!!!

Tom Binder