Larry Morris, Oregon Mortgages

Yes, you read that correctly. For the next few days you will have the opportunity to send a FREE Father's Day card on me. There is still time to get the card in the mail, but you better not delay.

Send me an email at nicetouchmarketing@gmail.com and I will walk you through the process of sending a card.

So, I encourage you to spend a few minutes and send a Father's Day card to your Father, Grandfather, Father-in-Law, Husband or even your favorite mentor. Heck, you can even send one to me. I'm a father.

Enjoy and Happy Father's Day!!

Oh, this is also a great referral marketing system. I use it in my mortgage business for Thank You cards, Closings... anytime I want to send a personal card.

I ran across another great article from the National Care Planning Council, of which I am a member. As our population ages, more and more seniors will require assistance in the home, and modifications of their homes. This provides challenges for the kids, and opportunities for senior service providers. The article below gives some great advice.

In addition, accessing the equity of their home with a Reverse Mortgage can help the seniors stay in their home longer by providing the funds to pay for senior friendly remodels, or for in-home care.

To learn more about an Oregon Reverse Mortgage, click here: Reverse Mortgage Facts.

Keeping Mom and Dad Safe at Home

Generally, elderly parents want to remain living in their own home. However, remaining in the home becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down, perhaps even having trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. Yet, with parents' mental and physical health currently not creating problems, there seems to be no imminent need to search out support services or other accommodations for aging parents.

This is now the time to evaluate the home to make it safe and secure for your loved ones -- now and in the near future -- in anticipation of aging disabilities that may occur. Help and support are available. The nation as a whole is more aware of elderly needs and services and products are becoming available at an outstanding pace.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states,

"Employment of personal and home care aides is projected to grow by 51 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The expected growth is due, in large part, to the projected rise in the number of elderly people, an age group that often has mounting health problems and that needs some assistance with daily activities." Bureau of labor Statistics-Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

This growing need for aides and services also encompasses

• home remodeling services -- making a home more serviceable to the elderly;
• safety alert systems and technology;
• motion sensors to monitor movement;
• telehealth services -- using home-based computer systems for the doctors office or a nurse to monitor vital signs and
• even a pill dispenser that notifies when it is time to take medication.

Where do you begin to make sure your elderly family member is safe and managing well in his or her home? ....... (View the complete article)

Special Update:

New guidelines were issued today for the monetizing of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit that was announced by HUD and then delayed by HUD. The primary change is that the money cannot be applied toward the 3.5% down payment. It can be used for a larger down payment or applied toward closing costs. We'll provide more details soon.

Here's a link to the HUD site. Click on Mortgage Letter 09-15 http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/index.cfm

Again, it appears that it can be used as "a" downpayment, but the borrower still needs to come to the table with 3.5% on FHA loans.

An article by Robert Stall MD indicates that as our parents age, a role reversal takes place. While they used to look out for our best interests, because they knew better, a time will come when they need us to look out for their best interests. Liken it to your own kids if you have any.

When they are first born they need us for complete support. AS they age they are able to take on more responsibility and decision making. At a certain point, they are on their own and can make decisions, for better or worse, for themselves. As we age, the reverse happens.

The following article gives good advice to help us understand and deal with these changes.

Helping Your Older Parents Stay Happy and Healthy
by Robert Stall MD, Geriatrician

If you're fortunate enough to have one or both parents still living, you may have noticed a role reversal taking place in your relationship. Remember the days when Mom shuttled you to the doctor whenever you were sick? Now, it may be you who's driving her to her medical appointments. Perhaps you've become even more involved in managing her healthcare needs - serving as her healthcare proxy, moving her into your home to care for her, or even having to select a nursing home for her to live in.

Whatever the case, it's natural to feel challenged - and, yes, intimidated - in the role you've undertaken. But if you stay positive and proactive, you'll be in a great position to advocate for your parents' optimal care. And, really, what better way is there to say "Thank You" for all they've done for you over the years?

The following six recommendations will help you understand what may be happening to your parents as they age - and what you can do to help.

1. Stay vigilant to sudden changes.
Typically, sudden changes arise from sudden problems. Your elderly father who becomes confused one week but was alert and oriented the week before, or becomes unsteady walking and starts falling, is likely experiencing an acute problem - an infection, medication side effect, or perhaps, a heart attack or stroke.

If you pay attention to your parent's baseline health and behavior, you'll be alert to sudden, and subtle, fluctuations. Being attuned to what's "normal" for your parent is critical in advocating for his care. By informing his physician of these changes, you help ensure that he receives a proper diagnosis and timely treatment - especially important in acute conditions.

2. Investigate the source of gradual decline.
Several years ago, I met an elderly woman living in a nursing home. Her family, assuming she had dementia, had moved her there after she had gradually stopped speaking.

After performing a brief procedure on her, I asked how she was doing. "I'm OK," she replied.

A miracle? Not exactly. I'd removed bullet-sized pieces of wax from her ears. She'd stopped speaking because her ears were too plugged to hear.

A host of conditions can cause gradual decline. Before jumping to the conclusion - as many people do - that Alzheimer's disease is the culprit, recognize that your parent may be experiencing an altogether different problem: a vitamin B12 deficiency, an underactive thyroid, Parkinson's disease or depression, to name a few.

When discussing your parent's decline with her physician, make sure the two of you consider all the possibilities. To prepare for the appointment, make notes detailing how her decline has manifested itself - loss of appetite, a failing short-term memory and so forth - and how long you've noticed these changes. That way, you won't leave anything out. To help you, I've created a free checklist that either you or your parent can complete at seniorselfassessment.com - make sure you print or email the "Test Result Details" at the bottom of the page to analyze your responses and give you advice based on your answers.

3. Know thy parent's medicine cabinet.
Familiarize yourself with the medications your parent takes: what each one is for and how often he takes them. Make sure you notify each doctor your parent visits of all the medicine he takes, including over-the-counter products. Ask what side effects you might observe from each medication and whether it's potentially dangerous if your parent takes them together. You also want to tell the doctor whether your parent drinks alcohol or caffeinated drinks and whether he smokes, as these substances can affect some medications' efficacy and safety. To recognize which medications might cause the symptoms your parent experiences, check out drugscanmakeyousick.com .

4. Discourage ageist attitudes.
Simply put, ageism is prejudice against the elderly. It exists in many forms but can be particularly damaging to an older person's self-esteem when it assumes that all of her woes are age-related. Here are a couple of ways of expressing ageism to an elderly parent:

"What do you expect at your age?"
"You're not getting any younger."

If you're ever tempted to utter something similar, remind yourself that by chalking up everything that ails her to her age, you sell your parent short. If she's depressed, it may have nothing to do with the fact that she's 80 and everything to do with a biological predisposition to depression. And remember that right-knee pain in a 90 year-old can't be just from age if there's no problem with her left knee. (More about Dr. Stall and a more in-depth article on the attitude of society towards medical care for the elderly can be found at http://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/medical_care_issues.htm )

5. Address not just symptoms-but emotions, too.
There is disease and then there is "dis-ease" - that is, a lack of ease, security or well-being. "Dis-ease" can manifest itself as myriad emotions in an elderly person: fear, grief, boredom, embarrassment and sadness among them. The fact is, these emotions can be every bit as debilitating as disease.

Take the case of a parent who's incontinent. Too embarrassed to socialize, she cuts herself off from friends. Without companionship, she becomes lonely. Instead of allowing her to become a hermit, discuss with her doctor how to address the incontinence. Together, you can consider different solutions that will ease her embarrassment and reinvigorate her social life.

6. Strive to maximize your parent's quality of life.
No matter our age, we all want to enjoy life to the fullest and have the capability to do the things we want to. Improving the enjoyment of life and a patient's functional ability are the cardinal goals of geriatric care. But you don't need a medical diploma on your wall to help your parent achieve either of those goals.

Being there to solve a problem or provide company are tremendously worthwhile services you can provide - no expertise required. Remember, as your parent gets older, his quality of life becomes more important to him than how much longer he lives. And he doesn't necessarily need medications or surgery to ensure that he's living the latter part of his life to the fullest.

If he enjoys books but has difficulty reading regular-sized type, check out sight-saving titles at the library. If he's grieving the loss of his best buddy, introduce him to new acquaintances at the senior center. If he's living in a nursing home, bring your kids there to share a meal with him.

Sometimes, it's the small gestures that have the most profound impact. As the child of an elderly parent, you are uniquely positioned to deliver these life-changing gifts.

Dr. Robert Stall is a geriatrician practicing in Tonawanda, New York and a clinical associate professor at the University of Buffalo's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He serves as medical director and attending physician at Beechwood Homes in Getzville and Blocher Homes in Williamsville. To learn more about senior care issues, visit his website at stallgeriatrics.com or call 716-213-4345. For information on a new program offering balance assessment and fall prevention tips, call 716-213-0772.

Used by permission of National Care Planning Council

The Power of a Greeting Card

I spoke with several people this week whom I had sent greeting cards to. One was a Realtor who I sent a Birthday Card with his picture on it and another a Realtor who is quiting smoking. Both of them were surprised, touched and curious about how I did it.

The first one I pulled his picture off the Internet and placed it on the cover of the card. I also sent a gift box of goodies. He was touched and we will get together next week to go over the system. The card cost me $.93.

The second one I just found a pre-made card, similar to what I would have done if I was at the grocery store or mall. She was touched as it spoke to a felt need. She also is very impressed with the system. This card cost $.62.

These were sent from the comfort of my home and delivered within 2 days to their postal address.

Click here to see why a Heart-Felt Card is better than an email or e-card.

If you would like to learn how you can make people feel better let me know.

Larry Morris