More Than a Move: Real Estate with Aging in Mind

The real estate market here in northwestern Vermont is heating up as the season does the same. Inventory is still low, but I am ready to help people selling their Islands and lakefront properties get the best prices for their homes, and help people who have had a long-held dream to move to the Islands or lakefront make those dreams a reality. Lake Champlain and the Islands are truly special. Among the special aspects of Grand Isle County is that it is second in leading the trend among Vermont counties of aging residents. That is why I am SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) certified.

Though this certification uses the word “senior” in it, it is so much more. I specialize in helping those aged 50+ in meeting their housing needs. Here in the Islands, that often means aging in place, which means finding a place close to home that meets your needs as you age or making changes to your home that can accommodate changing needs as you age.

Let me make this clear, SRES® doesn’t mean I will push you into moving. It is an option. But aging in the home is a need near and dear to my heart. When I was young, we created a first-floor bedroom and bath and made other modifications to our house so my grandmother never had to enter a care facility, and instead was able to be with her family even as her needs increased. I cared for a woman with mid-stage Alzheimer’s who wanted to stay in her family home, but we made small changes to increase her safety and make her comfortable. My elderly, mentally disabled aunt lived in the home she lived in the same home from when she moved there as a kid in 1956 until she passed in 2021, and changes were needed to accommodate her. I would never advocate for leaving a home if it can support aging in place.

But I also know what local communities offer. Some people want to live more independently, but surrounded by people their own age with similar interests, so a 55+ independent living community would fit with your lifestyle. A continuing care retirement community like Wake Robin offers a range of services, from independent living to nursing care. Some may need memory care, assisted living, or rehabilitation services for just a short time. Like aging, there is a spectrum of needs and what is available locally. Likewise, snowbirds have options that I can help with. Do you want to sell and move permanently to a warmer climate? Or do you want to be able to maintain your home here and have it available to return to when the climate here is more amenable?

SRES® trained me to see better how I can help people age in place, make simple home modifications, or find a place that will suit specific needs. I am a better Realtor® with this knowledge, because it helps me better serve the community that I live in. And home, wherever it is, is what I want to help people find.