It was a long, hard winter, and the housing market is still pretty hot. It’s enough to make any empty-nester still living in that big family home think about other housing options, especially if you have reached “senior citizen” status. This week’s speaker, Chuck Wagner -- highly experienced in many aspects of property management and currently a part-time consultant for Lifestyle communities -- explored various housing choices available to seniors.

 

The default choice is “aging in place.” You love your house. It’s filled with memories of raising your family. If your mortgage is mostly paid off or has a low interest rate, staying might make good economic sense. Plus, it isn’t just memories that fill your house. It’s all your stuff. The thought of moving is daunting. Many organizations offer services – yardwork, shopping, bringing in meals -- to enable seniors to stay in their homes. Still...it’s a balancing act. Looking ahead, your health might dictate another option. In Minnesota winters, the most dangerous action can be walking to your mailbox and slipping on ice. Isolation is another key factor to consider.

 

If you decide to sell, one option is simply to downsize and eliminate much of the cost and effort of maintaining a home. You rent an apartment or a townhouse or condo. For many people, this can be an excellent transition step before moving to a “senior living” arrangement.

 

If you’re older or experiencing health issues, a good choice might be a Continuing Care Retirement Community that allows you to move from independent living to assisted living and, perhaps, memory care as your needs change.

 

If you are still eager and able to live independently, a seniors coop can provide excellent amenities, a stable community, and freedom from the burdens of home maintenance. The economic model is based on each “member” owning a share of the coop than can be sold in the future. Residents also pay a monthly fee to cover ongoing expenses. Artessa is planning a community of this type adjacent to the Golden Valley Country Club.

Golden Vally Rotary kicked off 2023 with an inspiring presentation by Jaime Belden, President and Co-Founder of the non-profit Future Roots. Jaime updated us on a challenging and rewarding water project. The water project, installing low-cost water filters in homes in remote villages in Central America, is sponsored by 7 Rotary clubs in our area: Crystal – New Hope – Robbinsdale (primary club), Golden Valley, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, St Louis Park, and Plymouth.

Jelan Heidelberg was originally welcomed into the Club during COVID times (remember all the Zoom?) and never had an in-person membership ceremony. So we did a re-do last week and celebrated Jelan's membership.

 

Before retirement, Jelan had a long and varied career with IBM. In the late 70's and throughout the 80's, she worked as a systems engineer, supporting companies large and small throughout the Twin Cities.

 

She then switched to working virtually long before it was popular and when the tools were much more primitive. She worked for IBM Rochester and then for headquarters. In her last dozen years at IBM, she managed several software products and had the opportunity to travel the world. She traveled just enough to whet her appetite for more -- more places and more time to meet the local people and learn. Since retirement, Jelan and her husband Jim have criss-crossed the globe. Their latest adventure took them to her 88th country, Rwanda. Jelan joined the Golden Valley Rotary Club in late 2020.

 

"When our children were going through Hopkins Schools, particularly Meadowbrook Elementary, I volunteered as much as I was able," said Jelan. "I co-chaired the carnival, served as volunteer chair, and treasurer of the PTO. As our children got older, I shifted my volunteer work to Hopkins Education Foundation, where I served on the Board for 7 years, including 2 as Board President. I'm still on the Board as an emeritus member and help with the website and other marketing activities. I've always felt very connected through the schools but haven't felt strongly connected to Golden Valley as a community, especially because I worked remotely for so many years. That's why I joined Golden Valley Rotary...to become more connected to the community where my husband and I have lived since the mid 1970s. I want to get to know people outside our neighborhood and the school community. In terms of service, my strengths lie more in behind-the-scenes work; marketing, web management, and in organizing activities and events. And I hope my international experience and love of travel will somehow merge with some Rotary activities."

 

Welcome, Jelan! We are thrilled to have you as a member of the Rotary Club of Golden Valley!