Reverse Mortgages

Those in sales and marketing of active adult and senior housing need to understand reverse mortgages as an option for seniors. The recent Palm Beach Post article (Sunday, June 20, 2010) was helpful in providing drawbacks and benefits of reverse mortages and explained it in consumer friendly approach. While there are specialists selling reverse mortgages, the author and her sources noted that reverse mortgages are complicated and a borrower must attend a consumer counseling session with an independent nonprofit group before signing up for a reverse mortgage.

You can view the entire article by clicking here.

Senior Techie's Cover A Wide Range of Abilities

Back in the day our offices seemed pretty sophisticated to provide an IBM Selectric typewriter which now is a vintage relic that no one wants either on EBay or Craig's List. For me learning to use a computer required a lot of courage and patient friends who showed me the way.

Similarly this new world of Apps along with IPhone, Android or Blackberry has many boomers either embracing technology to be the first on their block or those of us waiting in the wings and taking baby steps. We're in search of grandchildren, nieces and nephews to show us the ways.

The Sun-Sentinel's article (Monday, June 28, 2010) offered great information for novices and writer Daniel Vasquez provided excellent explanations about choices of available products.

We need to embrace change and get out of the mousetrap. I'm heading to the Apple store this weekend.

To view the Sun-Sentinel article in its entirety, please click here.

Touring A Senior Community

It's always showtime when a sales representative is asked to show their senior community. Regardless if the tour is just to look and the visitors are not prospects, this should be an opportunity to practice touring skills.

Here are some constructive tips:

• Greet the visitors with a warm handshake and introduce yourself;


• Let them enthusiastically know that you are so happy to show them your community even if a tour is taking you away from a stack of work on your desk;


• Be sure to introduce them to other staff members you see along the tour route;


• Engage in conversation as you walk through the building;


• Get excited about features your community has that are unique. On a recent tour we saw a great art gallery, outdoor card area, music room and a designated classroom but our sales representative was not overly excited about these special features;


• Have brochure kits preassembled for visitors;


• Ask the visitors questions about what they do...learn about them. They could also be shopping for sales people...you never know;


• Ask for their card and send a note;


• If the community is quiet with little activity...offer conversation about how this place really buzzes at night, our residents do their own thing during the day, etc. Use the gift of gab to engage and tell your community's story.

Adopting Social Media Impacts Companies' Growth

A recent article in MultiHousing Professional Magazine (March/April, 2010) by Tamara Schweitzer, cited that America's fastest growing private companies are adopting social media marketing initiatives. Interest in social media has grown since the first study in 2007 was conducted by the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Mass. Dartmouth.

The study looked at 148 of 500 companies and respondents were asked about their usage and familiarity with six types of social media tools including blogging, podcasting, online video, social networking, message boards and wikis.

Social media usage has grown in the past year with 91 percent of the companies reporting that they use at least one social media tool. Many entrepreneurs have embranced sites as part of the their busines strategy including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and My Space.

While 44% of the companies without a company blog say they plan to start one and 36% intend to use some form of online video.

London Opens Senior Play Lot

I wanted to pass along this article about a "senior play ground" that opening in Hyde Park. Residents campaigned for a facility to help older people get fit.

This sounds pretty special and could serve as a model for cities in the US.

There are six low-impact fitness machines which includes a cross-trainer, a stationary bicycle and sit up bench. The park is free and outdoors.

The playground is aimed at people older than 60 and is modeled after similar play areas elsewhere in Europe. People of any age are welcome but the signage refers to the playground as "Hyde Park Senior Playground".

New Products Displayed at ALFA

The Assisted Living Federation of America's (ALFA) conference in Phoenix May 2010 offered great new products geared to seniors.

A puzzle company has created vintage picture puzzles for those with dementia. This low cost product offers elders an opportunity to reflect with a variety of vintage pictures as well as problem solve. The founder of DignifieDesigns, Gini Ballou, wanted a product which would offer elders dignity while playing games and be more age appropriate.

The puzzles are easy to handle and would be useful for therapy and interaction. Go to http://www.dignifiedesigns.com/ or contact gini@dignifiedesigns.com.