Ask Helen

Hurricane Season is A Good Time To Shop ForRetirement Communities

BY HELEN SHAHAM

Q.Hurricane season is nerve-wracking. We are here in New York and Dad is in Miami, and every time a hurricane approaches we worry about his safety. We pay handyman to put up the shutters for him, but who knows whether he will show up in all the craziness that goes on as a hurricane nears?What can we do to assure his safety and our peace of mind?

A. Hurricane season is a great time to convince parents that it’stime to give up the house and move to a retirement community. There’snothing like a scary hurricane to make someone crave a safe and secure environment!

As Hurricane Debby headed toward Miami last month, we all watched the TV stories about the long line sat Public for food and water and at Home Depot for plywood and screws. Just about the only people who were’t worried were those in retirement homes, where resident swatch TV, play cards, and party as the staff puts up the shutters, take sin extra food, checks the emergency generators and does all the work.

Here are some real comments from real residents at my retirement community, the Palace Suites:

“There’s a lot of togetherness here.The owners, management, and staff-- and even some of their family members -- secure the building, and we spend our time playing card sand enjoying our activities.” -Gwen Nesslein

“This is the first time in my life Iwasn’t worried. Before I sold my house and moved here, I was worried all the time during hurricane season. Being here I don’thave to worry because everything mistaken care of.” -- John Davis

“Every Monday morning at 9:00a.m., when I hear the emergency generator being charged, I know we are ready for hurricane season.” -Eve Zinner

“I felt secure. My children are not worried. They know I am safe.” -Ana Miguel

Esther Perlman, a resident who moved into the Palace Suites just few months ago, specifically decided to give up her house while sweeping up her patio after a hurricane blew through. Now, she says, she feels safe and secure not just during hurricane season, but all the time.

Esther has volunteered for 17 years at area theaters as an usher and ticket taker. “My children would wait up for me,” she says. “I would have to call them every night when got home!” Now everyone is stress-free.

“My children are so happy they can sleep nights and not worry about my welfare. They never asked me to sell my house, but I can see how relieved they are now that I’ve done it!”

If you worry about a parent being alone, especially during hurricane season, this is an excellent time to visit retirement communities in your area. Most of them have promotional events to introduce seniors and their children to their very special lifestyle.

If your father has hesitated about giving up his house, you may find that he is more receptive to the idea of a retirement community during Hurricane Season than at other times of the year!

Helen Shaham and her husband Jacob have been operating retirement communities for nearly30 years. The Palace Suites in Kendall is a luxury Independent Living Community for active seniors. In addition, The Palace at Kendall campus is home to two Assisted Living Residences and Nursing & Rehab Center. They also operate The Palace Gardens Assisted Living Community in Homestead, Homestead Manor Nursing Home and The Palace @Home, a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency. Their two newest projects are The Palace at Weston –luxury living for those 55 and over,and The Palace Tel-Aviv, a continuing care retirement community in Israel. They have two communities under development –The Palace at Weston Senior Living and The Palace at Coral Gables.More information can be found on the company website,www.thepalace.org or by calling305-270-7000.