Avoiding The Stress Of Coping With Debt As A Senior
September 24, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tips For Seniors
Avoiding The Stress Of Coping With Debt As A Senior
We live in a consumer society where the mentality is that if we cannot afford something then we should use the credit that we have been offered by various loans companies to buy now and pay later. This is all well and good if you can afford to pay later, but a high number of people cannot afford that luxury and get further and further into debt as a result. Being in debt can be a humiliating and frustrating experience because, once you are in it, it proves to be near on impossible to get out of it. Credit companies thrive on this because it is how they make their profits. However, seniors suffer more than most as a result of it because most seniors do not have the means to pay back debts as readily as younger people do. They cannot go out and earn more money in order to pay back loans and credit cards. It is just not that simple for them. However, there are solutions to this pressing problem.
Debt is not an individual problem; it is an issue for a high percentage of society. Whilst this is not a comforting thought and doesn’t help an individual senior’s plight, it has resulted in the introduction of various services that will offer solutions to the problem of debt in general. If you cannot pay loans back, then counselling and debt services can be called upon to offer you free advice and act as a liaison between you and the debt companies. This should only be a last resort because it can affect your credit rating. However, if you are having problems with debt then you are unlikely to want to get into that situation in a hurry again! However, this is where the “just in case” theory comes in. You never know what will happen to you in the future and thus it is best to leave your options open if at all possible.
There are many things that an individual senior can try to work his or her way out of debt, but not literally. However, before even attempting to come up with solutions to any financial problems you may have, you must first make a detailed plan of your financial situation. You must work out your exact incomings and outgoings, using your personal records from the last six months. Calculate your average expenditure in relation to your income, and then you are fully equipped to design payment plans for yourself as well as trying to come up with plausible and realistic ways to cut the amount you are spending. After all, that is where the debt came from and that is also where cuts should be made to accommodate that.
Another option is to contact the credit companies themselves and ask for your account to be frozen. Most companies will then be quite happy to work with you to put a payment scheme in place, where you pay a set amount every month until your debt is cleared. You will then have the option of closing the credit account or reinstating it. Companies are usually happy enough to do this because it means that they will make a profit. If they have to sell your debt on to a specialist company because you are failing to make payments every month, they will not even recoup the money that you own them, let alone the interest. This should be attempted before going to a negotiation service because it will not affect your credit.
Sorting out your debts is all about making the right decisions for you. Your main priority is to make sure that your debts are reduced and then kept in check. You need to make the first move in order for this to happen, but you will feel the weight lift off your shoulder as soon as you do!
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Arkansas Senior Home Modification and Home Design
July 23, 2009 by admin
Filed under Aging In Place Arkansas
So, part of your retirement plan includes remaining in the home you’ve lived in for the past 30 years. You know and love your community and your neighbors, you raised your family in this house, the familiarity of this environment is important to you, and this is where you want to stay. Modifications to your home can help you do just that.
Home modifications adapt living spaces to meet the needs of people with physical limitations so they may live independently and safely. Modifications can range from something as simple as replacing cabinet doorknobs with pull handles to installing wheelchair ramps. Think of this as customizing your home– making changes that allow you to age with dignity.
Or, perhaps you’ve decided you want to move from your home of 30 years. Your home isn’t as manageable as it once was, your kids are grown and the house is too large, and you want to build the place of your dreams. This dream can become a reality and accommodate your aging, thanks to today’s technology and principles of what is known as “universal design.”
Universal design features are usually built into a home when the first blueprints or architectural plans are drawn. These features include appliances, fixtures, and floor plans that are easy for all people to use, flexible enough so that they can be adapted for special needs, sturdy and reliable, and functional with a minimum of effort and understanding of the mechanisms involved.
Whether modifying your existing home or building your retirement home, it’s important to plan for your aging. Planning can make such a positive difference in how you live and manage your day-to-day life.
How to Choose a Wheelchair Accessible Handicap Van
June 27, 2009 by admin
Filed under Wheelchair Access Arkansas
Which accessible van is best for you? You have options. You have a choice between a lowered floor minivan with a ramp, and a full size van with a lift. The first thing to consider is how tall you sit in your chair. Some people have called me and asked: “how much to put a ramp in the side of my van?” If only it were that simple. Consider the height inside a minivan, and then measure how tall you sit in your chair. A normal size adult will not be able to sit up in a wheelchair, inside a non modified minivan. Another thing to consider; a ramp would have to be of considerable length so it is not too steep. Once a minivan is modified, the floor is lowered by 10-14 inches. The door opening height in a lowered floor minivan is between 53 inches and 56 inches. The interior height will vary, depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle.
If you sit over 56 inches tall, you may be more comfortable in a full size van. The best way to determine this is to go to a mobility dealer. This way you can roll into the different size vans to see how you fit. We have seen situations where a customer had a van delivered from an internet dealer. The driver gave him the keys and left. The customer, excited about his new van rolled up the ramp, and saw that he could not fit. He sat up too tall, and was not able to bend his head. This is why it is very important to try different size vans. There are different options available for a full size van. You can raise the top for optimal interior height. You can also have the doors raised if needed. Sometimes this is not enough. The floor can also be lowered by 6 or 9 inches in a full size van. The lowered floor can be done in the center area only, or a full cut, which includes the front seating area. Some people choose to lower the floor without the raised roof and doors. It all depends on your individual needs. This is why it is important to try before you buy. Other options are remote entry, where the doors open with the touch of a button on your remote. Luxury interiors are also available, with 19 inch digital screens, sound systems, and other high end interiors and electronics from which to choose. There are several packages available. Having trouble deciding between full size and minivan? Send me an email. I will help best I can.
Let’s say you prefer a minivan. Your next decision is between a fold out ramp, or an in-floor ramp. Let me point out a few things. Should your vehicle lose power for any reason, the fold out ramp is easily pushed out for a quick emergency exit. For manual operation, the in-floor ramp would need to be physically pulled out from outside, or cranked out from the inside. This would be a challenge for anyone with decreased upper body strength. Another thing to consider is that you lose an inch of interior height with the in-floor ramp conversion. I am a paraplegic who drives a lowered floor minivan. My preference is the fold out ramp just because of the reasons stated above.
Next, should you choose a lowered floor minivan with a power ramp and door, or a manual ramp and door? That depends on your situation. If you are not a driver and have someone with you all the time, the manual conversion may work for you. Please consider that it takes some effort to deploy and stow the ramp manually. An older or less agile person may not be able to do this with ease. This is why the majority of lowered floor minivans sold have the automatic ramp and door.
Dave Bergeron
dbergeron@advancedmobility.net
http://www.advancedmobility.net
Dave is with Advanced Mobility Systems of Texas, Inc, located in the the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We are a member of NMEDA and are licensed vehicle modifier in the State of Texas. We install wheelchair lifts, hand controls, and other driving aids. We also have wheelchair accessible vehicles available for immediate delivery. Take a look at our website to see what we have in our inventory.
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