The Aging-in-Place Dilemma Workbook
Should I Stay or Move?
It's one of the most important—and often one of the most difficult—questions older adults and their families will ever face.
For many people, the answer isn't obvious.
They love their home.
They value their independence.
But they also wonder whether their home will continue to meet their needs in the years ahead.
Family members often have questions, too.
Is the home still safe?
Would another home be easier to maintain?
Should we consider moving before a health crisis forces the decision?
Unfortunately, many families try to answer these questions based on emotions, assumptions, or advice from well-meaning friends.
I believe there is a better way.
A Workbook Designed to Help You Think Clearly
I wrote The Aging-in-Place Dilemma Workbook: Should I Stay or Move? to help families make one of life's most important housing decisions objectively and thoughtfully.
Rather than telling you what you should do, the workbook helps you evaluate your own situation through a structured decision-making process.
It asks the questions many families don't know to ask.
It encourages you to consider factors that are often overlooked.
And it helps organize your thoughts so you can make decisions with greater confidence.
The workbook doesn't provide one-size-fits-all answers.
It helps you discover the answers that are right for your family.
More Than a Book
Most books simply provide information.
This workbook is designed to help you make decisions.
As you work through the exercises, you'll evaluate topics such as:
Safety and accessibility.
Health and mobility.
Home maintenance.
Financial considerations.
Family support.
Lifestyle preferences.
Future planning.
Housing alternatives.
Personal priorities.
Each section builds upon the previous one, helping you gradually move from uncertainty toward greater clarity.
Instead of wondering what to do next, you'll have a practical framework for evaluating your options.
Why I Wrote the Workbook
The idea for this workbook didn't begin with real estate.
It began with caregiving.
Years of helping care for my own parents gave me firsthand experience with the many decisions families face as loved ones grow older.
Those experiences led me to write Overwhelmed with Family Caregiving? Now Take Control!, a comprehensive guide to the caregiving journey.
One chapter focused on a question that seemed especially difficult for families:
Should we continue aging in place, or would moving provide a better quality of life?
As I continued working with seniors and their families as a REALTOR®, I realized that this single question deserved an entire book.
That's how The Aging-in-Place Dilemma Workbook was born.
A Resource for Families
The workbook is written for:
Older adults who are planning ahead.
Adult children helping aging parents.
Family caregivers.
Individuals considering downsizing.
Families exploring senior living options.
Anyone who wants to make housing decisions before a crisis occurs.
Whether you ultimately decide to remain in your current home or move to one that's better suited to your future, the workbook helps you make that decision with greater confidence.
Used in My Workshops
The workbook also serves as the foundation for my Aging-in-Place Workshop, which I present for:
Senior centers.
Community organizations.
Churches.
Libraries.
Retirement communities.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
Family caregiver groups.
Professional organizations.
Rather than sitting through another lecture, participants actively work through many of the same questions and decision-making concepts found in the workbook.
The result is a practical, engaging program that helps people begin developing their own personalized action plan.
Many attendees tell me they leave with a clearer understanding of their options and a renewed sense of confidence about planning for the future.
A Valuable Tool During Our Consultations
Many clients choose to use the workbook before we meet.
Others complete portions of it during the planning process.
Still others continue working through it after our consultation as they discuss options with family members.
Because the workbook provides a common framework, our conversations become more productive.
Instead of beginning with uncertainty, we're able to focus on your priorities, your concerns, and the options that best fit your situation.
It becomes a roadmap that guides our discussions and helps ensure important considerations aren't overlooked.
When Moving Becomes the Right Choice
One of the most common misconceptions is that writing a workbook about aging in place means I always encourage people to remain in their current home.
The opposite is true.
The purpose of the workbook is to help you determine which housing choice best supports your future.
Sometimes that decision is to remain where you are.
Sometimes it's to modify your current home.
Sometimes it's to move to a home that's safer, easier to maintain, closer to family, or better suited to changing physical or cognitive needs.
When moving becomes the right decision, I can help you confidently move from planning to action.
As a REALTOR® specializing in senior housing transitions, I'll guide you through preparing your current home for sale, developing an effective marketing strategy, negotiating on your behalf, and helping you purchase a replacement home that better supports your goals and lifestyle.
Because the real estate transaction isn't the beginning of the process.
It's one step in implementing a thoughtful, well-informed plan.
More Than a REALTOR®
Many people know me first as a REALTOR®.
Others know me as an author, educator, or workshop presenter.
I see those roles as working together.
My books provide families with practical guidance.
My workshops help people understand their options.
My consultations help families develop personalized plans.
And when those plans involve buying or selling a home, I provide the professional real estate representation needed to successfully implement those decisions.
Each role supports the others.
Together, they help families navigate one of life's most significant transitions with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Begin with Understanding
Whether you purchase the workbook, attend one of my workshops, or schedule a consultation, my goal is always the same:
To help you make thoughtful housing decisions based on careful evaluation rather than fear, pressure, or guesswork.
Because there is no universal answer to the question:
"Should I stay or should I move?"
There is only the answer that's right for you.
And that's exactly what The Aging-in-Place Dilemma Workbook is designed to help you discover.