Moving Made Easy® Transitioning Your Life

Moving made easy? It’s not too good to be true. In fact, it can be smart, easy and – dare we say it – enjoyable.

“These may be unprecedented times, but that doesn’t mean that transitioning your life isn’t a smart move,” says Charles Benjamin, Executive Director of Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community and located just minutes from Toms River and the Monmouth/Ocean County beaches. “In fact, it’s one of the best moves you can make, and Harrogate can help make it easier for you thanks to our partnership with Moving Station.”

Charles says that it’s never too early or too late for seniors to begin transitioning to a more fulfilling, experience-rich life. “Even with COVID-19, this is still an excellent time to make a move,” he says. “This is especially true in fall, because moving now means you’re able to avoid another year dealing with home maintenance in winter. Instead, you can enjoy an easy season at our maintenance-free community.”

The State of the Real Estate Market

 It may seem surprising, but the real estate market is hot, hot, hot. While showings and home sales slowed at the beginning of the pandemic, they’ve made a significant rebound since then. Historically low interest rates are just one factor. Another is that “starter homes” (read: more affordable homes for young families or first-time home buyers) simply aren’t being built, making the inventory low as demand continues to rise.

In the New Jersey area, the housing market has been heating up in part due to the pandemic shutdown. People are moving from the large cities and settling in the suburbs, and as more and more companies improve their work-from-home policies, people are free to move and go where they want or need to go, whether that’s for a school system, to be close to family or simply be in a desirable area.

Preparing Your Home for Sale

Just because the real estate market is incredibly hot doesn’t mean that you can simply put a for sale sign in your yard and wait for the offers to roll in. That’s why it’s so important to hire a professional real estate agent to help show off your home in the very best light (and get you the best offer possible).

90 percent of home buyers begin their search online, so you want to make sure your listing looks as great as possible. Professional photos are a must, but also consider a virtual walk-through. Because of COVID-19, the majority of buyers will only schedule showings of homes they are seriously considering, and having a virtual walk-through will make it easier for them to literally see themselves in your home.

Consider current home trends as you and your real estate agent are staging your home for sale. These days, buyers are looking for houses with a home office space, so consider having a spare bedroom do double-duty. Finally, be sure to price your home correctly. Too high, and you won’t get any bites – too low, and you may not get the full value for your place. Again, a real estate professional will help you figure out the best way to stage, arrange and show your house in order to get the most eyes and most bids.

Getting Ready to Move

Before you put your home on the market, you’ll want to get ready for your move. Not only does this get you in the right mindset, but it also will help you purge and downsize your items (and clear out your house so it’s easier to stage). Here are a few tips from the experts:

  • Give yourself plenty of time to complete the process. No matter how long you think it may take, just know it will take even longer than that. Don’t try to get through everything in a weekend – or even a week. Several weeks and up to several months is a more realistic timeline.
  • Take time to reminisce. Going through your home is like going through tangible memories, and it’s inevitable that you will want to stop, go through things and reminisce about old times. That’s perfectly fine. Give yourself the time to do that and build it into your schedule.
  • Don’t start with a big room at the very beginning of this process. Start someplace that doesn’t have much emotional attachment, like the linen closet or the laundry room. This will get you into the groove and be less overwhelming. Plus, completing a smaller room will give you the momentum you need to keep going.
  • Get rid of rooms you won’t need. If you won’t be needing an office, third bedroom, den or other space, you can get rid of pretty much everything in them right now. Depending on what you have, you may want to hold a garage sale or take things to the consignment shop. Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace are also great places to offload items.
  • Consider giving heirlooms and legacy gifts at this time. Are there items you want to leave to your children or grandchildren? Instead of waiting for them to read the will, give those pieces to them now if you won’t have space for them in your new place. This way, you’ll be able to see your descendants enjoying them.
  • Get rid of duplicate items. This is particularly true in the kitchen, where (if you’re like most of us) you have a preponderance of spatulas, spoons and silverware (just to name a few things). Consider your needs moving forward and purge accordingly.

“Moving is a big decision, but with foresight and planning, it can be an enjoyable one,” says Charles. “If you’re considering moving to a community like Harrogate, you can take advantage of our partnership with Moving Station as well as our experienced staff. We’ve helped many older adults transition into a worry-free and carefree lifestyle, and we look forward to doing the same for you.”

This Is What “Worry Less, Live More” Looks Like

Located near Toms River, New Jersey, Harrogate offers a worry-free, fulfilling and experience-rich life. Here, you’ll be free of the hassles of homeownership while having access to all of the best that life has to offer. From opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself, to the peace of mind of future care, socialization and so much more.

No matter what your needs may be, we can meet them, ensuring you are worry-free for years to come. With our Life Care, you can enjoy independent living, home health, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory support and more for one entrance fee and a monthly fee that covers everything our lifestyle has to offer.

Worry Less and Live More at Harrogate!

Call for information at ​866-606-0178 or visit our website.

6 Ways Laughter Benefits Aging and Wellness

We all know that sharing a laugh with others is a great way to boost your mood, improve your day and make things seem generally sunnier. But did you know that laughter can also improve your overall health – and help you age well, too?

“For older adults, laughter truly is the best medicine,” says Charles Benjamin, Executive Director of Harrogate, Ocean County, New Jersey’s premier active senior living community. “As we age, we naturally become more susceptible to health ailments, and it’s more important than ever for us to care for our minds, bodies and souls in order to live the best possible lives.”

Charles says that it’s never too late to start on a path to healthy aging. “Our goal at Harrogate is to help our residents age happier and live healthier, which is the foundation of our Living the 8 program,” he says. “We’ve developed a program that brings together eight dimensions of wellness to help seniors live a happier, well-balanced life. It should be no surprise, then, that laughter is a huge part of that program!”

What are the ways that laughter can benefit wellness, particularly for seniors? Research has found six distinct benefits that can have us feeling better, aging better and living better all the way into our golden years. And that’s definitely something to laugh about.

  1. Improved cardiovascular health.
    Laughter is good for the heart, both figuratively and literally. Laughter has been proven to increase blood vessel function by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. This is caused by a boost of circulation – our hearts pump a little more efficiently when we laugh – and increased blood oxygenation as we draw air into our bodies for those deep belly laughs and gleeful giggles. This leads to improved cardiovascular health, which lessens the risk of developing heart diseases and other issues – the leading cause of death in America today.
  2. Pain reduction.
    Laughter instantly triggers a reaction in our brains that provides an anesthesia-like effect for hours after the joke has passed. Endorphins are released when we guffaw, which are hormones that help regulate pain in our bodies. Cortisol also drops, which reduces pain and inflammation throughout the body. In addition, laughter can increase levels of endorphins, which help regulate pain in the body.
  3. Stress reduction.
    Stress wreaks havoc on our bodies, reducing the efficiency of our immune system, increasing our levels of anxiety and depression, impacting our sleep and eating habits and generally being a detriment to our overall health. Laughter is a great way to combat stress, as those chemical reactions that help reduce pain also help reduce stress, boost our moods and make things seem not so serious.
  4. Better core strength.
    Can you laugh your way to flatter abs? It’s possible. Laughter exercises the abdominal muscles and your diaphragm, and also instantly relaxes other muscles in your body that may need a break. Engaging your core helps strengthen your back muscles (which can help reduce back pain), increase overall strength and improve your breathing. That’s great news for seniors with asthma and bronchitis.
  5. Improved relationships.
    Besides the surprising physical benefits of laughter, it also brings us closer together. Some experts believe that the health benefits of laughter all stem from the improved social interaction and support that we receive from laughing together. No matter what language we speak, laughter is a common thread between us all. By laughing together, we bond with others and become more emotionally attuned to each other. Laughter is a great tool for improving the quality of interpersonal relationships – so much so, in fact, that some experts believe all the other health benefits flow from the improved social support laughter brings.
  6. Better mental health.
    Laughter improves our moods through various chemical releases and stress relief. This in turn promotes emotional well-being and a better sense of self-worth, which also creates a more stable mood and a more positive outlook. By laughing, we become more optimistic overall. Studies have shown that seniors (and other individuals) who have a sense of optimism also have a strong sense of resilience in the face of adversity, like job loss, financial issues, death and other major stressors.

Bringing More Laughter into Your Life
Since August is National Wellness Month, it’s the perfect time to inject some more humor and laughter into your life. There are always ways to find lightheartedness and happiness in any situation, as long as you open yourself up to the possibility. Here are some suggestions for how to get a good belly laugh each and every day.

  • Watch something funny. Whether that’s a silly cat video, a humorous gif or a favorite sitcom, something that tickles your funny bone will do just the trick.
  • Talk to someone every day. Even if you’re socially distanced, you can still pick up the phone and text or call a dear friend or family member. Ever noticed how laughter happens more naturally when you’re talking to someone?
  • Do something nice for yourself every day. When we care for ourselves, we’re more open to the possibility of humor and happiness. Pampering yourself – even if it’s as simple as drinking a cup of coffee outside or reading a chapter of a favorite book – will put you in a better frame of mind and make you more open to the humor and happiness around you.

This Is What “Worry Less, Live More” Looks Like

Located near Toms River, New Jersey, Harrogate offers a worry-free, fulfilling and experience-rich life. Here, you’ll be free of the hassles of homeownership while having access to all of the best that life has to offer. From opportunities to engage, enrich and challenge yourself to the peace of mind of future care, socialization and so much more.

No matter what your needs may be, we can meet them, ensuring you are worry-free for years to come. With our Life Care, you can enjoy independent living, home health, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and more for one entrance fee and a monthly fee that covers everything our lifestyle has to offer.

Worry Less and Live More at Harrogate!

Call for information at ​866-606-0178 or visit our website.