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Published by The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. APRIL 2019 • FREE 2 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com APRIL 2019 — FIFTY PLUS die had published another “Insight Report” (where an old-fashioned sense of commu- citing a number of other reasons for today’s nity is recreated, with younger and older Home sweet home inadequate housing stock. Those included residents helping each other), cohousing The other day, we received a call from a might say, quite unacceptable. a shortfall in home building dating back to communities (both multi-generational and gentleman who told us, in no uncertain This fellow is not a lone wolf, however. the burst housing bubble and Great Reces- senior-focused varieties), and intergener- terms, that our readers were The Federal Home Loan sion, a shortage of skilled labor in the con- ational home sharing, among others. staying in their homes for too Mortgage Corporation struction industry, rising land costs, And it’s not like older homeowners are long, and that they should (which prefers going by the opposition to new development in existing just sitting in their homes and letting them sell their homes to young cuddly moniker “Freddie communities and many others. go to rot. Many of us have spent signifi- families so that those folks Mac”) recently decided to in- You might wonder why the researchers cant sums retrofitting our homes to make could have a chance to live vestigate why millennials didn’t ask the millennials themselves why them safer and more accommodating for the suburban lifestyle, too. (born between 1981 and they weren’t buying homes with the us and for any visitors with disabilities, His basic message was that 1997) have a significantly alacrity of earlier generations. and increasing our homes’ energy effi- older adults should not be so lower homeownership rate Many studies (including a recent one from ciency by installing smart thermostats, selfish as to stay in their nice than prior generations. the Urban Institute) point to their high stu- new windows and solar panels. big homes when there were Noting the rising propensity dent debt burden, years of inability to find As a result, if and when the time comes Americans of childbearing FROM THE of older adults to “age in place” work, and their own propensity to settle in when we are ready to relinquish our age who could make better PUBLISHER — choosing to remain in their trendy urban areas rather than old-fashioned homes, they should be in better shape and use of all that space. Instead, By Stuart P. Rosenthal homes and neighborhoods as suburbs as some of the causes for their cur- more useful to future buyers. more of us should downsize they age — the report con- rently lower rates of homeownership. Whenever I see it, I feel it’s important to and move to condos, apart- cluded that this behavior has As for older homeowners, there are many call out researchers and journalists whose ments, smaller homes or retirement commu- significantly reduced available housing stock, reasons — financial, emotional, psychologi- work reinforces a stereotype that older nities for the good of the country. thus raising home prices and keeping millen- cal — why we might want to remain in the adults are at economic war with younger Not surprisingly, this would also be nials from becoming the homeowners they’d homes where we’ve lived for decades, per- ones and that we care only for ourselves. good for the caller himself, as his line of like to be. haps raised a family, and built ourselves a life. Like any stereotype, there might be a few work turned out to be buying older Well, to be fair, the report said aging in As Freddie admitted at the end of their who fit it, but it is by no means representa- homes, fixing them up and selling them place is “one factor” contributing to the most recent report, “older Americans pre- tive of the group as a whole. for a profit to younger buyers. shortage of homes for sale, and it ended fer to age in place because they are satis- I look forward to reading a report in the Now there’s nothing wrong with that, by calling for a boost in the production of fied with their communities, their homes, future that — rather than treating older as long as the homeowners are ready to new housing rather than booting boomers and their quality of life.” adults as one more “factor” in society’s sell. But pushing people out the door be- from their homes. But that doesn’t mean we selfishly want mistreatment of the young — praises us fore they’re ready is, as Miss Manners And in fact, just two months before, Fred- to withdraw from society or prevent for staying independent as long as possi- younger generations from having a good ble, and for taking better care of our- quality of life too. selves, our homes and our communities. On the contrary, many of us have em- braced a variety of ideas that can help maintain and enhance the quality of life for us and younger generations at the same time, including neighborhood villages a publication of The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. Editorial Mission: Fifty Plus is dedicated to providing readers with accurate information, professional guidance, and useful resources. Our publication is Letters to the editor intended to both reflect and enhance fifty-plus lifestyles, and to encourage Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter reader dialogue and input. addressed in Fifty Plus as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to Fifty Plus, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Fifty Plus is published monthly and distributed free of charge. The advertising Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to [email protected]. Please deadline is the 20th of each month for the upcoming issue. The entire contents include your name, address and telephone number for verification. of Fifty Plus are ©2019, The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be re- produced in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent Dear Editor: son’s frustrated opinion. of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by writers and columnists I read with interest Elliott Raphaelson’s David M. Shea do not necessarily represent those of Fifty Plus or its staff. article in your February issue about the Via email various scams inflicted on seniors. Dear Editor: The “IRS impersonation scam” [that I Your March editorial, “Not in our fam- Publisher/Editor — Stuart Rosenthal experienced] brought me to a standstill. ily,” should be mandatory reading for the Vice President, Operations — Gordon Hasenei There is a supposed Treasury hotline to entire populace. It is so perfectly on point. which reports can be made. I called sev- As a very young devotee of All in the Vice President, Sales and Marketing — Alan Spiegel eral times, but the voicemail was always Family, I laughed, not out of prejudice or Managing Editor — Margaret Foster full, advising to please hang up and call malice, but because it made fun of all of Art Director — Kyle Gregory later. us. No one was spared, and it wasn’t mean I wrote to the Treasury Department; no or ugly. Director of Operations — Roger King answer. I wrote to Senator Cardin’s office. I’m afraid we have lost our ability to Editorial Assistant — PJ Feinstein The person to whom I spoke was “not laugh at ourselves or poke good- sure” it was a crime, and in any case did natured fun at others for fear of being la- not seem to think it was Congress’ prob- beled something unpleasant. Fifty Plus Richmond • PO Box 2227 • Silver Spring, MD 20915 lem. Thank you for reminding us of who we PH: 804-673-5203 • [email protected] My sense is that trying to fight these once were. © Copyright 2019 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. things is hopeless, because no one in the Judy Massabny federal government cares. Just one per- Arlington, Va. FIFTY PLUS — APRIL 2019 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 3 Feature Story Raising voices with joy despite dementia By Catherine Brown onds and said, ‘It would be our joy to do PHOTO COURTESY OF SALISBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH In a bright, spacious meeting room at this,’” said Sherman, now the group’s Salisbury Presbyterian Church, more artistic director. “Everyone is welcome,” than 20 singers gather to rehearse Broad- she added. “There is no religious affilia- way songs for their spring performance. tion,” (meaning Joyful Voices is not a The Joyful Voices group harmonizes to church choir per se). The Sound of Music, lifting their voices as After that initial conversation, Sherman they sing the opening words: “The hills traveled to Minneapolis to talk to the di- are alive.” rectors and organizers of Giving Voice. One member of the chorus arrives late, “It was an eye-opener,” she said. “We but the moment she walks in the door, her came back enriched with lots of ideas.” mouth is already moving to the words of Sherman then connected with the Greater the uplifting song. Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s As- Facing the chorus is an energetic and sociation and participated in a training petite redhead who gestures emphatically session to develop best practices for the as she conducts and shouts out praises to choir. the singers. The singers are an older group, but this An inclusive choir isn’t your typical senior choir. Nearly a After publicizing the group, Joyful dozen of its singers have Alzheimer’s dis- Voices began their first rehearsal in mid- ease or another form of dementia.

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