Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 6, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, August 6, 2022 


HOW TO CHOOSE A 55-PLUS ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY 

Dear Savvy Senior:
What tips can you recommend for choosing a good 
active adult housing community? My husband and 
I, who recently retired, are planning to relocate to an 
area closer to our grandkids and are interested in buying 
a house in an age-restricted 55-plus housing community. 
Active Retirees 

Dear Active: 
If you’re contemplating moving into an age-restricted 
community, finding one that’s right for you takes 
some legwork. While active adult communities generally 
offer the opportunity for a lower-maintenance 
lifestyle around similar aged people, they vary enormously. 
Here’s what you should know. 

Today’s active adult communities come in all shapes,
sizes and price ranges, ranging from small city-based 
apartment complexes, to single-family homes, to 
sprawling resort-style locations situated on a gated 
golf course. Most are owned by their occupants, but 
a growing number are rentals. Typically, at least one 
occupant of each property must be at least 55. 

It’s also important to understand that 55-plus active 
adult communities are not the same as retirement 
or independent living communities, which are primarily 
designed for older seniors in their 70s and 
80s. Active adult communities do not typically include 
meals or have a central dining area, but many 
of them do offer a range of recreational amenities 
and activities. 

To help you locate and research active adult communities 
in the areas you’re interested in, the best 
resource is 55places.com. This is a comprehensive 
website that provides ratings, reviews and information 
on activities and amenities for thousands of 
communities across the country. 

Once you find a few you like, here are some questions 
to ask yourself that can help you choose: 

What’s our budget? To help you choose the right active 
adult community you’ll first need to determine 
what you can afford. Consider the home’s purchase 
price, whether you’ll need a mortgage, how much 
the property taxes and insurance are, and how much 
the homeowners’ association or community fees are. 

These fees, which typically run a few hundred dollars 
per month, go toward lawn care and possibly 
snow removal, as well as community areas like a 
clubhouse or pool. However, some communities 
may require additional memberships or fees for golf, 
tennis, classes, or other activities. 

FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

HOW ESTATE PLANNING CAN REDUCE THE 
HIGH COST OF DYING.....PART 2 


Last week my column 

focused on the finan


cial cost of dying as il


lustrated by the recently 
released Goldman Sachs “Cost of Dying Report”. But of 
course, the death of a loved one comes at a much higher 
cost than just financial. There’s the personal side of loss, 
too, which has many different facets. 

THE COST IN LOST TIME 
On average, the report found that families spent 420 
hours over 13 months completing all the tasks needed to 
settle a loved one’s estate after death. However, the time 
commitment shot up to 20 months for estates that required 
the court process of probate. Additionally, most 
respondents underestimated how long these tasks would 
take: 54% said it took longer than they expected, while 
31% said it took much longer. 

To give you some idea of what consumed families’ time 
most during these months, the report breaks down the 
responsibilities that respondents reported taking the 
longest as follows: 

Most Time-Consuming Tasks

The funeral: 55% 

Financial matters: 47% 

The will and probate: 45%

Paying bills, debts, and taxes: 41%

Dealing with the house or other property: 25%

Finding service providers: 23% 

Reducing The Time Burden for Your Family

With proper estate planning, you dramatically reduce 
the time your surviving loved ones will have to spend 
on many of these tasks. For example, by preplanning and 
prepaying your own funeral, you can greatly reduce what 
most families reported as the most time-consuming task. 

For other tasks, such as dealing with probate and paying 
off estates with debt, you can use estate planning 
to eliminate the need for your family to deal with these 
issues. As I write about consistently, you can save your 
family both the time and expense of probate by creating 
a revocable living trust. One other unnecessary task we 
see families spending a lot of time on is simply locating 
all of a loved one’s assets when they die. 

This happens when you become incapacitated or die, 
and your family is unable to find—or simply overlooks—
all of your wealth and property. And this occurs because 
most people fail to properly inventory their assets or 
keep that inventory regularly updated throughout their 
lifetime. Indeed, this is why there’s currently more than 
$58 billion of lost and unclaimed assets held by state and 
federal agencies in the U.S. 

Keeping an updated inventory of all your assets is of 
prime importance. You should not only create a comprehensive 
asset inventory, you should make sure your 
inventory stays consistently updated throughout your 
lifetime. 

THE TOLL ON THE MIND & BODY 
The seemingly endless number of tasks and responsibilities 
grieving families must deal with can be both confusing 
and stressful. And since most of us have never handled 
such processes before, you face a surreal learning 
curve that only adds to your emotional burden. 

To this end, more than 30% of respondents said theysimply didn’t know what to do during the period immediately 
following a loved one’s death, and for those under 
age 45, that number rose to 43%. Not surprisingly, estates 
with debt typically caused more stress to those who had 
to manage them, and lower-income families were considerably 
more likely than those with higher incomes to 
report feeling lost during the process. 

Such stress can even result in debilitating emotional 
and physical symptoms. As evidence of this fact, more 
than 57% of respondents reported suffering at least 
one clinical symptom of stress, while the average respondent 
suffered three or more. The most common 
symptoms induced by grief-related stress include the 
following: 

You also need to consider the area’s cost of livingfor other things like food, utilities, transportation,
health care and taxes. Numbeo.com and BestPlaces. 
net offer tools to compare the cost from your current 
location to where you would like to move. And 
Kiplinger’s has a tax guide for retirees at Kiplinger.
com/links/retireetaxmap that lets you find and 
compare taxes state-by-state. 

How active is the community? Some communities 
provide fitness facilities, swimming pools, tennis 
courts and more, along with dozens of organized activities, 
classes and social events. Other communities 
are much simpler and more laid back with verylimited amenities and structured activities. You’ll 
want to choose a community that has the types of 
people, facilities, activities and vibe that appeals to 
you. 

Will we like the surrounding area? Will the area 
around your prospective community serve your 
needs now and in the future? Ideally, this means 
having easy access to good doctors and hospitals, 
and a local airport if you plan to travel much. You’ll 
also want to research how far you’ll be from essential 
services like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies, 
as well as dining, shopping, and recreational 
attractions. 

Schedule a Visit 
Once you’ve narrowed your choices, call to make an 
appointment and visit them. Be sure to allow plenty 
of time at each community and, if possible, go back 
to your favorites more than once. Also be sure to ask 
questions while you are visiting, particularly about 
the community rules. 

Some developments will let you stay overnight in a 
model home for a few nights to get a feel of what it 
would be like to live there. While you are there, try 
the amenities and activities, and speak with as many 
residents as you can. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. 
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show 
and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 

Clinical Symptoms Experienced 

Stress headaches: 30% 
Stress-related fatigue: 42%
Panic attacks: 17.5% 
Memory impairment: 16% 

A Lack of Communication Compounds Stress

Our society is so separated from the dying and grieving 
process that just talking about it is often considered 
taboo. Sadly, this only makes things that much more difficult 
when we finally face death’s inevitable reality. 

“Bereavement is emotionally and physically taxing,” 
writes BJ Miller, MD, in the report’s section on dying’s 
mental cost. “It's hard on your body, it’s hard on your 
mind, it’s hard on your life. By not talking about it openly, 
we have made it much harder than it needs to be.” 

One positive part of this situation is that when those enduring 
loss are properly educated and informed about 
what to expect and how to best deal with these responsibilities, 
things do get easier for them. 

“The good news is that when we give them the guidance 
they need, when we fill that knowledge gap, the bereaved 
tend to feel a lot better,” says Miller. 

Don’t Leave Your Family in The DarkOne easy way you can make dealing with your own 
eventual death far easier for your loved ones is by having 
intimate discussions about planning for death and 
incapacity within your family. When done right, such 
proactive communication and planning can put your life 
and relationships into a much clearer focus and offer you 
peace of mind, knowing that the people you love most 
will be protected and provided for no matter what happens 
to you. 

Furthermore, when you take the time to include your 
family members in the planning process, everyone affected 
by your plan is well-aware of what your latest 
planning strategies are and why you made the choices 
you did, along with knowing exactly what they need to 
do if something happens to you. And by getting your 
attorney involved with these conversations over time, 
when something does happen, he or she will be better 
able to be there for the people you love, with an underlying 
relationship and trust already established. 

The Right Kind of Estate PlanningDeath is unavoidable—and it can strike at any time. 
However, you can make your eventual death far easier 
for the people you love by creating a proper estate plan. 
Moreover, facing life’s greatest fear head-on and planning 
for it will allow you to enjoy your current life even 
more. In fact, our clients often report a huge sense of relief 
after getting their plans in place, and they frequently 
say they wish they’d started their planning sooner. 

The estate planning process doesn’t have to be something 
morbid or depressing. When done right, estate planningis about far more than just planning for your death and 
passing on your “estate” and assets to your loved ones—
it’s about planning for a life you love and a legacy worth 
leaving by the choices you make today. 

If you’ve been avoiding preparing for death, you could 
be missing out on an incredible opportunity for yourself, 
while leaving behind a potential nightmare for your 
loved ones. If you’re ready to start truly living your life 
and make things as easy as possible for your family, take 
the next step and get proactive about your estate planning 
today. 

Best, 

Marc Garlett, Esq.
Cali Law Family LegacyMatters 
www.caliLaw.com 
626.355.4000 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …August Birthdays* 

Nancy Beckham, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis,
Joseph Kiss, Jacquie Pergola, Pat Miranda, Jerry Burnett, Margaret Aroyan,
Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry,
Marcia Bent, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh. Helen Stapenhorst,
Chandy Shair, Heidi Hartman, Erma Gutierrez, Margaret Switzer

 * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR 
of birth not required 
SIERRA MADRE SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday from 11:30am-3:30 pm in the Hart 
Park House Senior Center. Join us as we celebrate birthdays, holidays and pay BINGO. 
Must be 50+ to join. For more information call Mark at 626-355-3951. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park 
House The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or 
more trains, emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you 
may have. 

PAINT PALS 

Tuesday, 8/4 10:30 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water color, or 
making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, PAINT PALS!!! 
Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and enjoy some quality art time with other 
artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB Tuesday Aug. 11 and Aug 24 — 9:00 am 
Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss 
the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Tuesday, 8/16 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! Bring your 
current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with likeminded fiber friends. We 
meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle 
stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the Hart Park House.. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower 
skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all 
the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Tuesday, Aug 9 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Methodist Hospital will be holding a free to seniors clinic once a month in the Hart Park 
House. Walk in are welcome - no pre-registration required. 

BINGO: Aug 18 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmCome down to the HPH (Hart Park House) for a lively round of BINGO. Prizes await! 
SENIOR CINEMA Wednesday, 8/17— Beinning at 1:00 pm Blue Hawaii PG 1h 
42m 
After arriving back in Hawaii from the Army, Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) defies 
his parents’ wishes for himn to work at the family business and instead goes to 
work as a tour guide at his girlfriend’s agency. 


OUT TO PASTOR 


A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

WHEN IS IT OK TO BE SNARLEY? 

Normally, whatever normal means, I don’t get agitated by many 
things. I can keep my cool under the most bizarre circumstances. 
Nothing gets under my skin, and I can take everything with a grin.
I can’t remember the last time I lost my temper and got mad. I’ve been 
married for over 50 years, so I have experienced everything that I pos


sibly can experience. After making it through these many years of marital bliss, I can 
handle anything. 

My week was going rather well, and I was close to completing my projects for the 
week. Then about halfway through the week, things began to go awry. I was gettingbehind on my projects, and I didn’t think I would ever catch up.
I like to have my work done on time, and I work very hard to do just that. But for 
some reason, I lost the rhythm of my work, and it wasn’t going like I would like it to 
go. So I must say, I was get-ting agitated for the first time in a long time.
It was a moment of frustration as I tried to unwind from some of the problems that 
had developed in my projects. In the middle of that, the telephone rang.
For a moment, I thought of not answering the phone and just letting it ring. If it was 
something im-portant, they would leave a message, and I could get back to them.
For some reason, my autopilot kicked in, and without much thought, I answered the 
phone.
“The warranty on your car is just about to expire,” the person on the phone said. 
Then he began the long speech about what he could do to renew my auto warranty.
When I came to, I realized it was some kind of a scam, so I told him I wasn’t interested 
and then hung up the phone.
It wasn’t going very well, and I couldn’t straighten out the problem, but I thought I 
was close. It took me much longer, and I didn’t know what else to do.
Then the telephone rang again. I tried not to answer, but in my state of mind at the 
time, I wasn’t in control, and I automatically answered the phone.
The person on the phone was introducing me to my updated Medicare options. At 
first, I couldn’t follow what he was talking about. Instead, my mind was focused on 
the projects I was working on.
According to the person on the phone, all I had to do was answer a few questions, and 
they could sign me up for additions to my Medicare at no cost to me.
I replied as calmly as possible and told him I was not the least bit interested in what 
he had to offer. Then I hung up the phone and went back to my job.
It took me a few moments to get back into my routine and sort out some problems I 
was having. I still couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
Then the telephone rang. Again!
At this point, my agitation level was beginning to rise. It’s been a long time since I’ve 
experienced this kind of thing.
As I answered the phone, the person on the other end asked me a whole lot of questions 
about my health. Do you have diabetes? Do you have arthritis? Do you have 
pain in your back? And he went on and on and on.
I asked why he was so interested in my physical well-being, and he said that it was 
part of Medicare and he wanted to ensure I had all the coverage I deserved.
“Why are you calling me now?” I said as angrily as I could control.
“I am just responding to your inquiry online.” When he said that, something flipped 
in my head.
At that point, I let loose all my snarly attitudes at the time. I was at the point where I 
could not con-trol my snarlyitis. I gave him a piece of my mind that I hadn’t used in 
a long time.
I angrily hung up the phone, turned around, and there was The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage looking at me with both hands on her hips.
“You sure had a snarly attitude on that phone call. Who in the world were you talking 
to?” 
I then explained the phone calls I had been getting that had disrupted my working 
environment that morning. “I think they are all scams,” I explained to her.
That brought me to a point of wondering when it is okay to be snarly. After all, I did 
not call them; they called me. And they called me about something I had no interest 
in whatsoever. And they kept calling me.
As far as I know, this situation was the perfect situation to express a snarly attitude. 
I don’t always have such situations, so I’m an amateur when it comes to being snarly.
Thinking about this it occurred to me that sometimes people need to be responded 
to with a snarly attitude.
I then remembered what Jesus said in John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and 
the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode 
not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh 
of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” 
Sometimes people just need to hear the truth. 

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com. Website is www.jamessnyderministries.
com. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com