There are three important considerations to be aware of if you choose to remain in your home:

• Make sure your home is properly maintained by taking stock and arranging to get all the necessary home repairs completed that you can.
• Make sure you're financially able to meet your mortgage payment, if you have one.
• Make sure you find out all you can about supportive services available in your community that may be brought into your home should you need them.

The importance of maintaining your home can't be emphasized enough. There are always the obvious repairs we see and put off for another day-- the leaky faucet or the loose handrail. Don't delay any longer, call the repairman. There are also reasons to inspect our homes for evidence of trouble that may be waiting to happen, such as faulty wiring. Again, call the repairman. And there are home adjustments you can make simply to accommodate your aging--grab bars in the bathtub for example. Make these modifications, your safety could depend on it.

Regarding home financing, there are a number of creative financing options available to older home owners, such as reverse mortgages. Consult with experts and find out if any financing alternatives work with your life circumstances.

Finally, a supportive network of family, friends, and community services can make a dramatic impact on life quality should you choose to stay in your home. Check the "Search for Services" section on this website to identify programs available to older adults and caregivers in your Michigan community.

For more information on Home Retention:

• Home Repair Services, Inc., Resources for Homeowners
• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth
• National Council on Aging, Reverse Mortgage Information
• Reverse Mortgage Money
• Department of Housing and Urban Development, How to Avoid Foreclosure