Q: I know that this a really bad time to sell a home, with the recession and all, but I’m worried abut my mother who lives alone in her home here.

I’m the only family she has left and I live in another state, so I can’t be as much help as I’d like to be. It’s really getting hard for her to do simple chores around the house and yard. She still drives a little bit but I don’t want her driving off the Island in freeway traffic. She has a specialist she goes to in Seattle about once a month and the bus doesn’t go near there. If we sell the house we would use the money to support her in an assisted living facility. I know that can be expensive so we need to get the most possible out of the sale. What do you think the place is worth?



A: You’ll be surprised to learn that the house is worth a great deal less than you were hoping for. Our prices have dropped significantly in the last few years, so once you pay all the closing costs you will only have enough to pay for your mother’s care for a few years. Since she’s basically in good health she very well might outlive those assets.


Before you sell the home and move her away from her familiar surroundings, you should check out what senior services are available on the Island that could help your mother stay in her home for several more years.


Interestingly enough, this Friday is a forum on senior services sponsored by the Vashon Social Service Network. There will be people there from many agencies to explain what they offer to help the older members of our community stay in their homes longer. You should attend. It’s 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. this Friday the 5th at the Vashon Community Care Center. There are many kinds of helpers on the Island that could assist your mother with chores, take her to her doctor’s appointments and offer many other services.