Category Archives: Senior Living / Retirement

By Christine Graf

For almost four decades, Legacy Planning Partners has been serving clients in Glens Falls and beyond. Established in 1985 by Dan Hazewski Sr., the family business offers a variety of services including investment management, estate and retirement planning, 529 college saving plans, IRAs, and personal and business financial planning.

“You name it, we do it,” said Hazewski, noting that the firm also does pro bono work in the local community.

Before opening Legacy Planning Partners, he and his wife, Jan, operated several local businesses. Old-timers may remember the Snack Store, a business the couple opened in 1975.

“We leased a gas station on the Northway (exit 16) and put a convenience store in it. We sold gasoline, food, snacks, and we had a delicatessen in it,” said Hazewski. “If I had been smarter, I could have had a huge franchise. Stewart’s was just getting going with theirs.”

By Christine Graf

More and more Americans are taking to the roads in RVs, with upwards of 45 million people vacationing in RVs this summer. More than 11 million households own recreational vehicles, and approximately 1 million Americans live in their vehicles full time. 

According to industry statistics, RV sales are strongest among the 55-64 age group, this demographic representing 20 percent of all sales. Millennials (ages 18-34) come in second, accounting for 15 percent of purchases. Tied for third at 13 percent are the 65-plus age group and the 35-44 age bracket.

“Age 50-plus is the sweetest spot for us for sure,” said Andy Heck, president of Alpin Haus. “But 35 to 50 is also doing well. Things do tail off at 65-plus.”

Established by Heck’s father, Bud Heck, and his friend John Daly, Alpin Haus opened its first store in Amsterdam in 1964. Today, the family-owned business has 275 employees spread across six locations. Stores offering RVs are located in Amsterdam, Saratoga, Orange County, and Oak Ridge, New Jersey. 

“We started as a ski shop and then got into selling RVS. Then, we added swimming pools and in the late 90s, we started adding locations,” said Heck.

By Christine Graf

Research shows that older adults who participate in senior center activities have higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction than their peers. Locally, the Glens Falls Senior Center and the Queensbury Senior Center are enhancing the quality of life for more than 2,000 members.

Located at 380 Glen St., the Glens Falls Senior Center has 642 members. Memberships cost just $30 per year, and the center receives funding from City of Glens Falls, the Warren County Office of the Aging, the Town of Queensbury, and the Tri-County United Way. 

Glens Falls Senior Center Executive Director Kim Bren believes that senior centers play a vital role in the community, helping seniors to stay active and engaged and to meet new people. She works to dispel the notion that senior centers are filled with people sitting around playing Bingo.

“People say, ‘I don’t want to sit around and do nothing,’” she said. “That’s not who we are. We are a very active center. One of the hardest things is getting that awareness out.”

Stephanie Smith, director of Queensbury Senior Center, agrees. She believes that staying active and engaged is the key to aging well. 

By Andrea Harwood 

The cost of vacation travel has gone up significantly. But Dawn Biddiscombe, owner and operator of Premier Plus Travel & Tours in Glens Falls, has seen an increase in business and says people are willing to pay the price.

“People are paying more now without questioning price”, said Biddiscombe. 

Travelers know that prices are expected to be higher than ever, especially considering the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel, she said. In previous years, clients may have taken time to think over the cost of trips. Now, they book trips as they come available because of an inventory shortage.

“Everyone wants to travel,” said Biddiscombe. “Popular places are in Europe right now. It used to be Mexico and the Caribbean, which is still somewhat popular. Now, people want to do something more unique.”

Stacie Baxter, sales manager at Heber Travel Services in Queensbury, sees a high demand for travel as well.

“People are going everywhere,” she said. “I’m doing a lot of planning for Africa and South America for the end of the winter months.”

Biddiscombe said Europe is struggling to keep up with travel demand. Ireland, Greece and Italy, including the Maltese Coast, are all in demand as travel destinations. Spain is also one of the top requests. She has people asking to go for longer stays, and they are willing to pay more money.

By Jill Nagy

Area senior centers are open and busy as COVID-19 safety guidelines eased up . Members are returning for exercise classes, meals, games, trips, and, most of all, the chance to socialize after over a year of isolation, officials say.

At the Queensbury Senior Center, there is a waiting list for some classes and others are full. Seniors at the Glens Falls Senior Center had their first trip of the season, to a youth theater performance at Lake George, at the beginning of August, but as a precaution, only six passengers were allowed in a 12-passenger van

At the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, dances are back but live music will have to wait until September, officials said. At the Saratoga Senior Center, art classes art full and demand is great for exercise classes and anything including food, especially Friday barbecues in the tents behind the building.

. On the whole, center directors report a slow but steady return of their members and attendance at about half the volume they were used to before the pandemic. Saratoga, for example, hosts about 70 seniors a day, compared to 130-150 a day before the height of the pandemic. But, according to director Lois Celeste, “each month, we keep adding.”

The centers never completely closed during the pandemic. They provided take-out meals and delivered groceries and medications; conducted online and outdoor programs; and made an effort to keep in touch with members. On the whole, staff worked from home and no one had to be laid off.

The Queensbury center bills itself as “Seniors on the Go.” The facility normally has a robust travel schedule, including overseas trips, said Stephanie Smith, the development coordinator, who is acting director while the center looks for a replacement for Michele Whitbeck.

By Meghan Murray

It’s unfortunate but true: As we age, we encounter more health-related issues and they carry a price tag that can get pretty high in retirement.

Will you be ready for these costs?

Perhaps your first step in preparing yourself is knowing what you may be facing. Consider this: 80 percent of Americans 65 and older have a chronic condition and 42 percent live with a disability, according to the National Coalition on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported in a recent Edward Jones/Age Wave survey titled “Four Pillars of the New Retirement: What a Difference a Year Makes.” The study also found that retirees’ greatest financial worry is the cost of health care and long-term care—concerns that have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And health care is likely going to be one of the largest expenses in retirement. The average couple might spend $10,000 to $12,000 per year on health care costs. Nonetheless, you can boost your confidence about meeting these costs by making the right moves.

By Jenna Burger
You and your spouse got married, bought a home, and raised three beautiful children. You’ve lived and loved your home for 30 years, but the kids have moved out and started their own families.
Now you’re living in the 2,500-square-foot home, half of which you don’t use other than the five times a year when “the kids” come to visit. The question arises, why do we have all this space when most of it rarely gets used? Does it make sense to downsize? What opportunities can come about if we let this large home go? What are the pros and cons of downsizing as we are planning on retirement?
There is a lot to consider with downsizing. Whether a house, townhome, or apartment, moving to a smaller space can have its challenges, but if planned well, the next chapter of your life can bring less maintenance and more fun. When relocating to a space that is a fraction of the size, there is a great likelihood that you’ll need to reduce the amount of furniture and decor that has been collected over the years.