WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE KEN: WE ARE IN THE FAIRLAWN MANSION AT SUPERIOR, THE HOME OF A WEALTHY LUMBER BARON AND THE MAN WHO HAD THE FORESIGHT TO SET ASIDE PATTERSON PARK RESERVING ONE OF THE GREATEST BEAUTIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

HE GOT INTO THE LUMBER BUSINESS IN MICHIGAN, WHERE HE MARRIED HIS PARTNER’S SISTER.

ONE DAY HE WENT OFF TO SELL LUMBER AND NEVER CAME BACK.

ABOUT THE SAME TIME, HIS WIFE’S YOUNGER SISTER DISAPPEARED AS WELL AND THEN SURFACED AS MARTIN PATTISON IN SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE 1891 WHEN THE HOUSE WAS BUILT.

IN TODAY’S DOLLARS, BUT IT IS HOW PEOPLE AGED BACK THEN, WHETHER IT BE HIM ARE GROWING UP ON THE FARM, IT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND I’M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT STORY, BUT I’M GOING TO GO UP TO HIS BEDROOM AND EXPLAIN.

THIS IS HIS BEDROOM, THIS IS WHERE HE DIED ON DECEMBER 20, 1918, AT THE AGE OF 77.

IF YOU WERE HIM, JAMES J HILL, YOU COULD STAY IN YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT YOU NEEDED TO HELP YOU MAKE IT THROUGH THE TRANSITION, YOU BROUGHT THEM TO YOU BECAUSE YOU COULD.

SAME THING IF YOU GREW UP ON THE FARM, YOU WOULD STAY IN THE HOUSE, THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WOULD MOVE IN AND THEY WOULD WORK THE FARM AND YOU WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

1950’S COME ALONG, WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW THING CALLED THE NUCLEAR FAMILY AND THOSE KINDS OF TRANSITIONS DON’T EXIST, BUT A WHOLE NEW BUSINESS IS BORN AND THAT IS AS WE USED TO CALL IT IN MY HOMETOWN, THE OLD FOLKS HOME.

THAT IS NO LONGER APPLICABLE, THESE ARE COMMUNITIES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES BORN OUT OF THIS NUCLEAR AGE OF THE FAMILY ARE UNDER STRESS NOW BECAUSE, DARN IT, WE ARE ALL GETTING OLDER AND WE ALL CAN’T BE MARTIN PATTISON, AND THAT IS OUR TOPIC TONIGHT ON "IN BUSINESS."

♪ KEN: WELCOME TO "IN BUSINESS."

I’M KEN BUEHLER.

TONIGHT WE ARE FOCUSES ON SERVICES FOR THE AGING AND THE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS HELPING OLDER ADULTS LIVE WELL AND LIVE SIMPLY ACROSS OUR REGION.

WE’LL TALK WITH SOMEONE FROM THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK AND A SPECIAL SERVICE THAT HELPS PEOPLE SIMPLIFY THEIR LIVES AT HOME.

BUT FIRST, WE VISIT A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GROWING NEEDS OF GROWING OLDER.

"IN BUSINESS" STARTS OUT ON THE ROAD IN CARLTON COUNTY AND WE ARE TALKING WITH THE ASSISTED LIVING DIRECTOR AT EVERGREEN.

IT IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PLACE FOR SENIORS.

THANK YOU, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

KEN: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF EVERGREEN AND HAVEN’T GOT STARTED AND TELL US ABOUT THE UNITS WITHIN THE FAMILY.

>> SO, WE OPENED EVERGREEN KNOLL IN FEBRUARY 2001, AND WE SAW THERE WAS A BIGGER NEED OUT THERE.

THEN WE BUILT THE COTTAGES, WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT LIVING.

LATER ON, WE ADDED THE HIGHER CARE AND MEMORY CARE UNITS.

KEN: THIS IS A PLACE A SENIOR COULD MOVE INTO AND THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STAGES STAY IN ONE LOCATION.

>> CORRECT.

KEN: HOW DID THAT EVOLVE?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> MOST TIMES, PEOPLE START OFF IN THEIR INDEPENDENT COTTAGES OR IN THE ASSISTED LIVING, BUT THEN DOWN THE HALL WE HAVE THE HIGHER CARE UNIT.

KEN: SO, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING HERE ROUGHLY?

>> PROBABLY ABOUT 100.

KEN: YOU ARE PART OF A VERY SMALL COMPANY IN A VERY LARGE INDUSTRY.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP OF EVERGREEN.

>> EVERGREEN IS HOSTED BY A SMALL NOT-FOR-PROFIT.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT OUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT IS MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ME.

KEN: THERE ARE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES THAT DO THIS AT A VERY LARGE SCALE.

>> YES, AND EVEN NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES THAT DO THIS AT A LARGE-SCALE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE ONLY IN EVERGREEN AND A BUILDING IN LEDEEN A, WHEREAS THE BENEDICTINES AT BUILDINGS ALL OVER THE STATE.

KEN: AND IS THIS BECAUSE OF THE AGING OF OUR POPULATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THE DEMAND IS HUGE.

WE ARE LIVING LONGER AND WE WANT TO HAVE FUN WHILE WE ARE DOING IT.

KEN: I ASSUME THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU ARE HERE.

>> AS YOU SAW WHEN YOU CAME IN, WE HAVE A MUSIC PROGRAM GOING ON, WE HAVE A CUTE LITTLE JIM BACK HERE, WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON EVERY SINGLE DAY.

KEN: DO YOU GO OFF PROPERTY FOR EVENTS AS WELL?

>> SOMETIMES, WE USUALLY GO OUT ONCE A MONTH TO SOMEPLACE TO EAT.

YOU’VE GOT A LIST OF TOURS.

YEAH.

KEN: LOOKING AT THIS MODEL OF ASSISTED LIVING, WHERE YOU MOVE IN AND YOU JUST STAY AS YOU REQUIRE MORE CARE, IS THIS A NEWER CONCEPT?

THE PILLARS FOR INSTANCE.

YOU SEE THIS IS A GROWING TREND?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A GROWING TREND.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT IS REALLY NEW.

AS I SAID, WE STARTED 25 YEARS AGO, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A GROWING TREND.

KEN: WELL, I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN WITH THE COUNTY "OLD FOLKS HOME."

HOW HAS THE IMAGE OF SENIOR LIVING CHANGED FROM THE COUNTY OWNED "OLD FOLKS HOME" TO TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT?

>> SO MUCH NICER.

WHEN YOU WALK INTO OUR BUILDING, IT IS WARM AND INVITING.

PEOPLE ARE OUT HAVING FUN AND HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND IT IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

KEN: THE ASSISTED LIVING DIRECTOR HERE AT EVERGREEN IN CLOQUET.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CARE FOR SENIORS AND A BUSINESS STANDPOINT AND WHAT BUSINESSES SUPPLY TO OUR OLDER GENERATIONS.

AND THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

IN ALL THAT YOU DO IN THE DIFFERENT ROLES YOU HAVE TO PLAY IN MANAGING A FACILITY LIKE THIS ONE FOR MAKING SURE THE GRASS IS CUT TO THE FOOD IS ORDERED TO EVERYONE IS HAPPY, WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF THE JOB FOR YOU?

>> DEFINITELY SEEING THE JOY AND HAPPINESS OF MY RESIDENTS, SEEING THE FAMILIES HAVE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT ONLY CARED FOR, BUT ARE HAPPY AND ENJOYING THEIR LIVES.

KEN: LET’S LOOK BACK ON THE 26 YEARS OR SO THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND, 25.

AND THE CHANGES YOU HAVE SEEN.

WHAT WAS SOME OF THE HARD POINTS AND WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SUCCESSES?

>> WELL, COVID IMMEDIATELY COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU ABOUT HARD POINTS.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY HARD WATCHING FAMILIES BE SEPARATED, TRYING TO EDUCATE THE STAFF, KEEPING STAFF AT THAT TIME.

WE WERE AFRAID.

WHICH ON THE WAY TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD THING BECAUSE THE STAFF THAT WERE AFRAID LEFT AND THE BRAVE ONES CAME OUT.

GOOD THINGS, MANY GOOD THINGS.

SO MANY SUCCESS STORIES.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT EVERGREEN IS THAT MY COTTAGE RESIDENTS ALL LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

MY ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS, THE SAME THING.

EVEN INTO THE MEMORY CARE, THERE’S A LOT OF LOVE BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND THE STAFF.

KEN: THAT’S A WONDERFUL THING.

HOW DOES THAT >> MAKE YOU FEEL?

SO HAPPY.

[LAUGHTER] I LIKE MY JOB.

KEN: IN YOUR JOB IS TO BE THE ASSISTED LIVING DIRECTOR AT EVERGREEN.

THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

I’M KEN BUEHLER.

FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, MINNESOTANS AS A GROUP HAVE BEEN GROWING OLDER FASTER THAN ANY TIME IN THE STATE’S HISTORY.

ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA STATE DEMOGRAPHIC CENTER, BY THE END OF THIS DECADE, ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS "OLDER" AND THAT INCLUDES US BABY BOOMERS.

THE GRAYING OF OUR STATE’S RESIDENTS IS TAKING PLACE MUCH FASTER HERE IN GREATER MINNESOTA THAN IN THE METRO AREA.

BUSINESSES REACTING TO THE GROWING NEEDS OF A POPULATION THAT IS GROWING OLDER IS OUR TOPIC TONIGHT ON "IN BUSINESS."

OUR IN-STUDIO GUEST IS KELLY BRAINARD.

KELLY BRAINARD IS THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTOR AT DULUTH HEIGHTS LODGE SENIOR LIVING.

SHE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE NORTHLAND SENIOR CARE -- AGING CARE NETWORK.

KELLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "IN BUSINESS."

KELLY: THANK YOU, I’M GLAD TO BE HERE.

KEN: TELL ME ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK AND WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO SOLVE.

KELLY: WELL, THE FOUNDING OF THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK GOES BACK INTO THE MID TO THOUSANDS HERE IN THE TEENS.

THERE WAS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT HAD STARTED VERY MUCH THE SAME MISSION, IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER, THOSE OF US THAT WORK WITH OLDER PEOPLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, I’M THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTOR AT THE DULUTH HEIGHTS LODGE SENIOR LIVING, SO I WORKED WITH ASSISTED LIVING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.

PEOPLE LIKE ME NEED OTHER PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE WE NEED ARE THE PEOPLE -- THE THINGS THAT WE DON’T DO.

I GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS IN OLDER PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE.

THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR HOME NOW AND MAYBE THEY ARE ISOLATED, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE LOST THEIR SPOUSES AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE FINANCIAL NEEDS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE LEGAL NEEDS.

WHEN SOMEONE CALLS ME TO MOVE INTO OUR COMMUNITY I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, I MIGHT NOT KNOW WHO TO CALL.

THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK IS A COMMUNITY OF ALL OF US THAT CARE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

THAT WE LOVE.

JUST LOVE THEM.

NORTHLAND SENIOR CARE NETWORK IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, ASSISTED LIVING, INDEPENDENT LIVING, SKILLED NURSING COMMUNITIES.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS.

PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH ASSISTIVE DEVICES.

ANYBODY THAT DOES ANY KIND OF SERVING IN THAT COMMUNITY KIND OF IS WELCOME.

AND WE HAVE OVER 230 MEMBERS NOW.

WE STARTED OFF WITH JUST A FEW PEOPLE TWO POINT FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW IT HAS REALLY GROWN.

KEN: THE NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS SUPPORT WITHIN THE GROUP FOR WHAT YOU DO.

KELLY: ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE SOME TOUGH SITUATIONS FOR US.

THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THIS CARE INDUSTRY ARE HUGE-HEARTED PEOPLE.

EVERY SINGLE ONE I KNOW IS IN IT FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THEY LOVE PEOPLE, THEY LOVE OLDER PEOPLE, AND THEY WANT TO HELP.

WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THAT HELP AND WE BUILD EACH OTHER UP WHEN IT CAN BE SOMETIMES THAT IS A HARD SITUATION.

AND WE ARE REALLY THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

WE CAN WALK INTO ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES AND SAY HI, AND PEOPLE KNOW WHO I AM.

AND IT IS REALLY A COMFORTING FEELING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL COME TO THE LODGE AND THEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I CAN CALL SAMANTHA OR CHRISTIE AT BENEDICTINE AND SAY SOMEONE IS HERE AND THEY SHOULD COME OVER TO SEE YOU GUYS.

KEN: AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE 230 MEMBERS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE NEED OF AGING ASSISTANCE?

KELLY: THE NEED IS HUGE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING A LOT OF TIME.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICES IS JUST HUGE.

AND PEOPLE CAN LIVE A LOT BETTER LIFE.

JUST THE ABILITY TO HAVE ALL THESE PLACES TO MOVE INTO OR HAVE ALL THE SERVICES THAT COME INTO YOUR HOME, PEOPLE CAN STAY INDEPENDENT THROUGH A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES NOW.

THEY CAN STAY INDEPENDENT, THEY CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING OLDER.

KEN: KELLY BRAINARD IS OUR GUEST, ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK AND WHAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE DEVELOPING OUT THERE FOR CARING FOR AN AGING POPULATION?

KELLY: PEOPLE NEED HELP IN THEIR HOMES OFTEN.

THAT IS A HUGE UPSIDE FOR BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO START CARING FOR PEOPLE.

HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, CNA’S AND AIDRD AND THINGS -- AIDES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, PEOPLE ARE OUTFITTING THEIR HOMES TO STAY THERE.

ESTATE PLANNING, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, DOWNSIZING.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SPECIALIZING WITH OLDER PEOPLE.

WE DON’T CALL IT DOWNSIZING ANYMORE.

I WAS CORRECTED THE OTHER DAY.

IT IS CALLED RIGHTSIZING.

KEN: YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ELSE.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO AGE IN PLACE.

KELLY: YES, A LOT OF MODELS, EITHER SOMEONE CAN AGE IN PLACE IN THEIR HOUSE BY ADDING SERVICES THAT COME IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I’M GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM CALIFORNIA, MY MOM IN EAST DULUTH MAY BE NEEDS TO MOVE SOMEWHERE.

SO, YES, IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO GET THOSE SERVICES.

KEN: I WANT TO CHANGE COURSE AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY AND THAT IS FRAUD.

FOCUSED ON AN AGING POPULATION.

WHAT SHOULD LOVED ONES WHO CARE FOR SOMEBODY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT THEY MIGHT BE TAKING ADVANTAGE?

KELLY: YES, I’M NOT AN EXPERT FROM THIS.

THAT IS WHAT STOPPED ME A SECOND AGO.

I WAS THINKING OF THAT PERSON IN CALIFORNIA THAT CALLED ME AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON STORY I THINK PEOPLE AT THE NETWORK WILL ALSO SAY.

THIS PERSON WAS SAYING MY MOM HAS JUST GIVEN AWAY A BUNCH OF HER MONEY TO A PHONE SCAM.

AND THAT IS VERY FRIGHTENING AND IT IS VERY COMMON.

A VERY COMMON REASON WHY I WILL TALK TO SOMEONE AND THEY SAY I THINK MOM NEEDS TO MOVE NOW, SHE’S GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

I HAD SOMEONE WHO SAID A NEIGHBOR WAS COMING INTO THEIR HOUSE LOOKING THROUGH THEIR STUFF AND MOM NEEDED HELP.

SO, IT IS RAMPANT, IT IS FRIGHTENING.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY.

SOMEONE STEPPING IN.

KEN: BEING A PART OF THAT AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, IT IS NOT JUST THE ELDERLY THAT ARE BEING SCAMMED.

SCAMMERS HAVE NO HEART AND NO AGE RESTRICTIONS AND THEIR HELL WILL BE LISTENING TO THEIR VOICE MESSAGES AND TEXT MESSAGES AND READING THEIR EMAILS FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

KELLY: THAT’S RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] KEN: WE ARE GOING TO END WITH A PLUG FOR AN EVENT YOU HAVE COMING UP AND IT’S A CARNIVAL.

KELLY: YES, THE NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK, I’M SORRY, WE JUST NAMED -- CHANGE THE NAME TO NORTHLAND AGING CARE NETWORK BECAUSE THAT IS THE AGE-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE NOW IN MINNESOTA.

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND AT THE PROCTOR FAIRGROUNDS WE ARE HAVING OUR FIRST PUBLIC EVENT, THE NETWORK IS COMPLETELY SUPPORTING IT, IT’S A FREE EVENT AND IT IS CALLED THE GOLDEN TICKET.

AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A CAR SHOW, FOOD TRUCKS, THE NETWORK IS PROVIDING GAMES.

THERE ARE LEARNING DEMONSTRATIONS AS WELL.

HAVING A FRAUD PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION AND IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN AND FREE.

KEN: AND THE DATE ONE MORE TIME?

KELLY: JULY 10 AT THE PROCTOR FAIRGROUNDS.

KEN: AND IT IS FREE?

KELLY: IT IS FREE.

KEN: KELLY, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

BEFORE OUR NEXT SEGMENT, HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.

ST.

LOUIS COUNTY HAS BROKEN GROUND ON THE CENTRAL RANGE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY IN BALKAN TOWNSHIP.

THE MORE THAN $40 MILLION PROJECT WILL INCLUDE OVER 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE FOR MAINTENANCE, STORAGE, AND OFFICES AND IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT COUNTY OPERATIONS FOR DECADES TO COME.

WORK HAS BEGAN ON THE FULL RECONSTRUCTION OF WEST SUPERIOR STREET IN DULUTH.

THE 1.6-MILE PROJECT WILL BE DONE IN PHASES OVER THREE YEARS AND INCLUDES NEW UTILITIES, SIDEWALKS, AND STREETSCAPES.

DETOURS AND LANE CLOSURES WILL BE IN PLACE AS WORK MOVES WEST THROUGH THE CITY.

MEANWHILE, UP NORTH IN GRAND MARAIS, A NEW 36-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IS OPENING TO HELP ADDRESS WORKFORCE HOUSING SHORTAGES.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS DESIGNED AS A "LANDING PAD" FOR WORKERS STRUGGLING TO FIND LOCAL HOUSING IN THE NORTH SHORE REGION.

NEXT, WE’LL LOOK AT A BUSINESS THAT’S HELPING SENIORS LIVE SIMPLER LIVES.

♪ >> THIS WEEK ON IN BUSINESS WE ARE FEATURING ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES CATERING TO SENIORS.

THE ENTREPRENEUR BEHIND LIVE SIMPLY WITH KIM, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, IT’S SO HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

KEN: TELL ME, WHAT DOES LIVE SIMPLY MEAN TO YOU?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

LET ME BACK UP.

IT STARTED AS NORTHLAND ORGANIZING.

IT WAS A MUCH FIGURE PICTURE.

I REBRANDED TO LIVE SIMPLY.

MY TAGLINE IS LESS STUFF, MORE LIFE.

KEN: WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE HELPING TO LIVE SIMPLY AND DOWNSIZE?

>> YES, A LOT OF MY CLIENTS RIGHT NOW ARE THAT SENIOR POPULATION.

FOLKS THAT ARE DOWNSIZING, WHETHER IT IS INTO A SMALLER HOME, AN APARTMENT, A CONDO.

ONE LEVEL LIVING.

OUR BODIES AGE.

AND INTO A SENIOR CAMPUS.

THAT IS WHAT OUR CONVERSATION IS ABOUT TODAY.

BUT I DO MORE THAN THE SENIORS.

I HELP PEOPLE DEKE LETTER THEIR LIVES.

THEIR CALENDARS, THEIR HEADSPACE, ALL OF IT.

WHAT I DO FOR SENIORS IS HELPING THEM BECAUSE IT IS A DAUNTING TASK TO GO THROUGH A DOWNSIZING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTENTIMES LIVE IN THEIR HOMES FOR DECADES AND EVERY LITTLE ITEM IS A DECISION, RIGHT?

EVERY LITTLE THING THAT THEY PICK UP, A PIECE OF CLOTHING IT IS ALL VERY PERSONAL, IT’S INTIMATE.

KEN: IT’S ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEMORY, WITH A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP, I WOULD THINK.

>> EXACTLY.

HEY, AUNT MARY GAVE THIS TO ME.

OR MY KIDS MAKE THIS FOR ME WHATEVER MY CLIENTS NEED AND I WILL DO ANYTHING A-Z.

TELL ME WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE AND I WILL TELL YOU I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU AND OFTENTIMES I ALSO SAY TO FOLKS I’M SO VERY WELL CONNECTED, IF I DON’T HAVE THE ANSWER, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE THE ANSWER.

KEN: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITIONS OF SENIORS AND THE DECISIONS THEY ARE MAKING AS TO WHETHER TO LEAD THE HOME TO DOWNSIZE TO AN APARTMENT OR DOWNSIZE TO SOME EARLY FORM OF ASSISTED LIVING.

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS ARE THEY ASKING YOU THAT YOU CAN HELP THEM WITH?

>> MY GOSH, 1000 QUESTIONS.

SOMETIMES I GET CALLED FROM THE FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND WHO DOESN’T EVEN LIVE HERE AND THEY SAY, CAN YOU HELP MY MOM, MY GRANDMA, MY AUNT?

WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS?

AND I WORK WITHIN EVERYONE’S BUDGET.

THEY SAY, I’VE GOT X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME.

I GUESS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT DEPENDS ON THEIR NEEDS.

DO YOU NEED A DUMPSTER?

DO YOU WANT TO SELL OR DONATE THINGS.

I GIVE THEM HOMEWORK.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IN YOUR BUDGET.

I GIVE THEM ALL THE ENTITIES I KNOW AND TRUST.

I ONLY WORK WITH GENUINE PEOPLE.

THEY SAY I WILL DO X, Y, Z. THEY SAY YOU DO IT ALL.

I DO AND I LOVE MY PEOPLE, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM.

KEN: THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE IN THIS WAY, DO YOU SEE IT GROWING.

IS THIS A LARGER DEMAND OF YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BABY BOOMERS WHICH TIME ON THE YOUNG AND OF.

THERE IS BETWEEN 64 AND 67 MILLION BABY BOOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE.

SO, LOOK AT THAT INDUSTRY.

THE HEALTH CARE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE THINGS.

MY HUSBAND JUST FELL, WE NEED TO GET HIM INTO REHAB OR A SENIOR FACILITY.

THE GROWING NEEDS ARE HUGE.

THE SENIOR CAMPUSES HAVE A WAITLIST.

I HAVE CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ON A WAITLIST FOR YEARS TO GET INTO A SPACE AND THAT AN EXCEL IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL.

I’M READY, WE NEED THE HELP.

KEN: YOU NOT ONLY DEKE LETTER, YOU ALSO DE-STRESS.

>> I DO.

I TAKE THE STRESS OFF PEOPLE.

I CAN PLAN, WE WILL TALK, WE TALK ABOUT TIMELINE, WE TALK ABOUT GOALS.

THIS MORNING I WAS GIVEN A KEY TO A SPACE THAT A FAMILY MEMBERS RELATIVE PASSED AWAY.

CAN YOU EMPTY THIS OUT?

AND SELL, DONATE, WHATEVER YOU’VE GOT TO DO.

HERE’S THE KEY.

KEN: HOW DO PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU?

>> THEY CAN CALL ME.

[LAUGHTER] LIVE SIMPLY WITH KIM.

KEN: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIVING SIMPLY WITH SENIORS.

I’M KEN BUEHLER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "IN BUSINESS."

IF YOU MISSED ANY PARTS OF TONIGHT’S SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT AT PBSNORTH.ORG OR OF COURSE LISTEN ON MONDAYS AT 5:30 P.M.

ON THE NORTH 1033.

AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE STORY ON "IN BUSINESS," WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING AND, UNTIL NEXT TIME, LET’S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪