May-June2020 Issue

Aging in Place Week, typically in October. The council also advocates for senior-friendly legislation and public policies. Before joining the council, potential members undergo background checks and other screening designed to ensure they take seniors’ interests to heart. Existing members also want to see that new members are committed. Chapters meet three times a month, ten months a year, says Michael DeAmicis, a financial planner and investment adviser in Hauppauge, NY. “We strongly recommend that folks visit as a guest a couple of times before they commit to becoming a member,” says DeAmicis, who has been a member of the Long Island chapter for about five years. “We want them to be fully informed.” Once they join a chapter, members learn from each other. But they also look for opportunities to educate retirees and near-retirees in their communities. Chapters bring together a range of experts for events they sponsor themselves or that are held in conjunction with others in the community, such as elected officials, DeAmicis says. The most popular speakers tend to be attorneys, who talk about trusts, healthcare planning and other issues. As a chapter of the nonprofit council, it is often easier to secure space in libraries and senior centers, DeAmicis and Giunta agree. The council’s educational purpose and broad expertise distinguish it from individual vendors that may appear more interested in selling a product. The speaking opportunities are part of what drew Deb McCutcheon into the council’s chapter in Raleigh, NC. But she has found other opportunities that are equally valuable, if not more so. “Membership also has been about educating the com- munity and partnering with organizations for the benefit of senior citizens,” says McCutcheon, a broker/Realtor with RE/MAX Advantage in Raleigh. She has a designa- tion as a senior real estate specialist and recently obtained an executive certificate in home modification. About 20 percent of her clients are senior citizens. McCutcheon raises awareness of senior-focused real estate agents. And she also discusses home modifications that can help seniors prepare for aging in place. “I’ve always had a passion for working with seniors and making sure they’re safe at home,” explains McCutcheon, who began her career as an occupational therapist. She first learned about reverse mortgages when she was studying to become a senior real estate specialist. While she has not had many clients take on a reverse mortgage, she has grown more comfortable mentioning the product, thanks to her involvement in the local chapter. She used to try to explain the product on her own, but a reverse mortgage lender in the chapter told her simply to tell people it is an option and to refer questions to him. McCutcheon sees the product as being especially useful for people who are planning home modifications. “I know that there can be some value there,” she says. Referral Sources continued from page 21 Deb McCutcheon 22 REVERSE MORTGAGE / MAY-JUNE 2020