By Darlene Franklin

My problems today are nothing compared to what I’ve already been through: my daughter’s suicide. I should remember that more often.
When my first book came out twelve years ago, I was the happy middle of a three-generation sandwich: myself, my mother and my grown daughter. I also worked for a decade at a satellite dish company with pleasant company and had flexible schedule that allowed me to write. I didn’t consider how quickly all that could change.
My world shattered with my daughter’s suicide. Grief overwhelmed me in the wake of the unbelievable loss. I stumbled around for months. The testimony of her faith, in her own words, reassured me that was living, pain-free, heaven. My tears were for myself, for the reasons that drove the beatitude “blessed are those who mourn.”
People around me commented on how well I was coping. How could I work, articulate, have hope, while in such pain?
My daughter Jolene had had a difficult life, stemming from abuse and consequential severe mental illness. God had given me an inner steel core that refused to break under pressure. Years of dealing with past abuse, and raising two emotionally disturbed children as a single mother had deepened and developed my faith over and over. Without that core strength, I wouldn’t have made it through most days.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 NIV
Looking back, in light of John 14:27, Jesus whispers something else to me. “That steel core was My peace that I gave to you. I didn’t give you an absence of conflict. Instead, I gave you Myself and My strength when you faced the worst.”
Here I thought the steel core had been crafted and given to me by God. But God had not given me that puzzle piece. He Himself had been that peace.
Jolene’s suicide was only the first of a series of life-changing events. After Jolene died, my mother moved to a nursing home. Things at my work place shifted, and I left my beloved Colorado to be near my grandchildren. A short time later, Mom died. My health disintegrated and I myself ended up in a nursing home.
Sometimes life sucks.
In some ways it was a huge relief. At last my problems could be addressed and steps taken to restore my health. I am much stronger now than I was when I first moved in, although independent living is still not a possibility.
Again, God has been my peace. So many who end up in long-term care hate and resent it. They weekly ask for prayer to go home.
Not me. This has been a place of healing. It has also been a place of amazing growth and opportunity.
Because, you see, a year or so after my health fallen apart, my publisher closed the book club I’d written for and my agent let me go. I was an author without a place to tell my stories. Briefly I wondered if God was going to end my writing career at the same time I lost my independence.
I kept writing-self-published a couple of books. Joined a small press. Since then, my publishing track entered a meteoric rise. Peace pressed down into the oil of joy.
So why oh why, when God has given me His peace to survive the big losses, do I reject the same peace in my daily struggles?
Because I think I can handle them on my own. I’m looking for peace like the world gives, worldly answers to worldly problems like when I go to bed and if I have enough supplies.
When problems were so big I knew I couldn’t handle them alone, I accepted God’s peace. Maybe He wants to remind me that everything is under His control. I’ll always need His peace.
It’s there, within my reach. Living in my heart. The next time life happens-I want to surrender, to open my heart so that God’s peace can fill in the hole.

All 99 degrees of the July sun beat down on the parking lot outside the Stuart Ranch Headquarters in Waurika, OK. Inside, the walls of the log cabin-style building are lined with awards and family photos, most of which include horses and cattle. The sound of boots on a concrete floor echo down the hallway as Terry Stuart Forst rounds the corner and greets a visitor with a smile and a handshake.
Forst is the General Manager of the 46,000 acre operation, a title she’s held since 1992 when her father handed her the reins.
She pulls out a bench and sits at a long dining table as she reflects on memories and stories of the ranch.
Forst has had agriculture in her blood from day one. Some of her earliest memories as a child include going with her siblings to play at “Big Daddy’s Playhouse”, which was the scale house her grandfather used to weigh cattle.
“When I was growing up, if I was on a horse, I was happy,” Forst said.
Upon graduating high school in Oklahoma City, Forst went on to attend Oklahoma State University which she credits with giving her some of the best friendships in her life. There she received her bachelor’s degree and returned home to the ranch. However, before she took the position of General Manager, she tried her hand in a few other roles across the region.
“I got my real estate license and lived in Dallas for a while,” Forst said. “I felt like a duck out of water and really was not happy.”
Forst decided to apply for Texas Christian University’s Farm and Ranch Management Program on a whim. She received a phone call the next day for an interview.
“When things just start falling into place perfectly, you know it’s God’s plan,” Forst said.
Shortly thereafter she got her son Clay enrolled in a local school and her youngest son, Robert, into a day care close by. When everything began to fall into place, Forst knew she was headed in the right direction. After graduating first in her class from the Farm and Ranch Management Program in 1992, she and her sons returned home to the ranch for good.
“We will be 150 years old next year,” Forst said explaining the history of Stuart Ranch. “I am the fifth generation, my son’s Robert and Clay are the sixth, and my grandchildren are the seventh.”
The Chisholm Trail Museum in Duncan, OK comes up in conversation between Forst and her visitor.
“Do you want to see it?” Forst asked.
“The museum?” the visitor asked.
“No the actual Chisholm Trail,” Forst said. “It runs right through our land. I’ll take you to see it!”
She climbs into her white Ford Expedition, looking over her grandkids’ car seat as she backs out of the drive. Dixie, a brown and white Welsh Corgi and Forst’s chief traveling buddy, takes a back seat for the ride.
A white cloud of dust trails the car as Forst drives down Jefferson County roads reminiscing on the history of the ranch – a subject that Forst is a scholar on.
The ranch, which was founded in Caddo, OK in 1868, is the oldest in the state of Oklahoma under continuous family ownership. To help the reader grasp the age of the operation, it was founded a few months before Ulysses S. Grant was elected President, five years before barbed wire had been designed and half a century before World War I broke out.
“Caddo is the oldest part of the ranch,” Forst said. “Daddy bought this place [Waurika] in 1993. When he died in 2001, we started realigning to make this our headquarters. It just made more sense and we’ve been here since 2004. It’s a very new move relative to our operation.”
The operation of 46,000 acres has now expanded into an area just east of Waurika, OK where their headquarters is located today. The ranch is separated into three categories: horse, cattle and outfitting divisions. Much to Forst’s delight, her two sons followed her footsteps and made the choice to live and work on the ranch.
The horse division is managed by Forst’s younger son, Robert, and has a history and tradition as deep as the ranch itself. The horse operation has had worldwide success over the past century taking home several world champion titles. Stuart Ranch received the American Quarter Horse Association’s Best of Remuda award in 1995 for their quality of working horses.
“We bred a little under 50 mares this year,” Forst said. “We do all of that in-house with artificial insemination.”
This is just one of many ways Stuart Ranch has diversified and adapted to ensure their success and growth.
The cattle division is comprised of 60 percent Black Baldies and 40 percent Herefords. Cows calve in one of two 60-day calving periods; February through March and September through October. Forst oversees the cattle operation and has four “camp men” that reside on the ranch to ensure things are taken care of properly.
The hunting division, Stuart Ranch Outfitters, is an Oklahoma Agritourism destination managed by Forst’s oldest son, Clay. The outfitting operation offers package hunts at both Caddo and Waurika locations. Hunters have an opportunity to hunt whitetail deer, turkey, waterfowl and feral hogs on 46,000 acres ranging from tallgrass prairies to rolling rocky hills.
Between the three divisions of the Stuart Ranch, no one would argue that Forst has a full plate when it comes to work. With 150 years under their belt, you can bet that Stuart Ranch has weathered a few storms and fought their fair share of uphill battles as well.
Forst has a way of dealing with those difficult times in life.
“I told my boys at a young age that sometimes all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, pray and keep trucking,” Forst said.
Forst goes on to talk about her love for the agriculture community. While that community encompasses thousands of families, she has never hesitated to help her neighbors – even if they’re 300 miles away.
When wildfires struck farms and ranches in northwest Oklahoma and southwest Kansas this March, Forst hurt with them. She rounded up 11 volunteers, 11 miles of fence, skid steers, trucks and countless tools and headed north.
“You’ve gotta help when you’ve gotta help,” Forst said. “The neat thing to me was seeing thousands of trucks loaded with hay and then you see one old man with a stock-rack pick up hauling two bales. Everyone just gave all they could. I can hardly talk about it.”
Forst has also received many awards and held positions that one simply does not attain without a strong work ethic and impeccable leadership skills. She served as the first female President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2007, just to name a few.
Although, if you want to hear about Forst’s accomplishments, don’t go to her. Her humble attitude can make obtaining information about herself a challenge. She will, however, brag on and on about those who have helped her along the way and shaped her into who she is today.
“I have been very blessed to have some really, really, really great friends,” Forst said. “The list goes on and on.”
May 19,, 2018 is set to be the ranch’s 150th anniversary celebration. Some may wonder how the ranch not only stayed above water, but thrived through 150 years of trials and hardships. Forst is quick to attribute the ranch’s success to God’s grace and, as long as Terry Forst has anything to do with it, the ranch will be around many generations to come.
“It’s interesting what God will do and how he’s orchestrated things in my life,” Forst said. “My whole life has been faith, totally and completely. I tell Him ‘I’m not quitting, so don’t quit on me, Lord!’”

With Medicare open enrollment less than two months away, the Oklahoma Insurance Department is asking seniors to be on alert. The warning comes after several Oklahomans have reported questionable phone calls from people claiming to represent or partner with Medicare.
“These callers are insistent on getting personal information from our seniors,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “We urge Oklahomans to never give out personal details such as date of birth, bank account numbers or their Medicare number over the phone. There are just too many cases of fraudulent activity in phone calls and new scams cropping up on a regular basis.” In one case, a man reported the caller asked for his birth date and Medicare costs. The caller implied that she was working with Medicare to audit Medicare supplement costs. In another instance, the caller told a senior he could get free supports and braces for his back and legs even though he did not need them. Seniors should beware of any promises of 100 percent coverage for medical equipment by Medicare. Medicare only covers durable medical equipment that is medically necessary and ordered by a doctor.
Purchasing medical equipment over the phone or internet and without involving your physician could actually cause more harm than good. The same is true for purchasing insurance.
To avoid potential scams, never buy insurance over the phone from an agent you do not know. It’s safer to use a local agent who you either personally know or who has been recommended to you by family or friends.
Here are a few more tips to protect yourself:
* If you don’t recognize the number on your caller ID, don’t answer the phone. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message. * If you answer the phone and realize it’s someone trying to sell you something or asking for your personal information, hang up. Seniors were raised to be polite, but in these situations, safety is more important. * If someone shows up at your home claiming to be from Medicare or claiming to partner with Medicare, close the door. Medicare will not come to your house, and Medicare does not endorse any particular policy or insurance company. * Report any suspicious calls to the Medicare Assistance Program at the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 800-763-2828.

Beginning in September, Mercy will have a familiar leader at the helm in El Reno.
Cindy Carmichael will return to Mercy Hospital El Reno for a second time as administrator. She served as interim administrator in 2009 prior to becoming chief operating officer in her current role at Mercy Hospital Ardmore. “Cindy has a love for El Reno, and El Reno has a love for her,” Mayor Matt White said. “We’re excited for her to be part of our continued success.”
In addition to her new position, Carmichael will provide support and oversight to Mercy administrators in Kingfisher, Guthrie and Watonga as regional administrator.
Carmichael has been with Mercy for more than a decade and has spent a large portion of her career dedicated to the development of rural health care. While in Ardmore, she helped forge a deeper relationship with Oklahoma Heart Hospital, which provides cardiac care for patients in southern Oklahoma. Carmichael also was instrumental in the construction and opening of a new Mercy clinic in Ardmore.
“Cindy has spent her career helping provide quality health care to towns across Oklahoma,” said Jim Gebhart, regional strategy officer for Mercy and president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “She brings an awareness of rural health care that gives us great confidence with her in this role.”
Doug Danker, El Reno’s former hospital administrator, will continue his service with Mercy as director of emergency medical services, where he will focus on growing Mercy’s ambulance service across the northern half of Oklahoma. Danker began his career with Mercy, formerly Parkview Hospital, in 1989 as a paramedic. He later served as supervisor of medical surgery and as director of nursing before being appointed administrator in 2012.
“It’s a double win for El Reno,” White said. “Mercy has given us a fabulous team with Doug and Cindy, and I’m excited to see what they’ve laid out for the community.”

On Tuesday, September 26, 2017, Oklahoma City’s Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble will present its first concert of the 2017-18 season, “Song and Dance,” featuring works of 20th and 21st century composers celebrating song, dance and rhythm. Brightmusic strings, clarinet, horn and piano will present works by George Gershwin (“Porgy and Bess” Ballade), a suite of four tangos by Astor Piazzolla, a work by Oklahoma City’s Edward Knight and a sextet by Ernö Dohnányi (aka Ernst von Dohnanyi). Try and resist the urge to get up and dance!
The works on the program are: George Gershwin, “Porgy and Bess” Ballade (for violin, clarinet & piano) Gershwin was an early 20th-century American composer and pianist best known for his Rhapsody in Blue.
Astor Piazzolla, The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (for violin, cello & piano) Piazzolla was a 20th century Argentinian composer best known for his tangos.
Edward Knight, Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon (for violin, cello, clarinet & piano) Knight is a contemporary American composer living in Oklahoma City celebrated for his distinctly American sound.
Ernst von Dohnanyi, Sextet in C major, Op. 37 (for violin, viola, cello, clarinet, horn & piano) Dohnanyi was a 19th-20th century Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor.
Brightmusic musicians performing are: Gregory Lee (violin), Mark Neumann (viola), Jonathan Ruck (cello), Chad Burrow (clarinet), Kate Pritchett (horn) and Amy I-Lin Cheng (piano).
The performance will take place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 26 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th Street (at Robinson). Individual concert admission is $20 per ticket. Children, students and active-duty military personnel are admitted free with ID. More information about this concert is available on Brightmusic’s website at http://www.brightmusic.org.

Local produce abounds at markets

by Bobby Anderson
Staff Writer

It’s a late summer Thursday afternoon at the Farmer’s Market at Central Park in Moore and Dale Roath is defending his honor.
“Is the old boy from Dibble still lying to us?” a customer playfully teases as he walks up to inspect Roath’s vegetable stand.
“He’s hoarding all those tomatoes,” fellow vender Jerry Smith calls out from the next booth.
“Don’t listen to this guy here,” Roath shoots back.
It’s all part of the summertime fun that goes with the farmer’s market.
“I think it’s important to buy local,” Roath said, counting out change from a cucumber sale with the man who had supplied the earlier ribbing. “You get stuff fresh, right out of the garden. Lot of times you go down to the grocery store and you get stuff that’s been shipped from all over the country and a lot of times it’s not the quality you get down here.”
Everything on Roath’s table was planted from seed and raised by him and his wife.
Roath taught science, social studies, coached and was a principal during his 34 years at Dibble Public Schools.
He says the market is a great hobby and truth be known he gives as much ribbing as he gets from vendors and customers who see the value in shopping local.
Next to Roath, Smith is tending to his novelty plants.
“I’ve been doing this so long I had to do something to make some money,” Smith explains of his assortment. “If I sell the same thing everybody else does I can’t sell this time of year. I’ve got something I can sell year-round.
“My stuff is unusual – shrimp plants and plants from all over the world,” Smith said.
Miniature pepper plants, African milk trees – all grown in one of three greenhouses on his five acres.
Smith lives by Lake Thunderbird and says there’s something that just draws people to markets like these.
“The people mostly. I feel it’s like a family out here,” Smith said of the reason he keeps coming back. “It’s something that’s local that brings people out.”
The market runs this year until Sept. 2.
Central Park Special Events Coordinator Teresa Smith says the market tries to stay flexible and affordable to attract local vendors. Rental for a space under the Farmer’s Market Pavilion is just $15 and a discount is given for those who want to pay in advance.
Bathrooms are a stone’s throw away and customers can pull their cars up to within just feet of the vendors.
The pavilion is next to a newly constructed aquatic center that draws hundreds of families daily. Most agree that doesn’t hurt either.
Roath has been coming to the Moore Farmer’s Market for six years. A regular at the Bethany market until it closed, Roath was looking for a good place to land to showcase his wares.
“I’ve really liked it,” Roath said. “I live 35 miles out but it’s easy to get to. It’s a nice facility with this canopy and you don’t have to set up a tent in a parking lot like we did over there. The bathrooms are right here and people can pull right up to the front.
“Over the last six years I’ve met a lot of people and I have the same customers that come back over the last five years.”
A few booths down Bob Sirpless is handing out free tastings from his local Legends Vineyard and Winery.
It’s his second year at Moore.
“It’s value-added,” Sirpless said. “We grown our own grapes and put it into wine. We also do the Norman market and we have some good sales here. It’s not too long and it’s not like going to one of the other shows and spending the whole day driving.”
Like Roath, Sirpless makes the drive on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
Moore Assistant City Manager Todd Jenson says the city has offered a farmer’s market for 12 years and it’s become a vital part of the community as it’s passed through six different locations.
“It’s very important. It adds to the quality of life,” Jenson said. “It’s one more event where people get out and meet their neighbors and meet new people.
“Each vendor has its own loyal customers and if they don’t they’ll develop it over time. This is (the farmer’s market’s) home.”
Home’s a good word.
“The people are friendly up here,” Roath said. “I don’t have any problem with competition. Everybody tries to get along and nobody is trying to cut each other’s throat like some markets I’ve seen.”

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

Oklahoma’s own senior, Dr. Barbara DeMaio, has returned to Oklahoma City after a successful singing career in Europe. As current Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Central Oklahoma, she has expanded her opera influence to being the Executive Director of the year old Painted Sky Opera company. The company recently secured residency at the Freede Theater at Oklahoma City’s downtown Civic Center Music Hall.
It seems appropriate for DeMaio to return to her opera roots in Oklahoma City where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Oklahoma City University School of Music.
“I grew up here, went to Northwest Classen high school,” says Demaio, “and I still have many, many friends here. I go to breakfast every Friday morning with my best friend from high school and my best friend from college. Their children call me “Aunt Barbara.” I love this state and this city. Although Italy will always be my second home, and I miss it every day, this is where I want to live and teach, and UCO is my dream job.”
DeMaio recalls, “The Painted Sky Opera originated in a casual conversation between co-founder Rob Glaubitz and me. We found it strange that Oklahoma City didn’t have its own professional opera company considering the popularity of opera in other regional cities and the diversity of the OKC artistic scene. We founded the company in 2015 along with co-founder Mikayah Fox.”
The Painted Sky Opera Board of Directors was formed in September 2015 with Joel Burcham as the founding president of the board.
Painted Sky Opera’s Mission is stated as “presenting innovative, inspiring opera through performance and education, featuring emerging professional artists in Central Oklahoma.”
“Our biggest challenge is to introduce opera to those who don’t know it and don’t realize how wonderful it is yet,” says DeMaio. “If we can get someone in the theatre, we are convinced that they will fall in love with this magnificent art form. The first opera I attended was at the Civic Center, many years ago; and it was Tosca. I’ve sung the role many times, and now I am thrilled that we are producing the opera and giving others the opportunity to sing this incredible music”.
The company’s first year season consisted of, La Canterina by Joseph Haydn, produced at the OKCMOA Samuel Roberts Noble Theater, then in June 2016 in collaboration with the Oklahoma Haydn Festival. It was followed by a double bill of Chabrier’s An Incomplete Education and Menotti’s The Medium in September 2016, which included a new libretto of the Chabrier comic opera written by Rob Glaubitz. Our first season ended with Verdi’s La Traviata in February 2017.
In this year’ s production of Tosca in the photo above, is Nicole Van Every, as one of the Toscas, Joel Burcham, who is one of the Cavaradossis, and Kevin Eckard, who is Sacristan.
The new season includes: Tosca, opera by Giacomo Puccini, on Oct. 6, 7 at 8pm and 8 at 2pm, in the Freede Little Theatre; Souvenir, play by Stephen Temperley about Florence Foster Jenkins Feb. 22-24, March 1-3, in the CitySpace theatre and concluding with Three Decembers, opera by Jake Heggie based on a play by Terrence McNally (Oklahoma Premiere) May 11 and 12 at 8pm, May 13 at 2pm, in the Freede Little Theatre
Tickets are on sale now, at the Civic Center Box Office. Season tickets are: $80 – one season ticket with reserved seating at all three of Painted Sky Opera’s shows – a savings of 20% off of full ticket prices; and $90 – season ticket with Gold Circle seating in the first six rows of Freede Little Theatre for Tosca and Three Decembers
Tickets available at the box office and online:
https://www.paintedskyopera.org
“In addition to productions, Painted Sky Opera has also made a commitment to education and outreach,” says DeMaio. “In Painted Sky Opera’s first year, we connected with more than 700 students at in-school outreach events. We also sang for retirement and hospital communities in Oklahoma City and even connected with opera lovers in Lawton. “
DeMaio’s repertoire includes all the great roles of a Puccini and Verdi soprano, performed in theatres in Italy, Swizerland, Germany and France; Tosca, Lady Macbeth, Turandot, Aida, Abigaille in Nabucco, and also Amelia in Ballo in Maschera, Elvira in Ernani, Lucrezia in I Due Foscari, Leonora in La Forza del Destino and Odabella in La Scala’s Attila directed by Riccardo Muti. She is also a noted interpreter of Norma, the Bellini heroine. Since returning to the United States she has added new shows to her repertoire; Bolcom’s Medea and Hoiby’s Bon Appetit! as well as the Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel , Domina in Forum and Costanza in the play Enchanted April.
DeMaio is currently an Asst. Prof. of Voice at the University of Central Oklahoma, teaching both Opera and Musical Theatre styles, Executive Director of the American Singers’ Opera Project, Executive Director of Painted Sky Opera and a Level III Somatic Voicework© teacher. In October, 2016, she was honored to be named as a Member Laureate by Sigma Alpha Iota. Her DMA Vocal pedagogy degree at Shenandoah University included dissertation research on the effect of menopause on the elite singing voice that she has since presented in the form of workshops and presentations across the US, and also in October, 2017, at La Voce Artistica in Ravenna, Italy.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
http://realtraveladventures.com/author/zinn/
www.okveterannews.com – www.martinitravels.com

As the parent of two children, Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., is well aware that the choices she and her husband make will have a profound impact on their daughters’ lives.
But Griffin is also a scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation who studies the emerging field of epigenetics. And through her research in this area, she is learning that the decisions we make as parents—what we feed our children, how much attention we give them as infants—may impact more than just our children, but also the genetic destinies of our descendants for generations to come.
Epigenetics are chemical changes to the genome that affect how DNA is packaged and expressed without affecting the underlying genetic sequence.
“Epigenetics works like a watermark on top of genes,” said Griffin. “If you imagine your genetic makeup as a well-oiled machine, epigenetics are like the rust that settles on it and leaves a surface coating. This can muck things up, suppressing genes that need to work or turning on genes that are meant to be quiet.”
Scientists have determined that these marks can form as a result of the foods we eat, the toxins we ingest or even the stressful events we experience. And that they can persist for generations in some species.
“The real news with epigenetics is that these actions can theoretically affect more than just you and your children, but also your great grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond,” said Griffin.
A geneticist by trade, Griffin has spent her career manipulating DNA, the encyclopedia of genetic information that is inside of each of our cells. Griffin edits DNA of laboratory mice so that she can understand the development and function of blood vessels in these animals. She said her experience has shown her that epigenetic marks really can serve to reprogram genes’ behavior.
“Anything that genetics controls, which is essentially everything about us, can be altered,” said Griffin. “It comes back to how the marks are read by proteins in the cell. Any extra variable changes what they read, and these variables can be introduced by bad lifestyle habits.”
Luckily, said Griffin, research suggests these epigenetic marks don’t have to be permanently etched onto your DNA. “It appears these marks are quite malleable in humans, and making healthy choices like eating a better diet or reducing stress can make a difference,” she said.
“To me, it’s profound and empowering that we can influence how our genes work through the choices we make,” she said. “It gives us yet another reason to live a healthy life and make smart choices, because it doesn’t just affect us.”

Article by Nikki Buckelew, Buckelew Realty Group’s Mature Moves Division with Keller Williams Realty. www.okcmaturemoves.com

A common question asked by retired homeowners is, “If I were to move, what is available nearby with a smaller yard that fits my budget?”
The vast majority of people over 55 have historically said they don’t want to move from their current homes, but lately many are beginning to reconsider. Instead, boomers and seniors are seeking ways to simplify their lives, both now and in anticipation of future needs.
The challenge for real estate professionals is helping these downsizing clients find places that are both affordable and solve the maintenance and yard work dilemmas.
Some people want to remain owners by simply trading in their current home for one that is a bit smaller, one level, and requiring less maintenance. Others are looking to relinquish homeownership altogether and just rent. By renting, home maintenance becomes the landlord’s problem, taking the concern about falling tree limbs, leaky roofs, and backed up sewer lines off the minds of seniors and their family members.
Even though more seniors are expressing the desire to downsize, there are certain obstacles keeping them from making a move. Reasons for not moving, despite a desire to do so, are largely related to three key factors: affordability, location, and perceived lack of support.
Affordability
Newer homes that are smaller and with yards which the neighborhood maintains are not as available as one might expect. Yes, they exist, but current inventory of such homes is limited. When they do become available, the lower priced ones sell quickly. Exterior maintenance-free homes under $200,000 are hard to find, with more inventory in the over $200K price ranges. Rents on 1-2 bedroom homes or traditional 55+ apartments will typically run between $1,100 – $2,300 in most areas of the metro. Reduced rent properties and section 8 housing vouchers (for those who qualify) require application and have waiting lists from 3 months to 2 years depending on the location.
Location
Newer neighborhoods designed for the 55+ crowd tend to be located toward the outer edge of the metro because that is where developers are finding land at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, there is limited space within the city limits of the Village, Bethany, Warr Acres, and Oklahoma City, where retirees homesteaded some 40 or more years ago and where they prefer to stay. If developers can find a small pocket where they can build, the price point of homes pushes the financial limits for many retiring boomers and seniors on a fixed income. Considering land costs, developers also tend to build bigger than most downsizing seniors want — it’s a matter of ROI for them.
Perceived lack of support
Many seniors say they would move if they found a suitable place, but candidly tell us that they struggle researching their options. With the internet as the primary method for marketing homes and apartment communities, the “technology-challenged” tend to struggle locating 55+ living options. Furthermore, new construction and lease properties aren’t always listed in the multiple listing service (MLS), the go-to database for local real estate agents. Finding leases requires multiple phone calls, driving neighborhoods, and online searches.
Assuming one does locate a neighborhood, home, or apartment that suits them, managing the logistics of the move can be a daunting task to many long-time homeowners. With families scattered around the country and adult children maintaining their own jobs, homes, and kids, seniors often struggle with where to get help. Few are aware of the local services that provide downsizing, relocation, and liquidation support or see it as an unnecessary expense, but the ones who do make the investment find that having a professional move manager can make all the difference.
To learn more about issues effecting retired homeowners, attend the Senior Living Truth Series: The Truth About Homeownership in Retirement. Two sessions: October 12th at 10am or 2pm, MAPS3 Senior Health and Wellness Center, 11501 N Rockwell, Oklahoma City. The event is free to seniors and their guests. Professionals pay $25. Seating is limited so call 405.563.7501 or go online www.seniorlivingtruthseries.com to register.

The Stephenson Cancer Center will hold a Gynecologic Cancers Survivor’s Workshop on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 8 am to 4 pm in Oklahoma City.
The all-day workshop is designed to provide patients, survivors, and caregivers with the basics of gynecologic cancers as well as in-depth information on targeted therapies and treatments. Additional topics include: genetic and tumor testing, vaccinations and preventions, and supportive care topics including lymphedema, sexual health, and physical therapy.
The workshop is open to gynecologic cancers patients, survivors, and caregivers. Regardless of when or where treatment was received, all are welcome to attend. There is no cost to attend, and breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The Gynecologic Cancer Survivor’s Workshop will take place at the Samis Education Center at The Children’s Hospital, located at 1200 Children’s Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104. To RSVP for the workshop, please visit stephensoncancercenter.org/gynoncworkshop or call (405) 271-1253. According to the American Cancer Society, about 22,440 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis and about 12,820 women will receive a cervical cancer diagnosis in 2017. Ovarian and cervical cancers represent the majority of all gynecologic cancer diagnoses.