Edna's Story

Edna, 75, likes to volunteer, write family stories, and travel. But in recent years, medical expenses and home renovations had her worried that she would have to make major lifestyle changes just to pay her bills.

"I talked to a counselor at Jewish Family and Children's Services about a reverse mortgage," she explains. The agency is a member of our Reverse Mortgage Counseling Services Network.

"I thought we would talk about the loan and nothing else," Edna recalls. "But I was asked questions about what I wanted to do with my life. And I learned of services I may need later, like Meals on Wheels or a driver to social and medical appointments. This would help me be able to stay in my home and my community."

"When the discussion was over, I felt that I had looked at all the aspects of my life and was assured that it would be safe to take out the loan," she says. "My ideas of what I wanted to do were validated, and I got my dignity back."

Edna decided to take out a reverse mortgage — and she can once again afford the newspaper subscription she had stopped. She renovated her home, bought a camera, and attended computer training, so she can work on her family history project.

Perhaps most importantly, Edna is better aware of the resources she may need in the future — and better prepared to face a variety of challenges in the years ahead.

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