Spotlight on the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM)

Meet  the leadership team of the leading membership organization for Move Managers whose hallmark is recognizing and managing the stress of relocating older adults, individuals and families. 

Featured Panel Members: 

• Mary Kay Buysse, MS, is NASMM's Executive Director since 2006. Mary Kay guides membership recruitment, retention, education and program development, and day-to-day operations for NASMM. With a Master of Science degree in Gerontology, Mary Kay has worked in the non-profit, association sector of aging services for over two decades. 
• Jennifer Pickett, Associate Executive Director, oversees membership services as well as the development, marketing, and promotion of NASMM products and services, web design, graphic design and NASMM's Conference and Expo. She has over 25 years of association management expertise with senior service organizations and brings over 30+ of marketing and meeting planning experience to NASMM.

Chat Transcript

12:04:23     From  Beth McNamara   to   All panelists : Thank you, Steve! These Moving & Downsizing sessions are the highlight of our month at JK Moving Services. We love partnering with you and the Positive Aging Sourcebook -- the conversations here are so valuable.

12:06:38     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Beth McNamara to All Panelists:  12:04 PM

Thank you, Steve! These Moving & Downsizing sessions are the highlight of our month at JK Moving Services. We love partnering with you and the Positive Aging Sourcebook -- the conversations here are so valuable.

12:06:47     From  Mary Schuett : My husband has recently been diagnosed and is less than mild cognitive disfunction.  He is easily angered, illogical, and resists taking medication. I am lining up counseling for him, but he will be angry. Our daughter will join us for our last week in FL. We will be donating most of our items. He will have to get rid of some of his collections, cue sticks, aquariums and fish, clocks. we have been downsizing and moving things to MN for the past two years.

12:09:09     From  Mary Schuett : We have ordered a POD, 8ftx7x8’. we will have two weeks to fill it.

12:12:05     From  Mary Schuett : I have also scheduled a charity organization’s truck to come and get furniture and misc.

12:15:45     From  Charna Kinneberg   to   All panelists : Steve - you did okay - I was on the first panel and I'm a founder of NASMM.

12:18:14     From  Melissa Bressler : Good afternoon, looking forward to your presentation! Melissa Bressler - Outreach Manager at HandyPro of Washington DC Metropolitan and Occupational Therapist, we specialize in home modifications for seniors and all persons with an injury, illness or condition experiencing safety and accessibility issues at home.

301-960-9830 / melissa@handypro.com / www.handyproWDC.com

12:19:44     From  Ken Silverstein : Good Afternoon Everyone--Ken Silverstein, AlfredHouse Assisted Living--10 boutique homes in Montgomery County and serving the entire DMV.  We are accepting new residents.  Direct cell is 240-535-0597, ksilverstein@alfredhouse.com

12:21:45     From  Patti Hanson : I consider myself a Junior Senior!!

12:22:58     From  Linda Meluski : Hi Everyone: Linda Meluski, Moving On with 

Designs For You in Chesapeake, Va. 757-550-3899.

12:23:21     From  Charna Kinneberg   to   All panelists : Charna Kinneberg - Senior Transitions, Inc.  410-515-1199.  www.seniortransitionsinc.com  mdseniortransitions@gmail.com

12:23:32     From  Victoria Hathaway : Hello!  Director of senior real estate at Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Lucido Agency here, Vic Hathaway 410-979-4284, Victoria@BobLucidoTeam.com  I make certain to educate every single person I meet about the industry of Move Management, how it is different from regular moving services, and the magic wand that it is, particularly for older adults and their normally stressed out/very busy adult children.  I also work hard to ensure that real estate agents understand the benefit to *them* as the Agent.  Raving Fan.

12:23:35     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Charna Kinneberg to All Panelists:  12:23 PM

Charna Kinneberg - Senior Transitions, Inc.  410-515-1199.  www.seniortransitionsinc.com  mdseniortransitions@gmail.com

12:24:22     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Here is the NASMM website https://www.nasmm.org/

12:26:56     From  Maritza Rivera : Found 31 in my zip code!

12:27:41     From  DAVID ENGEL : Hi Everyone! David Engel Senior Real Estate Specialist, Lic in MD, VA, DC. Member of GROWS growsmc.org david@davidengelrealty.com 240-620-4783

12:27:47     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : @Patti Hanson - I too am a "junior" senior at 62 years young

12:27:49     From  Mary Kay Buysse – NASMM   to   All panelists : They are listed by distance from you as well, in the zip code search. The earlier entries are closest to you.

12:28:24     From  Mary Kay Buysse – NASMM : They are listed by distance from you as well, in the zip code search. The earlier entries are closest to you.

12:28:48     From  Patti Hanson : @Mindy - I am 61. I really feel off today without our Pivot Shift Mastermind!

12:30:18     From  Maritza Rivera : Puerto Rico?

12:30:45     From  Andrea Keller : Hi everyone! Andrea Keller, with Wise Moves. Concierge Move Management & Home Organization. NASMM A+ Accreditation Member. 301-802-1855 / akeller@wisemoves.net / www.wisemoves.net

12:32:35     From  Keisha Toussaint Mc Mayo : Good afternoon everyone 

Keisha Toussaint Mc Mayo

Family Support Worker II 

Prince George’s Department of Social Services 

keisha.toussaint@maryland.gov

12:35:25     From  Joanne Johnson   to   All panelists : It is such an emotional experience for seniors. Do you ever reach out to counselors?

12:35:51     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : @Patti - me too. Got on the NC Huddle early though

12:35:57     From  Michele Higgs   to   All panelists : Michele Higgs, Community Outreach Coordinator Housing Initiative Partnership, Montgomery County Home Sharing Program -- mhiggs@hiphomes.org

12:36:31     From  Mary Schuett : thank you

12:38:14     From  marie marcoux   to   All panelists : How are fees structured? Examples?

12:39:20     From  Linda Meluski : Mary, I would just suggest that you keep some of your husband's "memories" as he may relate to an experience with it that made him happy.

12:39:29     From  Mary Schuett : good idea

12:39:52     From  Mary Schuett : thanks

12:41:10     From  Mary Schuett : had to book truck 3 weeks in advance

12:42:09     From  Joanne Johnson   to   All panelists : I often suggest donations to shelters and such who are getting folks back on their feet

12:42:37     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Joanne Johnson to All Panelists:  12:42 PM

I often suggest donations to shelters and such who are getting folks back on their feet

12:42:55     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Michele Higgs to All Panelists:  12:35 PM

Michele Higgs, Community Outreach Coordinator Housing Initiative Partnership, Montgomery County Home Sharing Program -- mhiggs@hiphomes.org

12:43:09     From  Mary Schuett : we have “Early Garage Sale” stuff

12:43:18     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : I have my grandparents dishes and although my older sister has the matching serving pieces, she isn't interested in the dishes and no other family is either.

12:43:43     From  Michele Higgs   to   All panelists : We see seniors who wish to share their homes but have to rid themselves of excess furnishings and artifacts in order to be able to do so. Often cost to hire a move manager is an issue, any suggestions for them? Volunteers? Donating to charity shops, non profits that assist people transitioning from homelessness helps? But to physically make things happen,

12:43:52     From  Charna Kinneberg   to   All panelists : You  need to search.  Many move managers will require you to hire them before they share their referral sources.  We can sometimes get creative.  Just donated a full set of dishes to someone who does mosaics

12:44:31     From  Linda Meluski : When trying to get rid of china, platters,etc., call a local catering company.  They "lose" many items during events!

12:44:44     From  Cheryl Tucker   to   All panelists : Furniture may be usable At Independent Sr.  Apartments that are Section 8/202 housing most often they cant even afford a simple dresser or bedframe.  hook up with your local churches as well, some families after fires have nothing. 

12:48:11     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Here are recordings of all of our discussions with Senior Moving Managers and other providers https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos?q=moving+&+downsizing

12:49:19     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Joanne Johnson to All Panelists:  12:42 PM

I often suggest donations to shelters and such who are getting folks back on their feet

12:49:57     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : @Steve Gurney - thank you for access to the recordings

12:52:15     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Cheryl Tucker to All Panelists:  12:44 PM

Furniture may be usable At Independent Sr.  Apartments that are Section 8/202 housing most often they cant even afford a simple dresser or bedframe.  hook up with your local churches as well, some families after fires have nothing.

12:52:34     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Linda Meluski to Everyone:  12:44 PM

When trying to get rid of china, platters,etc., call a local catering company.  They "lose" many items during events!

12:52:55     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Charna Kinneberg to All Panelists:  12:43 PM

You  need to search.  Many move managers will require you to hire them before they share their referral sources.  We can sometimes get creative.  Just donated a full set of dishes to someone who does mosaics

12:55:35     From  Maritza Rivera : I need an interim place to live while I sell my condo and move to my retirement home out of the country. Not sure where to begin

12:57:37     From  Linda Meluski : Tom, does your company extend its services to Chesapeake?

12:58:40     From  Patti Hanson : @Maritza - AirBnB

12:58:52     From  Jennifer Hammer : happy to help!  Jennifer@silvernest.com

13:00:13     From  Maritza Rivera : Thanks that helps!

13:02:07     From  Linda Meluski : For actual silver, try antique dealers.

13:02:41     From  Charna Kinneberg : Depends on the pattern and the manufacturer too.

13:02:47     From  Michele Higgs : Montgomery County Home Sharing Program (Montgomery County , MD) works with Silvernest to pair senior homeowners with a spare bedroom with home seekers looking for an affordable place to rent for six months or longer.

13:03:05     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : There is also the "Buy Nothing Project" facebook groups to give things away for free

13:03:17     From  Mindy Dopler Nelson : They are all over the country by town/city