Aging in Place – Affecting How and Where We Live Part I: 10-31-26 Podcast

Real Estate Matters has been Palm Coast and Flagler County, Florida’s real estate voice for more than 12 years.

We do not live the life we plan. We live the life we are given. In 2000, Shirley and I moved to Palm Coast and built our “final home” in Grand Haven. I just moved into my fourth final home, this time a rental condominium. Being in the right home helps to preserve your wealth and your health.

Unfortunately, society does a poor job of preparing us for the final phases of life. The changes can be gradual but progressive (dementia, MS, Parkinsons) or sudden (a cancer diagnosis, stroke, heart attack, or a fall). Other triggers include retirement, job loss, deteriorating family dynamics, or investments that went south. Either way, the results are often overwhelming; financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Today’s guests deal with the consequences of these issues daily. They can help people plan for and cope with aging in place as our loved ones and we approach the end of life.

Watch the Podcast and read the Show Notes below for more details.

Be sure to check out the continually updated interactive Flagler County Map of Developments and Subdivisions.

Raw Show Notes

Show Notes for 10-31 and 11-7-2026

Recorded 10-30-2026

Welcome to the tranquil side of Florida. This is Real Estate Matters, the voice of real estate in Flagler County and Palm Coast for more than 12 years.

I’m Toby Tobin, publisher of the real estate news website GoToby.com, and a Florida-licensed Realtor with Grand Living Realty. Co-host Annamaria Long is with me in the studio today.

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

• Flagler County Home Builders Association
• Hammock Community Church

Guest:

Diane Viidal – Chiumento Law Firm

Tracy Farmer and Rob Errett Flagler County paramedics

Month to date stats: (as of noon, 10-30)

Homes sold = 203, median price = $379.490, DOM = 68.

Last October, 240 homes were sold at a median price of $364,195, DOM = 83

Statistics are great, but I don’t want to state them every week, eating into time better reserved for more in-depth discussion of weekly topics. Beginning in November, I’ll be posting month-to-date stats on GoToby.com. I’ll update this data throughout the month and include stats on townhomes and condos, too.

Main Topic: Aging in Place – How this concept affects how and where we live.

People ask me “How are you doing?” At 83, that’s no longer a rhetorical question. I often reply with a smile, “Just living the book of Job.” That’ the book in the Bible that addresses the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

In the past fifteen years, I’ve survived a shattered pelvis (I’ve fallen and can’t get up), a critical bout with a rare eye cancer, and an unrelated major surgery that included a vivid near-death experience. Meanwhile, my wife battled Alzheimer’s Disease. She passed in February after spending 3+ years in a residential care facility.

I now lead a caregiver support group that meets monthly at Hammock Community Church on A1A in The Hammock. All are welcome to attend on the second Monday of each month at 10:30

We do not live the life we plan. We live the life we are given. In 2000, Shirley and I moved to Palm Coast and built our “final home” in Grand Haven. I just moved into my fourth final home, this time a rental condominium. Being in the right home as we age helps to preserve our wealth and our health.

Unfortunately, society does a poor job of preparing us for the final phases of life. The changes can be gradual but progressive (dementia, MS, Parkinsons) or sudden (a cancer diagnosis, stroke, heart attack, or a fall). Other triggers include retirement, job loss, deteriorating family dynamics, or investments that went south. Either way, the results are often overwhelming: financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Today’s guests deal with the consequences of these issues daily. They can help people plan for and cope with aging in place as our loved ones and we approach the end of life. Sixty years ago, an attorney handed me my favorite euphemism as he avoided using the term “when you die.” Instead, he said, “When your will matures.”

To guests: Tell our listeners how your daily jobs relate to this discussion, Diane, Rob, and Tracey

Key questions:

Sometimes “bleep” happens. Some are unavoidable, some can be avoided. Let’s talk about the differences.

Can you give me some real-life examples that demonstrate the results of a sudden change in life experience?

Were they avoidable?

Could the results have been better mitigated? How?

We don’t know what we don’t know. Where can we go to learn more?

Wrap-up:

Video podcasts of Real Estate Matters are available on GoToby.com. Click on Podcasts on the top navigation bar. Show notes are included so you can see what we didn’t get to on the show. Also, the Flagler County Interactive map of residential developments and subdivisions on GoToby.com is updated regularly.

If you are thinking about buying or selling property in Flagler County, call me first. Based on your needs and goals, I’ll connect you with a qualified Realtor or builder and remain at your side as you navigate