PHOTO BY GLENN TR IEST siness nfprrnation Highway Knowledge is king, say authors of publications for senior citizens. # STEVE STEIN STAFF WRITER *4 • . * 41 4•15111:111:, ^ .••00 % • . CID C/) w CC f--- w w 40 41,41 • Mr. Stern's book, which he published himself, has sold 13,000 copies since its release last July. An up- dated version, with a press run of 30,000, will be re- leased this summer by Ca- reer Press in New Jersey. The four-year-old newsletter has 15,000 sub- • scribers across the country. Mr. Stern is close to se- curing actor Tom Bosley as the spokesman for the book, newsletter and six one-hour audio cassettes, based on Senior Saavy, Anita Kremer talks with Mrs. Ruth Stotsky at Windemere Skilled Care Residence in which are scheduled to be West Bloomfield. available in August. Both of Mr. Stern's publica- tions focus on ideas designed to hey live thousands of miles apart, help individuals who are trying but their objective is the same: to retire, those who are already They are determined to provide retired or those caring for an el- information for senior citizens derly person. that allows them to live their lives Topics include the effect of to the fullest. health-care reform, how to make Former Farmington Hills res- sure a stay in a long-term care fa- ident Ken Stern, who now calls cility doesn't leave a family pover- San Diego home, has written a fi- ty-stricken, avoiding scams and nancial-help book titled Senior rip-offs, estate planning, wills, Savvy. trusts, joint tenancy, strategies The lecturer, teacher and dai- to be savvy with money and tech- ly radio talk-show host in San niques for lowering taxes. Diego also is the editor of The Ma- The impetus to launch the ture American newsletter. Be- newsletter and write the book cause of his publications and came from the types of questions frequent speaking engagements, Mr. Stern fielded from senior cit- Mr. Stern has been a guest on ra- izens on his radio show, which of- dio and television shows across fers financial advice to the public. the country. "It seemed like there was Meanwhile, Anita Kremer of nowhere for senior citizens to Southfield distributes a free, twice- turn to get unbiased information yearly Guide to Senior Living Al- about their important financial ternatives publication for senior matters," said Mr. Stern, a grad- citizens in southeastern Michigan. uate of North Farmington High It has done so well that Ms. Kre- School and the University of Den- mer is getting ready to launch a ver. Chicago edition in the fall. "Our lawmakers love to make 11 w 4.4r• ,r ; ."„T glit • s 10. • • 4' wo. Mgr life complicated to get more mon- ey out of us. If we don't do any- thing, they can get away with it. The only way to stop them is just to do something. "My work has been very re- warding. I've gotten a lot of nice letters from senior citizens I have helped through the years. I call them my happy notes." Mr. Stern will be home for a week this month. It's both a busi- ness and a personal trip. Among six speaking engagements on his agenda are talks to senior citizens at noon May 18 at Temple Israel and 1 p.m. May 19 at the Maple/Drake Building of the Jew- ish Community Center. "I really enjoy coming to De- troit and speaking to senior- cit- izen groups," Mr. Stern said. Mr. Stern, who is single, is president of Segue Capital Inc. in San Diego, a company he found- ed in 1989. With the senior-citizen popu- lation in the United States ex- pected to double to 62 million by the year 2025, the question of where the elderly can live com- fortably is becoming crucial for more and more families. Ms. Kremer's publication is de- signed to provide answers. It is distributed in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe and St. Clair .counties at places frequented by senior citizens. The first issue of Senior Living Alternatives had a press run of 20,000. Some 36,000 copies of the fifth edition (winter/spring 1994) are now being distributed. "A publication like mine was needed because senior citizens and their families had no place to look for complete housing infor- mation," said Ms. Kremer, who is publisher, author and adver- tising saleswoman. "Senior Living Alternatives gives everyone a chance to com- pare items like services and rates and see what's available in dif- ferent locations," Ms. Kremer said. "It also gives the owners of facilities an opportunity to pro- mote themselves. "Now, families can make hous- ing decisions based on facts, not what happens to be the most con- ( venient place." The guide is divided into re- tirement residences, assisted-liv- ing care centers and nursing homes. In addition to detailed in- formation about the facilities in each category, there are check- lists and forms. The publication also has in- formation on topics like Medic- aid, Medicare, the Alzheimer's Association, community services, home- health care, living wills and 800 phone numbers. Before getting into the pub- lishing business, Ms. Kremer spe- cialized in marketing and management in the housing in- dustry. She was director of new mar- ket development for the Village Green Management Company in Farmington Hills from 1983-86; vice-president, redevelopment for First Property Management Company in Chicago from 1987- 1990; and vice president, opera- tions for the Solomon Group in Troy in 1990. For information on Mr. Stern's publications, call 1-800-728-8901. For information on where to ob- tain a copy of Senior Living Al- ternatives, call 350-0770.