CHICAGO — The transition into retirement can present an intimidating tangle of new bureaucratic and economic challenges, whether it's navigating Medicare or looking for a new home.
Anyone tired of putting off the process for themselves or their parents can attend three free events on the Far Northwest Side this week, where they'll get face time with professionals who can lay out every option, and how to take the first steps.
First, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Norwood Park Senior Center, 5801 N. Natoma Ave., will invite a health insurance broker to deliver a seminar on "Medicare options, cost-saving measures and exposure reductions," according to an event description.
Then, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, the assisted-living facility Norwood Crossing, 6016 N. Nina Ave., will host a workshop with real estate broker Dale Tippett to "discuss the process of selling your home."
Titled "No Mystery to Selling Your Home," the event will cover "getting help with disposing of your stuff, the need for other professionals and dealing with additional related issues," according to a description.
Visitors can RSVP to the free talks by calling Norwood Crossing at 773-577-5323 or emailing them at info@norwoodcrossing.org.
Finally, from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Realtor Jean-Marie Minton will host a "Seniors in Transition" fair at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
The event will begin as an open forum where visitors can peruse tables operated by elder law attorneys, life insurance companies, home care agencies, senior health services, real estate brokers and more.
Starting at 6 p.m., the participating vendors will start discussing common "scenarios" for aging homeowners and their families, with action plans for each situation, Minton said.
"It's never to early to have a plan ... in so many of these situations no one is having a conversation about it until a crisis hits," Minton said. "We want people to understand how to bring in help when they need to, and what professionals they should be bringing into that conversation."
The event is free, but participants are asked to register in advance online.
