Author: MJT
My Folks Live in a Senior Housing Community
I am happy that my folks recently moved into a senior
housing community because it’s comforting to know they have a nice living space
to spend their latter days.
Exodus
I grew up in Delaware
but headed west in my twenties and never looked back. My siblings – there are seven of us – also
were spread to the wind during the 1960s and 1970s. Six out of seven today live in Texas
and North Carolina. Only one sister remained nearby in Pennsylvania,
close enough to stop in and visit mom and dad regularly. I suspect this is a common situation in
modern day America.
My folks were left with a five bedroom split-level house in
the suburbs – a museum of childhood artifacts and a testimonial of American
middle-class achievement. It’s nice but
museums require a lot of upkeep, especially for seniors.
Senior Housing Becomes Community
Now, ideas of what a senior housing community consists of
are still evolving. Everything is
possible – from resorts to simple elegance.
My parents are ‘home bodies’ and their requirements are relatively
simple. Other than going out for dinner
and groceries once a week and maybe to church on Sunday, I don’t think they’ve
strayed from the house and the TV in the past decade.
Having no interest in moving south like so many other snow
birds, my folks stayed in their own home as long as they could and a little
longer than they probably should have.
The first few hospital stays make it apparent that maintaining an estate
or even a good sized house is the work of the young and energetic. Finally, at eighty-eight years of age, my
parents started to explore a smaller housing option.
I know it isn’t always so, but in my parent’s case, finding
a safe and convenient senior housing community was simple and less than a half
mile away from home. Moving in was more
traumatic for my dad than for my mom, but he did get some new furniture, a
great new recliner chair and bigger TV, so life is good.
The senior housing community they moved into has assisted
living options, a wide offering of activities and food on demand. My mom is getting exercise like never before
and my dad now has an audience for his political editorializing. Maybe that’s where I got it.
I hope all senior citizens are as lucky in finding a senior
housing community that fits.
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