Life Care?
We are in our late 70's and on a long wait list for moving into a lovely condo complex, Grandview Terrace, here in Sun City West, Az. Some of our friends, mostly young friends, wonder if we have lost our minds. "You have a beautiful home, a citrus orchard in your yard, walled-in back yard for privacy and freedom for your dogs. What more could you want?"
Well, that's a point. But we are aware of, and believe in, the window. That is to say, there is a small window that opens somewhere between old middle age and early old age. During this time one has most of the physical, mental and emotional faculties that one has had throughout those wonderful early retirement years. And yet… cracks begin to appear.I won't go into that.
Suffice it to say that several of our friends held tight when the cracks began to appear and suddenly, when all hell began to break loose, found it almost impossible to make the decisions, break up housekeeping, sell the house and make the move. This is not a pretty thing.
Others, mostly family, have to do the hard parts. The window somehow suddenly closed. We don't want that.
Though you give up a lot, you also gain a lot, assuming that the right life care facility has been chosen. The environment includes several stress reducing factors, not unimportant for the aging.
Paying bills. So many of them are included in the monthly service package. Most of them, in fact.
Doing chores. No more lawn care, tree pruning, house cleaning, taking out the trash, taking care of the pool. Etc, etc. Cooking is no longer necessary, unless you want to.
Friends. Older people can get lonely. If you can avoid a condo that is insufferably ingrown there are many good people just waiting to have you as a friend. When death claims one of you, there is a huge built-in support group of people who have tasted that agony as well. That helps.
Health and fitness. Grandview has all kinds of physical fitness and recreational facilities. The health care, hospital and hospice care are within a block. These are excellent quality services.
So, you see, its all about the window. Geezers like us have to be watchful and proactive if they want to time the future to work in their favor.
Such a succinct and well-thought-out rationalization. We’re having to make that decision for my mother-in-law because she kept procrastinating when she was able to make the decision. Your explanation of why to make the move when one is able to and has the option and control over the decision is the best I’ve read. Thank you!
Bonnie
August 3, 2006 at 4:01 am
[...] My Dad lives with my mom, Jo Ann, in Sun City West, AZ with two dogs and a great house, full of stuff that is their life, and stuff that they are slowly giving away, selling, or throwing away. He has two articles today that may resonate with some of you. One on “Good Friday” and one on wise choices in one’s senior years. He was a great protestant minister for 40-some years, first United Methodist, and then United Church of Christ. He retired some time ago and after urging him to consider starting a blog, he has and realizes that he still has a hell of a lot to say. And it doesn’t require preparing a sermon, driving to work, managing a church and all that that entails. Some of Rog and Jo Ann’s favorite pasttimes these days is sitting in the Arizona room, each with their respective laptops in their laps, Jo Ann playing one of her many solitaire games (a passion she passed on to me), and my Dad surfing the internet and working on his blog. They are voracious readers and usually have their instant messaging programs on so that any of their five kids can chat with them if they wish. Their children live all over the country: Roger III (me) lives in LA, Andy lives in Andover MA, Elizabeth lives in Surprise AZ, Peter lives in Minneapolis, and Joe lives in Omaha. I know they are very proud of us all. In the spirit of my post yesterday, I don’t need an authorized mothers day or fathers day to say: Thanks Mom and Dad for being such good parents and friends. We love you! [...]
rogerbourland.com » Blog Archive » Buying a stationary bicycle; my parents
December 31, 2006 at 5:48 pm