My mother lived to be 89 with no health problems and no medications. She kept her own house and was staunchly independent, She worked until she was 83 , when she retired as a school secretary.Most of her friends were younger, since she hated hanging around old people because " all they talked about were their aches and pains, operations, medications and bowel movements " ( her exact words ) !I never considered my mother as an old lady.
My parents live in a senior apartment complex. It’s a cute little apartment with emergency buttons all over the place, tactfully placed. They have a fold-out couch, so my girls sometimes spend weekends. They knew everyone else in the building (including a couple of my mother’s cousins), and there are a few large common rooms. We used one to have our family reunion last weekend. My father is involved in a senior choir, where he sings AND plays harmonica, which is something I NEVER thought I’d see him do. It’s a wonderful place; something I wouldn’t mind when I hit my fogey-dom.
why would anyone consider an apartment when they have a house,If they need care move in with a family member.An apartment is the most expensive way to live
For my mom she gets very lonesome. When my dad was alive he removed the wall used to be attached garage and extended living room out which now confuses my mom thinking two bedroom home seems to big for her. I am caregiver to my 90-year-old mom who has Dementia and knows how to dial a phone she is worse then a call center. She cannot manage her minor medicine.Elizabeth is very sweet, but I understand what the woman talks of.
Hehe… that reminds me a little of my reaction when Mom said she wanted to move out of her condo into a retirement residence. She seems to be very happy there for the past couple years!
My dad was all set to move into a retirement community. The apartments were under construction, but a lot of the amenities were already available to the future residents. He went on several bus excursions during his “waiting period”. He was really looking forward to moving there. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer before the apartments were finished, and passed away within about 3 weeks after that. He would have been happy there as it was only about 3 blocks from the home he had lived in for 54 years and he would have still been able to get around to his favorite local hangouts.
A lot depends on the individual personality-those who are content with minimal social activity, i.e. can entertain themselves and don’t require daily social interaction can often be content in their own or a child’s home. Those who thrive on social interaction and want constant activity usually hate living by themselves and enjoy living in a retirement community with others around with similar interests. My Grandmother did not like living in an apartment but loved being in a care facility where she delivered mail, worked in the gift shop, and had daily interaction. My mother still lives with me at the age of 88 and is content to go to church on Sundays, attend a bible study group and get together for cards at the local American Legion once a month. She prefers to read, cook, do laundry and book keeping and has no desire to be a social butterfly constantly on the go.
We did offer when buying our second house, to look for those with Granny flats, but dad would have to help, because we did not have enough to cover it. My father decided(to the family’s relief, to live with my brother(which did NOT woek) so he ended up in a “residental” hotel, that served food. He could have saved money, even after kicking in 50k(or so) for the back house and utilities and food.He was not a pleasent person, I hope that my kids will think better of me(or more likely, my wife) when that time comes. I really would not like any residential hotel that I could afford.I think the real answer is for olders to band together in a commune type arrangement. One or two that have cars and drive, someone that owns the home, others that can take care of the upkeep. Get over that “living in sin” and just enjoy life with your peers.
Templo S.U.D. almost 9 years ago
Outta the babes’ mouths.
dlkrueger33 almost 9 years ago
I love this….Lizzie doesn’t think of Mrs. Baird as an old fogey. She is a friend.
Linguist almost 9 years ago
My mother lived to be 89 with no health problems and no medications. She kept her own house and was staunchly independent, She worked until she was 83 , when she retired as a school secretary.Most of her friends were younger, since she hated hanging around old people because " all they talked about were their aches and pains, operations, medications and bowel movements " ( her exact words ) !I never considered my mother as an old lady.
Wren Fahel almost 9 years ago
My parents live in a senior apartment complex. It’s a cute little apartment with emergency buttons all over the place, tactfully placed. They have a fold-out couch, so my girls sometimes spend weekends. They knew everyone else in the building (including a couple of my mother’s cousins), and there are a few large common rooms. We used one to have our family reunion last weekend. My father is involved in a senior choir, where he sings AND plays harmonica, which is something I NEVER thought I’d see him do. It’s a wonderful place; something I wouldn’t mind when I hit my fogey-dom.
Daniel Aplet almost 9 years ago
why would anyone consider an apartment when they have a house,If they need care move in with a family member.An apartment is the most expensive way to live
kab2rb almost 9 years ago
For my mom she gets very lonesome. When my dad was alive he removed the wall used to be attached garage and extended living room out which now confuses my mom thinking two bedroom home seems to big for her. I am caregiver to my 90-year-old mom who has Dementia and knows how to dial a phone she is worse then a call center. She cannot manage her minor medicine.Elizabeth is very sweet, but I understand what the woman talks of.
USN1977 almost 9 years ago
Elizabeth is young, but mature enough to grasp the etiquette concept that children are to be seen but never heard.
Chris Kenworthy almost 9 years ago
Hehe… that reminds me a little of my reaction when Mom said she wanted to move out of her condo into a retirement residence. She seems to be very happy there for the past couple years!
AndiJ almost 9 years ago
My husband’s step-mother just moved into one of these. She loves it. She can come and go to do her stuff and doesn’t have to worry about upkeep, etc.
JanLC almost 9 years ago
My dad was all set to move into a retirement community. The apartments were under construction, but a lot of the amenities were already available to the future residents. He went on several bus excursions during his “waiting period”. He was really looking forward to moving there. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer before the apartments were finished, and passed away within about 3 weeks after that. He would have been happy there as it was only about 3 blocks from the home he had lived in for 54 years and he would have still been able to get around to his favorite local hangouts.
Khatkhattu Premium Member almost 9 years ago
A lot depends on the individual personality-those who are content with minimal social activity, i.e. can entertain themselves and don’t require daily social interaction can often be content in their own or a child’s home. Those who thrive on social interaction and want constant activity usually hate living by themselves and enjoy living in a retirement community with others around with similar interests. My Grandmother did not like living in an apartment but loved being in a care facility where she delivered mail, worked in the gift shop, and had daily interaction. My mother still lives with me at the age of 88 and is content to go to church on Sundays, attend a bible study group and get together for cards at the local American Legion once a month. She prefers to read, cook, do laundry and book keeping and has no desire to be a social butterfly constantly on the go.
route66paul almost 9 years ago
We did offer when buying our second house, to look for those with Granny flats, but dad would have to help, because we did not have enough to cover it. My father decided(to the family’s relief, to live with my brother(which did NOT woek) so he ended up in a “residental” hotel, that served food. He could have saved money, even after kicking in 50k(or so) for the back house and utilities and food.He was not a pleasent person, I hope that my kids will think better of me(or more likely, my wife) when that time comes. I really would not like any residential hotel that I could afford.I think the real answer is for olders to band together in a commune type arrangement. One or two that have cars and drive, someone that owns the home, others that can take care of the upkeep. Get over that “living in sin” and just enjoy life with your peers.