A New Chapter

One summer day almost two years ago Tim's dad, Art, drove himself to his doctor. He did not feel good he told the receptionist. He did not have an appointment, but they worked him in anyway. It was quickly determined that he needed immediate emergency care and he was put into an ambulance and taken to the ER nearby. Two days later he underwent bypass surgery and from that day forward life as he knew it had changed forever.

After much rehab and an attempt to return to his home, it quickly became apparent that living on his own - alone - would no longer be possible. Driving a car was out of the question. He was face to face with the loss of his freedom and independence.

Brighton Gardens, a beautiful assisted living facility is where Art now lives. With Tim's help, he recently put his house on the market. Its lovely charm and good neighborhood location could not be resisted by a very nice couple and the house was soon under contract. Art signed the documents to transfer ownership several weeks ago. Although relieved to no longer have this property to worry about, it must have felt like somewhat of a loss to give up ownership of the home he and Dot happily shared for many years. Selling his house must have felt like selling his independence and freedom along with it.

Such are life stages that many people face each day. If the same circumstances arise for me, how will I feel giving up my own home, my own car, my own sense of freedom to come and go as I please? Probably that wouldn't feel so wonderful.

Ask any resident of an assisted living facility how they like living there. The response is usually a simple "it's okay". I think what they really mean is "I wish I could be back in my own home where I could hop in my car and run my own errands or walk across the street to ask my neighbor how his tomato plants are coming along. I wish I could wake up in the morning, make my own cup of coffee and walk down the driveway in the cool air to pick up my newspaper. I wish I could get started on the pretty spring flowerbed I plant each year. The neighbors always enjoy that color burst. But I don't have my home anymore so I can't do these things. But, yes, this new place that I now call home is very nice - it's okay."