San Diego MD Magazine

San Diego MD Magazine is a community resource serving the physicians and residents of San Diego and North County, providing access to physicians & medical news

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Each month, San Diego MD Magazine will be available at medical centers, senior communities, hospitals, and physicians' offices — at no charge. You may also have it delivered to your home or office for a low annual subscription rate.

Cover Story
ASSISTED LIVING:
So Much Better Than Many Believe
By Nancy Coulter Beland • April 2009

As I sit in my small but comfortable home I look around at all my stuff and wonder about my senior years. This home is undoubtedly mine (well “ours”, my husband lives here, too). The decor is quite eclectic with flavors of New England (where we hail from), photos of family and friends and of the many trips we’ve taken. There are models of planes and boats which are my husband’s passions. Candles and plants live in every room. Our wine and cocktail glass collection from all of our trips is in the dining room buffet near our wine collection. And then, of course, there is my craft corner (occasionally used as the Dining Room) and our joint office area which occupies part of the living room. I know that when I’m a senior, the odds are that one day I will have to leave here in order to be cared for in some type of community or facility. My husband jokes that we’ll run away to the woods in our camper and “live on squirrel meat.” Thanks to long-term care insurance, I don’t think it will be quite that drastic. But it’s good to have options.

I recently received an e-mail joke regarding a senior citizen moving to a facility. It goes something like this: A 90+ year old was moving to an assisted living community. He had lost his eyesight years ago and had recently lost his beloved wife. While sitting in the lobby of the community his daughter had picked out for him, he commented to a staff member who asked if he’d like to see his room, “I love it.” The staff member replied, “but you haven’t even seen it yet.” (A figure of speech, of course). The kindly gentleman retorted back that it didn’t matter if the curtains were lace or linen, or what color the quilt on the bed was. “I have already decided that I am going to love it here. When you get up in the morning you have a choice. You can decide if you will have a good day or a bad one. By deciding that I’m going to love it here I’m already better off.” Read entire story >>