Life-After: What's Out There, Elders?

[After reading post by Time Goes By, July 30, 2007]

My final photo of a favorite view from my kitchen window, autumn, Baltimore, 1995.  We had made the decision to retire to New York City.

Why would we do that? Large attractive house, now all to ourselves, children gone. Elsie Ferguson, artist and shop owner, said we were crazy.  From her perspective-- native Baltimorean, began life there, morphed from high school graduate to department store exec to hugely successful entrepreneur in her own business (an inside view of her Something Else shop, listed by Frommer's-- there was no place else.  A person could travel elsewhere but Baltimore was home.      

Native New Yorkers too, longing to go elsewhere, anywhere but the City, also questioned our decision once we moved here.  So, when we started to look into CCRCs (continuing care retirement communities), we were not surprised by edgy responses from peers.

Even in The Transition Network, the organization I belong to for women 50-plus, there has been reluctance to have a conversation about what's next.  Thanks to Ronni Bennett at TGB; I urge you to read what she writes. Last summer an effort on this blog met with little response.  The coments at TGB indicate many are now ready to look out that window.

[Check out the Kendal Corporation CCRCs, "...integrating Quaker values...fostering continued learning, outreach programs in the field of aging... "   Many are connected with colleges.  We are particularly drawn to their idea of programs for residents developed by those who live there rather than "activity directors."]

Comments

[vuee]

Liz Taylor | Growing Older
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/growingolder/

Liz Taylor writes an excellent series on planning and aging in place. She just finished a series on what's new in eldercare.

[Ann]

Thank you for this post, and I will be checking out TGB, of course. My parish here is a retirement parish, and I find some hesitation here as well to address "what's next." Of course, this Cumberland community is "what's next" for many retirees, and looking ahead to increasing physical (and sometimes cognitive) frailty is more than can be done. But we also have a perfectly wonderful continuum of care community here that may someday be a next step for me, as it is a perfectly lovely place. A friend close to my age (55) has bought her (independent living) condo there, and will move through the progressive levels of care as she needs them. Anyway -- thanks for broaching the topic here; I'll do my homework and get back to you!

[Claude]

I guess that what's next still frightens me too much! I'll cross that hurdle in time, I guess.

[joared]

Checking available and desirable retirement living arrangements is certainly a wise move for every elder. Knowing when to make the move can sometimes be a bit more challenging.

I'm still thinking that as long as I'm in my right mind, if I can afford to live at home with the help and transportation I want, I'll pass on group community living. My views are always subject to change if circumstances warrant.

[dez]

There is a delightful retirement community near our home. Individual apartments with wee porches and gardens, built in a village-like design and reasonably priced compared to many other CCRCs. You can have an apartment, assisted living, or, if need be, move into the nursing facility if your health really fails. I have my mom on the waiting list if she ever needs it -- she likes the facility -- but for now she is steadfast about remaining in New Orleans and living in her own house. She is 79 and I hope she keeps her health and wits for many more years.

I'm still under 50, but thinking ahead nonetheless. I dream of moving to the Oregon coast, or maybe Vancouver, when and if I "retire," so I understand your relocation. Critical to me is a place that allows pets.