Not My Grandma's Nursing Home
Not My Grandma’s Nursing Home
By Julie Murray
Ecumen’s Director of Real Estate Development
I will always remember my Grandmother telling my Mother and me that she did not want to ever go to a Nursing Home - - and she almost made it. In her 93rd year of life when her cancer aggressively returned, there was no other option and unfortunately she did have to spend her final days in the place she feared the most. The place smelled bad, looked worse, and the food was awful. Each time I flew in to visit Grandma I was asked to bring food. On top of all of this, she had a roommate who, because she had been there longer, had the bed by the only window in the room (and she was not too pleasant). Although to be fair neither was my Grandma in the end. My mother and I both lived in Texas and Grandma lived in Iowa, it was a difficult time for our family.
Today, my Mom is in her late 60’s and when we discuss the “what ifs” of life, we talk about a nice assisted living community where she could get help if she needed it yet have her own little apartment with her things and her privacy. Now I know this is not necessarily what she is hoping for, but she does not dread it. She knows that the options are more plentiful today and she has a daughter that will help her navigate them to find a good community when she needs it.
On the other hand, I’m in my early 40’s and I have been looking forward to my retirement years since I opened my first retirement community as a Marketing Director in 2000. Working there I was immediately captivated by the sense of community and all of the fun activities that took place. For example, there was the Valentine dinner and dance that I attended with my fiancée at the time (who is now my husband). As we were enjoying filet mignon and jumbo prawns with chocolate covered strawberries for dessert, I remember him looking at me and seriously asking, “Can we move in?” We still can’t wait to reach the age of 62 when we will qualify. But for the time being, we continue to save our pennies so that when we do get to this point in life, we can choose a place that is not “my Grandma’s nursing home” but a beautiful, home-like community.
I know that our future home will have staff available to offer great care if and when we need it. However, until that time comes, I look forward to all the fun things we’ll do that we have little time for now with two full time jobs and two full time children. I plan on exercising every day in the fitness center, either in a class or on my own. I plan to spend hours reading from the many books at the library (just upstairs). I plan to travel and not have to worry about home maintenance when I am gone. I plan to eat great meals in the restaurant and not have to cook too often. I plan for someone else to clean my apartment while I golf. Yes, I have many big plans, and fortunately for me, I can rest assured that Ecumen is building beautiful communities that are just what I will be looking for.
How about you? Do you share some of these same big plans? Take a look at these pictures from Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood which opened in September 2010. Wish Grandma could see it!
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