There are times when it seems like the roles of mother and daughter are reversed. I just spent the last several days helping my Mom, who is 87 years old, get settled into a new apartment at a new facility. As I taught her how to use her new phone and how to maneuver around a small new space with her walker I was thinking that I should make a new plaque that has the saying, ” If at first you don’t suceed, do it the way way your daughter told you to” instead of “If at first you don’t suceed, do it the way your mother told you to“.

I met so many wonderful elderly people who were all working so hard to keep their spirits up and stay positive. The saying, “Getting old is not for sissies” has more and more meaning. What a brave and delightful crew, from the 91 year old woman who matter of factly stated that she moved into assisted living because she was simply falling apart, to the couple who switched off pushing each other in a wheel chair.

I need to come up with a new saying for the aides who do everything from making beds to finding a banana that is exactly the right size to checking in on people just to see if they are ok. Any suggestions?

Life goes on in our busy worlds but there is another life happening behind the self opening doors of an assisted living facility. It is worth checking out!