By Ann Burnside Love
You’ve been retired for a while. You’re doing well, or
you’re doing less than well, but managing. Possibly you’re thinking about, or
wanting, or needing to make a change to a community where your life will be
more comfortable, safer, and where there will be both friends and prompt
assistance when you need it. A place specifically dedicated to keeping life inviting
and interesting, and generally helping you improve the quality of your life.
When I was still living alone, I was participating less and
less in life around me because I was always tired, and frequently recovering
from various health challenges. One example of the limitations on my energy was
that I had virtually stopped decorating for holidays, except for a small
pumpkin for Halloween and Thanksgiving, a few chosen ornaments at Christmas,
and a wreath on my front door.
Seasonal decorating, which I’ve always loved, used to be a
real pleasure. But now the thought of getting boxes out of storage, unwrapping,
arranging, and then reversing the process, loomed in my mind as something definitely
to be avoided. I simply didn’t care enough to expend the energy. Thus, along
the way I lost interest in all but the major and family holidays.
Today it’s quite a different matter. Outside every apartment
door in my community and most others, there’s a little shelf on which each
resident creates a small artistic, amusing or historic arrangement of some
kind. Some change them monthly, others seasonally or when the notion strikes,
and still others never. If you didn’t own a calendar, by walking through the
halls you could easily determine what part of the year it is.
Since Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Easter are the
most significant holidays in our area, staff and volunteers create truly
wonderful decorations throughout the extended building, from the front entrance
to the dining rooms and on every floor. And they don’t stop there. Valentine’s
Day is right around the corner — and we will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,
Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween and more. Staff has an
overflowing “magic room” from which they draw decorating materials.
We also enjoy elaborate meals and picnics. And music. I now
have delegated color-appropriate clothes to these occasions: red, white and
blue, red and green, orange and black, Kelly green, sporty and dressy — and,
most of all, my enthusiasm for holidays is right up there again! Each
retirement community, of course, has its own style and traditions. It’s been my
pleasure over the course of my career to visit dozens of them in different
locales and seasons.
So when you think about and visit a retirement community,
ask about the opportunities for fun as well as the basics. You may be quite
delighted with what you discover. Carry on!
Ann’s blog appears here every Thursday. Please send comments
and suggestions!
Yes enjoying holidays while within the community where your life will be more comfortable, safer, and where there will be both friends and prompt assistance when you need it.
ReplyDeleteLancaster, PA nursing homes
Yes holidays should be enjoyed with everyone in the community where every thing will be available care, comfort etc.
ReplyDeleteLancaster, PA retirement community