If you’re considering senior living, it’s important to hear from residents who’ve gone through the process of transiting to a senior living community. Kathy Swanson is a retired junior high and high school teacher, the oldest of four children. She started looking when she was 74, and only looked at Aljoya Thornton Place. She brought friends and other family members to check out the community. She sold her home during COVID and moved in August 2020 to the Era Living retirement community.
Kathy says, “The easiest thing about the move was being able to sell during COVID, to have the support of family, and to have the opportunity to come several times and visit, to get a feeling for the social atmosphere, to see the opportunities. One time I went to a play, I got my ticket ahead of time, and went in the van with other Aljoya people. That was lovely. I met some of the people there that I see regularly here. It was really easy to make that move, and having made the decision two years before.
Moving during COVID was complicated. “Goodwill wouldn’t come out with a truck, Habitat for Humanity, nobody. I had connections with World Relief and was able to give them some of my furniture.”
If people are looking into senior living, Kathy advises, “Really search your soul, make sure it’s what you really want to do, because this is going to be your lifetime home. Visit, ask questions, talk to people, and think about things like, “What’s their maintenance service like? What’s the food like? What activities can I get involved in? What are the staff like? Is there mutual respect between the residents and the staff?
“And I have to say, I couldn’t have asked for more perfect relationships here. I’ve never heard any bickering here. They learn to know our names right away, and I don’t know how because we were all wearing masks. Only within the last couple of months have we not worn masks, and I had to learn how to recognize people!”
Hear more podcasts about Era Living at Answers for Elders, including conversations with other residents, at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/era-living/
Learn more about:
Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/.
Era Living’s website: https://www.eraliving.com/
Aljoya Thornton Place, located at 450 NE 100th St. in Seattle, WA: http://www.eraliving.com/communities/north-seattle/
Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/
