Hitting Milestones with Aging Parents

Friends and family know that my sister and I recently helped my parents move from their home into a senior living apartment. It’s a move that no one looked forward to but it was necessary so they could continue to live as independently as they wanted to.

My sister and I have families and busy lives and while we’ve been able to help our parents out here and there, the reality was that they weren’t getting out as much as they used to and it was starting to impact their health and wellbeing.

We go through so many stages in life, and this is just another stage for all of us. We’re grateful that they have one another and that there’s someone at the complex checking in on them each day. And because there are so many other people their age around, they’re making new friends and staying active. An added bonus is the many friends (from their past) that have also recently moved into the community. 

We’ve noticed a big change in my parents in the short time they’ve been there. They’re getting dressed for dinner, going for more walks, and even adopting some new hobbies. And if there’s an accident and one of them falls, like Mom did early after their move, there’s someone close by to help them. They don’t have to wait for a family member to drive to them.

They’ve been coming and going, running errands, and driving themselves to doctor appointments. Dad even assembled a large shelving unit the other day with a little help from Mom. And I think that gives them a sense of purpose and makes them feel really good.

While we knew the move was coming, it was still a challenge to pull off. They transitioned from a large three-bedroom house (and 50+ years of stuff) to a two-bedroom apartment. Obviously, not everything could stay. My sister and I took some things, we gifted some things to friends and family members, and we sold/donated what was left.

The move was an incredibly stressful experience for everyone, my parents more than anyone. In the midst of it all, Mom had a heart attack. That was really scary, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise because the doctors found a blockage that could have caused devastating damage down the road.

Now as we move into a new year, I’m so grateful that things have settled down. They’re doing great in their new home and are living this next stage in their lives.