Senior Housing, Aging

My Last Week in Assisted Living

It was never meant to be permanent, but could it be? Now, I’m ready to move back home.

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

I’m ready to end my stay in assisted living. Don’t get me wrong: this place has been right for me as I recovered from an immobilizing leg injury that made independent living impossible. I’m grateful to have had this option and a glimpse of what could be in my future.

I’m a big fan of assisted living for seniors, either temporarily or permanently. It’s a calculated blend of independence and supervised care for people who don’t need skilled nursing or memory care.

But right now, I’m looking forward to going home.

I miss my house, my indelible mark, the view out my kitchen window.

I was lucky; not all assisted living facilities offer respite care. I found a well-run organization with competent, helpful, and attentive staff. I stayed in a lovely, newly appointed one-bedroom apartment. I brought only a few personal items as I intended to recover, not relocate.

At first, I needed hands-on assistance with personal care and transportation to physical therapy, in addition to the requirements of meal prep, laundry, and housekeeping. The simple restorative nature of daily…