Senior Housing and Assisted Living

When I was a child, I used to really love being given books as a present for birthdays or Christmas. Come to think of it, I still do ! I have always been interested in books. I love the smell, the feel of them – they are very satisfyingly tactile things.I:0:J

These days, I suppose I could be called a bibliophile, though it always sounds to me as though it means someone a little too fond of his tipple ! Although I still love touching and holding books, I am even more fond of actually reading them !

My life with books really started in earnest some years ago, when the substantial business I owned and ran got into real trouble with the abrupt downturn in the IT world resulting from the Y2K scare (remember it ?). To cut a long and somewhat unedifying story short, I was left with no job, no business, and very little money. Anyway, a classified ad in a local paper caught my eye about a bookbinding business for sale – the owner was emigrating to Israel, so being interested in books I took a look. This first step resulted in my learning the trade from my four employees (a bit back to front, wouldn’t you say?). We did lots of stuff for a major local university, as well as firms of lawyers, private book collectors, and students. At the same time, I started buying secondhand books, renovating some, and putting some up for sale on the internet.

It didn’t take long before my very supportive new wife and I had enough stock to fill a lovely old double-fronted shop, and as the shop had space at the back for the bookbinding business, it was absolutely perfect.

Nowadays, I have retired to a remote village in the Karoo, South Africa, where I still keep a small bookshop as a retirement job. This is wonderful for me – its like sitting all day surrounded by hundreds of friends. Customers are the only trouble – I hate parting with any of my books !

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Many seniors cannot keep up with maintaining their homes. They are not ready for nursing facilities and some may not have access to or selected Cleveland assisted living facilities. Many may be staying with their adult children until they can find the right solution.

Lots of seniors are healthy and active. They do not require medical supervision around the clock. Word has spread that assisted facilities are wonderful settings that trade their maintenance worries at a house for friendships and activities. Mostly they report a release of anxiety and sense of isolation.

Most cities have families that volunteer at these adult care facilities. Individuals and families participate in activities that even their children can do. These towns benefit from their grassroots participation with an assisted community.

Obviously you can participate inside the facility with games, reading, and letter writing. You can also spice it up too. Some people have donated a video game operating system that has residents playing golf and tennis. They get exercise and have a blast.

When asked about their social life, many seniors will tell you that outside of a weekly outing to a church there is not much. That is changing in communities where people choose to interact on a personal level. They are making friends and basically adopting a new family member.

You children learn about volunteerism in a caring and compassionate manner. They add to their knowledge about aging in America. They also create relationships with people that have much to share about the world we live in today.

There are many examples of needs being met in communities by people who have much to contribute. They are volunteering in programs for youth that desperately need more leadership. They are volunteering in the community where they are needed and appreciated. There is a respect that grows.

A community that makes connections is vastly improved. In just one small town, at one residential assisted village, there is an artist that is giving lessons at the local middle school. There is a retired engineer that teaches two six-week courses in the local school system. There are four others that volunteer too.

Lots of people have learned that they have some hours each week that they can trade for this type of personal volunteerism. To share the best of ourselves and bring out the best in others will not break the bank. The return on your investment is priceless.

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