Last month I told the story of a woman who had lived in her home for 50 years. Her husband had passed away five years previous to my visit. Martha shared her feelings of isolation, fear of her future, and feelings of being overwhelmed with a decision to move. She had become a prisoner in a home that previously afforded her with happiness and joy. Her health had changed to the point where the stairs were an obstacle, she couldn’t drive at night, and she felt afraid being alone.

Martha and I worked on a game plan to find new housing closer to her daughter, and better suited to her current and future needs. She was so reluctant to begin this process of downsizing from a 2500 square foot home to a senior apartment. Martha researched the senior housing market by talking to friends and relatives who had previously moved to a senior apartment or senior community. She narrowed down the location to (more…)