You would be surprised to find out how many seniors are forced to live in a "senior center" or some nursing home because they can't do a few basic choirs.
My 2-cents on "senior centers" etc.
Speaking from someone who's Mom lived very happily in a Retirement community (which had independent living apartments, assisted living apartments, and skilled nursing floor (what most people associate with Nursing homes), please don't lump negative connotations on such places. My mom chose to live there. Before she got so sick she and my Dad (when he was alive) planned to move to a retirement community because of all the services it does provide.
Not being able to do their own chores around the house is a part of that decsion but not the only part. If you lived in a single family home and the washer dryer was downstairs; as you get older, its difficult to keep going up and down stairs just to do your laundry. What if you fall? What if you leave the stove on and something catches fire? Who's going to shovel your walk when it snows? What if the heat goes out? What if the phone is slightly off the hook and you can't reach your Mom?
My mom lived in a wonderful retirement community. YES, they are very expensive, but they do serve a purpose. They had motion detectors in all the apartments. If they don't see something move, they call or check on you. Every resident had one of those buttons. If you fall and can't get up, the front desk is alerted, who checks out the situation and calls the nurse to check you out before picking you up. There's a dining room. So there's food available when you can't go shopping. There's a backup generator, for power outages. There's a Bank branch right in the building to do you banking. There is a nurse available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They even had people who would drive you to Doctor's appointments (additional fee) if you gave them appropriate notice. They also had trips to the Kennedy Center, the Meyerhoff, Toby's dinner theater along with local arts groups.
Yes volunteers are wonderful to do chores for seniors. Sometimes its all they need and want. However don't lump all senior centers etc as horrible places because they are not all that way!
There, I feel better now!
