| " I know, I need to move," said the lovely Amelia, | | | | to a safe place first and we can go through all your |
| aged 85, alone, frail and living in a run down house | | | | paperwork later. We'll take it with us. I'll help you sort |
| with multiple levels and too much clutter. "But I just | | | | it all out. This is an unsafe place for you. We can |
| have to go through a few papers first. My friend is | | | | start immediately. I promise you'll love your new |
| helping me" She glanced at the huge pile of dusty | | | | apartment. "I know", said Amelia. "I'll call you soon." |
| papers that had obviously been sitting on her coffee | | | | Amelia never called. Instead, the Director of the |
| table for months. | | | | Assisted Living community called to tell me that |
| Amelia had been referred to me by the Director of a | | | | Amelia had had an accident in her home. A "friend" |
| beautiful assisted living community that was holding a | | | | had propped Amelia's TV chair on four bricks to |
| sunny, garden view apartment just for her. Was she | | | | make it easier for her to launch herself forward to |
| finally ready to make the move? They couldn't hold | | | | get up. She and the chair came crashing down. Amelia |
| the apartment much longer. | | | | had broken both legs. Since she couldn't reach her life |
| We talked about her loneliness and boredom,and how | | | | alert tied to her chair, Amelia had laid on the floor for |
| much she was looking forward to being around | | | | 2 days before being discovered. Now in a nursing |
| people again. Amelia loved to talk and despite her | | | | home, on oxygen, she was not expected to live. She |
| frailty, was smart and funny and had interesting | | | | would not be moving anywhere. |
| stories to tell. Now, widowed, no family or children, | | | | I hung up the phone and put my head in my hands. I |
| most of her friends gone, her only connection with | | | | thought back to my visit with this darling lady. She |
| the outside world was her television and a life alert | | | | told me she had courageously traveled alone by train |
| style necklace, which instead of being around her | | | | from New York all the way West during WWII, |
| neck, was tied and dangling from her walker. Even | | | | meeting her beloved husband Mike at a USO dance |
| though I objected and suggested it go around her | | | | and making a life for herself in California, I wanted to |
| neck, she insisted on keeping it right where it was. | | | | cry. Oh, Amelia, you left it too late and now you are |
| The house was dark, dirty and cluttered. Too much | | | | dying. I am so sad and so mad at you too! |
| furniture and too many electrical cords snaking | | | | This story is all too common and heartbreaking. I |
| around every table and chair. Amelia's TV watching | | | | understand the reluctance of leaving one's home. But |
| chair was broken and missing the back cushion. The | | | | delaying the decision to move may result in having all |
| family room stepped down and the kitchen stepped | | | | of your decision made for you.This is what happened |
| up. The bathtub had no grab bars. I saw danger | | | | to Amelia. Now her sunny, garden view apartment |
| everywhere. | | | | would be going to someone else - someone who |
| As a Senior Move Manager, it is my greatest pleasure | | | | hadn't waited too long and left it too late. |
| to help seniors get to safer living and re connect with | | | | If you have a beloved senior that needs to move, |
| the world. I held both of Amelia's hands in mine, | | | | but is delaying it "until", tell them Amelia's story, |
| looked into her eyes and said, "Amelia, Let's get you | | | | please. I'm really sad and tired of this story. |