| You've heard of the "Sandwich Generation", right? | | | | I think my both my parents and grandparents would |
| Wikipedia defines the Sandwich Generation as the | | | | like Alhambra, Ca. Alhambra is charming and has a |
| generation of people who care for their aging parents | | | | residential feel coupled with growing business. It's |
| while supporting their own children. | | | | located in the western San Gabriel Valley |
| Well, I'm kind of on the bottom of a two layer | | | | approximately eight miles from the Downtown Los |
| sandwich (and sometimes I think it's a bologna | | | | Angeles and is close to Pasadena. |
| sandwich, but, hey, that's another story!!). What I | | | | The city of Alhambra appears to have a good senior |
| mean by this is like the name describes I, too, have a | | | | program - the Department of Community Services |
| child that I am responsible for as well as having | | | | Senior Division offers a wide variety of programs and |
| parents in their retirement years. But, not only that, I | | | | activities for adults age 60 and over, including |
| have grandparents who also need taken care | | | | recreation, social services, nutrition, and |
| of....thus, adding another layer on top of my current | | | | transportation. There is an Alzheimer's Association |
| "Sandwiched location". | | | | Safe Return Program which is good in case it's ever |
| So, what to do? My grandparents are definitely at | | | | needed. |
| the point where they need some assisted living help. | | | | I found that Alhambra has a good Continuing Care |
| Mom and dad are still considered "Active Adults" and | | | | Retirement Community that offers four levels of |
| living independently, but at some point in the near | | | | care: Independent Living (for my parents!), Assisted |
| future will probably also need some assisted living in a | | | | Living (for my grandparents!), Skilled Nursing Services |
| continuing care community. So... the research begins. | | | | and Dementia/Alzheimer's Specialty Care. And, it is |
| I am looking at things close to home in Southern | | | | licensed by the California Department of Social |
| California first... what do different cities have to | | | | Services. |
| offer? What types of activities will my grandparents | | | | This is definitely a Continuing Care Retirement |
| and parents be interested in? There are so many | | | | Community for me to consider as it provides |
| questions. | | | | retirement living scenarios that fit both my parents |
| Feel free to join me on my journey! | | | | and grandparents needs. What a find! |
| First stop: Alhambra CA | | | | |