Assisted Living Directory Blog

Here is an e-mail I received – I normally would delete but this one had some substance, so I thought I would post it.  This email does not indicated a “political stance” by our site by any means.

Hello to my fellow retirees,

Like many of you, Social Security is my principal source of income. Can you imagine if it had been privatized, as John McCain has wanted to do for years?  What a fix we’d be in right now!  Of course, today his proposals would affect only future seniors, but is that what you want to wish on future retirees?  To have modest income one day, only to have a large percentage of it disappear when another market bubble bursts?

We need to retire John McCain.  He was once a man of integrity who has run the sleaziest campaign in living memory.  Even Karl Rove has said that his anti-Obama ads stretch the truth beyond acceptable limits.  That’s Karl Rove, Bush’s chief strategist!  And now we learn that Clean John McCain is in bed with the gambling industry!

I say, give Obama/Biden a chance.  They are men of integrity, and they certainly can’t do a worse job than Bush/McCain.

Timothy Smith
Rehoboth Beach, DE

I keep thinking that I just don’t like the term “Assisted Living Facility.”  There is something about it that bugs me, and I think I know what it is.

The word “Facility” to me brings up images of stark hallways, sterile, washed out surroundings, beeping medical equipment, and a prison-like atmosphere.  Why I get this image I am not sure – maybe holding on too tightly to stereotypes of the past when nursing homes and hospitals were scary places of neglect and sadness.

I know that nowadays, most assisted living facilities strive to make their environment more homelike, and in some cases “resort” like.  I also know that many “facilities” are actually converted houses in residential areas that look nothing like a medical building or business.

That’s why I like “Assisted Living Homes” when referring to a senior care environment that offers assisted living.  It sounds more “homelike” – a place where apple pie is baking and a lazy housecat is resting on the couch.  After all, who wants to live in a facility.  I’d rather live in a home.

I completely forgot – that last week (the 7th through the 13th) was National Assisted Living week.  Gee whiz, I need to take my head out of the sand!  However, I’ll have to admit, this ‘event’ is a little bit obscure, kind of like Secretary’s day – something that doesn’t get a lot of national press or attention.

It should – as this is one of the fastest growing markets in our country, serving one of the fastest demographics in our country.

“The bond between staffers of assisted living facilities across the state and the seniors they help care for is the focus of National Assisted Living Week” as was proclaimed by Governor Dave Heineman of Nebraska.

I’ll try not to forget next year – not to say that if I forget, I will do anything differently – but, at least I will be able to write about it before it has passed!