Local Artist: Doris Glovier

Anticipation!  by Carolyn Smith-Kennedy

My parents live in a senior high rise apartment.  I moved them there six years ago when Mother was in hospital and I was told that she would come home in a wheelchair.  Luckily she did not, but I also feel fortunate that we moved to the senior building.  It is not assisted living.  They are on their own with lots of help from family and caregivers.  This is their desire.  They cannot afford an assisted living facility and do not want to be in a nursing home.  My desire is to keep them together and as comfortable as possible for as long as possible--thus, my constant search for resources.

Recently, the visiting nurse from the Department of Health suggested to me that I make an emergency kit for my parents.  She even gave me a list of items to make sure were on hand and said they needed to be in a duffel bag or some other container.  I thought that was a good idea but I didn’t do it exactly as she said I should.  I did, however, check the pantry, the medicines and the toiletry cabinet to make sure plenty of supplies were on hand.

The most disturbing thing about this big snow storm hitting the Northeast, however, is that the caregivers most likely will not be able to get to my parents for a few days.  That means they have no one to fix their meals.  They will most likely muddle through even though it will be difficult.  Neither can walk without an aid.  They have matching rolling walkers with a seat.  Mother cannot hear and he cannot see well due to macular degeneration.   But at 90 and 94, they both have sharp minds.