Keep An Open Mind When Choosing Assisted Living for Lifelong Farmer
Dear Carol: My dad, now 83, inherited a small farm from his parents. Though he’s sold most of the land, he’s lived his life and raised his family in that house. He and his old friends check on each other. I keep in touch daily and live close enough to visit weekly. Still, I’m becoming increasingly concerned. Dad agrees he should move to assisted living, but we disagree on location. He wants the one “in town,” meaning the small town near the farm. He insists his friends can visit, but most of his close friends have declined, as well, or have passed. While the facility is decent, I think its days are numbered. There are better, more stable ones here in the metro. I’m afraid we’ll eventually need to move him here, anyway. – LW
Dear LW: If it’s any comfort, you aren’t alone with this conundrum. Yet, as with many aging challenges, there are (at least) two truths. Your truth: The smartest, most streamlined approach is to move him to an assisted living situation in the metro area. There is more choice here, and likely, as you said,
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