This Is A Wonderful Time to be Alive!
With advances in medicine, nutrition and overall quality of life, many more of us are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. We are learning to understand – and respect – the aging process. We know that our loved one’s longevity is tied to their overall quality of life. We also know that maintaining a sense of independence, accomplishment, and dignity is a basic human need at every stage of development and that retaining our place in familiar surroundings – with our families, memories, and accomplishments – is vital to our sense of well-being.
As a registered nurse with a BSN and MSN from Queens University in Charlotte, NC, I have been privileged to work with vibrant, active and independent-living seniors since 2006. During that time, I have seen the dejection and outright depression that happens when otherwise healthy adults are forced to leave their homes to live in assisted-living facilities like group homes, nursing homes, or long-term-care facilities before they are ready.