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Pay It Forward – A Trip To The Assisted Living Center

By Will Hamm

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Hamm Homes

March 03, 2011 08:54 AM

Pay It Forward - A Trip To The Assisted Living Center.

My wife's uncle (Uncle Jim) is 84 years old, a widower and lives alone in a home in Denver. His health isn't great and he has no outside interest to keep him busy.

For about the past year, he has been talking about getting at apartment at an assisted living facility in Aurora, Colorado.

I have offered on more than one occasion to drive him to the center to have a grand tour by their helpful staff. He always puts me off claiming he just doesn't feel like it.

Last Friday, they had a social - cocktail hour for the residents and any guest who would like to come and have a look around. I told him we were attending this - no excuses.

I picked him up and took him to the center where they had music (playing very loudly), cocktails and lots of conversation. At first, he felt very uncomfortable, but as soon as some of the residents engaged him in conversation, he felt right at home.

He is now thinking very seriously about moving there this Spring and putting his home on the market. Gee, I wonder who he will use for his real estate agent????

It was rewarding to see him out of the house and conversing with people his own age.

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Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

Will that was very nice of you. I'm sure he had a great time. It was probably great for him to just get out of the house. Hopefully you had fun as well. Too bad the music was so loud. Guess there were a lot of hearing aides in the place.

Mar 03, 2011 08:57 AM

Pat Champion

John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL

Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

I know this is a diffucult time for older ones it is good you have taken the initiative on helping him throgh the process.

Mar 03, 2011 08:58 AM

Will Hamm

Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hi Belinda, Yes it was fun for him, He was amaze 5 girls to every guy.

Mar 03, 2011 09:11 AM

Hi Pat, I want him to have someone to talk to and since he can not drive anymore, he needs to be elsewhere and enjoy other people.

Mar 03, 2011 09:13 AM

Kerrie La Guardia

ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA

Let it Rain!

What a sweet man you are! What kind of music were they playing....the latest hit from Lady Gaga? :)

Mar 03, 2011 09:55 AM

Melanie Ross

Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA

Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828

The best time to take him by---the social hour. We just helped my husbands Dad choose a skilled facility to help get strong after being in the hospital and realized he cannot do it at home by himself and we all live too far away. This way he is close to friends and places he is familiar with.

Mar 03, 2011 11:09 AM

Judith Parker

ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC

CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Hi Will, your Uncle Jim is so lucky to have you to encourage him and to introduce him to places and activities that will inspire him and add to his life.

Mar 03, 2011 12:17 PM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Will, that was very nice of you to visit Sharon's uncle, as they love company! Good job Will!

Mar 04, 2011 01:14 AM

Hi Kerrie, You would not believe the music,But My uncle was tapping his foot and had a big smile on his face.

Mar 04, 2011 01:23 AM

Hi Melanie, You are so right, The best time was doing social hour. He was in World War II and came accross some guys that were also, so they had lots to talk about.

Mar 04, 2011 01:25 AM

Hi Judith and Joan, It is the little things that make a different to people. I wish his son would take more time for his dad, but that the way it is, so I try to visit him that he has someone to talk to.

Mar 04, 2011 01:27 AM

Elizabeth Byrne

Keller Williams Realty - Arlington, VA

Arlington Virginia Real Estate

Will, I agree, Uncle Jim is lucky to have you. Without your encouragement he would probably never venture to Aurora. I hope he enjoys his new lifestyle. In my previous profession, I worked for Assisted Living Services (financial side of their operations), and was very impressed with the quality of services provided at those facilities. Best wishes to you and Uncle Jim.

Mar 04, 2011 06:33 AM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Hello Will, this one is great. Many people do not want to take time for the elderly and I always appreciate the ones who do something like this. My parents were in assisted living. I hope your Uncle Jim gets settled some where he will enjoy.

Mar 04, 2011 07:55 AM

Hi Elizabeth, Yes, I hope when I get older, someone will look out for me also.

Mar 04, 2011 11:26 AM

Hi Barbara, I think it would be so much fun for him. I hooked him up with one of the people there that seems to have alot in common with him, both navy guys, both lost there wives in the last three year. Both love to watch baseball. Hope it works out for him, that he has new friends

Mar 04, 2011 11:28 AM

Joyce Godwin, Realtor, CRS

RE/MAX Elite Properties; Serving Cypress, Spring, Tomball, NW Houston - Houston, TX

RE/MAX Elite Properties

Hi Will, So nice of you to take the time with your Uncle Jim and to encourage him to atted the social hour. You should feel really good about having done that!

Mar 05, 2011 04:39 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good post and a very good suggestion as a way to facilitated needed transitions.

Life is good when there are flowers to photograph!

Mar 06, 2011 02:33 AM

Pay It Forward – A Trip To The Assisted Living Center

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