Just over 25 years ago, my husband and I sold our condo and purchased a single home that could be modified into two independent living spaces.
My mother-in-law was approaching her 70s, and still residing alone on a small property in the Kootenay region. She was noticing the effects of her isolation and the increasing difficulty to maintain a property by herself.
Since she adored the west coast, and we always got along, moving in together seemed the solution. By pooling our finances, we were able to afford a property that had the potential to fit our individual and collective needs. My mother-in-law gained the security of having us just steps away.
The first six months were understandably chaotic. Boxes of unpacked and semi-unpacked belongings were stacked floor to ceiling in our dining room as we undertook the renovation of turning part of the existing house along with the garage into a self-contained suite facing into the backyard, with a laundry room as the only shared space. We did most of the work with the help of some skilled friends and a few contracted tradespeople.
It turned out to be a great solution for all of us.
For the next 13 years, we enjoyed our respective spaces, sharing many home-cooked meals at the end of the day. If we needed help, my mother-in-law was always the first to offer. And if she needed help, we were there to provide it.
Eventually my mother-in-law’s declining health led her to the difficult decision to move back to a community in Alberta where she had spent most of her life and where she still had numerous friends and connections. She took up residence in a retirement property where all her needs were addressed. Her best friend was just down the hall, and she had plenty of sociable people to keep her entertained on blustery winter days.
Our mother-in-law suite stood empty for a few years but was eventually rented to another family member who required the 24-hour support of me and some paid care staff. The space was slightly modified again to suit these new needs.
It’s been about 10 years now and our cohabitation arrangement is working wonderfully.
I have been privileged to witness the full spectrum of housing options – from co-habitation in private homes to communal living in residential properties geared to provide all levels of personal health care. That depth of experience led me to write a book called To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options.
This book gives insight into the many housing options and how to navigate the process going from where you are now, to where you want to be. For those not sure what they want, or how to navigate through the available choices, I highly recommend it. (You can order the book using the form on page xx.)
Some of you may be considering your next housing move right now. Or you may have someone in your life who is. Knowing this about our readers, we purposely set aside space in our February and August issues to provide additional housing information.
In this issue, you will find several pages of comparative listings of retirement properties. You will also discover housing related articles on xxxxxx.
Another housing resource can be found on our website at www.inspiredseniorhousing.com This is an interactive, sortable database of retirement properties, along with photos and more details than we can include in the magazine.
Life goes on. Change happens. We need to be prepared to meet the challenges of aging and make the best decisions we can, including about where we live.
For some, the right decision may be to stay right where you are with some downsizing and the addition of support services. For others, it may be time to let go of the headaches of maintaining a home and let someone else shoulder the responsibility of repairs, housekeeping and meal preparation.
In the end, the right solution is as individual as each person reading this magazine.
May you find in this housing edition some helpful inspiration and information.
Happy August reading!
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