No matter the circumstances, moving is stressful. For those relocating to a senior living community, the change can seem overwhelming, especially because the move usually means leaving behind a place they’ve called home for decades. Read how two couples handled the change, and how their new homes made the transition a little easier.
[kay & ken hopson, the fountains]
Needing the extra help offered by The Fountains’ memory care unit, Kay and Ken Hopson moved into the senior living community just a few weeks ago. “We knew it was the right place almost immediately,” Kay Hopson says. “So far, it’s gone beyond our expectations. We’ve adjusted pretty quickly. If we’re together, we can do it.”
Saying goodbye to their home of four decades was difficult, she admits. “Selling a house is never easy, but The Fountains sent someone to look at our furniture and see how it would fit in our new place—having our own things made it easier,” Kay says. “Downsizing is hard, but so far we haven’t missed anything we didn’t bring.”
Leaving their home also has meant shedding responsibilities that had become increasingly burdensome. “Home ownership is the American dream, but you reach an age where the problems start outweighing the benefits,” she says. “It’s a relief to be out from under those responsibilities.”
Since moving to The Fountains, the Hopsons also are now free from the daily drudgery of chores and getting meals on the table. “I feel like I’ve been on vacation for three weeks–and I have no intention of using the pots and pans we brought,” Kay says. “Our kitchen is fully equipped, but I’m not interested. You just go to the dining room and order off the menu. They’ve even got white tablecloths and napkins. How much better can it get?”
Although the Hopsons had to leave some of their possessions behind, they’ve gained much more than they’ve given up. “It was getting quiet at our house. My husband has just blossomed since we came here,” Kay says. “Most people are friendly, and I don’t think anyone could be lonely here for long.”
For those thinking of making the change, she has some sage words. “You have to have an attitude that the post is the past, and this is a new chapter,” she says. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow instead of thinking of yesterday.”
[wallace & mary diboll, the gatesworth]
For Mary and Wallace Diboll, residents of The Gatesworth, leaving their home of more than half a century was not easy. The senior living community, however, did all it could to make the transition better. “Mary Kidwell is absolutely amazing,” Mary says. “She takes pictures of your furniture, and places what she thinks will work in the new apartment. She listens to your feedback and works with the movers. It’s all amazingly smooth.”
The couple sorely misses their vibrant University City neighborhood, says Wallace, but the location of The Gatesworth–just a little more than a mile from their old home–also has helped. “We wanted to stay in the neighborhood, and that was a big part of our decision,” he says.
They say living at The Gatesworth simply makes life easier. “There’s much less to worry about,” Mary says. “You just call maintenance and someone comes to fix whatever your problem is.”
And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Diboll apartment is spacious, with plenty of natural light. “We love that our kitchen is big and well-equipped, and our apartment has lots of light,” Mary says. “We have windows and doors on one side of the living and dining room, and a bay window in the bedroom. We like light, so that’s been nice for us.”
For those contemplating a move to a senior living community, the Dibolls have some advice. “The most important thing is to figure out your finances,” Mary says. “You have to get your priorities in order so you know what you absolutely must have in terms of amenities and services. Here, you pay monthly rent, but other communities are set up differently. After that, visit the community and talk to people.”
Pictured: Kay & Ken Hopson
Photos: Bill Barrett