Renovation Projects

My grandfather just turned 80 years old last month. He used to be as sharp as a whip, and is always the jokester in our family. Growing up, I looked up to him as a role model and one of my best friends. Although I could not pinpoint the exact time of his mental health deterioration, he was visibly a different person after the passing of my grandmother several years ago. It was as if somebody has taken the sunshine away from his life, because his whole demeanour changed for the worse. He was quieter, more subdued, and would rarely leave the solitude of his own home. I was worried about him. We all were.

We only wanted what was best for my grandfather. He insisted on living by himself, but these past few years must have been so lonely for him. Although we tried our best to visit him as much as we can, he lives so far away and it is difficult to squeeze the infrequent visits into our daily schedules. Nonetheless, he had lived in this house for the past fifty or so years, so I understand his sentiments completely. After all, it was the first house that he and his grandmother purchased together as a family. He didn’t want to abandon those precious memories by moving away.

We became alarmed about his well-being after a series of minor household accidents. He fell down the stairs once and broke his hips, which scared the family so much that we urged him to move in with me. Unfortunately, I was also going through some tough personal decisions during an intense divorce, so my grandfather was scared off from the family drama. He was a simple man who wanted to enjoy a quiet retirement. In the end, we reached a satisfying compromise - he will move into a communal retirement home with assisted living Florida (also known as the great state of retirement).

We feel that moving him into a retirement home is the best decision for our lonely grandfather, who needed the companionship and some medical assistance. We still pay him visits as much as possible, but at least we know that he is being taken care of in safe hands. The assisted living Arizona staff are all trained professionals and they treated my grandfather with the utmost respect. He seemed a lot happier every time we visited him at the home, so this was definitely the right decision for the whole family.

My grandfather always told me that growing old was a natural part of life, and that we should embrace the progression rather than fret over it. Everyone grows old at some point in their lives, but it is their attitude and perspective that makes all the difference. There is nothing shameful about moving into a retirement home. In fact, it could turn out to be a win-win situation for all parties involved. I’m glad that my grandfather is happy right now, and I wish him eternal bliss no matter where he is in the future.