I had the pleasure of speaking at the Regency Park Oak Knoll community in Pasadena last Friday. There was a good-sized crowd representing a mix of family, industry people and potential residents. The speech was entitled “Assisted Living Saved My Mom” and last about 45 minutes, covering some of the tips and tricks I cover in the book.
Two conversations I had with attendees stuck out. I had a wonderful chat with Alfonso who is the activities director for the community. Terri Glimcher, our resident activities expert, would have been proud. Alfonso’s done a great job of mixing cognitive and physical activities into an event calendar that really had the residents participating. How do I know? Well, the basically threw me out of the common room so they could start their 6pm activity!
The other conversation that struck me was with a 95-year old resident. She shared with me how she was the primary caregiver for her husband for over 6 years. She said to me (and I summarize) “I could go soon or even tomorrow, but I will never regret taking care of my husband. There are many people who helped me and I cannot forget them.”
It was clear to me that my discussion on building a personal network is a “must-include” for the next speech.
Thanks for Nestor and Gladys for a great event! You’ve got a wonderful team.
