Completing the journey together at Salida Woods Assisted Living in Mentor
By Mary Malik
With the stress of trying to navigate living at home behind them, Shirley and Bob N. are rediscovering the joys of being a couple again. Here’s how Salida Woods Assisted Living helped them get there.
It is commonly said that everyone has a story. But not everyone is lucky enough to have a love story. Shirley and Bob N. have been married for 67 years. They are two of the lucky ones. After dealing with the stress of unreliable home care, Shirley and Bob have found worry-free living at Salida Woods Assisted Living in Mentor.
“Shirley and Bob arrived here in December,” says Senior Living Counselor, Linda Uhas, at Salida Woods. “Bob was familiar with Salida because he had a friend here some years ago who he would visit and take on outings. When the time came for them to rely on help, they knew this was the right place.”
A retired judge, and a tough one by all accounts, Bob was struggling at home and Shirley wasn’t able to provide all of the physical help he needed.
“We had home care coming in to help but it wasn’t very reliable,” says Shirley. “Often we would get a call in the morning that our caregiver couldn’t come and there were no substitutes available. It was very stressful knowing that we were on our own for the day. Finally, and with our children’s help, we decided it was time for assisted living.”
At Salida Woods, Bob and Shirley can relax. They know that the help is there when they need it but also that it’s not intrusive. Bob and Shirley can go back to being the loving couple they’ve always been and not worry about cooking, cleaning and other tasks of daily life. They have the luxury of being together without the stress of being on their own.
“Aging along with your spouse can be a wonderful thing, but remaining at home too long and feeling vulnerable and even unsafe is scary and isolating,” says Linda. “It’s a situation that takes its toll on individuals and relationships both physically and mentally. Here, couples can return to being husband and wife, not each other’s caregivers. And singles and couples develop new friendships and that’s good for everyone.”
Shirley and Bob brought many things from their old home, making their new home at Salida Woods very comfortable and familiar. The walls of Bob and Shirley’s apartment at Salida Woods are decorated with Shirley’s paintings and needlework, and the work of their daughter, who is also an artist.
“Shirley’s style is that of Grandma Moses,” says Bob. “She’s extremely talented and our daughter takes after her. It’s nice to see all of their work on these walls. It really feels like home.”
Bob is taking advantage of the exercise classes available at Salida Woods, and they are both enjoying the meals.
“Sometimes too much,” smiles Shirley. “We have our own kitchenette but we really don’t even need it. The food is wonderful. We really have the best of both worlds here. We enjoy our privacy but also like the fact that there are activities, and help when we need it, right outside our door.”
Bob and Shirley are looking forward to taking advantage of all of the activities that Salida Woods has to offer. For now, they’re simply enjoying each other again.
“We love being together, watching television, reading and working on puzzles,” says Shirley. “We’ve had a busy life and we’re enjoying this time to relax and just be with each other.”
Salida Woods is located at 7685 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor. For more information or to schedule a personal visit, call 440-257-3866, or check the website LifeServicesAssistedLiving.com.