My parents future looks good

My sisters Linda and Rhonda and I took our parents to Covina Hills to visit their "soon-to-be" retirement home. They will be retiring to the Masonic Home of Covina. This is something they have planned for the last 35 years or so (maybe longer). It is one of the benefits of being a lifer mason. Both our parents have been active Masons for 50 years now. We always knew this was their plan, but until about 3 years ago, we didn't pay much attention to it, or think about it. In fact, I will go on the record and now repent for my "mental scolding" of mom and dad for not planning financially for the future. They have been "retired" for quite a few years and have lived on a meager pension for awhile. They have always paid their bills and were able to buy a small home 12 years ago, but they never had extra money. They have lived modestly to say the least. I know the beginning of the month was always better than the end of the month for them. But none of that really matters now. It turns out, they have planned well for their future. They are going to be taken care of the rest of their lives. Yes, it will cost them a little but even that turns out to probably be the best thing. They will give the deed to their home to the Masonic Home who will, in turn, sell it and keep all but 1/4 of the profits. Well, like I said, mom and dad have lived modestly and have not been able to keep up with the maintainence of the home the way a older home needs. So, if they were needing to sell their home to be able to finance themselves, they may not do too good because the home needs some attention. But 1/4 of the profits will put some money in the bank for them and with the selling market down (especially in Blythe), this works to their benefit. And they also turn over all but 1/4 of their monthly pension. Again, that just gives them a little spending money and that is all they will need. (more about this in a minute) And, this arrangement leaves no room for my sisters and I to have to make decisions on their behalf or worry about dividing the "estate" amongst us. I think we all agree that is something none of us would look forward to doing.



In return, my parents will soon be living a life above the standards they are used to. This home is gorgeous! It is in a nice neighborhood of Covina, but very well isolated. The entire grounds are immaculate with very well maintained lawn and gardens. The "compund" consists of a main building where the business offices are and it houses the parlor, dining hall, full workout gym and jacuzzi, massage room, beauty parlor, ceramics room and puzzle room. This is where the monthly activities are posted on an entire wall (weekly and daily handouts are available in the dining hall ). There are 3 separate apartment buildings with about 12 units in each. For each 6 units, there is a washing machine and dryer room (with free soap). Most apts are on the ground floor, but the "ground" floor is actually up because of the rolling hills throughout the grounds. There are stairs, ramps and elevators in each building. A lot of the residents use walkers to get around and it is completely walker friendly. My parents originally thought they would like an upper unit with a balcony instead of a patio, but after this visit, they are convinced there isn't a bad apt. in the complex, whatever they get they will be happy. The apt. itself is small, but fine for two. Each unit has a 2 burner stove, a microwave, a refrigerator, cable hookups, a walk in closet and a "seniorized" bathroom with grip bars and seat in shower. They also have 3 cords in the apt that if pulled, gets a nurse at the door within minutes (also, phone off hook signals a problem) there is a 24 hour nurses station to monitor. The unit has, as mentioned, a private patio or balcony. By private, I mean that it has walls between you and your neighbor but not a wall to prevent you from having a view. The gardeners keep up the garden spots but will personalize your own spot for you (roses vs pansies vs desert scape, etc) The other big building on the compound is the recreation room. It has card tables and couches and there is a large screen TV, pool table, ping pong table, shuffle board, etc. It has in it, a video closet where you can "rent for free" one of over 100 videos. A library of paperback books including a "large print" area. There is a computer lab with 6 computers for their personal use. There are 2 stores, one sells grocery items and personal needs stuff and one sells items made by the people in the home (knitted booties, aprons, etc) Oh, I forgot, there is also a "new to you" thrift store where everything is free (they dispose of deceased residents stuff this way or other residents donate unwanted stuff). This recreation room is attached to a huge barbecue/ picnic area for group parties.



Some of the activities they do are: monthly birthday party for all that month's birthdays and they bring in entertainment for this monthly party, bus trips weekly to different local shopping including grocery stores, Target and WalMart, etc. Also, monthly activites to sporting events, runs to Las Vegas or Laughlin, shows, concerts, zoo, etc. Different masonic lodges from surrounding areas come in once a month to provide a barbecue and may offer square dance or something. There are also daily classes like ceramics (they have a complete room with kilns and all right there), needlepoint, exercise classes (I forgot to mention the swimming pool where they have daily water aerobics). If there is interest, there are outings just to outside restaurants or movie theaters. The "activity committee" suggests ideas and gets everyone's input and then arrangements are made. The parlor I mentioned is a beautiful sitting room with a grand piano, cherrywood book cases full of classic hard back books and elegant furnishings. This is a gathering spot for some of the entertainment. The dining hall is very exquisite also, with round tales with linen tablecloths and napkins and fine dinnerware. Each resident is assigned a table in the hall and has a personal server for that table (4-6 per table). There is a salad bar also. They are served 3 meals a day. But there is also a 24 hour pantry available which has snacks, fruit, milk and juice, ice cream bars, etc. And don't forget, each apt has capabilities to cook for yourself. The menu in the dining hall is simple with one entree and one healthy option (usually fish). But then there is salad and fresh fruit bar and the entree includes soup and sides. We ate on Friday lunch which is always Mexican and we had enchilada soup, beans, rice and 2 hard tacos which were made with carne asada (and we had choice of soft taco). Then they came around with dessert (churros) but asked if we wanted ice cream also. It was all very good.



Now to the part about money. Once they are in this home, they are here for life. Their medical care and medicines are taken care of. If they need more care than the home can offer (they have a "sick bay" for someone with flu or something like that) they will be hopitalized at a local hospital with one of the 5 "on call" local doctors taking care of them. They also will be sent to a nursing or convalesant home if necessary but the bill is taken care of by the home. The home provides all the meals, housekeeping changes sheets once a week, all paper goods and soap are provided for the apt. They have a "scheduler" on staff who makes all your doctor, dental, and beauty appts for you and then they pass out a paper in the dining hall with your weekly appts. Even the cable for the TV is provided. Local telephone service is provided and even long distance rates are so low that they say no one has ever paid more than $5 a month. My dad can keep his car if he wants (and since he is 80 and his current license doesn't expire until May, he will keep it at least that long) but they have their own buses which take them to appts and all the outings. Even the trips to Las Vegas and Laughlin and stuff only costs them about $15.00 for the day. My parents can do some volunteer stuff around the home (like my dad will definitely want to work in the "grocery"store since that is what he did for a living) and even my mom will probably want to sort mail or something. They can be alone in their apt or around people all day.



Well, I am fully convinced that this is a great move for them. I am even envious. I will miss them being just blocks away, but I will look forward to visiting them in their new home. Now, it is the waiting game. They have been approved, done their 3-day visit stay, and now are just waiting for an opening which is supposed to be within 6 months. I told my dad that I thought the only downside of this is that they will have all these new friends (only 77 residents in the complex) and will have to see them die. This is a closeknit group. So, unfortunately, when there is an opening for them, it will be because someone has died.



Sorry for the looooong blog. I am excited now that I have seen the home and just hope to share it with others. I am glad for my parents' insight and persistance to get what they want for their future and hope I can be as lucky when I get to that age. I love my parents very much and wish them the best for their real retirement years.

I'm going to try also...

Well, I'm not sure what I'm doing, but I will attempt to blog. I have no idea how to set it up and personalize it and no idea how to insert pictures and stuff, but for now I will keep it simple.
I enjoy reading the blogs of nieces and nephews and now my sister blogs too, so I will try to get my kids and grandkids going too.

It is summer in Blythe. We stay in as much as possible so I will have more time to sit at the computer and write. I am working early hours (6:00AM-2:30PM) and stay in for the most part, so I don't mind working right now. If I were home, I would probably try to do too much which would require me to go outside and then I would be miserable. So, I stay in the office and answer one or two phone calls per day (compared to 2 lines ringing constantly during the school year) and only have to deal with 8 bus drivers for about 2 hours a day (compared to a staff of 28 all day long during the school year) I am getting so much done that I don't get to during the year. I usually spend my days "putting out fires" and don't do too much "ahead of time" stuff.

Amy usually has 2 or 3 days off during the week, so I only have to worry about Cameron and Faith a couple of days. They are attending summer school (and loving it! new friends, new teachers, no homework) and then on my days, they go to the Rec Center for 50 cents and get to play games and do arts and crafts (and Faith gets to dress up). It all works well. Then the family always goes swimming. That's a given! I cannot imagine not swimming every night. That is my favorite time of the day. And I think it helps us all to sleep better. The kids have 4-H rabbits that we are trying to keep alive. They normally stay in the garage with fans on them, but lately it has been too hot and they have had to be in the house. I don't like the smell (even though I make them keep cages clean) and the mess (shedding fur, wood chips pushed out, etc) but I would hate to have to deal with them walking out and finding a dead rabbit. And they are good rabbits and did well this year at fair competitions, so we hope to keep them another year.

I will write another time about the family, update everyone about what is new with everyone and where they all are. But for now, that's it. Not much to say but wanted to start somewhere.