News, Views and Over To You's
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Jean's Journey (shared with kind permission from Jean)
Jean's Journey (shared with kind permission from Jean)
6 December 2020
Jean has lived in Hawke’s Bay for over 45 years. She won’t let me tell you how old she is, but she said I can let you know she’s younger than the Queen and older than Princess Anne.
She’s an avid bridge player, does tai chi almost every day, and looks after her neighbour’s cat during working hours. She asked From Home to Home to help her find a retirement village as she had tried to put her house on the market last year but felt very overwhelmed with the real estate jargon and the legal side of selling her home. She admits she also feels very emotional about leaving the house she had raised her family in, but knows it’s time to make the move so she can be the one making the decisions.
She’s a very wise woman is Jean.
In the ‘Need and Priorities’ section of her profile she is clear that she wants to live as near to the sea as possible and not too far away from friends. On her ‘Wishlist’ is a library, a place she can take her own bed, and as much natural light as possible in her room. She’d also really like it if the place she goes to has a cat she can pamper but not own.
Whilst we wait for Jean to decide which village she wants to put her name down for we’ve started the process, together, of looking at what she wants to take with her and what she wants to distribute. We don’t like the words ‘get rid of’ – everything Jean isn’t taking with her will be either sold or given away, and the beautiful display cabinets and dining suite they had custom made 40 years ago is being kept in storage for when her family are able to take it. The car she hasn’t driven for five years is also going to be sold, she says she’s glad to see the back of it.
I asked Jean if I could tell you about her husband’s wedding suit. She said “yes but they’ll probably think I’m as mad as a box of frogs”. She has kept his suit all these years, even though he died over ten years ago. After a lot of consideration she’s decided to keep the tie and donate the suit. That to me really encapsulates the journey Jean is on, I told you she was wise.
Over the next few months Jean may continue to share her journey, so watch this space.
Jan
It’s your stage of life that matters, not your age in life
It’s your stage of life that matters, not your age in life
17 November 2020
I’ve been fortunate to work with older people in my chosen careers. I’ve worked in libraries, helping older adults make the best use of library resources, and I’ve worked in aged care support, helping people live in their own homes.
I’ve never tried to guess someone’s age. It’s not important. The only thing we need to look at when we’re all making decisions is what stage of life we’re at. I’ve met people in their nineties who still cook their own meals, tend their own gardens, and keep up with the news. I’ve met people in their sixties with physical limitations such as arthritis, and sight problems, who want, and need to be looked after.
Some people don’t want to make decisions, some people want to be in control. That’s true of all communities, and all ages. What stage are you at? Ready to move to somewhere with more people around and less decisions to make? Or ready to move to a place where you can still do your own thing and pay your own utilities but have support on hand if you ask for it?
We should never let anyone tell us we’re too old, or too young, or too anything to do what we know we want or need to do. Do a sky dive if you want. Go skinny dipping. Binge watch The Two Ronnies. Do what you want, when you want, but do it well.
Everyone might know your age, but only you know what stage you’re at.
JAN