AGING IS NOT A UNIFORM PROCESS. It’s rare for two individuals to experience the same health issues or have identical care needs at precisely the same age. Even in married couples, it’s quite common for one spouse to require a different level of assistance than the other and for the needs of each to evolve as they grow older. This disparity can make it difficult for married couples to find a senior living community that meets both their present and future needs while allowing them to stay together in the same residence.
It was this challenge that, until recently, faced Joseph Blowers, 91, and his wife, Carolyn, 86. Carolyn has advanced dementia and requires a significant degree of assistance with daily tasks, while Joseph has issues with the function of his right leg, which has caused him to give up driving. With regular help from the couple’s daughter, Annette McGorty, Joseph was able to keep Carolyn home for quite some time, but her dementia eventually progressed to the point that home care was no longer a viable option.
Two factors convinced Joseph that it was time to consider making the move to a senior community. One was that the constant caregiving was putting a strain on Annette. He explains, “She was doing everything she could, including fixing meals and staying with us overnight to help out when necessary, but she has a family of her own to take care of. She never once complained, but I could see it was getting to be too much for her. The other issue was that my leg wouldn’t cooperate and I had to give up driving. That meant Annette had to drive us wherever we needed to go, and I knew I couldn’t do anything to help if Carolyn fell or anything like that. I realized I had to do something.”
Caring for loved ones is a value that was instilled in Annette long ago. Carolyn has diabetes, so Annette and her brother (who passed away in 2014) were already in the habit of assisting with her care before she developed dementia. In addition, the kids helped care for their grandparents, both maternal and paternal, when they were younger. Nonetheless, Annette recognized that the time had come to seek a better alternative for Carolyn. “I love my parents dearly, but I knew it was getting to the point where I couldn’t do it by myself anymore,” she recalls.
Some investigation into the various local senior living communities on the part of Annette and her husband determined that The Gardens of St. Francis, with its new secured memory care campus, would be the best fit for Joseph and Carolyn’s needs. The memory care campus, which is staffed with a nurse 24/7, features 19 uniquely designed and beautifully appointed studio apartments, each with a private bath. Best of all for Joseph and Carolyn, the memory care residences are all licensed for dual occupancy to accommodate married couples.
“I was very impressed with The Gardens of St. Francis,” Annette says. “When I talked with them, they were so eager to show us around, and they assured me they’d work hard to get my parents in the same room. When I walked in the door, the first thing I noticed is that there was no unpleasant odor. The staff was very warm and friendly, and I liked how clean everything looked. I also liked what they had to offer Mom in memory care. It’s secure, but there’s also a nice living room and kitchen area where they sit down and eat like a family.”
Though this transition has not been easy for Joseph as he continues to adjust to Carolyn’s cognitive decline, he’s happy to be at The Gardens of St. Francis. “If I have to be somewhere other than home, this is as nice a place as can be. I really enjoy the people here, and every member of the staff is very pleasant and always ready to help,” he says.
It’s also reassuring for Joseph that Carolyn is in the hands of highly dedicated caregivers with the training and expertise to provide the intensive, specialized care that people with dementia need, and that the new memory care campus has a dedicated activities team with extensive dementia-specific training.
Another important consideration for Joseph in choosing The Gardens of St. Francis was that the staff there places a high priority on residents’ spiritual needs. Joseph and Carolyn are strong in their faith and both were very active in their church, Cass Road Baptist Church. In fact, Joseph continues to participate in his church’s services via Zoom.
Perhaps most important, Joseph and Carolyn can rest assured that however their care needs evolve, The Gardens of St. Francis is poised to meet them. In addition to memory care, the facility offers assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation, so they can continue to get all the care and services they need—today and into the future—under the same roof.
The Gardens of St. Francis is located at 930 S. Wynn Rd. in Oregon, Ohio. For more information, please call 419-698-4331.
