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My Odyssey By:Edith Shier

My Odyssey

Hello from me again, giving you another update of my trials and tribulations. When I arrived here from Montreal in 2004, I was very fortunate to find a lovely, spacious apartment on Balsam St. close to all the charming shops on 41st Ave. Living there was comfortable and having my car here made shopping and socializing so easy. However, I always believed in “Aging in Place” and often said I won’t ever move from my place. However, the day came when I developed very bad osteoarthritis in my knees and was forced to make the decision to give up driving and sell the car! This was very traumatic for me, having driven for more than fifty years in my capacity of Interior Designer. I now found myself in a wheelchair, sitting in front of the TV all day long and becoming more depressed not seeing enough visitors.

Last January, my children suggested that I look into senior residences so as not be alone so much. I agreed to research this option and settled on a new Seniors Residence in a convenient neighbourhood. It looked like a five-star hotel and they signed me up for a tiny apartment for a big rent and I moved in mid-March. Imagine directing the downsizing from a wheelchair, without any help at all (All my family live in the USA – nobody is here)—deciding which furniture to give away, which to sell, which to keep, which antiques to sell to a dealer.

There was also the kitchen – what do I keep, what do I give away! All this was a gargantuan job but it had to be done—I had to check everything for a decision and I made numerous lists.

Well, the move went pretty well but a month later, I had an overdose of Coumadin (blood thinner) and was rushed to the hospital where VGH welcomed me again with four pints of blood (I hope it was from a healthy and strong guy). After three weeks of bed rest I was transferred to a rehab floor where a very talented Physio Therapist took me in hand to help me learn to walk all over again. You can be assured that this is more difficult than it sounds. After two months I was ready for more intense P.T. but with my painful luck, I pushed too hard on the brake of my chair and tore a ligament in my left hand.This kept me there another two months for this to heal enough so I could use a walker to learn to transfer (to a chair, to the bathroom, to the bed). Finally I was able to be transferred to Holy Family Rehab Hospital where I spent the next five weeks doing more intense P.T.

These events kept me out of my new apartment at the Seniors Residence for five whole months. As I was now in a power-chair, I understood that the situation had changed, and I preferred to move on to a more accommodating environment.

So, while still at Holy Family, I searched the web for a seniors’ residence on the west side and luckily found Crofton Manor, which turned out to be a wonderful,

CroftonManor_Gallery-Entrancewelcoming facility for seniors. Another move had to be arranged! Although everything from there came with me, and my son came up from Seattle for two days to facilitate this move, it was a formidable task. I have now moved in and am living comfortably in a spacious one-bedroom, very nice apartment and happily, thank G-D. I pray to G-D I never have any more unpleasant occurrences. Perhaps the lesson to be learned is that seniors, once they move out of their home or condo into rented accommodations, must try to anticipate their future needs and rent from an appropriate facility.

Sincerely,
Edith Shier