A Touching Tale of Roommates
Beth made the decision to move her mom, Nancy, to Silverado knowing that she would eventually feel at home with the staff, activities and wonderful pets. Yet Beth worried about her mom being in a new world with new faces and routines. She worried about how Nancy would react to the changes, but her biggest worry was about a roommate.
Nancy had always been independent. She was an only child used to entertaining herself. She did things her way. Her dining room table was often covered with one of her many projects. If she got a creative burst in the middle of the night, she might get up and type till dawn. After 30 years of living alone, Beth wondered how Nancy would react to a roommate.
Sharing a room turned out to be just one of many adjustments for Nancy. Beth explained, “Mom was no longer free to walk out the front door and wander away. She no longer had the luxury of multiple rooms to fill with stacked newspapers. She could no longer sit outside all day… and forget a meal. Mom still had enough awareness to be frustrated with some of these restrictions, but I saw unexpected benefits. Mom was able to find things in her room. She seemed calmer and less distracted in this new living space.”
Nancy still had the freedom of spending lots of time outside, but she was rarely alone out there. There were tables in the shade where residents could visit with family or staff. Inside the building there was always activity. There might be a visiting entertainer or a table of games. “I could tell Mom was relaxing when she walked over to a grand piano in the living room and played a song,” Beth said.
One day Beth sat on the Silverado patio visiting with Nancy and her roommate, Pat. “I listened to Mom and Pat talk about how much they adored Mom’s dog, Tommy. They took turns complimenting Tommy’s darling features and his playful nature,” Beth said. “I relaxed in my chair and felt so lucky to witness this sweet conversation. And then the tone changed, and they sounded like nagging sisters talking about why Pat went to bed so early and Mom so late. Pat said to Mom, ‘I wake up sometimes and you’re not here and I can’t go back to sleep.’ Mom’s response was, ‘Are you saying I’m a troublemaker?’ Pat replied, ‘Of course not but I don’t want you to have trouble because I kind of like you.’” “Well, thank you.” Nancy grinned. “I kind of like you, too.”
Later that afternoon when Beth prepared to leave, her mom seemed hurried. “I need to go find Pat,” she said as she rushed off. “It’s almost time for dinner.” Beth strolled to her car wearing a smile. “I had never been so pleased to
