Maintaining an active lifestyle, planning for the future — those are all keys to healthy aging, and so is having a community to support you. That’s why Independence Village of Petoskey hosts an Aging Gracefully Symposium.
This event is a way for seniors, families, and experts to come together and navigate the aging process side by side. The symposium covers topics like estate planning, wellness and safety, aging with confidence, and more.”One topic we brought to the forefront was “How to have Difficult Conversations within Family Dynamics,” because the average adult son/daughter struggles in this area. Let’s face it,” Heather Nalbock, Community Specialist at Independence Village of Petoskey continued, “navigating family dynamics when facing difficult topics can be challenging, even for the best of families. Audience members left the event feeling heard, but more importantly, they were empowered. That’s our mission with the Aging Gracefully Symposium — to bring helpful experts and families together so Northern Michigan families have support and resources they need.”
A Word from Our Resident
We sat down with Ruth Grass, a resident from Independence Village of Petoskey in Petoskey, Michigan, to hear more about her senior living experience.
Tell us about yourself.
“My name is Ruth Grass, and I moved into Independence Village a year ago with my husband, Peter, who was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. We are both in our late 70s.”
Why did you decide to move to senior living?
“People told me that we were way too young to go into a senior living community, and I should stay at home, and I should get help to take care of Peter. There were parts of me that liked that idea, but the weight of the house and the maintenance issues brought me to the decision that it was time to move.”
How did you feel once you moved?
“Our three-story house was a big burden because I was taking it on by myself. I was struggling with all the upkeep and maintenance… When we sold the house and let go of everything, except what would fit into 817 square feet, I felt a lot lighter in many ways. It felt like freedom. And guess who else felt relieved? Our four sons.”
How are you both doing now?
“Now it’s 12 months since moving into Independence Village. Peter is in a more accelerated decline as his neurologist predicted, and I’m so grateful that I made that decision to move in when I did. When we think it’s too soon, it’s probably just the right time.”
What has Peter’s diagnosis taught you?
“Well, I’ve learned to say I love you more, to hold hands more, to find daily moments of close connectedness more. One of the more difficult things for me was accepting life as it gives it to me, just as it is, whether I like it or not. I started a support group here in the village for caregivers. Knowing we are not alone in this journey is so helpful and a great advantage of living in a caring village. Most important of all, I’ve learned to be brokenhearted on one hand and grateful in the other. It’s really learning that those two hands are perfect together.”
Connect With StoryPoint Group Today
We know how important it is to find a community that cares for your loved one as much as you do. Discover StoryPoint Group — a personalized senior living experience tailored to the ones who matter most. Schedule a tour of your nearest community or connect with us by phone at 1-844-275-9990 to get answers to your questions, or just to say hello.
