Aging At Home - Part 1
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Aging At Home - Part 1 Nancy Marks Aging at home: A Two-part Series.
As infirmities of age take their inevitable toll, people in their seventies and eighties and beyond face decisions on how to live their lives in comfort and safety. At the same time, doors are closing on the option of moving into a nursing home or assisted living unit. Within the last year, authorities say eleven Montana nursing homes have closed and many assisted living facilities are full. Surveys show the preferable choice for most people is to age in place right at home.
Although staying home can be difficult, it can be accomplished with the right support. This is a two-part series of stories about the successes and challenges of aging at home, as well as the alternatives.
Helen Carson Turcotte has a good handle on staying in her home at age 84. Helen is a tall, stately woman with straight salt-and-pepper hair cut in a pixie style. Her makeup is in place, and she wears a cute green sweatshirt with “mom” printed on it.
She has mostly lost her eyesight, due to macular degeneration, and she fights COPD nightly. She no longer drives except for the short trip to town from her rural home south of Townsend. Her secret is having the self-confidence to stay in her own home.
“I come from a strong background of determined ancestors. My mother and father gave me lots of encouragement as a child, and I followed their example,” she said in an interview with "MT43 News".
Helen’s grandfather first bought land in the valley near the Missouri River and on Deep Creek. Helen taught school for 33 years in California, Great Falls and Townsend where she ended by teaching kindergarten, until 2000. Since then, she has continued to be active in the community. She has served on several community organization boards, and she attends activities of her retired teachers' group. “I say the way to be able to age at home is to stay active in your community and have a strong support group,” she said.
Helen said it is important to stay engaged in family and the community. “I keep abreast of school sports, still go to Book Chat with help from friends and read the papers with help of a light with a magnifying glass. I do not dwell on what I do not have; I think about what I do have,” she said.
A friend picks up her groceries and someone takes her to church on Sunday. Just as important, Helen said, is having goals. “I have a lot more in my brain that is now behind me than what is ahead of me. My goal now is to go through my many antique collections to get rid of things I am no longer attached to,” she said. She concluded by saying her best allies are her renter and friend, Tanya, and her son, Mike, who lives nearby. “They check in on a regular basis and that really helps,” she said.
Next week’s article will delve into the alternatives to aging at home.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Helen Turcotte enjoys a cup of tea at her home. (photo by Nancy Marks)
