Radio Diaries: Oral Histories from a “Retirement Home”

One of my colleagues shared with me recently a 30-minute podcast from Radio Diaries, on “The Last Place.”  The focus is on residents at Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, Illinois, which is sometimes described in the segment as a “nursing home.” However, it seems to me to be a continuing care community (CCRC) offering a wide range of residential options, from independent living to skilled care.

The voices on this segment are far more upbeat than the title — “The Last Place” —  would imply!  Good fuel for a family or a classroom discussion.  For me, it is a reminder that when someone says “I never want to live in that place,” what they usually mean is they never want to be disabled nor in need of care.  I think that distinction can be important for families who struggle to live up to a pledge “never” to place their loved ones in care.  It’s not the place, it’s the disability that is the biggest issue.  I continue to encounter reminders that the “right” place (for the person’s situation, including any disability) is the best place.    

Thank you, Mathew Lawrence, for sharing this link!