When I think about positive aging, the person who immediately comes to mind is Sylvia Tate (fictitious name used for the purpose of this article).  She is a very talkative, petite 86 year old who always has a smile on her face and is extremely sociable.  She had been married for over fifty years and had helped her husband run a photography studio in upstate New York.  She enjoyed recalling the many happy times they had shared.

Sylvia and her husband moved to Boynton Beach, Florida fifteen years ago, but several years after moving there, her husband had a stroke and died.  After grieving his loss, Sylvia made a new life for herself, attending many activities, including a daily lunch program at a nearby senior center.  Within a couple of years she developed a relationship with George, a fellow resident of this community, and they enjoyed a ten year relationship.

When George died in March, 2006, Sylvia went through a particularly hard time again grieving the loss of this relationship. Sylvia started having medical problems- high blood pressure, arthritis, and the beginning of short term memory problems.  Her son, Ben called Rona Bartelstone Care Management & Home Healthcare to hire a geriatric care manager to recommend different services that would help his mother maintain her independent lifestyle. 

Linda Gaibel, a social work care manager, did the consultation and assessment for his mother, Sylvia Tate.  It was obvious that she was still very upset about the loss of her significant other, George, so Linda recommended supportive counseling to help her cope with her grieving process, a nurse to come once a month to do the medication management, an aide/companion to see her once a week to help with shopping; and an emergency response system to help her feel more secure in case of a medical emergency.

The supportive services, including the counseling, helped Sylvia become less depressed and more able to resume the activities that brought her pleasure in her life. 

Family was always important to Sylvia.  Her daughter, Joan, her granddaughter and great granddaughter, Becky, live near Atlanta, Georgia.  When she visited them over Thanksgiving, Joan convinced her mother to look at several Assisted Living Facilities.  When she returned to Florida, she discussed with her care manager, Linda Gaibel, the pros and cons of this potential move.  Linda supported her decision to move, and kept in touch with her son and daughter to help make the arrangements for Sylvia to be near her family.

In her last meeting with Linda, she talked about wanting to start a Red Hat Society in her new residence and was enthusiastic about all the activities that would be offered.  Throughout her life she has been a vital person with a zest for community involvement and activities.  Her positive attitude and sense of humor will enable her to make a good adjustment to this new housing option.