Giving Tuesday Impact Series: Mable lives the Good Life
This article was written by Samantha Yoh and Laura Geller, H.O.M.E.'s social work interns from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
Photo credit: Atangadi Enyiema, Head Photographer, EnygmaFoto!
Meet Mable, resident at Good Life Senior Residences
Mable is the longest term resident of Good Life Senior Residences at H.O.M.E. At Good Life Senior residences, older adults can retain independence, interact with people of all ages, and contribute to the community. Residents benefit from having privacy when they want it, but receive assistance when they need it.
Mable moved in almost sixteen years ago and has lived in a private room on the fifth floor of the Nathalie Salmon House ever since. This week we had the opportunity to interview Mable and her family to learn more about her life, how she came to H.O.M.E., and what the Good Life community means to her.
Mable moved to the Nathalie Salmon House from a nursing home with the help of her son, Paul, and daughter-in-law, Wendy. She grew up on the south side, at 51st and Indiana with her mother and father, Ella and Charles. She had five siblings, and was a middle child. Later on, Mable held a part-time job as a teacher’s aide in a school, got married, and had her son, Paul. Now Paul helps take care of Mable, and comes to visit every week with his wife.
The Good Life Means Independence
“My son and his wife, they say ‘Where can I live that’s more reasonable than here? …The thing I like is that I have my own private [room] and my own private mailbox.” -Mable
For Mable, the most important benefit about moving to Good Life Residences was having a place where she could be by herself when she wanted to. At her previous residence, Mable said there were four or five people sharing each living space, and they had to bathe in a shower room rather than a regular bathroom.
For Paul and Wendy it was important to find senior housing that was affordable, but that also took good care of its residents and encouraged a sense of community. Mable and her family have been happy with H.O.M.E., and are glad to have a residence that works for all of their needs.
The Good Life Means A Good Place to Live
“I like the staff; the staff is very nice. The [resident assistants] are very helpful, they cook very nice for us. We get along and don’t have any arguments. They care about us tremendously. If I was discharged from here I would like to go to another place just like this, another place where I would have community. I like the community very well. They have been good to me… Earlier this year when I fell they took care of me right away.” - Mable
She appreciates having a shower and a bath in her own room that she doesn’t have to share with a lot of people, and also a kitchen she can use in the morning.
“I like that we can get up in the morning and cook our own breakfast.”
Mable likes the convenience of being right on Sheridan near the stores and a local park, and that the public transportation and buses are easily accessible. Her son and daughter-in-law come every week to take Mable to church, and she said it’s easy for them to pull up right in front of the building and pick her up. She doesn’t have to walk a long way to meet them.
The Good Life Means Community
Mable’s daughter-in-law Wendy notes that Mable has become “a different person” since joining the Good Life Senior Residences. Wendy has loved seeing Mable’s positive personality really shine through over the past nine years, and enjoys hearing from Mable about the H.O.M.E. holiday parties and community events that she likes to attend.
Wendy also appreciates the intergenerational aspect of the Good Life residences, finding it of great comfort to know that Mable is surrounded by people of all ages and backgrounds who encourage her to keep active and engaged.
“Mable has done so well since moving into the Nathalie Salmon House; she is much more outgoing. You hear stories about how isolated and lonely so many seniors are, so it’s a huge comfort to know she is at a place that keeps her social and happy… I love that everyone there really looks after her, and I trust them to take care of her. [Mable] loves the community… That’s her home.” -Wendy, Mable's daughter-in-law
Good Life Senior Residences is an affordable senior living community that provides enhanced services and an intergenerational living experience. Unlike traditional affordable housing, Good Life Senior Residences offers two home cooked meals every day, outings, exercise and social activities, limited transportation services, and on-site health check-ups and tutorials through our community partners. It’s a wonderful option for independent seniors like Mable who relish a family-like living environment.
We are so happy to have Mable as part of the Good Life community. Because of the support of donors like you, we can offer similar daily living services as assisted living facilities at an affordable rate.
We can't provide the services that we do for seniors without your support.
This year H.O.M.E. is hosting a Pajama Gala on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 to celebrate Giving Tuesday and make a big impact for seniors in 2016. You can follow us on Facebook for updates, and RSVP to the event to find out more about how to participate from your own home! Or, Donate Today.
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To find out more about H.O.M.E. and to provide support to low-income seniors, please visit our website or like us on Facebook!
This post is part of our series to celebrate Giving Tuesday, which will take place this year on December 1, 2015. The idea behind #GivingTuesday is to kickoff the holiday-giving season, in the same way that Black Friday and Cyber Monday kickoff the holiday-shopping season.
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