I are accomplished. I finally located a PCP right near my apartment, so I've scheduled an appointment for a physical and to discuss renewing my prescriptions as well as requested a travel consultation so I can get some malaria pills and antibiotics in case I drink the water or eat unpeeled fruit.

Dad was in pretty good health, right up until he wasn't. Mom has been in bad health for more than a decade now, has pretty much no mobility, and is still in her home with my sister living there and in house care. Officially she's in hospice now, but the way things are that could go for a long time, it's already been since summer.

She absolutely did not want to go into assisted care. My sister was adamant about not "abandoning her in a warehouse for people" and so they have what they have now. Both of them are miserable, and I've got a lot of guilt about it.

So yeah, that all sucks.

We just were not at all prepared for mom to outlive dad, and it's now been seven and a half years since he died.

I wonder about affording things like that.

Well, the foundation that runs the assisted living place runs 26 low senior housing and 7 seven step-up communities which are not low income but are higher intervention. They are in the process of transferring the ownership back to the National Charity League to run the facility (which has cottages and is lovely). From what I have heard from a former co-worker whose father lived there, they are significantly cheaper than even regular apartments in our neighborhood.

So I guess it depends. Not all facilities are price gouging for profits.

8 or 10 of us pooling resources when we hit retirement age could get much nicer digs in a multi-bedroom house than we'd be able to afford solo, and maybe arrange housekeeping, a cook, and an LPN or two to look after residents.

Some of my other friends and I have talked about doing this.

That's good to know, Kat.

Not all facilities are price gouging for profits.

True, although I'm still unhappy that the non-profit ALF was sold to a for-profit chain a year ago. They laid off all the management staff I had relationships with, and since then the staff has changed out even more. I have no idea who I'm supposed to talk to about anything anymore.

Great, I had a bunch of paperwork to do, and my printer has died. Why is it that the one piece of technology I use the least gives me the most trouble? I gave up and ordered a small home laser printer that will scan. Such a damned pain in the ass.

Gah. I spent a bunch of time today straightening out an order worth less than .2% of one day's sales plan, and even more time going the wrong direction on a project. Though I guess that did eventually lead me to what I hope will be a better way. Still, a lot of effort not going much of anywhere.

She didn't want to live with family because she had taken care of elderly relatives when she was younger and didn't want to make anyone else do that.

My mom felt the same way. And she still ended up dying at home, after about a year and a half of mostly family taking care of her, which was hard on everyone. (Hospice provided some help in the last few months.)

One of my book group friends recently moved into a senior co housing facility. It's great! Her place is a bright, open one bedroom apartment. There are common areas for people who want to dine together or do crafts, as well as guest rooms they can reserve for when family comes to town. They're across the street from a senior center, on a ton of bus routes to shopping and doctors, and an easy walk from theaters and bars. I'd move in with her tomorrow if I qualified (age and money-wise).

I could use some looking after myself, but I neglected to supply myself with any useful relatives.

My mom was adamant about only leaving her house feet first, but some of that was because of her cats. I know some facilities allows pets these days, but I doubt any would take five cats, two of whom like to pee on things. She didn't quite manage feet first, but was only in the hospital that last time for a few days. So she came close.