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We spend our entire lives setting up a sense of community. Jobs, families, homes, neighborhoods. But what happens in the twilight of our years? When old age forces us to make a change? When we pull up a lifetime of roots and settle into a new?and final ?place?
Presbyterian Homes is a retirement community in Evanston. It was one of the first in the country to offer what is now called 'continuing care'. Residents can live in independent town houses on the campus and over the years graduate to assisted care apartments, or the nursing facility. Nearly 550 people call Presbyterian Homes?home?ranging in age from 65 to 106. This is their story?in their own words.
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Piece Description
We spend our entire lives setting up a sense of community. Jobs, families, homes, neighborhoods. But what happens in the twilight of our years? When old age forces us to make a change? When we pull up a lifetime of roots and settle into a new?and final ?place? Presbyterian Homes is a retirement community in Evanston. It was one of the first in the country to offer what is now called 'continuing care'. Residents can live in independent town houses on the campus and over the years graduate to assisted care apartments, or the nursing facility. Nearly 550 people call Presbyterian Homes?home?ranging in age from 65 to 106. This is their story?in their own words.
2 Comments
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Review of The Last Place: Diary of a Retirement HomeWhat to say? This is a poignant piece. A lovely piece. It is so good, so essential to hear from older people. With everything becoming so youthcentric--even Public Radio--it is important to listen to where where we may eventually end up. The view from the retirement home is at times bleak, sweet, and touching. It is rare that we get to witness mortality in this way. With a transcendent piece like this you really don't need a particular context in which to broadcast it. If you want your listeners to stop everything they are doing, if you want your email and voicemail overflowing with gratitude--then air this piece. If you don't have a 27 minute gap then consider making room for this. This piece originally aired on All Things Considered. I could also hear it on This American Life or Weekend Edition. -CM |
Transcript
The Last Place: Diary of a Retirement Home
Produced by Joe Richman
Broadcast on WBEZ in 5/98 and NPR's All Things Considered (8/10/1998)
NOAH ADAMS, HOST: People in their 80's and 90's make up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. And many of these people are living in retirement communities. Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, Illinois is one such place. Its residents can live on their own there in town houses and, when necessary, move on to assisted care apartments or to the nursing facility. 530 people call the place home. Their ages range from 65 to 106. Producer Joe Richman went to Presbyterian Homes and got to know the residents there. He gave a few of them tape recorders to keep audio diaries of their lives in retirement.
[group singing with piano: "A shanty in old shantytown...", then music fades]
[sound of door closing]
JOE PEINE: Apartment A103. And...
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Marylegs
Posted on August 27, 2004 at 06:09 AM | Permalink
Review of The Last Place: Diary of a Retirement Home
Great piece! Makes you want to live life to the fullest now, and centers you in what is really important in our living.