[sasi] Aging with a disability

[Cheryl Osborn]

Hi Jeri,

Depending on a spouse for transportation can be a major problem.  During my 
first marriage, both my husband and I had to depend on paratransit.  Sure 
was a drag back then when you might have to wait for 2 or more hours to get 
picked up.  Later, with my current husband, I had problems when he would 
give me a ride too often, because then I would not be a regular rider on a 
rout.  I'm probably not putting this very well, hope you get the gist.

Cheryl


--------------------------------------------------
From: "jeri cooper" <jericooper at att.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 10:50 AM
To: "'sasi, (sight and sound impaired) discussion list'" <sasi at acb.org>
Subject: Re: [sasi] Aging with a disability

> Hi, Cheryl! The one thing I love about this list is that folks here seem 
> to
> be very receptive of whatever is discussed as long as it is sight and 
> sound
> related. I could be wrong but I've seen many variation of conversation. I
> think you'll get a lot of comments about their particular state as far as
> senior living with the request you made. For instance, I'm partial to 
> Tulsa
> Oklahoma but that is because that is where I live! LOL! I guess it would
> depend on how much your social security is and the lifestyle you want 
> where
> you would live. Some places are going to be a little better  than others 
> I'm
> sure. I think like you as far as wanting to make sure I'm in a position to
> where if something happened to my husband, I'm still okay. It concerns me
> when I hear folks say how much they depend on their spouse because one of
> these days, sadly enough, the spouse may not be there any more due to 
> health
> reason or death. I'm not trying to be negative just realistic. I would 
> think
> there might be some kind of site to look at to compare these things you're
> asking about concerning senior living and expenses. Maybe just word of 
> mouth
> might just give you the answers you need. Hugs!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sasi-bounces at acb.org [mailto:sasi-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of 
> Cheryl
> Osborn
> Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 11:29 AM
> To: Seniors at ACB
> Subject: [sasi] Aging with a disability
>
> As I have just joined this list, I am not aware of its most common/popular
> focus, so please ignore me if you don't like or want to discuss what I am
> writing about.
>
> I think that aging with a disability can be interesting.  All of a sudden
> you are not disabled any more.  You are just another senior citizen.  If 
> you
> forget to do something, you are not ostracized but forgiven.  If you 
> stumble
> around, weave back and forth, it is assumed that you are new to a
> medication.  The down side of all these things is that you could be 
> ignored
> or patronized even more than you were in your earlier years.  This really
> bothers me when I consider that there are so many more senior citizens 
> than
> ever before.
>
> As a person who lives in a rural area of Mexico, I probably don't have 
> many
> of the same concerns that someone living in the US would have.  In 
> general,
> people here treat their elders with respect.  On the other hand, they 
> don't
> appear to expect disabled people to do much of anything.  If a disabled
> person lives with the family, they are taken care of and pretty much kept 
> at
> home.  Those disabled persons who do venture out, and they are few, 
> usually
> beg on the streets.  From what my husband and friends tell me, when I am
> seen on the streets with my guide dog, the people tend to stare at me in
> amazement.  They want to help me negotiate obstacles and to assist me 
> across
> the streets.
>
> After being here in Mexico for almost 5 years, I am strongly considering
> returning to the US.  I miss some of the really important things like a 
> good
> hamburger and real pizza.  It would also be very nice to be able to depend
> on being able to board a city bus without an argument about the Mexican 
> law,
> which does, by the way, allow persons with a guide dog to access all 
> public
> facilities.  Also, as my Spanish is on an elementary level, I am concerned
> that should my husband not be here, I would be in a sorry situation, no 
> way
> to get to town.
>
> As for living in the US, I am wondering if I am only dreaming that I could
> possibly live on my disability check alone.  Would it be possible to find 
> a
> decent senior living facility that is located on a bus line and is a short
> walking distance to a grocery store.  I am not particular which state I 
> live
> in, excluding the really harsh weather states which us older people find
> miserable.  As a born-and-bread US citizen, I am very spoiled when it 
> comes
> to certain things.
>
> Any comments?
>
> Cheryl
>
>
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