The Little Magazine That Saved My Life
My mother-in-law moved to Charlotte two years ago from Queens, NY and the search for affordable senior housing was a nightmare. To begin with, the term "affordable senior housing" is an oxymoron for the Charlotte area. There is nothing affordable for a single middle class woman who makes just enough money not to qualify for assistance, and too little money not to afford a nice safe apartment with senior-friendly amenities. But we settled upon something in Pineville, which is nice, but there's no transportation. Then we started the relentless search for doctors, pharmacies, banks, transportation, senior organizations, lawyers--all the needs of anyone moving into a new community, but the process was intensified because of age and insecurities.
Then enters a little magazine I stumbled upon at a Conference on Aging: All About Seniors. What a lifesaver! I now have a lifeline for any questions and needs my mother-in-law may have.
Since 2005, All About Seniors has been providing the Charlotte, NC and upstate South Carolina area with the most comprehensive resource and referral directory available for older adults, caregivers and healthcare professionals. The free printed magazine includes hundreds of pages of vital information and more than 50 service categories that are specific to the older population. The magazine comes out three times a year with the most recent up-to-date information available for the surrounding area. You can locate the free magazine at doctors' offices, senior centers, faith-based communities, chamber of commerce or you can go to their website and request a magazine to be sent to you 24/7/365. At their website you can also read senior articles or "ask a Professional" for any help on finding resources in your area. I recently wrote an article for the April 2012 issue on "Aging-in-Place w/ Universal Design".
