CANTON – Two years ago Lynn
Warden’s wife, Shirley moved into the skilled nursing wing at United Helpers
Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton. The move left Mr. Warden alone in the
home the couple had shared for more than 50 years.
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| Lynn Warden |
Following his wife’s move,
Mr. Warden, a retired state trooper, said his children began encouraging him to
find a smaller place closer to their mother where he wouldn’t have to be alone
most of the time, and have to worry about everyday things like mowing the lawn,
preparing meals or clearing the driveway.
“I had heard about this
place (United Helpers Independent Senior Living, formerly Partridge Knoll), and
if I ever had to go somewhere this is where I wanted to go, but honestly I
didn’t want to leave my home,” he said.
Looking back though on his
move, Mr. Warden acknowledges now that his children were correct. “When you’re
here you don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn or snow blowing the
driveway. It means a lot to have that stuff taken care of. It’s nice to have a
break from those things that you’ve been doing your whole life.”
Mr. Warden also said he
enjoys having dinner prepared for him each night.
“I never enjoyed preparing
my own meals and the dinners here are fantastic,” he said, adding he also
enjoys coffee hour each morning with a group of “15 or so” other members.
Mostly though, Mr. Warden said he enjoys being closer to
his wife and once again having an active social life.
“I was driving 30 miles round trip each day, almost every
day, so having her next door is very convenient,” he said, noting that while he
usually goes to visit her, there have even been times when his wife has been
able to come visit him.
Mr. Warden resides in a one-bedroom apartment at United
Helpers Independent Senior Living, but amongst the building’s 38 apartments are
a variety of both one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment styles, which he said
are all very nice.
“These rooms are really nice, but the people really are
something else, and that starts right at the top with Cindy (Community Housing
Manager Cindy Lawrence) and Jenn (Housing Assistant Jennifer Dean). When you
see them or any of the other employees here in the hall, it’s not just a
“hello,” they actually stop and have a conversation with you.”
The building’s other residents have also made him feel at
home.
“The people who live here are very nice,” he said. “It’s
like a family. These people are my family now.”
Mr. Warden has been busy preparing his home in Potsdam to
be sold, so he said he hasn’t yet had the opportunity to participate in a lot
of the activities held at the building, but he said once his home is sold and
he has more free time that’s something he’s hoping to do.
“I do look at the activities calendar every month, and if
there isn’t something on that list you enjoy, I don’t know what to tell you.
The activities here are really unlimited,” he said. Activities each month range
from musical entertainment to shopping trips, card games, educational
presentations, community outings and more.
“Anyone would be fortunate to get in here. The place really
sells itself,” he said.
Mr. Warden also said he would like to caution people
against getting sticker shock when advised of the monthly rates.
“I was paying property taxes, utilities and having to
prepare my own meals,” he said. “When you look at all of that, it isn’t too
bad, and that doesn’t even include not having to worry about maintenance
anymore,” he said. “You certainly are getting what you pay for.”
To schedule a tour or learn more about United Helpers
Independent Senior Living, including how you can get on the waiting list,
please visit www.unitedhelpers.org
or give them a call at (315) 379-1428. You may also like United Helpers on
Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/unitedhelpers.
