CANTON – Over the past 70 plus years there has only been a
few times that Carl and Evelyn Seymour have been away from each other for more
than a few hours at a time.
One of those instances came while Mr. Seymour was in the
Navy and another came more recently as Mrs. Seymour began battling health
problems that led to hospitalizations and a move to Maplewood Health Care &
Rehabilitation Center.
According to the couple’s son Glenn, Mrs. Seymour first came
to Maplewood in November of 2016 for physical therapy. She then returned in
January of 2017 for a rehabilitation stay before moving into building’s
Assisted Living wing in March.
Mr. Seymour would then join his wife in Assisted Living in
April where they were together until health problems forced Mrs. Seymour into
the hospital and the skilled nursing wing upon her release.
“When mom went into the hospital one of our big worries was
that she would have to go to a different facility and that was not a happy
thought,” Glenn said.
The couple’s other son, Murray Seymour agreed.
“How do you describe it? After 74 years together they still
have the ability to sit on the couch and fall asleep in each other’s arms,”
Murray said. “At this point in their lives they couldn’t ask for anything
better.”
While their time together in the Assisted Living wing was
brief, the fact that their mother and father still reside under the same roof
despite needing different levels of care isn’t lost on anyone in the family.
“United Helpers went out of their way to put them together
in Assisted Living,” Murray said. “If it wasn’t for mom falling, I believe they
would still be together in the same room.”
Glenn and Murray both reside in Potsdam and said they’re
fortunate to have a facility such as Maplewood just a short drive away.
“Eleven miles is nothing,” Glenn said. “Having mom and dad
together just a short drive a way has allowed us to continue being a family.”
When asked what it means for them to still be together, both
Carl and Evelyn had a difficult time putting it into words.
“It means everything,” Mrs. Seymour said, to which Carl
replied, “You can’t put into words what it means.”
Glenn even called their family’s situation, “the ultimate
success story in the aging process.”
Maplewood currently offers accommodations for those in need
of Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care and Inpatient Physical and/or
Occupational Therapy. Outpatient therapy is also offered.
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Carl jokingly shows off a shirt that says, “Will Work for
Bacon,” which he received as a gift from an employee at Arby’s in Potsdam.
“I’ve been working for Bacon for more than 70 years,” he said, noting his wife
Evelyn’s maiden name is Bacon.
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