I'm not really sure how to
approach this entry, in fact I'm still trying to wrap my mind around
the whole idea of what is happening here at this complex and senior
centers everywhere. Remember a number of years ago after I first
moved into this joint, Plymouth view apartments, a senior housing
project offered through Utah Non-Profit Agency. Utah Non-Profit space
is a private nonprofit agency which I'm on the board of directors and
have been for decades. I was really lucky to have this place and to
have the wheelchair accessible you open when I needed it. But I
groused after I'd been here a couple weeks about the fact that I
cannot get into the weight room to use any of the equipment because
the equipment was for people who are able-bodied. I had this initial
complaint when I still lived in Murray and was trying to really start
using them are senior center but again they have a lot of great
equipment but none that I could use in a wheelchair. I stopped going
to the Murray Center and then I had to move over here to
Taylorsville.
Yesterday I was having
coffee with my good friend Lori B and I was carrying on again about
the unfairness of the situation. I don't know if Lori said something
or something I said pushed the image and the focus a little bit more.
I keep thinking/believing that the senior housing projects are for
folks who are just beyond the age of 62 and that's it. Sure, I know
the yet to be able take care yourself but if one cannot and has the
means are systems in place for healthcare for help and assistance for
getting up, toileting and bathing and why not. I realized that not
only management but other residents here/my neighboll have to livers
see that people with mobility impairments are the exception to the
rule for living here when in fact it's just the opposite if you think
about it. Everyone, as they age, will become infirmed and disabled.
They will have to have supports the one sort or another. And this
could be a whole bunch of people aging into infirmity in the next
couple years whose only option is going to be long-term care and it
should not have to be that that is the only choice. I mean really, I
don't know why this accessible apartment was open when I needed it
but certainly thankful that the apartment was open. I've been
thinking about what I'm going to do when I have to move to some other
living situation for however long it's going to take to fix the
bathroom/shower in my unit now. I was really concerned about five to
go to another apartment here at Plymouth View how would I do that? I
think I could do it if I just had a shower bench I could put in the
tub and slide over like I used to. I don't know if I will have this
option. Again, the point being I think there are only two accessible
(wheelchair) units in this facility. Every one of them should be
accessible to wheelchair or otherwise.
I'm fortunate because I
have a hand bike that I use or an arm bike which allows me to work
out daily. I also have a rickshaw out on the patio that I can use and
better weather and if our smart I would move The rickshaw in to
either my room or talk the management to take out one of the standing
machines in the exercise room and have the rickshaw available to not
only me but anyone else who wanted to set and work out both for arm
strength as well as respiratory. I don't think that's going happen?
Support the idea that the option should be available. Since I'm on
the board of directors this will be my campaign for the next year so.
But at least here at Utah nonprofit we can make a better option for
people with disabilities significant to the point that they cannot
use standard exercise equipment. After all were all in this aging
thing together we should have the right to go through this aging
thing together…
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