For Paul’s Run resident, Oscar Freezeman, puzzles mean more than a simple game. They symbolize unity and connection pieced together by the memories throughout his lifetime. Having lived at Paul’s Run since 2017, Oscar has been making puzzles long before his retired years. “It began a long time ago when my first son, who passed away, was just three years old. He used to like to put them together and eventually I started making them,” Oscar explains.

Creating puzzles mainly from photographs, especially of his family and friends, Oscar has made hundreds throughout the decades. Experiencing great loss in his life, including the loss of a son, a daughter, and his first wife to cancer, these puzzles have served as a reminder of love, togetherness, and joy. “We all used to do puzzles together as a family. I lost them, but my time with them was beautiful and I can’t ask for more than that,” he reflects.

As Oscar is thankful for his time with loved ones who have passed, his love and connection with family will always be strong. “I have eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. I talk to them at least once a week,” he says. And they all appear in his puzzle creations. Whether he’s making a puzzle of his grandson getting married at the Eiffel Tower, or his great granddaughter’s collection of stuffed animals, Oscar greatly cherishes these meaningful commemorations

Grateful for the Paul’s Run Team…

Today, Oscar is in the process of creating an especially meaningful puzzle that celebrates Paul’s Run’s team of professionals and their dedication to compassionate care. “The puzzle I’m making now has about 20 to 30 team members who work here,” he says. Motivated to display the caring professionals he knows so well, Oscar says it is their big hearts that continue to inspire him.

The people who work at Paul’s Run do their jobs from the heart. They do their jobs because they love to take care of the residents who live here. It’s just beautiful.

Oscar Freezeman, resident at Paul’s Run

For Oscar, the team at Paul’s Run are more like family. “I don’t know them as staff. I know them as brothers and sisters,” he affirms. Oscar predicts his most recent puzzle will likely take him four months to finish. “Each piece is about an inch big and it’s made of 1,000 pieces,” he explains.

A tremendous amount of detailed work that certainly keeps Oscar busy, he hopes this puzzle will bring joy and togetherness to the people of Paul’s Run. “I hope that when it’s all finished maybe they’ll hang it in the lobby and people can look at it and go, ‘Oh that’s me!’ and it can bring back memories, and make people happy,” he says. Indeed it will, as professionals and residents at Paul’s Run are very excited to see the completed masterpiece.

Puzzle-making for Oscar is not the only thing that fills his life with joy. He says living in this beautiful community brings him happiness each day. “I’ve lived in this neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia all my life. I saw them build Paul’s Run. Paul’s Run is the best place I could ever be,” he says.

Oscar’s wife also lives in the community, receiving a higher level of care. He says the attention provided to her by nurses and aides gives him a great sense of comfort. “It brings a tear to my eye to see how deeply the staff here care for my wife and other residents,” he reflects.

Safety amidst COVID-19

As Paul’s Run continues to uplift the well-being of older adults across all levels of care, their dedication to safety and security for their community amidst COVID-19 remains strong.

I have felt absolutely safe living at Paul’s Run through this pandemic. 100 percent safe. It’s comforting to know I am taken care of.

Oscar F. resident at Paul’s Run

Today, Oscar feels especially safe since having gotten his vaccine thanks to the community’s leadership, and they continue to follow proper safety guidelines set out by the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health. Going above and beyond to engage residents in new and creative ways, whether residents are signing up for socially distant flower arranging classes or staying active in a wide variety of fitness programs, they experience plentiful opportunities for safe socialization with friends, families, and neighbors.

As Paul’s Run continues to provide compassionate care for their residents, Oscar says there’s no better that place he could ever be. “There is no better place than Paul’s Run. Me and my children know that this community is the best place I could ever be,” he affirms.

“There’s no better place that I could be!”

Discover the joy of fulfilled retired living at Paul’s Run! Visit their website by clicking here.