The Luck of the Irish: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey to Finding Paul’s Run
January 28, 2021
For Eileen and her mother, Margaret, it was more than the luck of the Irish that helped them find the perfect retirement community for their family. It was the comfort of knowing that at Paul’s Run, Margaret would be happily surrounded by compassionate care and friends throughout this community.
Margaret and Eileen are very proud of their Irish roots. “We’re a typical Irish family,” Eileen says adding that both of her grandparents were born in Southern Ireland. While the family’s roots are based overseas, resident of Paul’s Run, Margaret, was born in Philadelphia, which is also where she raised her three children. “I’m the oldest,” Eileen clarifies. “Then there’s my sister and my younger brother,” she says completing the family tree.
Prior to moving to Paul’s Run, Margaret had a house in the Normandy region of Northeast Philadelphia, where she lived for over 50 years. Margaret raised her three children in this house with her first husband, who sadly passed away when her children were still young. Many years later, Margaret felt lucky to have found love again with her second husband, Bob.
As Margaret and Bob approached their later years of retirement, Eileen quit her job working for an insurance broker and assumed the role of caregiver for both Bob and her mother. “Bob passed away in 2018,” Eileen explains, “and my mother was left alone,” she says saddened. As Eileen continued to take care of her mom, it became apparent that Margaret’s mental well-being was declining from living in her house alone.
“That was my main concern. I didn’t want my mom to feel alone,” Eileen shares, explaining her family’s motivation to begin looking for retirement communities.
Finding Paul’s Run…
“My family had known about Paul’s Run for quite some time, and a few of my friends had parents who lived in the community. Paul’s Run has a very good reputation,” Eileen says confidently.
Eileen and her brother took their mother to Paul’s Run for her first tour of the community in 2019.
“On our first tour, you could actually say it was love at first sight. Right there I think my mom knew. She knew she wouldn’t be alone in this community, and we knew she would be safe here.”
Prior to moving to Paul’s Run, Eileen says her mother would call her eight to ten times each day in the middle of the night. “Now, she’s at Paul’s Run and she’s a social butterfly,” Eileen reflects. Amidst COVID-19, Paul’s Run has gone above and beyond to ensure resident engagement in safe and creative ways.
Whether residents are participating in socially-distanced exercise classes, flower arranging activities, virtual inter-faith religious services, or Cooking Club, there are plenty of opportunities for safe socialization and fun. “My mom is always busy at Paul’s Run. She just loves it. I knew that being here would help her mentally. And it did,” Eileen explains. And with residents receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, they feel especially safe throughout the pandemic.
The greatest benefit for my mom since moving to Paul’s Run has been that she isn’t by herself. She’s made so many friends and she has her own spacious apartment. She feels very independent living in this community.
An Easy Transition
Living in the community now for nearly two years, Margaret says she’s thrilled to call Paul’s Run home.
I love everything about Paul’s Run. It’s wonderful. My apartment is wonderful and the people that I’ve met here are wonderful. It’s such a nice place to be. We couldn’t have picked a better place to live.
Margaret K., resident at Paul’s Run
Margaret is especially happy that everything she needs is under one roof. With the highest quality of in-house medical and wellness services, residents have access to dermatology, cardiology, podiatry, EKG tests, bladder scans and more without ever having to leave Paul’s Run. “It’s so convenient for me that I can see a doctor within the community,” she emphasizes.
In addition to keeping busy and living well, Margaret also enjoys the community’s outstanding dining experience. “I think Mom enjoys the food a little too much,” Eileen laughs. “You can’t beat the meals they serve here. They’re delicious, and I don’t have to cook,” Margaret adds.
For Margaret, moving to Paul’s Run has benefitted her life in innumerable ways. And for her daughter, Eileen, knowing her mother is safe and in the company of compassionate care brings her great comfort and relief.
“I love that my Mom lives at Paul’s Run. I know that she’s safe and that there’s always someone there for her.”
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