Hi folks, I just read all the comments--this topic really hit home. My mom had been living alone in a 3-bedroom house with a pool until 2022, at the age of 97. She was an amazing woman, had worked in the local school system until 94, and was sharp as a tack. The big problem? Orthopedic issues that led to multiple falls over the years, many that we children were unaware of, but others that led to hospitalizations, broken bones and lacerations. Always said she'd only leave her home of 60 years "feet first."

The last straw was in 2022 when she was unable to care for herself after a fall that led to a broken wrist and my sisters and I took turns staying for days on end. We realized that it was untenable and she moved to an assisted living facility. The only way that she was able to afford the $9,000 plus monthly fee was to sell her home--she never would have been able to afford in-home services. It proved to be the best choice--she lived the last year of her life with friends, family, and no worries. After the isolation of Covid, it was a godsend and such a relief.

The last fall proved fatal and she passed in April of this year. Losing a parent is never easy, and especially one who was 98, we are grateful that we had her that long. I can't say enough about the staff at the facility, they treated her with such love and care, like she was their own. It's made me think long and hard about the future. Yes, definitely put off retirement as long as possible, unless you have oodles of money for your care in your old age. And old age is becoming older every year. An added bonus is that work you enjoy can keep you in better shape than retirement spent sitting in a chair watching the tube.