Home Sweet Home

Excerpt from Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Living by Connie Mason Michaelis

Why is home so sweet?  I’m sure many have not experienced happy homes, but research shows that even children that had a very dysfunctional family life still yearn to go home.  Home is our first experience of being known and discovered.  Those around us and the physical nature of home begins to define us.  Home is like a greenhouse where we sprout and grow strong before we go out into the world. The desire to visit our home of origin is to return to a place of safety, security, and comfort. Home is a place to learn about ourselves, especially in such a small group of people. There is a whole field of psychiatry built around the influence of birth order. We develop uniquely because of the number of people sharing a space. I believe, no matter the age, it is essential always to have the experience of home, a place to feel safe, to grow personally, and to share sacred space together. 

It is no surprise that as people age there may be a growing desire to stay home. It is a place of comfort and familiarity. The onslaught of home improvement ideas designed to make staying at home easier is impressive. Walk-in bathtubs, stair elevators, home health companies are in the business of honoring the desire to stay home.  For some individuals, it becomes impossible to remain in their homes. It is no longer safe, secure, or comfortable.  The most revolutionary change in Senior care today is now providing a change of address that still maintains all of the attributes of home. It is time that the institutional model, designed like hospitals, to be replaced with a genuine home where people can live in a safe, secure and comfortable home that encourages personal growth, friendships, and individual autonomy.  Senior living is changing, and it is about time!