March 2, 2021. Playa Royale, Mexico. Don & Doreen.

Last week on the phone, I noted that Doreen seemed weary which was certainly unusual. The day before, early in the morning, Don fell off the side of the bd. He had fainted. Doreen called 911 who took him to the ER. Doreen was not allowed to accompany him. Several hours later, Don came home. He was sent home because they could not find anything the matter. His blood pressure had fallen and he fainted. By the time he was at the hospital his blod pressure was normal. Doreen felt helpless and told me that they were talking about moving to an extended care facility so she would be able to get help. My immdiate thought was the question of availability but I said nothing. Today I called her to see how she was feeling. She ws excited. Yesterday, daughter Sandy and her husband Don accompanied them to visit three different facilities who all had spaces for them. As they were visiting the first place, all four agreed that they were just looking. But when they visited the last place, Sandy commented that the place they were looking at had everything. So they signed up. Turned out that no one is movinto into retirement/extended care facilities. The covid has scared everyone off. And family members were taking the elderly family members home to avoid infections. So for the first time in years, space was available. The place they selected is lovely, according to Doreen. Their unit is about the same size as their condo. It is a rental. They pay each month, which includes all meals plus cleaning once a week. To sweeten the deal, the manager allowed Don & Doreen to take posssession in a week but begin paying May 1. Now they will get their condo on the market tomorrow, hoping to sell quickly. They take their own furniture and kitchen stuff but the facility provide towels and sheets. which are changed every week. Doreen is thrilled not to be cooking three meals every day. Now in the middle of the night she is trying to figure out what to take and what to donate. Both Don & Doreen are pleased to be moving on. And I am pleased for them. They are both older than me so it is time to get more help in their life. Time marches on.