8     The Senior Reporter  |  January Regional Senior Housing Directory 2018

neuropathy, so it was hard for me 

to drive also. We gave one to a 

grandchild and sold one to the 

family for the family discount. So 

here we are moved in and ready to 

go.”
John died earlier this year. Charlotte 

says, “At 99 years, I rejoiced when 

he died because he had a wonderful 

life. We have a great family, and 

he’s out of the pain he felt.” They 

stayed in their room together 

through his entire life.
Charlotte lives in the same assisted 

living apartment. She is on a plan 

that includes two meals a day. “It 

works out wonderful. We’ve had 

wonderful people at our table. 

There have been changes. Now 

I sit with two other women and a 

gentleman, and we’re educating 

him. I don’t think he’s ever sat with 

all women ever in his life,” she 

laughs describing the situation.
Charlotte talks about her life now 

at Lakeshore. “We have wonderful 

programs here. We had a Veterans 

Day program. Last week I went to 

a lecture on how climate change is 

affecting the wild rice crop—things 

like that I’d never go to otherwise. 

The big band comes here about 

four times a year. You should see 

Christmas here. There are more 

Christmas trees and wreaths here 

than anywhere in the world. There’s 

a movie every Monday afternoon. 

We have community singing on 

Tuesday. We have church services 

twice a week. There’s nothing 

I miss here except Walgreens. 

My granddaughter takes me to 

Walgreens and the grocery store.”
She adds, “This is the first time 

in my life I’ve ever been alone. 

It’s different. I like it. I do things 

whenever I darn please. I don’t 

have to hurry for anyone. To be 95, 

sometimes I wonder…How did I 

get here?”

The butterfly garden area outside of Westwood is 

a perfect place to visit over coffee.

Physical therapy and fitness 

center at the Benedictine Living 

Community in Duluth.

MOVING

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