Role Models for Positive Aging: Ruth Marcus

Ruth Marcus has an engaging smile and personality that seems to draw people in.

At a recent birthday celebration with her children at Vi at The Glen in Glenview, the entire culinary team surprised her with a special slice of birthday cake. It’s one of the things that makes life special for Ruth.

Her age? Ruth explains, “My mother always told me that a woman who tells her age tells all.” Ruth is the epitome of an older adult who has aged well, is engaged in the community and stays connected to friends and family.

A resident of The Glen for six years, Ruth began her journey to senior living with her husband who passed away about two years ago. But, according to her son, Dick Marcus, “Mom was not initially keen on making the move.”

Making Life Easier

The Marcus’ had lived in a Buffalo Grove townhouse for 13 years before moving to The Glen. “Although my dad had always been very capable, he started to be concerned that he was unable to manage the townhouse. It became too big of a chore,” Dick says.

According to daughter Barbara Felt, “We noticed that our parents were aging, and at every age you require different things. Clearly, our father recognized their life was changing.”

Barbara and Dick became concerned when their father was driving to the V.A. hospital in North Chicago for vision treatments. They were also concerned with their parents’ general quality of life and need for future care.

Just Not Ready

“My parents were forward thinking people about what was coming in the future,” Dick says. Both Dick and Barbara encouraged their parents to explore new living options. One day Barbara, who lives in Glenview, paid a visit to Vi at The Glen. They explored other senior residences, but The Glen just felt right.

“My mother was happy in her townhouse and she liked her winters in Florida,” Barbara says. “I just was not ready to live in a senior residence,” Ruth recalls. But, with their father’s support, their adult children became more active in convincing their mother to move.

An Easy Transition

It helped that the Marcus’ moved to a villa at The Glen. “The villa was the same footprint as the townhouse, so no downsizing was necessary,” Dick explains. And, best of all, the Buffalo Grove townhouse sold in three days.

The move to The Glen went without a hitch, Dick recalls: “On the day of their move, I remember my dad saying how happy and relieved he was.”

Barbara believes that the move to a retirement community was the right choice for her parents. “We understood that this was a setting where they could stay for a lifetime and age in place without ever having to move again,” Barbara says.

Later, Mr. Marcus, who had progressive dementia, transitioned to the community’s care center, where he lived for 18 months. Ruth downsized one more time—moving to a large, corner one-bedroom apartment at The Glen.

“It’s a real comfort to know our mom is taken care of,” Dick says. “What we like most about The Glen is the enthusiastic, supportive staff. My view is if the staff is happy, they will treat the people with loving care.”

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