Personal Care is Personal

Choosing where you want to live, especially when you’re considering personal care, is a complex decision, one in which you weigh many factors, big and small, tangible and intangible.

When Bill Baker, 93, retired from his job as a chemical engineer at Merck, he discovered he had an uncanny knack for a traditional art form — woodcarving. A friend had dragged him along to a carving demonstration and he was quickly engaged in learning, and ultimately mastering, the new skill. Before long, he became a woodcarving teacher at Oglebay Woodcarvers’ Guild in Wheeling, WV.

There is a lot of joy and satisfaction in creating something beautiful with just your hands and a few tools. For Bill, who had been a drummer in a local band, in addition to his career as an engineer, carving was a relaxing —quiet— pastime. He appreciated the skill and high level of craftsmanship required for woodcarving and enjoyed creating art as well as practical items.

When it came time for Bill to look at personal care options, he wanted a place where he could continue his hobby, a place where he and his woodworking tools were welcome. At Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, the staff at Westminster Place personal care community understood how important this pastime was to Bill. They made sure he could keep creating his cheery holiday characters and other charming works.

Soon after moving in, he found a fellow woodcarver and kindred spirit in Tana Pierro. Tana, an occupational therapy doctoral student from Pitt, was spending five weeks at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network as part of her studies. Together they created a shadowbox featuring his woodcarving and other interests to be hung outside his door.

The personal care community that’s physically, emotionally and spiritually right for you or your loved one is the one that considers the needs of the whole person—hobbies and all!

To learn more about personal care options for your loved one, visit Presbyterian SeniorCare Network online at srcare.org/assisted-living-pittsburgh.