The Mansion is an intense and uncertain place at the moment. An investment company bought the Medicaid facility – the only one north of New York City – and has yet to meet, speak to, or acknowledge the staff or residents.

The residents don’t know any more than I do about their futures, but they are sensing the tension, and I could see it in their faces. I know the aides are nervous, so I decided to throw a party with my Mansion Meditation Class to keep everyone’s spirits up.

The tension comes from an awful but little-known trend – Wall Street investors are gobbling up the very few Medicaid-assisted care facilities in the country and flipping them into high-end retirement homes that are increasingly popular and in demand – the numbers of affluent (and not affluent) older people are increasing.

In many of these incidents, Medicaid residents have been forced to leave their assisted care homes and find other places to live or nursing homes far away. I don’t know if this is the plan of the new owners or not; they haven’t spoken to me either, but they haven’t rushed to comfort me. anyone.

It’s a foreboding sign, and I thought my class could use some cheering. Good to the end is the unofficial blog slogan.

Our little festival was a riotous success. We handed out the box of headbands made by Patricia Bullard of San Diego and mailed to me each year. I stopped at Battenkill Books to get some auto books for art and animal books with pictures and soft mysteries – Poirot, Father Brown, and Miss Marple for everybody else.

Claudia

I spoke about shedding fear and avoiding violence and negativity at this stage of life, and they listened carefully.

We had so much fun opening all the presents and giving out the headbands. Then, there were only three or four minutes to meditate. To my surprise, every resident said they wanted to stop having fun and ponder. They said it was something they needed. That is quite a change from a year ago when most of them fell asleep at the mere mention of meditation.

I feel for the overworked and undervalued staff, who don’t know if they’ll have a job in a few weeks.

I have no idea what might happen, but the idea of these trusting and loving people being booted out of the Mansion breaks my heart.

We have come to know and love one another.

I’m hoping it won’t happen. In the meantime, no matter what is decided, I will offer the aides and residents all my support with your help until it is no longer possible. Next week, I will buy more books. I also bought some more art supplies and a good pencil sharpener. Next on my list are Christmas tablecloths. I plan to keep on helping until someone tells me otherwise.

I feel somewhat helpless but am so grateful I have a chance to bring in some light and laughter. you can see for yourself how much these headbands and books meant to them. They never stopped laughing.

Help if you can: Paypal, [email protected], Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-, or by mail, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816

 

 

Ruth

 

It was Ellen’s Birthday today. We all sang to her.

 

Happy birthday, Ellen, you look great in your headband.

Art, a true gentlemen, loved his book on cars but was happy to put a head band on, to the roaring delight of everyone.

The meditation class,  preparing to meditate.

Susan a keen animal lover who loves books about dogs and cats.

Nancy

Aide Robin, a walking force for love, and Art, a gentle and sweet man. What women now call “a good one.”