LYNN — Opened in 1969, the Lynn Home for Elderly Persons sits on the corner of Ocean Street and Atlantic Terrace. Their goal: providing long-term care and “a soft place to land” for all who walk through the door.
Upon entering the home, music flowed from a piano being played by one of the residents in the formal living room, adding to the warm energy. Inside were multiple sitting areas for residents to relax and talk, decks to sit on with the view of the ocean, a dining area, a store that the residents run, and other amenities that help make the place feel like home.
Carrie Baird, the administrator of the Shore View House, explained that she got her start at the home in 2005.
“My dad and my grandfather were both nurses, and so I kind of grew up in a house where caring for others was expressed early on, and I think my whole life, I wanted to be a nurse,” Baird said.
She started as a certified nursing assistant in geriatrics at 18, and felt as though she related to those she cared for despite the age difference.
“I went to nursing school and worked in a couple of local places. I dropped by here, filled out an application, and they weren’t hiring at the time, but I ended up getting a call back,” she said.
Baird said that when she walked through the doors after working in nursing homes, she thought, “I can really make a difference here. These people look happy, and the home is well-kept.”
When Donna Hickey retired from her position as administrator, Baird wanted to step up to the position to keep the foundation of the home as it is. “I never looked back. I love it here,” she said.
When asked to describe the sense of community in the home, Baird said that community was everything.
“When they’re losing one of their friends, they all come together. We have little services for them. When they see somebody not doing well, they’ll say ‘Come with me, we’ll get coffee together,” she said. “They lean on each other. I see it with the families. They’re very supportive of each other.”
She said that some of the staff have been there for decades and that it isn’t just a community, but a family. “They’re in here,” Baird said, pointing to her chest, “It’s your heart and soul.”
Board of Directors member Ted Ball, whose mother stayed at Lynn Home for Elderly Persons during the last year of her life, spoke on why it felt like the right place for her.
“I was aware of the frustration of how it was tough to find places. Over the years, I’ve visited people and relatives… My mom declined to a point where she just couldn’t manage on her own, and so I applied to get her in here… It was just such a positive experience,” Ball said.
He continued that he wished he had applied earlier, saying, “She thrived in the environment, but unfortunately, at that point she was declining faster… I wish I had gotten her here four or five years earlier.”
Seeing his mom thrive in her last year of life made him realize how different the Shore View House was.
“The level of happiness and the community. It was just a pleasant clean experience for her and a great way to have her spend that last chapter of life,” he said.
When asked the importance of having a space like this for elderly people, Baird said, “Just because we age does not negate all of the wonderful things that we’ve done in our lives. We’ve cared for others; we’ve graduated; we’ve said goodbye to friends and family. As we age, I think society kind of wants to tuck people away, and that’s not fair.
She emphasized that people need a place where they still feel needed and cared for. “All of that history and beauty of life they bring here and collectively share… It’s very important and it’s very special to be a part of,” she said.
Ball agreed with everything Baird said, adding, “I think we all strive to stay independent for as long as we can, but the reality is we have independence, and then we have assisted living facilities and nursing homes. But, there’s this space in between there and a lot of people fit into the space where they’re pretty independent and they relish that… but they need that extra bit of help.”
He also mentioned how many people most likely fear going to homes due to their costs.
“The common thought out there is that nursing homes are now $14,000 a month or $15,000 a month. They feel like they can’t afford it, and as a result, they are neglected… It’s not like that here. Like I said, there’s that middle ground. This is an affordable alternative,” he said.
When asked what their favorite moments were at the home, Baird expressed that there were so many, but she and Ball agreed that a great one was when the home celebrated opening day of the Red Sox with hot dogs, popcorn, crackerjacks, and everyone decked out in their game day gear.
