PEABODY – Any 90-year-old who lives independently has achieved something special. What Joan Ayer of Peabody has achieved is beyond special.
Ayer has been blind since birth and has intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The first 40 years or so years of her life were spent in varied institutions, including state “schools” for people with IDD and schools for the blind. Ayer remarkably transitioned to community living and has achieved an age that would have seemed impossible at the time of institutionalization, when people with IDD routinely passed away in their 30s.
Having entered the system as a toddler, Ayer finally left for her own apartment about 47 years ago with support from Peabody-based human services agency Bridgewell. Ayer’s longevity is a testament to the benefits of community living and community-based human services. Last year, she moved from her own apartment to Magnolia Terrace, a resident group home.
“Working with Joan is always a lovely experience,” said Walter Palomino, individual support program manager. “She’s such a kind soul, such a nice person. She’s always very happy with the little things.
“For her, it’s not much about the material things, but it’s the connection that she has with the staff. For her, it’s not important to go to a fancy restaurant or on a very expensive trip. It’s more about the relationship and the moment that you get to spend with her.”
Ayer emphasized that she has “made friends here” and that “people are nice to me.” She said she sees the Bridgewell staff as family. Laura Ruck, Bridgewell residential manager, echoed that sentiment, saying that she has truly bonded with Ayer and that if she gets to live to be 90, she wants to be like Ayer.
“Joan has brought a little bit of sunshine to Magnolia,” said Ruck. “She is extremely pleasant and kind. I enjoy my visits on a daily basis with Joan when she comes in and chats with me about her day. She loves to chat with staff. They have such a good rapport.
“She has a staff member here who usually cooks dinner. Every day they hug each other. She calls Joanie ‘Mama,’ and Joanie calls her ‘Mama’ right back,” she said.
Palomino said the work he does at Bridgewell is “very much a privilege.
“To be able to make a difference in other people’s lives, you see the happiness of the individuals that we serve. This is something very valuable,” he said. “I like to call it a ‘spiritual currency.’ It can just make your day. Even if you have a tough day in your own life, seeing the happiness and the difference that it makes, the job that you do, in other people’s lives can be very uplifting.”
Ayer said she hopes to “live a long time until I get into my 100s,” and “I hope I live here (at Magnolia Terrace) a long time.”
