Watching aged relatives and friends wind down their final years in some type of assisted-living facility can be painful, and thought-provoking. Like, how do I want to spend my final years or months, to the extent that I have a choice?
And the quickest way to turn that macabre subject into something lighter is to answer it with:
“On a cruise ship.”
Ridiculous? Maybe.
Unthinkable? Maybe not.
Apparently, the cruise industry is studying “assisted-living cruising” as a niche market worth exploring. For the ships, it means filling potentially empty beds. And for passengers?
Think about what a senior pays to live in an assisted-living facility.
Compare it to what a cruise costs. Chances are the difference, if there is one, is relatively small.
And look at the benefits:
• A good variety of fresh, quality food.
• Being able to see things out in the world that would otherwise be available only on TV.
• 24-hour medical facilities
It’s probably not as simple as we make it sound, but it’s do-able. It’s not for folks who require critical care but it could work for those who just can’t manage on their own and have the financial resources to (a) live in a facility or (b) go cruising.
On one of our cruises, we met a man who was in the midst of many cruises.
He was alone. A day later, he didn’t remember that we’d met. But every day he made new friends, even if they were repeaters. Socially, he was clearly having a good time. When he disembarked, his daughter was waiting to pick him up.
And take him to another cruise ship.