At 70 years old, Terry Greenstein suffered the unimaginable. A sudden stroke and heart attack robbed her of all her adult memories in a matter of minutes. Terry had no memory of her husband, her children, and lost the ability to speak.
The former dancing instructor was fortunate to survive without any physical ailments, but couldn’t recall how to perform the simplest tasks, such as how to make a bed or fold laundry. She was unable to speak despite many speech therapists coming to her home, and she became very lonely.
Desiring more daily interaction with others, Terry and her husband, Jerry, decided the best option was a move to Edgewater at Boca Pointe, a continuing care retirement community which offers a resort-like independent lifestyle, with the financial security of assisted living and skilled nursing, should you ever need it in the future, at a predictable rate.
However, the Greensteins quickly realized the biggest benefit of moving in was the loving environment of both residents and community employees who embraced them, and play an incredible role in Terry’s recovery and overall health.
“Everyone loved me. A nurse who first saw me, told me, ‘I’m going to teach you how to talk,” Terry said, “She came Monday, Wednesday, Friday every week, for four and a half months, and sure enough, she taught me to talk.”
“When we lived at our old home, we had all these therapists coming in, and they had books and books. Nothing happened,” her husband said. “It’s a miracle living here.”
“Living here is probably the best move I’ve ever made in my life, and I’ve been around for a while,” Jerry added.
Jerry also credits the rehabilitation team at Edgewater at Boca Pointe to helping him walk after his own health scare a few years ago.
“My legs atrophied after eight days in the hospital,” he said, “When I came back home my legs were like Jello. If it wasn’t for this place, the therapists working here, I wouldn’t be walking.”
“This is a place you go to find miracles,” Jerry said. “It’s a miracle place.”
Access to excellent health services is one of the many benefits of living at Edgewater at Boca Pointe, the Greensteins also enjoy the vibrant social scene, music, entertainment, and a variety of restaurants on campus. They participate in health and fitness programs, and Terry picked up dancing again.
Terry leads a weekly jazz dance class for residents interested in learning to dance. The former dance instructor and her group are a crowd favorite at Edgewater at Boca Pointe’s popular variety show.
“The staff taught me how to speak and how to carry on with my life. With dancing, my life is whole again,” Terry said, “Edgewater has given me great happiness.”
