Senior Spotlight
Hip Injury Leads to New Life for Woman, 108
A hip injury brought about by a fall caused Helen Turner to move to a senior living facility, where the former teacher has found new friends and new pastimes, including playing percussion and knitting scarves. Click here to view article.
Speaking to Helen Turner, it is easy to forget that she is approaching her 108th birthday. Slowing down does not seem to be on her agenda.
Born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1907, Helen grew up on a farm. She attended the Maryland State Normal School, now known as Towson University, for two years to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. After graduation she continued her education through summer classes and eventually received her bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. She got a job teaching fourth and fifth grade but feels that she really found the career that fit her best when she was asked to teach first grade. It was the start of a fulfilling career that would span 37 years. Helen says one of the best parts of being a teacher is seeing former students. During a recent trip to the doctor’s office she was delighted to run into somebody she taught in the first grade and see how they’re doing now.
In 1938, Helen married Arthur Lewis Turner and they had two children, Arthur Turner and Nancy Mellon. Her husband died in 1986.
In her lifetime Helen has seen the world change quite a lot, but one thing that has stayed the same is her love of making new friends. After a fall left her with a broken hip a little over three years ago, Helen moved into Brandywine Senior Living at Brandall Estate, in Linwood, N.J. Recovering from her injury was a scary ordeal but, characteristically, Helen made the best of it and has flourished in her new home.
Helen doesn’t have a clue as to why she’s lived to such an exceptional age, but a long-time friend was quick to point out her positive attitude. She is grateful for all the new friends she has made and they are grateful for her. “We have such fun,” Helen says, recounting all the activities she and a few close friends participate in. She loves getting manicures and playing Rummikub, bingo and trivia games. She particularly looks forward to Fridays when she can play a percussion instrument of her choice at the drum beat club and then attend happy hour in the evening. Brandywine keeps her life interesting with events like the “Love Boat”-themed bash that Helen attended with her friends.
Crafts have always been a big part of Helen’s life. She loves to sew and proudly remembers the time she made a top coat. She also used to love making rag rugs, a skill she had learned from her mother, but she stopped making those when she was 103 in favor of knitting. At Brandywine she is known for being a prolific knitter and has made more than 50 scarves for friends and staff. Even the high school students who visit Brandywine have received scarves from Helen. “People have started bringing me wool,” she says, recounting the many mornings she spends knitting in her room. A friend ordered 50 “Handmade by Helen Turner” tags for Helen to sew onto her scarves. “We had to order more,” Helen’s daughter, Nancy, says with a laugh.
The New England Centenarian Study works with centenarians from all over the world to discover the secrets of aging well. If you know someone who may qualify for the study, call 1-888-333-6327, ext. 1, email stacy@bu.edu or visit www.bumc.bu.edu/centenarian.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php