Potsdam Woman Making New Friends (and maybe new art) at United Helpers Independent Senior Living

Potsdam Woman Making New Friends (and maybe new art) at United Helpers Independent Senior Living

CANTON – Sitting in an apartment decorated by her own paintings, Ellen Burns said she’s thinking about taking up painting once again.

Mrs. Burns recently moved into United Helpers Independent Senior Living, and among the items she brought with her are her art supplies, though she explains it’s been several years since she’s put a brush to paper and created anything new.

Her husband, Robert Burns, lives in a skilled nursing facility nearby. Mrs. Burns said that upkeep on their Potsdam home, as well as loneliness, just became too much.

“It was a lot of upkeep. The yard wasn’t huge, but it was big enough,” she said, adding that living on a corner lot also means she has twice as much sidewalk to keep clear of snow and ice during the winter.

“My family helped out a lot, but living alone was getting kind of lonely,” she said. “I talked about making the move with my kids, and we decided now was the time.”

Mrs. Burns has been living at Independent Senior Living since July, and she said she has no regrets.

“This is a very good place for someone like me to be. You get to make new friends and chances are you’ll even know some of the people who are already here,” she said. “Plus, there are always people to eat dinner, play cribbage, or play Scrabble with.”

Helping to make the transition even easier has been the staff. The people who are employed here are marvelous, all of them,” she said. “Usually there’s one bad apple in the bunch, but everyone here is great. They’re always smiling and always asking how they can help.”

Without even knowing it, the staff has made a difference. Mrs. Burns said she feels “right at home,” and is even considering picking up a paintbrush again for the first time in eight years.

As she talks about her artwork, her face lights up, recalling the details of some of her paintings: a stack of books visible through a window, an American flag hanging in front of an old farmhouse, or even treasures found in the pockets of her young grandson’s pants.

“I think I’m going to start painting again this winter,” she said. The only question that remains is what she will paint next. Will it be the deer in the field behind her apartment? Will it be the grand Christmas tree that graces the entrance every year, or will it be something else entirely?

At United Helpers Independent Senior Living, the possibilities are endless.

An open house is planned for Friday, Oct. 10, from 1 to 3 pm, but if you would like to take a tour before then, reach out to Community Manager Jennifer Dean at (315) 386-4541. A virtual tour is also available at unitedhelpers.org.