alwaysordereda margarita—rocks,nosalt—despiteits
being technically forbidden for a diabetic.
“Theyliveliketheywouldliveintheirneighborhood,”
Carsonsaidofhertenants.“Theystillgettomakepoor
choices for themselves if they choose.”
AchievingthisrequiredmoretoughnessthanI’drealized.
Carsonoftenfoundherselfbattlingthemedicalsystem.A
singleemergencyroomvisitcouldunravelallthework
sheandherteamhaddone.Itwasbadenoughthat,inthe
hospital,hertenantscouldbesubjecttobasicmedication
errors,leftlyingongurneysforhours(whichcausedtheir
skin to breakdown and form open bedsores from the
pressureofthethinmattresses),andassigneddoctorswho
nevercalledSanbornPlaceforinformationorplanning.
Theresidentswereoftenalsoshippedofftorehabilitation
centerswheretheyandtheirfamilieswouldbetoldthat
they could never go back to apartment living again.
Carson gradually worked out relationships with
individual ambulance services and hospitals, which
understoodthatSanbornPlaceexpectedtobeconsulted
aboutcareforitsresidentsandcouldalwaystakethem
back home safely.
Eventheprimarycaredoctorstheresidentssawneeded
education. Carson recounted a conversation she’d had
that day with the physician of a ninety-three-year-old
woman with Alzheimer’s disease.
“She’snotsafe,”thedoctortoldher.“Sheneedstobein
a nursing home.”
“Why?” Carsonreplied. “Wehavebed pads.Wehave
alarms.WehaveGPStracking.”Thewoman waswell