Most of us with aging parents worry about the future. How will we manage when our parents are no longer able to manage living on their own? Will we manage caring for them in our homes? What if they prefer to have care in their own home? Will they require care in a facility?
As people live longer, families face bigger challenges surrounding the care of aging parents. However, in the case of Tom Keating, his care story is a little different. Tom, 80 is actually receiving care from his mother, 98-year-old Ada. (1, 2)
Tom and his mother Ada have shared a loving relationship for 80-years. When Tom’s health forced him to move into Moss View care home in Liverpool, his mum Ada decided to join him. (2)
Never Stop Being A Mum
Located in Huyton, Liverpool, Moss View was happy to bring Ada and Tom together. Ada, who is just a few years short of her 100th birthday, takes her role as a mother seriously. “You never stop being a mum,” says Ada. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to join Tom in the facility in 2016 after learning he would require additional care. (2)
This mother-son team spend their time at the home playing games or watching their favorite show, Emmerdale. “They’re very good here and I’m happy to see my mum more now that she lives here,” says Tom. (2)
Close Relationship
“It’s very touching to see the close relationship both Tom and Ada share and we are so pleased we were able to accommodate both of their needs,” says Care home manager Philip Daniels. “It’s very rare to see mothers and their children together in the same care home and we certainly want to make their time together as special as possible.” (2)
Tom is Ada’s eldest son. She and her husband had four children, including a daughter Janet who died when she was just 13-years-old. Family members visit the mother-son team regularly including Ada’s granddaughter, Debi Higham. The family is glad the pair are able to live together. (2)
“There’s no parting them,” says Debi. “It’s reassuring for us that they’re both getting looked after 24/7.” (2)
Inseparable Pair
The pair spend almost all of their time together. “They are inseparable,” says the care home manager. (2)
“I say goodnight to Tom in his room every night and I’ll go and say good morning to him,” says Ada. “I’ll tell him I’m coming down for breakfast. When I go out to the hairdressers he’ll look for me to see when I’m coming back.” (2)
Ada says she always has a hug ready for Tom when she returns. He awaits her arrival with outstretched arms. “Sometimes she’ll say ‘behave yourself.’ She’s very good at looking after me,” says Tom. (2)
Tom and Ada are originally from Wavertree. Tom never married, so he has only ever lived with his mum. He worked as a painter and decorator before retiring while Ada, worked as an auxiliary nurse. (2)
A relationship spanning 80-years is hard to imagine. However, for this mother son team, time has been kind. It’s a future that might become a reality for more families as we continue to see our parents live to a ripe old age.
