{"id":1066,"date":"2015-07-01T07:25:50","date_gmt":"2015-07-01T12:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arcaregiving.org\/littlerock\/?p=1066"},"modified":"2015-07-01T07:25:50","modified_gmt":"2015-07-01T12:25:50","slug":"at-home-many-seniors-are-imprisoned-by-their-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uamscaregiving.org\/littlerock\/2015\/07\/01\/at-home-many-seniors-are-imprisoned-by-their-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"At Home, Many Seniors Are Imprisoned by Their Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At Home, Many Seniors Are Imprisoned by Their Independence<\/h1>\n
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JUNE 19, 2015<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

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Solange DeLaPaz, 67, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, needs constant oxygen and struggles to leave her Manhattan apartment.<\/span> Credit<\/span>Ruth Fremson\/The New York Times<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What she mourns most, says Solange DeLaPaz, are the mundane pleasures and rituals of her once-active life. A weekly manicure at the corner nail salon. Saturday excursions to Macy\u2019s shoe department.<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss going to Sunday brunch on Second Avenue with my friends,\u201d she said. \u201cI miss going to church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though only 67, Ms. DeLaPaz retired early with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease<\/a> and now struggles to leave her Manhattan apartment. She needs constant oxygen, and carrying even a portable oxygen unit troubles her breathing.<\/p>\n

Climbing or descending the few steps from the elevators into her building\u2019s lobby presents another obstacle. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dare do that on my own,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n