This is the next in my ongoing series chronicling my year-long quest to find a suitable skilled nursing facility.

It is the first episode I have recorded in my new home at Countryside Meadows Nursing Facility. Because I haven’t been able to record, I’ve been using the Contemplating Life Patreon page as a blog with text-only posts. So, if you haven’t seen them, check them out. They are all available to the public for free.

In this episode, I begin the story of 10 days of respite care at the Greenwood Healthcare Center in early March 2026. That respite care visit was interrupted by a hospitalization at a new hospital.

Links of Interest

Countryside Meadows: https://www.asccare.com/community/countryside-meadows/

Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/

Franciscan Hospital: https://directory.franciscanhealth.org/location/franciscan-health-indianapolis

St. Vincent Hospital: https://healthcare.ascension.org/st-vincent

Vocera Smartbadge: https://www.stryker.com/us/en/smart-care/products/vocera-smartbadge.html

Vocera Smartbadge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIrvp3wN3GE

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this episode, I continue the story of my year-long research for a permanent placement in a skilled nursing facility. I also talk about recovering from the emotional trauma of a very bad experience over Thanksgiving weekend 2025. It includes the story of how I found it amazing online faith community that has been a great support to me during these difficult times.

I recorded this episode in July 2026, right before I moved to a new nursing facility. It’s taken me two months to get around to editing it. I considered doing a basic edit and not adding any fancy features to the YouTube version. On the other hand, I want to prove I can still maintain the kind of quality episodes I used to make even though I’m in a new environment with an ever-worsening disability. So I encourage you to check out the YouTube version.

Links of Interest

“Ol’ Man River” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_Man_River

“Ol’ Man River” sung by Paul Robeson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df4VdyGIqJ8

“I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfY4b1NszpY

Home video of Christmas 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhyqLAN3CPs

Home video of building a robot with my great-nephew Leighton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVLUKIoYADQ

Tumbller robot kit on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Tumbller-Self-Balancing-Engineering-Compatible/dp/B07QWJH77V/

Radio-controlled car I bought for my great-nephew Beckett: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5HCX4J6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Heart rock band on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_(band)

Billy Joel and Sting at Lucas Oil Stadium: https://www.lucasoilstadium.com/event/billy-joel-and-sting-one-night-one-stage/

Foreigner “Jukebox Hero Tour”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQ5spXrlug

Styx “Jukebox Hero Tour”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OsNfUQyvts

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” (2025): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1757678/

“Project Hail Mary” (2026): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12042730/

Dan McClellan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maklelan

“Data Over Dogma” podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dataoverdogma

Jeremy Steele on “Data Over Dogma”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXvgcXtcgQc

Jeremy Steele “Skeptic Pastor”: https://www.youtube.com/@skeptic.pastor

My 1st interview on “Unbelief” podcast 1/11/2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwFtQNNCpMI

My 2nd interview on “Unbelief” podcast 8/10/2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aATOBOMQcBs

“The Tribulation Survival Guide” book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tribulation-Survival-Guide-Alive-Everything-ebook/dp/B0GBZ4FZVM/

Arlington Place: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/arlington-place-health-campus/

Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

This is part two of the story of Thanksgiving week 2025, when I tried to give my sister Carol time off to visit family in Texas. Things did not go well.

Links of Interest

Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this latest installment of my ongoing series about my struggles to find a safe and comfortable place to live, I tell a harrowing tale of Thanksgiving week, 2025. I made arrangements so my sister Carol could go to Texas to visit family. I had a solid plan for who would take care of me while she was gone. Then everything for part. This is part one of a two-part story.

Links of Interest

Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/

My Ultimate Remote Control: https://learn.adafruit.com/building-the-assistive-technology-ultimate-remote

“Life” cereal commercial featuring Mikey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQ0LZSnJFE

Traditional Hoyer lift sling: https://www.hillrom.com/en/products/sph-seated-slings/

Two-piece lift seat similar to mine: https://www.medicalexpo.com/prod/horcher-medical-systems/product-68764-450122.html

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this episode, I chronicle a yearlong search for a suitable skilled nursing facility.

This is part five of my continuing series recounting my efforts to maintain my benefits and live in a safe, comfortable environment.

Links of Interest

Wellbrooke of Avon: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/wellbrooke-of-avon/

Yes Symphonic live DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Symphonic-Live-Blu-ray-Yes/dp/B0052WBI0W/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0

ELP concert DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Emerson-Lake-Palmer-Anniversary-Reunion/dp/B0052Y0FJ0/ref=sr_1_6

My episode 13 “The Ascending View”: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=74

Arduino microcontrollers: https://www.arduino.cc/

Adafruit Industries hobby electronics: https://www.adafruit.com/

ATMakers: https://atmakers.org/

Engineering Ella video from ATMakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNFvhjCJYb4

Old National Center: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_National_Centre

Comedian Josh Johnson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshJohnsonComedy

Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10676052/

FT Tiny Trainer RC airplane bundle: https://store.flitetest.com/ft-tiny-trainer-complete-starter-bundle/

Clearvista Lake Health Campus: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/clearvista-lake-health-campus/

Arlington Place: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/arlington-place-health-campus/

Alpha Home: https://www.alphahomeawc.com/

Episode 22 “The Reunion”: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=149

Hurricane Helene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene

B Cubed Press: https://bcubedpress.wordpress.com/

“Alternative Liberties” (2025 anthology): https://www.amazon.com/Alternative-Liberties-Alternatives-Bob-Brown-ebook/dp/B0DT176GYK/

FEMA 50% rule: https://www.sc-pa.com/appraisal-info/damage-reporting/understanding-the-fema-50-rule/

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association: https://sfwa.org/

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this special episode, I present an essay about my feelings about leaving the home I’ve lived in since I was three years old. Normally, a podcast like this would include lots of nostalgic photos of my home and neighborhood. Unfortunately, I don’t have time or energy to create the kind of video masterpiece I would normally create for such an episode. This time, it’s just me talking. Here is my nostalgic essay “It’s Just a Building.”

Links of Interest

Eagledale neighborhood, Indianapolis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagledale,_Indianapolis

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this episode, I fast-forward through events after my dad died in February 2019 up until July 2025, after I made the decision to actively pursue placement in a skilled nursing facility. It includes a video of a speech I gave at my 70th birthday.

This is part four of my continuing series recounting my efforts to maintain my benefits and live in a safe, comfortable environment.

Links of Interest

Episode 66 “I Was Nearly Murdered” https://contemplating-life.com/?p=331

Wellbrooke of Avon: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/wellbrooke-of-avon/

Father Paul Landwerlen obituary: https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2025/06-13/landwerlen.html

Episode 12 in which I discuss my fear of death: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=69

Episode 14 in which I discuss how I got past my fears: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=76

Street view of mile marker 20.1 on I-465 where we had a flat tire: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KdU9GtU4UMkSnGaQ8

Hoosier Helpers from IDOT: https://www.in.gov/indot/current-programs/hoosier-helpers/

Wellbrooke of Avon: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/wellbrooke-of-avon/

Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/

Private Room at Wellbrooke: https://share.icloud.com/photos/010P48zzQC-vwzoSBLcuL-Ouw

Video from my 60th birthday party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJT0-3KFcM

Video from my 70th birthday party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2EIBq4vxr8

Episode 78 about my friend Buz: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=424

Episode 45 about my friend Mike Gregory: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=256

World record donation for SMA treatment: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/663805-largest-donation-for-a-patients-medical-treatment

Most expensive drugs: https://www.drugs.com/article/top-10-most-expensive-drugs.html

Evrysdi (Risdiplam) the SMA drug I take. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risdiplam

Zolgensma and Itvisma gene therapies for people with SMA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onasemnogene_abeparvovec

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this episode, I cover the events surrounding my dad’s funeral. The episode includes the audio of the eulogy I gave. I highly recommend you watch the YouTube version, as it includes a slideshow of photos of my dad to accompany the eulogy.

This is part three of my continuing series recounting my efforts to maintain my benefits and live in a safe, comfortable environment.

Links of Interest

• Stevens Mortuary

• Calgary Catholic Cemetery

• Obituary for my Dad. Includes the slideshow shown at the mortuary

• Standalone audio with slideshow of my dad’s eulogy:

• Prayer of St. Francis

• Sheet Metal Workers Local 20

• Sheet Metal Workers Credit Union

• Tarpenning-Lafollette Co., where dad worked:

• Google Street view of cathedral doors

• Fleming and Associates

• Matthew 25:31-46 (NABRE)

• Matthew 7:20 (NABRE)

• Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument

• Ultimate Remote Control

For more episodes

Support us on Patreon

Where to listen to this podcast

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: