I strongly recommend having a personal advocate when you enter a senior living community.

As we become more vulnerable, physically and mentally, our advocate speaks for us on community-related issues. Our advocates are usually our spouse or one of our kids — often the executor of our estate.

Like most retirement communities, Silver Lake discourages residents from keeping a car. Without a car, it’s difficult to go shopping, get to doctor appointments, and take other routine trips off campus. Since most of our advocates here at Silver Lake are family members, we rely on them rather than paying for Uber or Lyft.

Some retirement communities offer a “taxi” service, but still at rates close to commercial transportation.

Those without advocates rely on the mercy of their neighbors with cars or pay Uber for the trip over, the trip back, and/or wait time during our activity.