"But this one? It fits like a glove” Tom Murphy, Park Place resident

When Nancy’s father, Tom Murphy, broke his hip the day after his 95th birthday, she didn’t realize that fall would change everything. After his hospital stay during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom’s memory declined to the point where he could no longer live safely on his own. Nancy brought him into her home, and she and her four siblings, Sean, Nancy, Marie, and Danny, took turns caring for their dad every day.

Now at Park Place, they keep the same schedule as they did previously. Just two blocks from Nancy’s home, the community felt different. Peaceful. Bright. Safe. And filled with people who care.

Once he moved in, Tom never looked back. “Not once did he ask to go home,” she said. “It’s just like home—but with the support we all needed. The space is a calm environment that helps her father feel safe and at ease.”

Nancy already knew many of the staff from her job nearby at Jewel, but her connection with the community deepened. “I know the nurses’ kids’ birthdays, their pets’ names. I’m not just a visitor. I’m part of the community here.”

Even now, he participates in activities at Park Place. He is baking cookies, watching kids walk past the school next door, chatting with the staff, enjoying outdoor games, and delighting in visits from therapy dogs. “Lisa, the Life Enrichment Director, is worth her weight in gold,” Nancy said. “She treats my dad like her own.”

Now 99, her father still doesn’t take a single prescription medication, just vitamins and minerals. “He’s healthy as a horse,” Nancy said. “And he’s determined. He told me, ‘I’m going to make it to 100.’ And I believe him.”

Park Place hasn’t just supported Tom, it’s supported the whole family. “They gave us back our peace of mind,” she said. “I could finally sleep again. I wasn’t worrying every minute.”

One of Tom’s favorite places is the community garden. “After a long Chicago winter, we’re out there every day. It’s priceless to sit together and just enjoy the sunshine. Her dad watches children pass by the nearby school, admiring the landscaping and joking about the gate security. It gives him joy, and it gives Nancy peace.” Nancy shared.

Looking back, Nancy says choosing Park Place was one of the best decisions they ever made. “There are places you can go,” she said. “But this one? This place fits like a glove.”