In their seventies, Leah and Allan Lipman lived an idyllic retired life. Summers in their longtime Buffalo, N.Y., home, winters in Boynton Beach, Fla. They drove back and forth, and relied on various services and individuals to care for their lawn and home repairs. They kept up with doctor visits and enjoyed swimming and socializing with friends over card games. Allan, a former lawyer, managed all the finances and correspondences. “They were staunchly independent,” their daughter Joan Green recalls.
By their early eighties, they were paying someone to drive them to and from Florida. Their children supported them during medical procedures — which became more frequent. Knee replacement. Pacemaker. Leah’s arthritis began to make cooking more difficult. The couple moved to a Rockville, Md., apartment to be near their daughter, who helped with rides and errands. They found a housekeeper for light cleaning.
