Mom Moved Into Rest Home To Look After 80-Year-Old Son

May 23, 2020

They say that a mother's love knows no bounds. No matter what hardships a mother has to face, she will take them on for the sake of her children. Working long hours to provide for their family, keeping the house in order in addition to providing emotional support for the kids - mothers have to handle a lot in today's world. Of course, it is always easier when you can share the work and joy of raising a family with your partner, but even a couple that supports each other through all phases of life will face hard times now and then. However, a loving mother will always keep her children in her heart. One 98-year-old mom is proof of that sentiment.

Ada Keating from Wavertree, England, enjoyed a long life full of love and joy. As a mother of four children, who have all long since grown up and went to find their own place in life, she was enjoying her senior years in peace. Some of her children had had children of their own, so this senior was enjoying being the doting grandmother. However, one of her children had also gotten older and lost mobility and physical ability over the years.

Her son, Thomas Keating, unfortunately, needed some help during his daily life, and so the decision was made that he would enter into assisted living at a senior care facility.

When Ada's 80-year-old son finally entered a senior care home in Liverpool, England, back in 2016, the 98-year-old just knew she had to be close to him — so she moved in.

According to The Liverpool Echo, Tom moved into the Moss View care home in Huyton because he needed additional care. It only took a little over one year before Ada decided that she also needed to be with her son, and she moved into the care home herself on her own decision.

The mom and son duo shared a special bond that had grown over the years. The two spend their days in the care home playing games or watching Emmerdale, a television drama.

Even in the care home, Ada still embraced her duties as a mother.

"I say goodnight to Tom in his room every night and I'll go and say good morning to him," she told the publication. "I'll tell him I'm coming down for breakfast."

When Ada went to get her hair done, Tom was always waiting to greet her with a big hug upon her return. Tom also used to quip that his mom was still always looking out for him and even telling him to behave himself. Once a mother, always a mother.

Ada and her late husband, Harry Keating, had raised four children together. Ada worked as an auxiliary nurse at the former Mill Road Hospital prior to retirement while Tom was a painter and decorator, according to The Liverpool Echo. The couple shared a harmonious and loving relationship.

Ada's granddaughter Debi Higham was a regular visitor to the mother and son duo, along with the rest of their family. 

"There's no parting them," said Debi. "It's reassuring for us that they're both getting looked after 24/7."

Ada and Tom's care home manager, Philip Daniels, highlighted the fact that it's very rare to see mothers and children in the same retirement home. But that gives Daniels and his staff all the more reason to make their stay extra special.

"[...W]e certainly want to make their time together as special as possible," Daniels told the publication. "They are inseparable."

Having two elderly family members living in the same care facility such as this can reassure the rest of the family. You know that your family member is not completely among strangers and that somebody will always be there to talk to them or spend time with them when you or your fellow family members are struggling to make time.

Sadly, however, this story of a loving mother and her son came to a close in December 2019. At the age of 82, Thomas passed away peacefully at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. The family announced the sad message online via a funeral notice, writing: "Beloved son of Ada, brother to Marjorie and Barbara and a loving uncle to Michael, Jeanette, Ian and Debi. He will be sadly missed by all family and friends."

There has been no news on Ada and whether she still lives; however, the funeral notice from 2019 seems to imply that she survived her son. While it is amazing to see someone live such a long life as her, it is also sad to think that this loving mother had to see her son pass on before her. One can only hope their love will continue in heaven.

By watching the video, it becomes clear that the love of a parent never goes away. What do you think of Ada and Tom's touching story? Let us know and pass this on to your friends and family members to brighten their day.