For many people, entering a nursing home spells gloom and doom. You’re no longer caring for your own home, making your own food or doing the things that have always been part of your life. But the upshot is that you no longer have to clean the house, cook your meals or get bogged down by old habits. For some people, going to a nursing home opens a new chapter in life — one in which they can have fewer worries, make new friends and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

This is true for Polly Kyles, 84, a resident of Heritage Health Care & Rehab, a nursing home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Kyles has lived there for almost a year, and is president of the residents’ council. At Heritage, she says she feels like she’s on vacation, or “on a mission” to help people enjoy their remaining years. U.S. News spoke with Kyles and her daughter, Tracy, a nurse at the facility, about what to look for when selecting a nursing home and how to enjoy life once there. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.

When did you start thinking about living at a nursing home?

I was having mini strokes. I was falling, and I couldn’t get up. I was living at home by myself, so I started thinking seriously about a nursing home. We had a family conference with my four children. Two of them wanted me to live with them. After talking about it, I told them my preference was to enter the nursing home where Tracy worked. I felt like that was the best thing I could do. I could spend some time with the residents and have a good time. Not many people say that coming into a nursing home. I’ve never felt like I was in a nursing home. I feel like I am on a vacation or a mission trip.

What was your first day like?

I was ecstatic when we got here — I knew this is where I was supposed to be. People welcomed me almost like a welcome committee. I’ve had better care than I’ve ever had in a hospital. When my family got me moved in, I met my roommate. We have a lot in common: We’re both the same age; we’re both cold-natured; we both like to play Dominoes. She has a little more dementia than I do, but I try to help her remember things. We get along well.

What sorts of activities do you do at the nursing home?

I’ve never seen a place that had more activities. We have games galore. We do play dominoes, and we play bingo twice a month. We play balloon volleyball. We have several singing groups that come in; we’ve even had Elvis a time or two. Once or twice we’ve had someone come in to play the harp. Probably at least once a month we cook. One day, we made chicken and dumplings from scratch. Cooking at home was my hobby.

What types of friendships have you formed there, and why do you compare your time at Heritage to being on a mission trip?

I like to visit the people who are bed-bound; I read to them. I take CDs to some of their rooms and play them. I try to encourage people because they can get down easily having to stay in bed.

I could write a book about the friendships that I have made here. I have three people. One has cerebral palsy. He can’t talk, but he won my heart the first day I saw him. Another one is a lady who I knew years ago, but I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was a little reluctant to be in a nursing home. She has both legs amputated. I have to put myself in her place sometimes. I visit with her a lot, and I read to her to help her have a different mindset. Another one is also bed-bound. I met her when I came here four to five years ago for therapy after hip surgery. She captured my attention. When I came back, she was here; they said I’ve learned more about her background than anybody has because I guess she trusts me. She is beginning to have a cheerful spirit. She’s very talented; she likes to do needlepoint; but she’s had a stroke. I feel like I’m on a mission to encourage people to make the best of their lives. There are more people here who came not because they wanted to [but because they had to].

How is life at the nursing home different than other chapters in your life?

There are so many more things [I do] that I couldn’t do when I was home. Now I’m not having to clean; I’m not having to do my wash; I’m not doing my dusting. I love making homemade rolls, and I can’t do that here, but I get to do so many more things that I couldn’t do when I was home. I’m having a ball. I also feel safer here with the staff taking care of me than I did at home by myself.

Tracy, what criteria did you have, as a family, in selecting a facility for your mom?

It was pretty much a no-brainer for her to come here since I work here. We looked at a place that was closer to her home, but it looked dark and dreary. And for the workers, it was just like it was kinda their job. I didn’t want her to be there. It’s more like a family here. The residents are made to feel like it’s their home. I want her last years to be as good as they can be.

Polly, what advice do you have for people who are considering going into a nursing home?

Go with a positive attitude. A lot of people come here to die. I told myself, ‘I’m going to the nursing home to live.’

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Why One Woman Feels ‘Blessed’ To Live in a Nursing Home originally appeared on usnews.com