Every so often, we come upon a book that is a total and utter delight to read.  The Secret Diary Of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old is such a book, and it was a welcome respite from the horrors of what is going on in the world these days. Hendrik Groen is a fictional character who lives in a modest assisted living facility in Amsterdam. He may not be wealthy, but he is wise. Every morning, Groen shares details of his life in daily journal entries from January 1st to December 31st, 2011, before he begins a new day.

The Dutch author perfectly captures irony and understated humour to such a degree that there’s hardly a page in this 342-page book that will not generate a chuckle or an outright laugh-out-loud. That’s not to suggest Dutch people can’t be funny, but I wasn’t expecting this level of humour about the goings-on in an assisted living facility. His writing is so refreshing.

The translation of this book into English by Hester Velmans also deserves credit, as it’s extremely readable and written in an easy conversational style. Groen cheekily refers to his fellow residents as “inmates” and the residence itself as “The House Of The Setting Sun”.  There were even some good words of advice for us aging boomers: “Before going to the doctor, always jot down all your questions, and be sure to go over the list with him item by item”.

Of course, medical assisted dying is discussed. It’s as important a subject in the Netherlands as it is in Canada. As he wisely observes, “Killing yourself isn’t against the law. If you succeed, there’s nothing they can do to punish you for it. And if you fail, you could always ask for the death penalty, I suppose.” This book is loaded with words of wisdom.

Everything is fodder for conversation when you’re in assisted living, particularly the management of the residence. The list of rules and regulations for Groen’s residence is administered with fierce authority, lest any residents get carried away and try cooking in their suite, or partying too hard. The official list of rules and regulations, however, is a closely guarded secret document that only staff are allowed to access, lest any high-minded residents challenge management’s authority.

The author offers hilarious observations about organ recitals, topics of conversation at mealtime about the condition of his fellow inmates’ bowels and other organs. “I DON’T NEED TO KNOW ANY OF THIS” he protests. If any of my readers have or had a loved one in assisted living, they will recognize so many of the adventures the residents experience.

Before my father passed away, he lived for four years in a wonderful facility on the Trent River in Ontario, Canada, and he was always full of stories about the varied and colourful characters who shared his life. There were love affairs, personality conflicts, and no end of interesting stories. Even the food was an adventure for him. On Robbie Burns Day, he tasted haggis for the first time in his life at the age of ninety-one. I had quite a laugh when he once asked me if I’d ever heard of “cold soup”, after he’d been served cucumber soup at lunch. There were many new food experiences for an old meat-and-potatoes guy to try. Assisted living was a wonderful way for him to spend his final years.

Most of us are going to end up in assisted living sooner or later. Some facilities are obviously superior to others, but regardless of our circumstances, there are advantages and disadvantages in how we choose to navigate the rest of our lives. Friendships develop and grow, and we don’t have to cook anymore, which I am personally really looking forward to.

The Secret Diary of Henrik Groen is not, however, a depressing read. Instead, we are treated to the follies and foibles of communal senior living delivered with astute observation, irony, and delicious humour. I highly recommend this book to lift your spirits and bring a bit of laughter into your day. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Click on this link to have it delivered directly to your door or tablet from Amazon.