Lena Adams plays golf, bowls and helps out with washing dishes when she sees the need.

None of those activities seem out of the ordinary until you find out Adams' age.

At 102, Adams lives almost independently in Austin at Our House Assisted Living for Seniors.

Our House provides food, housekeeping, laundry and entertainment services. It is one of several assisted living homes in the area, where seniors can receive some assistance in their daily activities, but live somewhat independently.

Today marks the first day of National Assisted Living Week, which ends Sept. 14. Our House is observing the week with activities and Mayor Bonnie Rietz signed a proclamation for it last week.

Assisted living offers seniors an alternative to a traditional nursing home setting.

"It keeps them out of nursing homes," said Chris Clements, Our House director. "These people would just die in nursing homes."

Adams has lived at Our House for two years and enjoys it.

"This is just like home," she said. "They are good to me. Meals, bed, everything is good."

Clements said she wants to observe Assisted Living Week to recognize the staff and make it special for the residents. Each day of the week will have a different theme and Friday will be staff appreciation day.

Residents are able to enjoy entertainment and activities in other weeks also. One of the rooms has a fish tank and two birds, which the residents take care of themselves.

Boot's Tracy and Agnes Rush have alternated feeding the parakeets, Blackie and Baby Cakes, since they have lived at Our House.

"These birds, they're pretty smart," Rush said, while trying to get Blackie to say "pretty bird."

Rush has lived at Our House for two years and said the employees take good care of the residents.

"I don't know where they find such nice girls that have the patience to put up with us," she said.

Tracy, who moved to Our House in March, agreed that the employees are helpful.

"Everybody's good to me. The food is good," Tracy said. "I've made a lot of friends."

The 13 employees at Our House make meals, assist residents with bathing, medications and housekeeping and check on the residents often.

"They check on me to see if I'm still alive," Adams said before laughing.

In the United States, 6.5 million senior citizens live in assisted living residences, according to the 2000 Census.

Families tend to consider assisted living when a senior member of their family has chronic health problems, memory loss, fatigue or loneliness, according to Our House.

A month's rent at Our House is $2,300, which includes all services except for phone and cable, Clements said. Some residents receive county assistance to stay there.

Other homes vary costs depending on the services the residents need. Residents' fees at Colony Home in Austin depend on services, said Shannon Pascholl, nurse manager.

Primrose plans to open 24 assisted living units by the end of the month. It still has openings and is offering tours of its studio and one-bedroom apartments.

"It's just a beautiful, gorgeous place," said Laura Pyburn, administrator.

The Cedars of Austin has 38 apartments, which are full, said Clark Sipra, Cedars manager. A basic room with services costs $1,950 a month, a one-bedroom costs $2,460 a month and a two-bedroom costs $2,770.

Sipra said games and musical entertainment are brought in for the residents.

"There's a wide array of activities," Sipra said. "There's always something happening at Cedars to fill their day."

The Cedars was one of the first assisted living homes in the area when it opened in 1986.

"If they can't quite take care of themselves, but need assistance, we give them some assistance," Sipra said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com