Plymouth Tower, The Final Month: PLYMOUTHmzggg44

The Plymouth Tower, a retirement housing facility in Riverside, Calif., was built in 1970. When the owner announced in 2008 that it was closing, the residents, whose average age was 85, scrambled to find new homes. Then in January 2009, a new owner purchased and save the iconic seven-story retirement home. Twenty-two of the 106 seniors decided to remain in Plymouth Tower with new ownership. But the upheaval, stunned and freightened the residents. All had expected Plymouth Tower to be their last home. The aging tower needed millions of dollars worth of renovations. In the wake of the pending closing, one resident died and more than half of the 100 staff members lost their jobs as the number of residents declined. Certified nursing assistant Gloria Woods cleans the finger nails of resident Maddy May, 87, before polishing them. It is May's final day at the Plymouth Tower. She is moving to her new home at Bixby Knolls Towers Retirement Residence in Long Beach, Calif. (The Press-Enterprise/ Mark Zaleski)

The Plymouth Tower, a retirement housing facility in Riverside, Calif., was built in 1970. When the owner announced in 2008 that it was closing, the residents, whose average age was 85, scrambled to find new homes. Then in January 2009, a new owner purchased and save the iconic seven-story retirement home. Twenty-two of the 106 seniors decided to remain in Plymouth Tower with new ownership. But the upheaval, stunned and freightened the residents. All had expected Plymouth Tower to be their last home. The aging tower needed millions of dollars worth of renovations. In the wake  

of the pending closing, one resident died and more than  

half of the 100 staff members lost their jobs as the number of residents declined. Certified nursing assistant Gloria Woods cleans the finger nails of resident Maddy May, 87, before polishing them. It is May's final day at the Plymouth Tower. She is moving to her new home at Bixby Knolls Towers Retirement Residence in Long Beach, Calif.  

(The Press-Enterprise/ Mark Zaleski)