The family placed Max in an eldercare facility on Long Island, New York:
NARRATOR: Lisa, backgrounding/commenting. Max moved into the Jackson Manor Hotel just one week after his arrival in New York. Situated on the boardwalk in the oceanside town of Long Beach, Long Island, the hotel was for elderly people who don't need round-the-clock nursing care, but who can't live independently. Much of the boardwalk area is made up of similar hotels and apartments, with a nursing home and hospital nearby.
Approximately one hundred people live at the Jackson, each with their own room and telephone. There is always someone on duty at night, and during the day an activities director organizes movies, bingo, and afternoon excursions to parks or shows on the Island. Most of the time, however, there is little to do, and the residents can be found at any hour lining the benches on the boardwalk, or clustered in little groups inside the lobby.
Max's difficulties adapting to his new environment was more difficult due to his failing eyesight.
NARRATOR: Although one of Max's problems with Pauline had been her reluctance to help him adapt to his declining eyesight, now he was totally on his own. He had to learn to "feel" his key into the lock of his door, and to shave without cutting himself. Max's adjustment to a basically solitary life was slow but steady; he dealt with each situation as it arose.
On the other hand, Max was both able and enthusiastic about walking.
NARRATOR: If Max couldn't read anymore, he still had his legs, and so he walked constantly. It was a panacea for him to move his body and observe life around him, allowing his thoughts to wander.
Max recounts the daily routine at Jackson Manor. Lisa asks about playing bingo. Max replies that his eyesight makes playing bingo difficult for him.
MAX: Max, interviewed by Lisa or talking with other family members You get soft drinks, orange juice, tomato juice, around 9:00. Sometimes they show a movie. Sometimes they play bingo!
LISA: Lisa, interviewing her grandfather, Max Yeah, sure! Do you play bingo, Grandpa?
MAX: No, you know why?
LISA: Yeah, why?
MAX: I can't see the numbers.
MAX: They're not big enough for you?
MAX: It's not that they're not big enough, there's something, a defect in my left eye. And I went to your father, and all the brothers, to take me to a doctor, who supposedly know, how to cure it.
MAX: I don't know what we can do, except get a very big magnifying glass. I assume that my dad and everybody else have done all that they can.
MAX: What can I do? I don't know!
Lisa encourages Max to walk and points out an exceptional resident who walks great distances. Then Lisa indulges Max with a snack.
LISA: You can do anything! You can take walks. You know what he [that guy over there] does? He takes walks. Everybody else, they sit around all day, and he goes out and he walks from one end of Long Beach to the other. You want a cracker with cheese?
MAX: Give me cracker with cheese. Will that make you happy?
MAX: Does that make you happy?
IMAGE: untitled (Left: Max answering door, Right: Max peering into hallway)
IMAGE: untitled (two empty chairs beside a single bed)
IMAGE: untitled (closeup face-on head-shot portrait of Max)