How to Make Choosing an Assisted Living Community a Family Affair

February 10, 2021 by ·

Deciding on assisted living for yourself or an aging parent or other loved one may not be an easy decision. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. However, it doesn’t have to be done alone. 

Whether you are an adult child looking after your elderly mother or father, a spouse, or just a concerned friend, you can help a senior who struggles at home choose a quality assisted living community. 

In fact, the more you include family and close friends, the more supportive they can all be for this senior whose life is about to change. 

 

How will a senior’s life change when moving into assisted living?

Assisted Living Mobile, AL: Assisted Living Community

Too many people have various misconceptions about what assisted living is and offers. They assume that when a senior needs to move into one of these communities, it is basically a sign of the end, or that the end of their life is fast approaching. 

Nothing could be further from the truth. Today, quality assisted living facilities are bastions of activity, support, peers, new friendships, reconnecting with old friends, and so much more. 

In fact, higher quality assisted living communities no longer have what may be best referred to as cafeteria style eateries, but rather restaurants with on staff chefs. Seniors can choose what they want to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even getting an opportunity to speak with the chef about ingredients and dietary restrictions. 

 

Now, about including family… 

The most important thing is to make sure the senior is on board with this decision. Don’t go and make this choice for them. The senior will likely already feel as though he or she is losing some sense of autonomy and independence, and if somebody else is leading the charge in choosing a quality assisted living facility, leaving them out, it can be frustrating. 

Not everyone in the family needs to have a say in which facility the senior chooses. But, when as many people in the close circle of family are included in the process, updated on what’s going on, it not only helps them feel more connected to the process, but they will likely also be reaching out to the senior more frequently. 

What a wonderful way to have support and encouragement during the difficult moment in life. Moving into assisted living is not difficult, but any change a person goes through is. The more you include family in the process, the more it can help the senior cope with this life change. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living in Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017. 

Filed Under: Assisted Living Community, Assisted Living in Mobile AL · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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