How Well Your Elderly Mother Adjusts to Assisted Living May Not Be the Only Concern

January 28, 2020 by ·

Carol was extremely concerned about her mother. Living in the same town for most of her adult life, Carol maintained a strong and solid relationship with her mother. Yet, as she moved through her 70s, Carol’s mother was exhibiting signs of health issues, physical limitations, and sometimes confusion.

Carol was willing to help her mother as much as she could, but with a full-time job and other responsibilities, time was limited. She was concerned about her mother’s safety and talked often and openly about the prospect of assisted living.

Her mother was not as enthusiastic about the topic at first, but eventually grew to be more interested in it. When they took a tour of a local facility together, both Carol and her mother were impressed.

As the months progressed into another year, Carol pushed more for assisted living.

Assisted Living Theodore, AL: Assisted Living and Seniors

It was reaching a point when her mother was simply not enjoying a high quality of life any longer. She was no longer able to drive, was limited in how often she could visit with friends, and expressed loneliness more and more often.

After that first year passed, Carol’s mother was finally open to discussing the topic of assisted living more honestly. A few months later, her mother moved into a local facility.

It didn’t take long for Carol’s mother to adjust.

She knew a few people at this particular facility already, so it was an easier transition in some aspects. Carol was anticipating her mother calling her frequently, crying and asking her to take her back home, but that never materialized.

It was Carol who had a more difficult time adjusting to this new life. She was no longer required to stop over and visit with her mother a couple of times a week. She didn’t have to go grocery shopping for her mother. She didn’t need to take her mother to doctors’ appointments, to check in on her, or other tasks she had grown accustomed to.

Carol found herself longing for those simple visits with her mother. As frustrating as they were at times, no longer having to do this left a void in her life.

Carol could have made a big mistake.

If she had decided to stop by the assisted living facility and visit with her mother every day, several times a day, or call to check on her numerous times throughout the day because of her own insecurities or her difficulty adjusting, it could have negatively impacted her mother.

Her mother could have waited around for the phone calls and visits instead of exploring what this facility offered. Fortunately, Carol found a way to adjust by digging into activities of her own, reconnecting with friends she hadn’t spoken to in months, and catching up on work she had let slide far too long.

 

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Theodore AL, How Well Your Elderly Mother Adjusts to Assisted Living May Not Be the Only Concern · 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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