Mom Wants to Leave Assisted Living near Pascagoula AL: What to Do?

May 29, 2014 by ·

“ One Daughter’s Story near Pascagoula AL”

Mom wasn’t the one who really cared about assisted living. She had been living alone for so long, I think she was used to it. I also knew that as many of her friends had passed away or moved on, she was spending more and more of her time alone inside that dark house (she never opened the curtains anymore).Assisted Living Pascagoula AL

I had talked to her about moving somewhere better, somewhere that she wouldn’t have to be responsible for the property, the lawn, and everything else. She would always tell me that she was comfortable there and that would be the end of it.

When I started to notice that she was having trouble tending to her own care and needs, I brought the subject up again. Finally she reluctantly agreed to ‘look into it.’ One of her friends had moved into anassisted living facility that wasn’t too far away and she was excited. Her friend kept telling her how comfortable she was there and how everyone was so nice.

Now that my mother’s been there for a week, she keeps calling me and telling me that she wants to leave. She sold her house and most of her furniture. Besides, she would need some help around the house as she had trouble bathing herself and I worry that before long, she’s going to need help with her toileting as well.

I talked to her friend’s family and they told me that their mother also went through that ‘transition stage,’ as they put it. They told me that when their mother moved into the assisted living facility, it was a major change and something that she couldn’t seem to get used to. She didn’t go out and meet other residents, and resented the staff who tried to help her.

They told me that I should give it some time, to allow my mother to adjust. They advised me to limit the conversations I had with her to more important matters and that when she brings up the desire to leave, I should change the subject.

By the next week my mother was telling me that she “could get used to this place.” She said it with a smile, and I learned through her friend’s family that she had been making a lot of new friends.

I think it’s like kids going away to camp. That homesick feeling is real, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to have any fun, even at assisted living.

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

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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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