One of the Most Effective Strategies to Get an Aging Parent THINKING About Assisted Living

January 15, 2020 by ·

Gerald and Diane had been talking to her aging father about assisted living. They were worried about him. They noticed the significant changes in his physical capabilities. He was also dealing with increasing health issues and more than a few doctor visits during the past several months.

He didn’t want to hear about it at first. It was very difficult to even talk about the challenges and struggles he was facing on a regular basis. Yet, despite the resistance and frustration, either Gerald or Diane, or both, would go over and help him when he had a struggle with the yardwork, taking out the garbage, getting to a doctor’s appointment, and so forth.

It took a while, but they ultimately realized there was a way to get him considering assisted living. They began to focus on something important, something that had been overlooked, and something Diane’s father had lost hope over.

They focused on activities he enjoyed.

Assisted Living Mobile, AL: Thinking About Assisted Living

Diane’s father was a vibrant, outgoing, strong man for his entire adult life. He dealt with some serious health issues in his early 20s, but other than that, through his 50s, 60s, and all of his 70s he was fiercely independent and continued doing the yard work, taking care of the house, and everything else he wanted or needed to do.

As he moved through his 80s, though, his physical capabilities changed. His body betrayed him. That also meant giving up certain hobbies like fishing, visiting with friends, playing games, and so on.

When they started talking about activities a local assisted living facility offered its residents, not mentioning where these activities were taking place, it piqued his interest. He started listening.

More important, he started asking questions.

He had assumed that, because of his age and physical challenges, he simply couldn’t do those things anymore. To listen as Gerald and Diane would talk about these things, as though they were still possible, it was first frustrating, but then he wanted to know if it was true, if it was possible.

They didn’t bring up things that an assisted living facility was not going to offer, support him with, or that were not even feasible for somebody his age, but only those activities that a particular facility supported.

That added credibility to their conversation, their argument. As a result, they were able to get Diane’s father to open up about the topic, and while it took many months for them to convince him to at least take a tour, he ultimately did.

Today, he’s enjoying his new life and, surprisingly to him, some new freedoms he thought he lost forever.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living 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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