Better suited to live in a castle or a commune? Are you city mouse or country mouse? Solitary soul or social being? Delighted with a trip to the opera or more satisfied with a drive into the country to look at wildflowers? Comfortable with hardworking down-to-earth people? Or more comfortable with the intellectual chatter of professionals?
The quizzes currently flying around FB tell me I should live in the city, London to enjoy the ‘pomp and circumstance,’ in the country, Monaco because I was ‘born to live in luxury,’ or in Barbados if I’m choosing an island in the Caribbean, because I’m ‘eclectic’!
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These quizzes are a lot of fun but they also ask the sort of questions you need to ask yourself (and/or your loved one) when shopping around for an assisted living facility. This may be the time to live the life you’ve always dreamed of living. You’ll want a place with all the comforts and joys of home while you leave all the hassles of home behind.
It’s a lot like college shopping. Your personality and the personality of this place you’re going to call home have to match. And looking at brochures isn’t enough. Make a short list. Go and visit the facilities you’re interested in. You need to see the site. Walk the space. Feel the atmosphere.
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To be taken into consideration is the amount of care you will need and how much is available. Some facilities have nurses on call 24/7 while others have a nurse on the premises 24/7. Depending on the state of your health (or your loved one’s), it could make a big difference. Is care available at the facility or will you have to bring in your own health aide to help with ADL’s?
Don’t forget that it’s the wishes, desires, and lifestyle of the person who is actually going to be living in the assisted living facility that is most important. Their lifestyle may be different from yours.
Some years ago we tried to bring my mother from western Pennsylvania to Connecticut. Since we were super-busy professionals working in New York at the time, we hoped to have her nearby and occupied during the week and with us on weekends.
But it didn’t work. We visited several facilities here. We all talked about it and in partnership with her ideas, opted to find her a place in western Pennsylvania near her home and friends of half a century. We flew in to visit her on weekends.
Moving can be a difficult experience for the young and healthy. Partner with your loved one to make sure it isn’t a traumatic experience for one who’s old and feeble.
Norma Nixon Schofield
As always, Always Best Care is here to help, offering a 'bigger picture' philosophy, ABC's reputation is built on providing one of the highest levels of individualized and customized care in today's market. Besides regular in-home care, we are able to supplement the temporary needs of people wherever they find themselves needing help. For the full story visit our site at: www.alwaysbestcarewesternct.com or call us at (203) 262 6170.
