Among Friends

[Happy54]

We have a famly member moving into a assisted living home in a couple of weeks. She has mild alzheimers. My question is for anyone who has been through this what will the first day be like for when her niece and husband takes her. She never married or had children. I am wondering if they have you stay a hour and ask you to leave or what. I realize they have to get use to their new place. I am just concerened for the family. Everyone under stress hate to do it but she is harder to handle. Its sad.

[Kachina624]

You're asking some legitimate questions but the answers might vary.  Why don't you call the facility and ask about their policies and procedures for new admissions? 

[catwhisperer]

First of all, I am so sorry your family member needs to go into assisted living. I have dealt with this many times over with family members. It is very confusing for the family member, so it's best to have other family there with her. The staff are kind and caring and will not tell family members to leave. It is sad, I know.

[GCR18]

My grandmother was in assisted living.  Since everyone had their own little apartment, guests could come and go.  Nobody told you it was time to go.  You could meet in the person's room or there were common areas with couches.  Could the niece go early and get the lay of the land, that way everyone won't be confused where to go when they get there?

[IMW]

Unfortunately I've been through this with both parents.

Often the client wants to be taken home, and will be quite angry with their loved ones for leaving them there.

Of course the sooner the client starts to get involved  in activities- bingo, dining room, music etc the better. 

There will be a major adjustment period.  My father sat in a wheelchair by the front door planning his "escape",

Once he was successful and "apprehended" down the street. His picture was the placed by the security desk,

" most wanted." 

I don't think he ever completely forgave me for placing him there. I had no choice, he had advanced Alzheimers, his care was killing my mother who had a heart condition, brain tumor and was legally blind. They wouldn't have help but me. I worked had kids etc.

[151949]

Most assisted living facilities around here you are moving to a small apartment, so there are usually movers involved to move in your furniture and boxes. The family stays around to get you unpacked and settled.The nurse sees the patient , tells her all about the call lights , meals , laundry, meds etc etc and does a medical assessment. When the family is done getting everything all unpacked & put away and the movers are all paid the family is  asked to leave and not visit for a couple days til the residents get a chance to get acclimated to their routine. At the facility where we took our family members ( a husband & wife) they were assigned another resident couple to be their "big brother & sister" and help them figure everything out. This couple called on them to go to meals and answered their ? and introduced them to other residents.

[blackhole99]

 All the assisted living homes in my area will not accept people who cannot care for themselves or have serious medical issues. So someone with alzeheimer's disease who wouldn't know to ask for help and would try to escape or would wander away would not be accepted.

[Katcat1]

@Happy54,   Perhaps you can call over the weekend or early Monday with your questions.  I am sure someone will help you.  Just explain that you are a relative.  Don't be afraid to call.  When I had hip surgery I was in a nursing home that treated people with Alzheimers on the 2nd floor.  It was a very nice facility run more like a hospital.  People had their own private rooms, they could buy bath products, etc. on certain days, there were games, and a large dining room on the 1st floor for permanent people and temporary people.  My room was cleaned everyday and fresh bed linens weekly.  I found that its better to be in a privately owned facility versus several locations.  Privately owned is legit, like I said, run like a hospital and treat patients like human beings.

[RedTop]

Before my grandmother went into a personal care home, a visit was set up for us to take her there one Sunday afternoon.   We were shown thru the entire facility by the owner/director, and given the opportunity to ask any questions.  

The day my grandmother was discharged from the Rehab facility, the nurse called the personal care home when we left, and staff from the home came outside with a wheelchair to meet us, and get my grandmother inside.   We hit it right at lunchtime, so my grandmother was pushed straight into the dining room, and I sat with her while she ate.   

My mother arrived while my grandmother was eating; she went to the office with the director, filled out paperwork, gave the RN my grandmothers medications, paid for the first month, etc., then we put my grandmothers clothing in her room, and left.   My grandmother was in a recliner in the Day Room, chatting up a storm with the other residents when we left.   

[proudlyfromNJ]

Assisted Living where my parents were, had apartments for people that were fairly self sufficient and a section for Alzheimer's patients and a section for people that needed more care. It was a small family run home, so no real rules. Of course the Alzheimer's patients were in a locked area. 

Every place is different. They would have to check with the people in charge.