For most of his life, Tom didn’t think much about assisted living facilities. Part of it was an experience his mother had at one facility when she was 82. He thought it would be the best option for her at that time, but every night she would call, crying, begging him to bring her home.
He didn’t do his homework and, what he assumed was assisted living was a different type of elder care facility. Still, that experience resonated with him for many years.
When he was widowed and living alone at 78, he was dealing with a number of health issues that made it difficult for him to manage each day. Just getting up out of bed in the morning was a task in and of itself.
He received some help from his adult daughter who lived in the area and a couple of friends, but things were getting tougher by the day. He could almost feel his body beginning to wear out, just from the daily struggle.
His daughter recommended assisted living.
He immediately shut her down. Tom wanted nothing to do with any assisted living facility. In fact, he told her in a burst of frustration, “I would rather rot here alone than choose that!”
He knew that hurt his daughter, but he was convinced assisted living was not right for him. He didn’t want to experience what his mother had gone through many years ago. One day, though, his daughter came back to him with a suggestion.
She said, “Why don’t you try it out, even if it’s just for a few days?”
Tom had no idea that ‘a few days’ was a possibility at assisted living. He, like many Americans, just assumed assisted living was a permanent commitment, something long-term.
He said he would be open to the idea of trying it out, even if it was only for three days, a week, or even two weeks. Besides, spending every day alone, watching TV, reading a book, and expending too much effort getting around the house was a bit much. He was willing to try something, so long as he didn’t have to sell his home, pack everything up, and make a permanent decision.
Within a couple of days, Tom realized the reality of assisted living.
He loved it. He met up with a couple of gentlemen he knew many years ago and had lost touch with over the years. They started talking, spending quality time together, and even playing games and laughing.
He hadn’t felt so alive in years. When the duration of his initial stay was coming to an end, he didn’t want to leave. He told his daughter that he wanted to apply to move to this facility full-time.
He was ready to change the course of his life, sell his home, and enjoy a much higher quality of life as a result. Overnight or short-term stays can change a senior’s perspective on this elder care option, showing them the benefits it offers.
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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