Our story /Senior Living

In the past seven years, my siblings and I have had to discuss different living options for our mom. When my dad passed away seven years ago, we knew my mom would likely experience loneliness soon; after all, they had been together for 63 years. I didn't realize how challenging it would be to find the right senior living fit until my siblings and I started considering options recently. For the past seven years, she has lived independently with a dog as a companion. I thought that, with my experience in the Senior Living industry over the past five years, I would know exactly what options to consider, how to prepare my mom for the transition, and how to assist my siblings. In my role as a Regional VP, I work daily with Executive and Sales Directors, discussing the pros and cons of various options for other families. The sheer number of options available in the past ten years can be overwhelming. Every family has a unique story. Our story has been about my mom's desire to live independently while seeking regular social interaction with people aged 40 and up.

My siblings and I have struggled to schedule the perfect 2-3 days a week visits, along with her friends taking her to lunch or Bible study 1-2 days a week. Despite her independence, she prefers to live on her own. Recently, at 87, she decided to limit her driving to just a mile up the road for groceries. She may not be ready to move to a Senior Living multi-unit community yet, but I find it very important to start this conversation as soon as you see signs of deterioration, such as a recent fall, loneliness, anxiety, or increased requests for support or help. A couple of years ago, we started the conversation, and since then, my mom has moved to an apartment closer to a sibling, allowing us to reach her quickly if needed.

I thought it might be helpful to list a few things to consider depending on your mom or dad's situation.

Senior Living Communities cover the most and best options, in my opinion. In the long run, I believe it's just about finding the right fit and timing. Here's what I know and would consider:

What I Look For When Considering Moving My Mom Into an Assisted Living Community or 55+ Community:

If interested, I can even list what I consider if your parents are moving into an apartment or senior living neighborhood as the first step to downsizing from their current home.

• Team:
• First Impressions:
• Activities/Outings:
• Meals:

I will elaborate more on the above in the next post. I am interested in hearing about any personal experiences you can share. We can all learn from each other.

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art." Eleanor Roosevelt