Mother in Assisted Living posted by Lisa B @ 02:39 PM August 12, 2008

Lisa B — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:39:35 -0000

Hi sbuddd,

First, welcome! I am going to ditto was Missy said, it sounds like it might be time to find a different assisted living center. If your mother needs a 24/7 sitter even at the living center, then the facility is obiviously not meeting her needs. I hope you can find a GCM in your area like Jeannie suggested, there has got to be a better solution for you and your mom. I cannot imagine having to pay over 10,000 a month :( .

I'll be keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers! Please keep us updated.

Mother in Assisted Living posted by Jeannie-caremanager @ 10:16 PM August 11, 2008

Jeannie-caremanager — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:16:56 -0000

Hi sbudd,

I would recommend that you consider hiring a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) to assist you in evaluating your mother's needs, options and resources. This would provide you with an unbiased opinion from a professional and could take place in your mother's home. The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers website, www.caremanager.org [caremanager.org] can assist you in locating a care manager in your area.

Jeannie

Mother in Assisted Living posted by Missy @ 07:17 PM August 11, 2008

Missy — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:17:28 -0000

Hi sbudd,

Welcome to Caring's groups. I'm glad you found us and posted!

I'm so sorry your mom is having some issues. I'm wondering what in the world went on when she felt something "snap". How scary for her.

Regardless, if after an evaluation, it's determined that she has permanent cognitive impairments, you may want to seriously consider other living arrangements for her. There are assisted living facilities, nursing homes and continuing care retirement communities that have Alzheimer's units. Don't let the name fool you, though. In many facilities, your mom wouldn't need an official Alzheimer's diagnosis to qualify. The units just have extra security measures and sometimes higher staff to resident ratios to help deal with cognitive impairment. Often doors are locked and residents wear special responders that will alert the staff when he/she has crossed a barrier within the facility to indicate he or she is wandering.

I don't know the difference in cost between the care your mom is receiving now and what I'm suggesting. I feel pretty certain, though, that it will be quite a bit cheaper. $10,000 a month for a sitter sounds sky high to me. It seems like there is a better solution out there for you and your family.

Please keep us updated. I'll be anxious to hear what the neurologist says.

Mother in Assisted Living posted by sbudd @ 02:20 PM August 11, 2008

sbudd — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:20:21 -0000

My Mother has been in an assisted living center for 3 months and last week on her way to lunch, she said something just "snapped." All of a sudden, she couldn't find her way to the dining room. She is diabetic and has macular degeneration so vision was already a problem. Her vision got substantially worse. Her vision has come back a little, but she's still confused. They found her trying to go out her patio door - looking for her cereal in the kitchen. The one night we didn't have a sitter with her, she was found knocking on her neighbor's door in the middle of the night. She is going to the neurologist on Wednesday to view the ultra sound the did on her carotid artery. We've had a sitter with her for 24/7 since last Monday. If this is a permanent condition, she will not be able to continue the 24/7 sitter. It would cost around $10,000 a month just for the sitter. Does any one have any ideas? I have 1 brother & 1 sister and we all work.

Recent Posts in 'Mother in Assisted Living' | Caring.com

Mother in Assisted Living posted by Lisa B @ 02:39 PM August 12, 2008

Mother in Assisted Living posted by Jeannie-caremanager @ 10:16 PM August 11, 2008

Mother in Assisted Living posted by Missy @ 07:17 PM August 11, 2008

Mother in Assisted Living posted by sbudd @ 02:20 PM August 11, 2008