Donna Quinn Robbins

Caring.com Expert

About

Donna Quinn Robbins is the CEO of Ultimate Moves and author of Moving Mom and Dad and On the Road of Life, Drive Yourself. For more than 16 years, she has helped more than 4,000 individuals and families move locally and nationally. Robbins is an active public speaker on the topic of senior transition services and elderly lifestyle transitions and has appeared on NBC's Today Show as well as on local television programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Robbins leads workshops and offers guidelines for successful transitions to individuals, families, retirement communities, and corporations through her company, Ultimate Moves. She is currently the designer and move-in coordinator at five major San Francisco Bay Area retirement communities. She has been involved with three start-up communities, helping them move their new residents in while minimizing stress and confusion. As an interior designer, she also helps families create new homes. Donna graduated from Bennett College and is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM).

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Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Monday February 06, 2012

    1. How do I get Mom to accept being in a nursing home?

      Answer - You are doing everything you can. My only suggestion is that if she is not on anti-depressants then she should be. If she is, then I don't know what else there is to be done. Talk to her Doctor. He may have other suggestions.

  2. Friday January 20, 2012

    1. How can I ease the transition into an assisted living facility or Alzheimer's unit?

      Answer - You and your mother really need help to deal with this. It sounds like you are dealing with a great deal of guilt because you may not have taken a leave of absence from your work to stay with your Mother. You didn't say how long the leave was. You are not equipped to handle your mother. She needs to be in a place that can take care of her and help her...

  3. Thursday December 08, 2011

    1. How to we deal with moving my mother-in-law into our home?

      Answer - "How to tell my mother-in-law she's moving in with us". From what you have said, I am concerned about moving your mother to your home. It sounds as though she is going to need care you and a caregiver can not provide. I would strongly suggest speaking with the people at the community and also her doctor before moving her...

  4. Friday November 04, 2011

    1. Should I take my mom back home to get her things when she can't return home for good after a hospital stay?

      Answer - Should you take a loved one home to collect their things/ I would strongly urge you to take her home. You can have the conversation beforehand with her about the emotional impact. You can tell her you want her to have as much control over her life as possible so going home is important...

  5. Friday September 23, 2011

    1. Is there a rating system for assisted living facilities?

      Answer - I don't know of any however you can call the ombudsmen in your town and ask them. The Department of Social Services might be able to help. Thanks, Donna Robbins

  6. Tuesday August 16, 2011

    1. How can we handle my mother's move into a senior living facility when she keeps forgetting she agreed to go?

      Answer - You may want the marketing person to come to the house and talk to your mother, show her the checks and contract and tell her it was her decision. I'm afraid you may not be able to deal with this yourself. You could also wait, try the process again and video parts of it for insurance for yourself. If none of this works you may be able to get your mother's Dr...

  7. Monday August 15, 2011

    1. How can I get my father to move into a nursing home closer to me?

      Answer - This is not a situation you can deal with alone. I strongly advise you to get a geriatric care manager to help you. There is a group in Tucson that you could contact and see if there is anyone in his area you could hire. If not, a social worker would help. Don't try and tackle this alone.

  8. Thursday July 28, 2011

    1. What can be done to persuade Mom to accept assisted living?

      Answer - You didn't mention anything about finances but this plays a major part in these decisions. If this were my mother, according to what you have described, I would let her stay in her home and find someone to come in for part of the day. It could be from 10:30 to 4:00PM...

  9. Tuesday July 19, 2011

    1. How can I talk with my parents about moving them to a senior independent living facility?

      Answer - You should find 3 com munities in your area. Visit each one and find out what they offer. Tell your parents you heard about a few places that are fun and have a lot going on if that is what they would like. The community will sell itself. You just need to tell your parents they are not living with you...

    2. How can I start talking with my mother about moving into a nursing home?

      Answer - You mentioned nursing home but if she needs that care she would not be in a position to argue about or deny the need. Are you talking about a retirement community as an assisted living or life care community? Why does your mother need to move? Is she unable to care for herself? There was not enough information to answer this question...

    3. Does everyone have a difficult time transitioning to nursing home, or did I just make a bad choice?

      Answer - It's very difficult to answer this question without knowing the reason he was sent to a skilled nursing. If he has dementia then this behavior is not necessarily unusual. You just need to keep up on what's going on until things calm down.

  10. Wednesday March 23, 2011

    1. How should I handle my mother with dementia's move to a personal care home?

      Answer - I would not go into detail. I would tell your mother that you are moving her so she can be closer to you and that she is moving into a nice home. Take her bedspread, pictures, personal items. Make her new room as close to her old as possible. She sounds as though she would not understand anything more detailed and it would also confuse her...

    2. My mom is 89 and has in mid stage dementia. Her symptoms...

      Answer - I would go to an assisted living community that has a dementia floor and talk to the marketing director. If your mother is still able to live in an assisted living community for a while then you could transition her to a higher level at a later time. She may not be ready for a nursing home...

  11. Tuesday January 25, 2011

    1. What happens to the contract at an apartment complex if the resident must move to a care facility?

      Answer - In my area, which is northern California there really isn't any difference in a person moving out of an apartment because they must or because they want to. Contracts for apartment are legal and binding. Unfortunately, the resident must abide by the contract unless, of course, you have an understanding...

  12. Wednesday November 03, 2010

    1. How do I coordinate a move for an uncooperative movee?

      Answer - You didn't let me know where you live but if you want a professional to help you need to go to NASMM.com. Then you would go to the state you live in and find a professional closest to where you live. Also do you have other siblings? Have you tried tough love? Calling 3 times a day may be too much. She probably just assumes you will take care of everything...

  13. Tuesday August 31, 2010

    1. How can we convince Mom she should stay in assisted living?

      Answer - Convincing your mother to stay in an assisted living community is probably not going to work. In my experience with the seniors I have moved and also with my own family, sometimes a professional in the field is a good way to help your mother with her desire to leave.. It really boils down to fear...

    2. Is there housing that matches my mother's independent needs?

      Answer - Your question is about housing for an independent person. The one thing you did not mention is if your mother can walk. It sounds like a 6 and under board and care would be the best place for her if she can walk or get around by herself. There are hud housing board and cares. Call the Ombudsmen to get a list of the places in your area...

  14. Monday December 21, 2009

    1. I am looking for an assisted living home for my mother in...

      Answer - Some resources to explore when searching for a local assisted living home for your aging parent.

  15. Monday July 27, 2009

    1. How do you get someone to go to a nursing home?

      Answer - It is imperative you find a social worker who specializes in geriatrics as soon as possible. It sounds from your question as if your mother does not need a nursing home but an assisted living community; a geriatric social worker can evaluate her and help you know for sure...

  16. Friday May 08, 2009

    1. Will moving be too much for Dad?

      Answer - My question to you is now that the staff has stepped up to the plate, why would you want to move your Dad? Not knowing more than what you have told me, I would strongly suggest you not move him. Thank you, Donna Q. Robbins

    2. Is assisted living an option without a formal dementia diagnosis?

      Answer - Your mother may not be eligible for an assisted living community. They can take people with very slight cognative issues but if they have unpleasant personality changes as you suggest she may not be accepted. My suggestion would be to visit an assisted living community that has a section for dementia patients...

  17. Thursday April 30, 2009

    1. How can we make the decision on whether to move to assisted living or not?

      Answer - It would seem to me from what you have described that, because of your circumstances, you may want to consider downsizing now and moving to a one story condo instead of moving to an assisted living community. After the move you could then visit places and pick one that would fit your needs at a later time...

    2. How do we find an assisted living facility for my mother-in-law in a location where we will be moving too?

      Answer - You didn't say where you are moving but contact New Lifestyles.com and request a book of communities in the area where you are moving. They also have 6 and under board and cares that take medicaid or section 8. You could also contact the Ombudsmen in that area and they will send you a l.ist of places to check out...

  18. Thursday July 31, 2008

    1. Are there special housing facilities for Parkinson's patients?

      Answer - How to get helping finding special housing facilities for Parkinson's patients and people suffering from Parkinson's disease.

  19. Wednesday July 30, 2008

    1. What is the best way to speak with my stepmom about moving from a house that is too big for her and my dad?

      Answer - How to coax your unwilling elderly parent into moving when their home or neighborhood is not safe.