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

Ltisch asked...

My mom is 89 and has in mid stage dementia. Her symptoms are getting worse and it is time to get her on a wait list for a nursing home. We have found a good faciity, but my questions are 1)I need to bring her for an assessment and can not tell her why. She has never been very social and will be angry. What do I tell her of why we are there? Second-How do you know it is time?

Expert Answer

Donna Quinn Robbins is the author of Moving Mom and Dad and On the Road of Life, Drive Yourself. She helps individuals, families, retirement communities, and corporations make successful transitions. Robbins is an active public speaker on the topic of senior transition services and has appeared on NBC's Today Show.

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. I would also contact Family Caregiver Alliance and talk to a counselor. It's difficult to answer this question without actually having met your mother and can see for myself her condition.