Starting Slow: Packing for a Move to Assisted Living Can Be Daunting for Some

May 1, 2018 by ·

After having lived in the same house for more than 43 years, Ethel was actually looking forward to a change. She had been widowed and living alone for more than three years and as it became more difficult for her to not just keep up with the general cleanliness of her house, but also its basic maintenance, she looked into assisted living.

Assisted Living in Mobile AL: Packing for a Move to Assisted Living

Assisted Living in Mobile AL: Packing for a Move to Assisted Living

She was excited about the prospect.

Not every senior is going to be thrilled about the idea of moving, but for Ethel, at 84, she was looking forward to it. She liked the idea of being able to meet new people, make new friends, and do some activities she couldn’t while living on her own.

Looking around her house, in the basement, knowing what was in the attic, and stuffed into every closet in every bedroom, she was a bit overwhelmed by the idea of packing.

She was going to be moving in two months.

Ethel needed to start slow, go through some items that were important to her, and figure out what she wanted to bring along with her. First, though, she had to figure out what the assisted living facility was going to allow her to bring.

She would have a basic twin mattress, a dresser, a nightstand, and possibly a recliner or other chair in her room. It was a small room, but as far as pictures, wall hangings, and other mementos, she was going to be limited on just how many items she could bring along.

Once she had an idea of what was acceptable, she started setting aside the things she wanted to take. In one of the spare bedrooms, her adult children helped her clear it out, aside from the basic furniture she was going to bring with her into this new facility. From there, she gathered the items, the pictures, books, and other things that were important to her that she would want to have surrounding her.

After that was finished, she started getting rid of things.

There were many things she had accumulated through the years. A lot of them were difficult to go through because they reminded her of her husband. They brought back some wonderful memories, but also some pain. By taking her time, by relying on friends and family to help, it made the process easier, but it all started slow, which helped ease her into it, and that made all the difference in the world.

If you or an aging loved one are considering assisted living in Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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