How Assisted Living Can Help When Time Seems to Fly By as a Family Caregiver

January 12, 2022 by ·

Time is a funny thing. For some people, it can drag on and on. For others, it can seem to cruise faster and faster. This is often exacerbated when you get older. There are many controlling factors to our unique perspectives on time, not the least of which involves the enjoyment of the things we’re participating in at the time.

If you have been caring for and supporting an elderly parent, whether for several months or the past year or more, it may feel as though the year has flown by way too fast.

You can’t believe that we just turned the calendar over for another new year. You just can’t believe it. It seems like yesterday we were just celebrating the beginning of last year’s New Year.

As a family caregiver, time can be disconcerting. It can feel as though everything is out of your control, slipping away faster and faster, and the more you try to control things, the more chaotic they become.

Have you considered assisted living as an option?

Assisted Living Saraland, AL: Seniors and Time

Many people don’t. Not because it’s not one of the better senior care options out there (because it is). Most people don’t consider it because they have a variety of misconceptions about what assisted living is, does, and offers.

Maybe you feel as though this is your responsibility, your job. This is something you’re expected to do, to support your elderly mother, father, grandparent, or even your spouse. Still, everyone has their limits and, unfortunately, most family caregivers push beyond those limitations quite easily.

When you are stressed, out of time, rushing around to get everything done and still not being able to come close, time is going to be fleeting. Even all those hours you spend supporting that elderly parent, spending direct time with him or her is going to be missed opportunities.

You’ll be focused on the laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, helping them in and out of bed, assisting them with a variety of tasks, but not doing the things that matter most: spending quality time together.

Assisted living is a great senior care option because it will allow you the opportunity to not only regain at least some control of your life, effectively giving yourself more time for the things that are also important, but allowing this aging senior to be surrounded by experienced staff and support for when he or she needs it.

How to choose this quality senior care option.

The best way to choose anything for an elderly person who needs support is to include them in the process. Assisted living is going to help you tremendously, but it’s also going to benefit that aging parent.

There will be activities, perhaps some arts and crafts, the opportunity to meet other seniors who share common interests, entertainment, and so much more that your mother or father will be able to participate in almost daily.

Gain control of your life again, don’t let the moments slip away, and make sure the time you spend with his elderly parent is the most valuable. Choose assisted living.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Saraland, 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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