How Can You ‘Be There’ for Mom When You Live So Far Away? Assisted Living Could Be the Answer

August 22, 2017 by ·

It’s easy to say you want to be there for a loved one when they’re going through a difficult time, but when you live hundreds or even thousands of miles away from an aging parent, how can you actually do that? Assisted living could be the answer you didn’t realize you are looking for.

Assisted Living in Mobile AL: Distance Caregiving

Assisted Living in Mobile AL: Distance Caregiving

What does assisted living offer?

One of the most important first questions to answer is about the benefits of assisted living. Most people, at least in this country, have various misconceptions about assisted living. They commonly associate it with nursing home care, even though the two are completely different entities.

Assisted living is essentially independent living with the support of experienced staff members. Seniors who choose this for their living environment may require some level of minimal assistance or even moderate care from time to time. They’re most likely not going to require intensive medical care on a regular basis, which is where a nursing home would come into play.

If your mother chooses assisted living, how can you support her?

One of the best things you can do early on is to encourage her to at least consider this option for her future. Think of the misconceptions you may have already had about assisted living yourself and realize she may also have a number of them going through her mind. Learn as much as you can about this option and then relay that information as accurately as possible to her.

When she begins to seriously contemplate this, then it’s time to encourage her to take the next step, which would be going on a tour.

If you have the opportunity to visit with her, you might want to schedule several tours at different facilities when you’re there with her. This is certainly a great way to help her when you live so far away.

Once she moves in, then what?

Keep in contact with her. That may seem obvious, but over time your mother will likely explore the various activities, make friends, and possibly reconnect with people she lost touch with a long time ago. In other words, she may not be in her room very often. Your calls may go unanswered. What you can do is find out when she is going to be in the room, possibly getting ready for bed, and call her. Or, you can arrange to call in the morning, first thing, when she gets up. That emotional support and encouragement can go a long way to helping her maintain a high quality of life as she enjoys new activities and new friendships.

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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