How To Positively Influence Aging Parents Moving into Assisted Living

November 22, 2023 by ·
Assisted Living Satsuma AL

Assisted Living Satsuma AL

There have probably been plenty of times in your life when you have felt powerless. You have witnessed family members, friends, coworkers, and others struggle with incredible challenges and long odds, wishing you could do more, knowing there was little in your power to do to change things for them. You may feel that way about an aging parent who is facing the prospect of moving into assisted living.

You might feel as though they just wanted you to take care of them, invite them to move in with you, or support them, even with your busy schedule. You have your own life. Even if it’s your mother or father, spouse, or brother or sister, you have responsibilities to take care of, too.

If it’s one of your parents — or both — who is moving into assisted living, don’t think about the negatives. That’s the easy part. Most people focus on negative aspects of life, especially when changes are happening that they never wanted to happen. In truth, assisted living is one of the best elder care options available for aging men and women because it offers them a new lease on life, a potentially higher quality of life, and the opportunity to reconnect with friends or make new ones in these golden years of life.

Offer a Listening Ear

Too often we get caught up in the fear and doubt and stress of life and start telling people what they should do, how they should think, and the best decisions they can make. Instead of doing that, just sit and listen to that senior for a while.

Listening is one of the most overlooked and powerful skills we have. You never learn anything new when you’re talking, but you can learn a great deal about your parents’ experiences, their doubts, their fears, and even the questions they might have they hadn’t thought to ask yet. Within those statements, you can gain fresh perspective and even advice that could help them in numerous ways.

Learn More About Assisted Living

If you don’t know much about assisted living, how can you help your mother or father embrace this new aspect of life? Go on a tour. Read about it online. Find others in your community who have relied on it or whose parents or grandparents chose a local facility. Ask them questions.

The more you learn about a topic, the more helpful you can be to those who may be turning to it for the first time.

Focus on the Positives

What are you thankful for each and every day? Most of the time in our busy schedules we overlook the power of gratitude. But if you start being more grateful for things, you can help your aging mother or father be more grateful for even the smallest things they get to enjoy or experience each day, including (or especially at) assisted living.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to Assisted Living in Satsuma, 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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