Staying Positive When Planning a Move to Assisted Living

June 3, 2021 by ·

It’s true that when life throws you lemons, you should make lemonade. But how often is a person willing to try to make lemonade out of those rotten lemons they receive? For some elderly men and women, making a move to assisted living might not feel like a choice. It may feel like a sour lemon.

Some people feel that their family, a spouse, adult children, friends, neighbors, and others pressured them into this decision. Yet, when the dust settles and they really get to think about things clearly, they understand that moving to assisted living means providing a pathway to maintaining a higher quality of life than what they would have enjoyed if they remained where they were.

Even for people who are excited about this move, it may not be easy to stay positive.

That’s because moving is a process. It takes time in most cases. In most scenarios, a person is going to look around for a

Assisted Living Pascagoula, AL: Staying Positive

quality assisted living community in their area or close to loved ones, depending on what they prefer, and make this decision by discussing it with the people they trust the most.

Then, once they make a decision, it might be a few weeks or even a couple of months before they can actually move in. That means packing, figuring out what they can or will take with them to their new room, figuring out what they will do with their current house or apartment, especially if they own it, what they will do with personal belongs they can bring along with them, and so forth.

This can cause some anxiety.

It can also cause depressive symptoms to slip in. If you suspect that an aging parent or other loved one is depressed, encourage them to visit their doctor. Don’t try to diagnose them yourself or tell them simply, “Everything will be just fine.”

You don’t know that. No one knows what the future will hold. However, it is a good thing to be positive and encouraging. It’s also important to stop and listen once in a while.

To help somebody stay positive during a major life transition means listening to what they have to say. You don’t always have to respond. You don’t have to try to solve all of their problems. You don’t have to attempt to discourage the doubt, fear, or even the anxiety.

Just listening and allowing them to talk through their struggles can bring them back to the positive aspects assisted living promises.

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living · Tagged: ,
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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