Imagine the scene…
Your extended family is gathered around the dinner table at your North Georgia home for the holidays. With the grandchildren outside playing, your children tell you it is time to have a heart-to-heart talk about moving into an Assisted Living community.
“I know this is hard to talk about,” your oldest begins, “but I want to be sure as your child that I honor your wishes. In order for me to do that, I need to know what they are, so I can be there and help you along the way. We don’t have to decide anything today, but let’s start the discussion, so we can all think about it later.”
It’s hard to even think about moving out of your home where you’ve accumulated so many things and so many memories, but you find yourself admitting that you do need help with things that were a lot easier when you were their age. You’ve been where your children sit before, worrying about your own aging parents and taking them in until they finally ended up needing to be in a nursing home.
The family lets you know that they’re not ganging up on you, but they do worry about you and want you to be happy in a place where there’s less risk of falling or forgetting to turn off the stove.
It’s not an easy conversation to have, but dealing with the changing stages of life is inevitable. You agree to tour Rosewood at Fort Oglethorpe after the kids show you the website. Certainly there’s no harm in meeting with their consultants, touring the place and interacting with some of the residents to see how they like living there.
You find that it is a homelike environment where someone else takes care of cooking and cleaning, gives you a ride when you need to go somewhere, helps you remember to take your medications, encourages you to stay active and go on outings. There’s lots of people your own age there who are eager to be friends. You’re even able to bring furniture from your home and guests can visit you anytime. Being surrounded by people who care about you, you and the family no longer have to worry about you being all alone if you slip and fall.
You decide that the adventure ahead is the start of a new chapter in your life.
Experts say the way this scenario played out is the ideal way of handling this frequently awkward and uncomfortable process. Elder Advisor Gail Samaha said delicate treatment of the topic presented without a sense of urgency helps plant the seed for a possible move.
To schedule your own consultation and learn more about Rosewood at Fort Oglethorpe, call (706) 866-4443 or fill out the form to the right of this article. We look forward to meeting you!