When Does Someone Need To Move From Assisted Living To Nursing Home Care?
Dear Jeannette,
My 88-year-old mother has been in an assisted living community near me for the past two years. She has been declining slightly, almost imperceptibly, over the years. Recently she had a fall in her room and couldn't get up or reach the call cord. When a staff person noticed she had missed dinner, mom was found after three hours on the floor, but with no problems other than general weakness.
The administrator called me the next day and said it was time for mom to move to "skilled care," i.e. nursing home care, for her own safety.
What are my options? My mother loves her apartment and her community, plus, she has many strong friendships there. Her doctor says she may have had some small strokes over the years and has osteoporosis, which is successfully treated with medication. She doesn't seem forgetful or have any other major complaints; she's just feeling the years. I want her to be safe, of course, but she actually burst into tears when I suggested that we visit the nursing home and now she refuses to even discuss the issue.
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