Answered a question 4/21/2011 at 6:06 pm
My mom, 87, doesn't have Altzheimer's but is in the early stage of dementia. She lived by herself in a gated senior citizen community and attended an adult senior day care facility for 3 days a week.
...Read MoreMy mom, 87, doesn't have Altzheimer's but is in the early stage of dementia. She lived by herself in a gated senior citizen community and attended an adult senior day care facility for 3 days a week. The day came when her anxiety of being alone caused panic attacks that made my sister and I have to go to her house to calm her and put her to bed. When I checked into ALF's, I picked 2 that were close by so that we could visit mom frequently and bring her to our houses for visits and occasional dinners. The one that mom now lives in allowed her to try it out for up to 30 days. (We had to pay the daily rate but we didn't have to pay the entry fee). After about 10 days, mom said that she wanted to live there. Her ALF has many individual houses with about 16 residents per house. Everyone in mom's house have dementia of one kind or another, with varying degrees. There are more houses in another section for people with more advanced dementia, where they can't roam off b/c of a wrought iron fence around the property. Finally, there is an Altzheimer's residence for those needing much more supervision.
Mom's room is very pretty and cheerful and she has a private bathroom. An aide gives her a shower twice a week, she goes to their hair dresser once a week,
and she gets to go on many outings with the staff and her "new" friends! I have her house for sale and mom will sometimes say in a wistful voice that maybe she can move home if the house doesn't sell but I gently remind her of the reason that she chose to move out of her house.
If it ever comes to the problem of "wandering", it's not a problem b/c the doors to her house have to be opened and closed with a code. The residents that have brought their pets with them can walk their dogs if they stay nearby. Whenever the resident can't walk his dog b/c of bad weather or other reasons, the staff does it.
This house is probably more expensive than the average ALF ($233/day + RX's +special supplies like DEPENDS, wipes, Ensure, etc.) They have agreed to keep mom when she runs out of money if she can self-pay for 2-3 years, which mom can do, if her house sells!!
From what you've said about your mom, she would probably be better off in an ALF than independent living. Mom gets all of her RX's and I don't have to worry about her taking the wrong RX's. (She once took a suppository by mouth for her
constipation!
Good Luck in whatever decision you make. God Bless You.