Hello again. ☺️ Thank you for writing back. I'm happy to hear you also find comfort in God. I think that faith is such a strength when everything in your world, including your body, seems to be falling apart.

When I said my family put me here, I meant that they did all the footwork for me because of my current limitations. I struggle with forms, remembering details, and get overwhelmed by the process mentally and emotionally. I used to be pretty good with it all, but not so much anymore.

My little brother is an attorney and my Dad and Step-mother are very good handling business issues. They all three became my financial power of attorney. We set that up early and so they could step in and help me. They looked for an assisted living facility closed to where they all live, and after finding one they liked, they met with the administration here and did all the paperwork for me. I think I signed one piece of paper.

It's important that you don't only look at what you see online, and when you go, if you or anyone else who is reading this goes to a facility, look everywhere. Look at the skilled nursing area and go to the memory units. That's where you'll get a better idea of what the resident life is like. No place will be perfect, but some are much better and safer than others. The place I'm at is nice, but it is a very difficult adjustment. Unfortunately, residents tend to only talk about the bad stuff that happens or has happened, so sometimes I get scared here -- and I'm at a nice place. I try not to think about when I will end up in the memory units. I haven't heard one good thing about it, but I'm already here and there's no guarantee the care would be better anywhere else, so that's when I have to turn to God to help to face all this. I suppose, as horrible as it sounds, there is some comfort that may be when I get to the point of going into the memory units, I won't remember the bad stuff that happens. 🫣

Definitely read reviews and search for a place that has high ratings, but if you can, talk to the residents that live in the place you're considering. I've found the residents here to be incredibly kind and friendly. They'll tell you the real truth of what life is like. Also, activities are so important. This place has aquatic therapy, a greenhouse, an arts and crafts room, a Tavern, and a cafe. It looks pretty and pretty on paper, but the thing to look for is how often residents really get to take advantage of what's offered. Also, consider transportation because it's very important to get to shopping or medical appointments. Our transportation van has been broken for a couple weeks, so that's causing some trouble. There are other Medicare and Medicaid options, but when the driver from the facility takes us somewhere, they don't leave. They stay the whole time and are there to take you home when you're done. That's definitely comforting when you have dementia or are living in a new, unknown area, like I am now.

Wherever you go, there will be good and bad, but the healthcare is essential. I guess that's common sense, really, but this place messed up my medications a lot when I first moved in. That scared me because if my dementia had progressed too much, I may not have realized their errors. I did stay despite the mistakes and it seems to have been fixed. Thank God. I hope it stays that way. I didn't leave because my family is so close and, like I said, I can't guarantee another place would be better.
I hope I'm not rambling too much. I've been living here since March 20th, so I'm still in the adjusting phase. I met a woman this morning though who is 104 and has been here 20 years! I asked her how she did it and was amazed at how healthy she looked. She said, "the Lord has truly blessed me " That helped me see that even being in an assisted living facility could be seen as a blessing.

I hope some of this was useful and that I answered your question. It's been a long day, and I was about to to go to bed, but I wanted to write you back. Feel free to write me anytime, and I hope you get the best care and find the place that's right for you. God bless you, Susan. 🩷☺️