Mom's got cold feet. What now?

Two weeks ago, after working closely with a family to find just the right assisted living community for their mother, we settled on the perfect place. It could meet the mother's needs, was proximate to both her second husband and her adult child and was within their budget. The adult children completed the paperwork, placed the deposit and enlisted a moving service. Then, the mother changed her mind.

Her spouse, who suddenly felt guilty, said "Sure."

This is a very common situation. In fact, I've worked with very few clients who don't have hesitation when it comes down to moving day. When a spouse can no longer manage the care, there is often guilt.

In this particular case, Ms. Seate, Community Sales Director at Atria at Southpoint Walk, recommends a private conversation with the spouse, addressing points such as:

"We find that when people place their spouse in a community and get a break, then they can often rekindle their relationship. They can go from being a caregiver back to being a husband," Ms. Seate said. Ms. Seate recommends that it can be helpful to emphasize to the new resident that this is a trial. If it doesn’t work out, the new resident is not obliged to stay forever. She also says it is the community’s job to not only insure the new resident acclimates, but also that they make the spouse left at home feel secure that they've made the best decision for the whole family.

care in Assisted Living.

provide annual care for $150/24 hours, or $54,600/year.

and provide on-going training to insure the safety of clients and caretakers. Additionally, a nurse is responsible for assessing each new client, writing the care plan and continuing to follow up to insure that each client's needs are being properly addressed.

In conclusion, in this family’s case, mom moved in. Her spouse visits daily. Most importantly, everyone can sleep with more ease and peace of mind.