My 92 year old mother is healthy physically but she has a severe short term memory deficit. She still lives in her own apartment and we have made arrangements for someone to see her everyday. “We” includes my brother and his wife, their daughter and me. I wonder if for psychosocial benefits it would be best for her to be in an assisted living facility. She seems happy but her latest saying is, “Come often and stay long!” I believe she turns on a tv at 5:00 pm until around 9:00 but otherwise sits in her chair listening to talk radio. She no longer reads. Is that sufficient and reasonable to maintain what is best for her? Or are we kidding ourselves that it's ok. She is, in my opinion, incapable of knowing how someplace different might help. Or does it?
I can only speak from my own experience!
After my Uncle passed, my Aunt (Alzheimer's) was unable to live alone. I witnessed her burning a rice bag in the microwave. She set the time for 20 mins instead of 2 mins. She also had the toaster on the highest setting and it caught on fire.
I was terrified of moving her into ALF!! And more terrified of leaving her alone!!
I will tell you that for my Aunt, ALF has been a Godsend!!
She is out socializing all day. They keep her busy! She is engaged and active!
I think in her case, if I had left her in her home, alone and isolated, she would have passed away by now.
It's a difficult situation!
Wishing you the best!!
The visits may occur a few times a day. It sounds like she may also feel lonely.
That allowed him to live a long time on his own. But the turning point was when he quit eating the meals we provided and slept all day. He was very frail when he moved here but is doing much better physically with a better diet.
We moved him here slowly, first a few days/week, then added days and finally told him we wanted him here permanently. I didn’t make it about his dementia, but that he was our family and we wanted more time with him and to help take care of him. We talked up big all the benefits of living here, lol. He grew attached to our dog and we told him the dog really missed him and their walks, that made the biggest difference in his saying yes (without a fight)