Deciding when it’s time to move your loved one to a senior housing facility is never easy.
Indeed, many of us postpone the process for as long as possible.
But BethAnn Talbot and Indye Gersh, principles of Compassionate Ally, a “one stop shop for your loved ones’ golden years” insist that exploring your options in advance will reduce your stress and result in a more successful placement for your loved one.
“One of the things we hear constantly is ‘let me wait until something happens.’” says Talbot. “If you wait until something happens, your loved one may have a fall, a hard-to-treat wound or poor medication compliance. The cost of the facility may go up because your loved one needs a higher level of care. You may be stuck with the one place that will take them. When people wait, it’s often too late for options.”
So, how do you know when it’s time to start the search?
Talbot advises people to get in touch with Compassionate Ally when they sense that their loved one isn’t taking their medication as prescribed, seems depressed, or appears thin or frail.
“There are many different signs, but if you see one sign, call us,” says Talbot. “It doesn’t mean you have to move them in tomorrow; We have people call us and say, ‘I’m not ready, but I want to see places.’ Six months later they call and say, ‘okay, it’s time,’ and we know exactly where to go.”
To learn more, call (443) 929-6193 or visit compassionateallymd.com.
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.