Calling the hotline- know what to ask for

lauraleaf23

Hey all,

I just called the hotline after feeling very nervous and unsure if I should call. The person who answered was friendly and all, but was going to just give me a list of facilities and a referral to the area agency on aging, which is info I already have from web searches. It wasn't until I broke down and told him I felt frustrated because that is info I already have and I'm really struggling with making the decision regarding where to move my mom, that he mentioned a care consultant. So... if you call and you need more than just more numbers to call, be sure to tell them that upfront.

lauraleaf23

The care consultant was very helpful. She helped me to identify people I can lean on for support, and developed an action plan for me. She helped me make a commitment to one thing to do today to take care of myself, and helped me to keep things in perspective.

Anonymousjpl123

I am so glad you got the action plan and a chance to talk through things. They are there for a reason and you can call as often as you want. Also same for posting here. Caregiving for someone with alz/dem is enormously taxing for so many reasons.

Placing my mom was so very stressful, both on me personally and because I was so scared I would make the wrong choice. As you look at places, also think about which places you will feel most comfortable being involved with. And please know and remember you are doing all of the right things for your mom.