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Time to move Loved One into care center

Hello. I have not been on this site for a long time. But when I was, the info I received was so helpful. I care for my twin brother with Alzheimer's heading into Mid/late stage, progressing quickly. He is 71. He has been approved to go into a care center June 8th. Looking for guidance, suggestions for how to tell him and at what point, when?

Thank you

Lynne

Comments

  • Emily 123
    Emily 123 Member Posts: 987
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    Member

    Hi Lynne,

    If he's mid/late stage then telling him ahead of time might just upset him. What do you think? If he can't retain information would it be worth it to try to reason with him ahead of time? For many it's just easier to set up the room to include some familiar things (pictures, etc) and take the person without much discussion. When I moved my mom into MC from AL she had been pretty debilitated from a bad UTI. I told her that her doctor was concerned that she needed to get her strength back and so we were going to an inpatient rehab facility.

  • Damiross
    Damiross Member Posts: 77
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    Member

    I move my wife a couple of weeks ago. The facility asked me to bring her in at lunch time. I dropped her and her stuff off and left.
    I gave her a couple of days to adjust before visiting her. Again, that was at the request of the facility.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 2,339
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    Member
    edited May 25

    We told my mom a few weeks before the move at my brothers insistence. She packed herself. There were boxes everywhere and I had no idea what was in them (I’m not sure she knew either ). I discovered she had packed cookbooks, cupcake wrappers, 10 cardigan sweaters, clothes that didn’t fit, sheets for a King size bed…..It was a nightmare. I was sorting through boxes in the back of my car before bringing them in, but I couldn’t catch everything. A lot of unnecessary things made it to her room and she she refused to let me bring any of the nonsense stuff home. She didn’t want me to help her unpack. She was so stressed about the move. The stress was not good for her. On top of all that she was incredibly angry with me because she believed she did not belong there. I agree that setting the room up in advance or while she is out for a drive with another family member is the way to go. Presenting it as therapy or something the doctor has ordered seems like it would work well if she will buy into it. You know her best.

  • harshedbuzz
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 6,936
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    @Lynneheygster7

    We did not communicate the intention to move dad ahead of the day we did it. We prepped his suite and moved his things behind his back. The day of, mom and I told him we were taking him to see a new doctor to make sure we were doing everything we could for him. We arrived at snack time, and the activities director swept him away while mom signed the paperwork. After we stuck to a fiblet that the doctor wanted him to have PT to get stronger. This allowed us to validate his frustration/anger at not being home while saying it was the doctor's decision.

    HB

  • Lynneheygster7
    Lynneheygster7 Member Posts: 9
    Second Anniversary 5 Care Reactions First Comment
    Member

    He will have a shared room in a facility he is knows and hates. I will do what I can to set up his space a head of time. I've gotten a few good ideas from others there. All good suggestions. Thank you.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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