Is Assisted Living the Right Move for Me (or My Loved One?

How to Start a Heart-to-Heart Have you been concerned about your Conversation About older adult parents in their current home environment? Are you search- Assisted Living ing for a way to talk about it and see if they are open to any changes Your and support? Introducing assisted parent may living may improve their quality fear losing of life and support their needs. their independence.

How do you start this heart-to- “Assisted heart? “It’s important to know what’s living resigoing on in his or her life,” says Amy dents make their own decisions and Muller, Housing Advisor at Prairie continue to lead their life the way Gate, a Presbyterian Homes & Ser- they wish,” Amy assures. vices (PHS) senior living community, For older adults with memory loss, located in Council Bluffs, IA. “It’s Memory Care offers a vibrant and seeven more important to listen. Ask cure neighborhood within the assistquestions, knowing that the conver- ed living setting. Trained care staff sation will occur over time. Above and specialized programming create all, keep your parent in the ‘driver’s a community designed to help those seat’ so that they make the deci- with memory loss to function at their sions about their life,” she advises. highest level.

Ask your parent what it takes to Scheduling a tour of Prairie Gate maintain their house and how well will give you a firsthand look at they can move about it comfortably community life. “The most successand effectively. Find out how much ful moves I have witnessed are made space in the house they actually use by seniors, with the support of their and how well they can go in and out grown children,” said Amy. freely and safely. “Limited mobil- Change is hard for all of us, so be ity beyond the walls can translate prepared to provide emotional supinto isolation and loneliness,” Amy port to your parent and be patient. observes. The goal is to obtain the best possi-

It’s also vital to dispel outdated ble quality of life in the best living notions. Far from being a “nursing environment for them today and for home,” assisted living at Prai- the future. ~ rie Gate offers studio, one or two bedroom apartments with open floor Editor’s Note: This article was submitplans and fully equipped kitchens, ted by Amy Muller, Housing Advisor for complemented by supportive ser- Prairie Gate. Contact Amy 712-352vices including housekeeping, meals 6604 or amuller@preshomes.org. Visit and personal care. www.prairiegatephs.org.