moving Grandma - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

Sweetie · 01-16-2001, 10:12 AM

Hi. I'm looking for advice/feedback on the effects of moving my Grandma to a new nursing home.
She is in a nursing home which we have never been very happy with. Her care is adequate at best but my mother & I (Grandma's only family)have been limited by the need to place her in a medicaid facility. Although, her care isn't the greatest, she does have a level of security/familiarity at her current nursing home.
Her condition is such that she can perform some tasks for herself such as eating & dressing but needs alot of supervision while doing them. She still recognizes us as people that are important to her, but no longer seems to remmeber my name.
My mother & I are currently living in MI and Gram is in IL. We want to have her near us but do not want to put our needs before hers. Nobody I've talked to thus far wants to speculate on how this change will effect her. Will it be traumatic?
Please, any help/comments you can give will be appreciated. I need to make her as happy as I possibly can.

Grandma's Sweetie

[This message has been edited by Sweetie (edited 01-18-2001).]

Mace · 01-17-2001, 07:42 PM

Sweetie,
Based on person family experience, moving nursing homes should not be a problem. Unless she is being taken from close friends, being near family should give her a lift. The burden is on the family not the nursing home to help her adjust to her new residence. Hopefully this will be a betterment in nursing homes and everyone will be more comfortable with the change.
Good Luck, God Bless, Mace

Frenchi · 01-19-2001, 07:24 PM

This is my first time and I have been trying to get through to you Sweetie.

First of all, I moved my dear mother after she had been in a alzheimer's unit in Minn.
We moved here to a small nursing home in Iowa and it was the very best thing we could have done. Yes, she went downhill, but she was so much happier with the frequent visits and knowing that people would come and see her.

I think being close is so much more important than the home itself.

My cousin helped me realize that my mother was not going to get better so it did not matter if she went down hill away from me or near me.

My entire family was so happy with the decision.

Take care and God Bless you. Frenchie