Using the word of the day, "mirror", for my subject today.
This mirrored headboard belongs to my elderly neighbor. Her family had her placed in an Assisted Living Center following a fall she suffered during the Christmas holidays. As she has no family in town, I've been asked to oversee her relocation. The movers came to get the few pieces of furniture that will fit into her new living space. I had them take her bed, but the massive mirrored headboard is anchored to the wall and wouldn't fit in her new efficiency quarters even if it were moveable.
I went to see Anita today. She is so miserable and asked me to "Please get me out of here and take me home". I think I appeased her just a bit by saying that I would take photos of some her (smaller) possessions and she can see what she'd like me to bring to help make her space feel more like home. As sad as it is to see someone have to leave her much loved home, I have to admit she looks so much better with excellent staff looking after her personal care and nutritional well being.
Three Good Things:
1. I slipped some candy bars into the box of Anita's winter clothes I took to the Assisted Living Center for her to find when she unpacks it.
2. Tenth punch on the car wash card...the next one's free ☺
3. Productive days
You are a life saver to Anita.......so sad for her to give up her home & independence, she must be rather frightened & very homesick. Do hope she settles well quickly, her head will tell her she is in the best place but oh that heart will be so sad. Glad she has a friend like you to take her treasures into her new place ....her mirrored headboard is very unusual & rather gracious!
Beautiful photo and what a lovely neighbour you are! So many sweet thoughtful things in what you have written.
Hope she soon feels she's in 'her own place' and good that she is being well looked after!
What a transition for her! You are so sweet to be a thoughtful helper. It is quite a booming business relocating seniors, and requires quite a bit of tenderness and sensitivity. I hope there are a lot of activities for her to participate in! See if you can get in some photos before too much stuff is moved so she can remember her home.
You are so sweet, Peggy. I like how you’ve shot this so we can see the room. I can’t help but feel sad for Anita, though. I hope I am lucky enough to be able to stay in my own home until the very end.
@bpaquette I was over at her house today taking photos, Barbara. I'll make an album to give her so she can remember the home she loved. The facility that she's in is actually a very nice place. Wonderful, caring staff, a lovely dining room with a vey good menu, lots of planned daily activities and 'field' trips, etc. I hope in time she will adjust and start to feel comfortable there. But I know there's no place like home. I had the movers take over a few of her favorite pieces of artwork. But when I went over there today they were propped up against the wall. One of the staff told me Anita claims she 'just wants to take them home'. This is going to take a little time.
@lisabell Me too, Lisa! Home, sweet, home. May it always be that way!
Sadly, Anita had gotten to the point where she really wasn't taking care of herself or her home. She had fallen on a number of occasions, wasn't eating well, could no longer drive, was easily confused, and had reached the point of needing full time care...more than neighbors could provide. It really was to the point that it was no longer safe for her to be living alone.
@happypat I hope she will adjust to her new situation in time, Pat. I know she is terribly homesick and misses all of her beautiful antiques and the comfort of being in familiar surroundings. Perhaps if she had family in the area to take over the upkeep of her home and had more authority with her general well being, Anita could live out her days in her home. Sadly, that isn't the case. All I can do is try to make her transition a little less painful.
On the other hand, my own mother has already told me she would be perfectly happy in a beautiful and well appointed Assisted Living facility when or if the time comes. She could spend her days socializing, playing bridge, going on shopping junkets, eating delicious meals that she didn't have to prepare, taking classes, and doing some more socializing. :) I'm hoping I can help Anita see the positive in her new situation.
Sometimes we fail to see how difficult it is for our elders to relocate like this. They go through such loss and grief, as well as fear not knowing how things will end up.
A beautiful capture. It's wonderful that you can be there for Anita. I can only image how sad she feels over leaving her home, but it's good that she will have around the clock care.
How wonderful of you to help your friend. That is such a beautiful antique! My mom went through the same when she had to be admitted to a nursing home at age 98 after a bad fall and surgery following. She kept on saying she wanted to go home. It took a year or so before she realized she was better off and safer in her new home. Then she finally felt the same as your mom in your comment above. Her special treats were also candy, cookies and she loved her coffee! I liked the fact there was only one floor and they had the most beautiful courtyard & patio area where we would often have lunch together. She died last July at the age of 102 after going down hill in January. I miss her.
@cimes1 I can only imagine how much you miss your mom, Carole. But she was obviously well cared for in her final years...102 is quite an accomplishment! I hope, in time, Anita will adjust to her new situation. The difference between Anita and my own mother (and Apparently yours) is that Anita is not a very sociable person. She likes her privacy and her own way of doing things. My mom LOVES being surrounded by people...she knows no strangers. She would like nothing better than to spend her days playing bridge and chatting. That's pretty much how she spends much of her time now with friends in her neighborhood. ☺
you are an angel neighbour and Anita is so fortunate to have you in her life. i like your idea to share some photos with her. i hope she settles in before long.
This bespeaks of a lovely old home with long family history...so understandable why Anita hated to leave. It's so good of you to see to her needs and a friend-beyond-measure to smuggle in chocolate bars, life-sustaining substance that it is! Tell Anita you have a lot of friends out here sending her love, good thoughts and prayers!
February 2nd, 2015
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Hope she soon feels she's in 'her own place' and good that she is being well looked after!
Sadly, Anita had gotten to the point where she really wasn't taking care of herself or her home. She had fallen on a number of occasions, wasn't eating well, could no longer drive, was easily confused, and had reached the point of needing full time care...more than neighbors could provide. It really was to the point that it was no longer safe for her to be living alone.
On the other hand, my own mother has already told me she would be perfectly happy in a beautiful and well appointed Assisted Living facility when or if the time comes. She could spend her days socializing, playing bridge, going on shopping junkets, eating delicious meals that she didn't have to prepare, taking classes, and doing some more socializing. :) I'm hoping I can help Anita see the positive in her new situation.