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Does anyone supporrt with Assisted Living Sacramento?
QUESTION: I posted this message early yesterday and it did not post on the
group, so this is a redo. Sorry, if it is a repeat for anyone.
Well, the last few weeks have been dramatic and sad. Two
weeks ago, my brother left a voice mail message on my machine that Mom
had been transferred to Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento and then to a
facility for Alzheimer's and dementia near Sacramento. Mom was
previously living with a caretaker in a Sacramento apartment (my sister,
Mary Ellen had seen from the last few weeks that Mom's mood was darker
and that she was over-medicated. Her new doctor at Kaiser looked over
Mom's medication and said that it was completely wrong and was in the
process of changing it quite completely) Anyway, Mom just would not get
out of bed one day and her caretaker was of course worried and contacted
my brother and mom agreed to go to Kaiser and a decision was made for a
facility.
Of course, being down in San Diego, i was frantic and called
Mom at the facility during the week several times (she seemed calm but
vague and said that the place was very nice) I have had knowledge of
nursing homes in the past and would not trust Mom being in this facility
until my sister Mary Ellen and i could see it together. I flew up to
Lake Tahoe (where Mary Ellen lives) at the weekend and we both drove
down to Sacramento on a Sat. The facility is called "St Patrick's" and
is in a very rural area outside Sacramento in Loomis, Calif. As we
drove along, we noticed horse farms, a donkey farm (of all things), and
it was overall quite lovely. We reached the facility (it was quite a
long way out) It is divided into different areas (assisted living,
skilled nursing in one complex but separate) Mom is in the area between
the assisted living and skilled nursing. The place is very new, the
grounds were Spanish Colonial and lovely. We found Mom's part of the
complex and as we came in, saw that Mom was talking to one of the other
residents. What i noticed first of all, was that was that the place
did not have that "nursing home" feel. There was no smell, there were
no people just lying around drugged out or in piles of wheelchairs ( I
had seen this type of NH before when my sister Toni (who was cerebral
palsy) had to go to a home after Mom could not take care of her) There
was new carpeting on the floors and a proper dining area (not the
linoleum cafeteria setting) Most of all, Mom was there and she was so
glad to see us!! We sat on each side of her. She introduced us to
several residents (who like her, were quite "with it") She was so proud
to introduce us as "my son and daughter" She was vague but just
overwhelmed by so many things. We saw her room which was quite nice and
we talked to the staff (who could not have been more helpful and seemed
genuinely caring) I was glad too that they have Mass and Communion
everyday which is important to my Mom and a consolation to her. The
staff wanted to get all of us together at a future date to talk over
Mom's situation and to be in contact with Kaiser for more neurological
tests (there was never a proper diagnosis of my Mom but just the simple
word "dementia") We all felt the need for hard facts to plan how we can
help Mom and also help our reaction to what was happening. This was so
reassuring!!! The staff seemed quite progressive and proactive.
We stayed about two hours and then we saw Mom was getting tired and
a bit agitated. It was hard to leave!!!!! But I knew when I left with
Mary that Mom was safe and that she was content and that she knew that
her family were around her. Also, that the staff was on top of things
and was involving the family so closely. On the way back to Tahoe, my
sister and I discussed Mom and the events of the last few years ( my
dad's cancer, his long process of death, Mom's dementia, My sister Toni
(who is now, thank God, out of the nursing home and being taken care of
by Mary Ellen with help from Home Health nurses) It is all so much to
take in!! I know it is the beginning of another road for this family
and especially Mom. It is uncertain but at least we have some things to
go on!
I am most grateful to have this group and your support!!!
ANSWER: How wonderful for you to have found such a beautiful home for
your Mom. It must be so reassuring to know she is being so well
taken care of. Any homes I have seen so far seem very lacking
in comparision. You are very lucky.
My best to you and your Mom's continued good care.
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