Moving On...

"I'm not happy. I need to move."
Nana has been saying this a lot lately.  At first, I thought it was just because her best buddy had been failing lately, and she had become very bitter.  But the more I watched her in her environment, I noticed the changes.  She no longer participated in many activities in the assisted living area.  I noticed also that there didn't seem to be as many activities that pertained to her. She seemed to spend more time wandering, and I was receiving reports from both staff and residents that she seemed more "lost" lately.  I also noticed that her gait was not as strong-- she tends to list a bit to the right, and her posture is becoming poorer. She no longer remembered anyone visiting, and she just seemed lost in her own mixed-up mind.  She needs more care.
  Becky is home from college right now, so she was able to help me narrow down the choices for Alzheimers units.  This has been very hard for me.  I feel like I am taking away more freedoms from Nana, and that my Mom is disappearing more and more each day.  But Becky reminded me that by keeping her safe and more engaged, I am actually giving her more freedom-- more peace of mind.
  We have found two places that are strictly dedicated to Alzheimer's care, deeply compassionate and very up to date on the latest in Alzheimer care.  We took one place off the list when the nurse director told us that no one could enter her facility unless they had a prescription for an anti-psychotic, "just in case..."  That went against both the nurse in me and the future pharmacist in Becky.  Another place looked lovely, but the residents looked completely disengaged.  The two remaining facilities are just so wonderful that I am having trouble choosing.  Both have offerred Nana beds.  Now, we need to decide....
   This week, Nana will visit each facility, at the same time of day.  She will see where she will live, and she will meet residents and interact with them.  Hopefully, the correct choice will become very clear.  If it doesn't, I am following Becky's advice and looking for my Dad to send me a great, big, easy-to-decipher sign....