Kay's Concierge Service

Last December, we brought my 93-year old mother out of her assisted living center to enjoy a wonderful Christmas with our family. My mother suffers from Alzheimer’s and due to behavior changes we put her in a facility. But, not just any facility … as you will see.

We enjoyed a good meal with our favorite Christmas treats like lefse and buckeyes. We played games, worked on puzzles, and chatted up a storm. As it grew dark outside, my mom stood up from the couch, grabbed hold of her walker and declared that she was tired and wanted to go “home”. The fact that mom called Mountain View Assisted Living her “home” caught us all by surprise. After mom said her goodbyes to the rest of the family, my sister, daughter, and I drove her back “home”.

When we arrived at the facility, the front door was secured, so we had to ring the bell and wait for the staff to answer the door. Two nurses met mom at the door with hugs and kisses. They greeted her by name and commented on how pretty she looked in her Christmas sweater by saying, “Hi Peggy, you look nice” and “You look so pretty.” What a sweet reunion for mom. She was so caught up in all the attention that she never looked back to say goodbye. Which is highly unusual. My sister, daughter, and I stood outside in the cold December air and soaked in the warm and loving atmosphere. We kept quiet while soaking in the scene. She was “home”. What a pleasant end to a very happy Christmas holiday.

On our drive home from my sister’s that evening, our family discussed the loving way the staff at Mountain View Assisted Living care for my mom. My eldest daughter got emotional when telling the story to my husband and younger daughter. The whole experience really touched her. We are so pleased that mom has such a nice, caring, loving home with wonderful caregivers.

I share this story to illustrate what you want to look for when finding a home for your aging loved ones. It is easy to look at aesthetics. But, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. Especially when you focus on the surface. When looking for a home, it is ultra important to dig deep and look for the heart and soul of a facility. I am so glad we found a “home” and not just a “facility”. Good luck with your search.