It's been a wild .... how long has it been?

I've been so incredibly busy and stressed, I haven't had time to do an update other than a short Facebook post. So here's the news: 

Mom and dad were reunited June 20 when she was discharged from Mercy Rehab. It was the first time they'd been in the same room for a month. 

I'd say it was a sweet reunion, and I guess it was, to a point; they were able to hold hands. But it was amidst the smells and chaos of a nursing home, under the cloud of her being discharged from daily therapy in a pristine environment, robbed of her motorized power chair (first because INSURANCE, then because they had to "approve its use in the facility" to make sure she didn't mow someone down in it, but meanwhile it was the weekend when that evaluation couldn't happen), so she was stuck in a bed, couldn't physically push a call button, was at the mercy of an under-staffed staff ... shared a room with her husband who has slept in a recliner for decades but was now confined to a hospital bed and so was therefore uncomfortable and snored all night ... not to mention the facility itself was ... lacking cosmetically, to put it kindly. 

Now that I had them in the same room, I could contemplate the next steps. It was obvious they weren't going home, but were they to stay there, at a skilled nursing facility? or transfer to a different, hopefully nicer one? does one exist? or was assisted living a possibility? 

I put out a request for input from the community: what places aren't terrible?? [what a low bar.] Which should I avoid? What should I look for? I only had experience with one local facility (where my grandmother stayed), and that's in West Virginia and much closer to my parents' home than my own. I knew it was a small, charming place, full of caring, attentive people, and that mom was happy with her mother's care there. So it was a at the top of the list, despite its distance. 

On a whim, I reached out to a place I knew of because Audrey's orchestra had done a performance there. Fortunately, just days before, a double-occupancy room appropriate for a married couple became available. I arranged a tour, just so I could examine it with the fresh eyes of a potential resident/family. I'm sure there was a bit of bias because it's so close to me and SO much nicer than the nursing facility, but I felt an immediate peace and hope that it was a place in which my parents could live comfortably. 

We could have put down a deposit and taken our time, moving them and their furniture in when we had it all arranged and supplies purchased ... but given our dissatisfaction with their location (and really, when it came down to it, the tipping point was one obnoxious nurse), it seemed the best option was to yank them out and plop them into the new place. 

So that's what we did. 

I keep saying "we," but ... truthfully ... it was me. Audrey was in Colombia, Ezra was in Belize (she's home now, he returns tonight). The aides, who have been staying with my dad almost 24-7 since mom's accident -- and with both of them since they shared a room -- packed up all their belongings. The new place sent a transport van, and two days after my tour, in the pouring rain, they were moved into their new apartment.

Celebration Villa is a small (60-ish bed) assisted living facility. It's 20 minutes from my house, set back far enough away from commerce that most people don't know it exists, but moments away from virtually any shopping/food we could need. The staff has been wonderful, getting to know my parents gradually and showing great concern in making things work best for all of us. It's only their second full day here; the room is chaotic and not set up the way it will be eventually. But they're here, they're safe, they're cared for, and they're together. 

The aides still come to help ... eventually that will subside as everyone gets more comfortable with the new environment. They have been a godsend, training staff everywhere how to best transfer dad, how to know if he's having a good or bad day, making sure mom has her Jolly Ranchers and lip balm :) . She has her powerchair (still fighting with insurance, but what else is new?), and despite much grip and dexterity deficits can drive it with ease, change her positioning to suit her, and even comfortably nap if the mood strikes. Dad has his recliner from home, his neck pillows and blankets, and seems to be enjoying the food here so far :) He got a peanut butter and jelly and cheese sandwich today (blech! lol). 

So that's the update. If you would like to send a "housewarming" card, the address is: Celebration Villa, Room 337, 104 Pappan Business Drive, Beaver Falls PA 15010. You can always visit, although I'd give it a few days or so while everyone settles into a routine and knows when visits would work best (we also don't have the room set up for guests yet).