Comments on: Experience the Transition to a Retirement Community http://www.geriwork.com/2009/03/transition/ Counseling, Supporting, and Caring Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:39:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jaimie http://www.geriwork.com/2009/03/transition/#comment-99 Jaimie Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:39:49 +0000 http://www.geriwork.com/?p=7#comment-99 Hi Carol, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your father and the changes your mother is going through. It sounds like your mom is going through a really tough transition in her life. She has experienced a lot of loss including her home, car, husband, and community. You also mentioned some delusional thinking which could be a sign of a medical problem for older adults. It would be best that she is evaluated by a Geriatrician to ensure there is not an underlying medical cause for the delusional thinking. Also a medical problem could be playing a role in her difficulty transitioning. Your mom might also benefit from counseling to work through her loss and grief she is experiencing. The staff at the retirement community might be able to help get a referral to a counselor to help with her transition. Perhaps someone could even meet with her in her new home. It will be important to build support for your mom and for you during this transition. A professional skilled to provide this support could be a Geriatric Care Manager. You can learn more about this service and find one near you at www.caremanager.org. I hope that soon your mom's pain lessens and she feels more comfortable in her new home. Take Care, Jaimie Robinson, LCSW Hi Carol, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your father and the changes your mother is going through.

It sounds like your mom is going through a really tough transition in her life. She has experienced a lot of loss including her home, car, husband, and community.

You also mentioned some delusional thinking which could be a sign of a medical problem for older adults. It would be best that she is evaluated by a Geriatrician to ensure there is not an underlying medical cause for the delusional thinking. Also a medical problem could be playing a role in her difficulty transitioning.

Your mom might also benefit from counseling to work through her loss and grief she is experiencing. The staff at the retirement community might be able to help get a referral to a counselor to help with her transition. Perhaps someone could even meet with her in her new home.

It will be important to build support for your mom and for you during this transition. A professional skilled to provide this support could be a Geriatric Care Manager. You can learn more about this service and find one near you at http://www.caremanager.org.

I hope that soon your mom’s pain lessens and she feels more comfortable in her new home.

Take Care,
Jaimie Robinson, LCSW

]]> By: Carol http://www.geriwork.com/2009/03/transition/#comment-98 Carol Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:28:26 +0000 http://www.geriwork.com/?p=7#comment-98 My 85 year-old mother recently moved into the independent wing of a small retirement community following the death of my dad one year ago. She didn't want to move, but had become dellusional about people coming into the house and finally asked me to "get me out of here." She is miserable. She feel she is in prison without her car (she really shouldn't be driving) and her routine. It's only been three weeks, but her sadness at her situation is breaking my heart. I almost want to take her back home, but I know she's not safe on her own. It's terrible feeling like there is no solution. My 85 year-old mother recently moved into the independent wing of a small retirement community following the death of my dad one year ago. She didn’t want to move, but had become dellusional about people coming into the house and finally asked me to “get me out of here.” She is miserable. She feel she is in prison without her car (she really shouldn’t be driving) and her routine. It’s only been three weeks, but her sadness at her situation is breaking my heart. I almost want to take her back home, but I know she’s not safe on her own. It’s terrible feeling like there is no solution.

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