The reasons were twofold.  Although at the time it seemed far off in the future, I and other family members began perking up unconscientiously whenever we heard a television commercial advertising products or services for seniors. It was a subliminal kind of thing, knowing somewhere in the back of our minds, that Mom was getting up there in age and would eventually need some assistance with house-keeping, grooming  and financial matters.  Then came the job opportunity to write articles about assisted living and other senior-related issues.

Over a short period of a month or two, Mom started having serious health problems that were intermittent, but nonetheless, reoccurring. Then out of nowhere, the extreme disorientation and confusion began. After a few trips to the emergency room, and the subsequent necessary, albeit temporary, weeklong stay at my sister's home, we knew "the time" had arrived, and in a cruel, precipitous way. Life suddenly coincided with what had previously seemed like fiction, and in a very real way.

Now on both accounts, the assisted living, residential care, home care options research really begins!  All the possible scenarios and solutions, some of which were unknown to us, were overwhelming.

Our Mother suddenly became so disoriented at times she found it difficult, if not impossible, to determine if she was in her own home or somewhere else, and her sudden onset of slurred speech and dysphonia, (a speech disorder making it difficult to speak), spurred us into action.

In the midst of these painful realizations, we HAD to do something, and we had to do it NOW.

Pending the outcome, diagnoses, and advice from my Mother's primary care physician appointment, we have already learned of so many options available for her, for us. There are alternative short-term respite care and hospice facilities, Hospice CA , available along with long-term care situations, such as Assisted Living Cost . There IS HOPE for an acceptable decision.

We encourage you to explore a resource center that will provide you with information on, not just your options for care, but also combine years of experience and caring expertise, as well as address practical issues such as financial concerns relating to assisted living costs.  Free of charge, they will help guide you in the right direction toward making an informed, comfortable decision about the care of your loved one.

Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com, a leading referral

system in the assisted living industry.  We provide the perfect match between seniors

searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and

hassle out of the search.

By Gloria Ha'o Schneider