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Nervous About Moving Mom to The Arbors? Don’t Be

Lynn knew The Arbors was the right place for her mom, Janet. They had spent a year researching assisted living communities, and Janet had spent time in a respite stay apartment at the Arbors at Westfield.

Now, Janet was officially moved into her new home at the Arbors, and it was time for Lynn to drive away.

Despite living only 10 minutes away, it was still a little nerve-wracking for Lynn. Before she even pulled into her driveway, she received a text message.

“Within minutes of her Lynn leaving, Janet was downstairs playing the piano having a great time,” says Alicia Dessereau, marketing director at Arbors at Westfield. “So we took pictures and sent them to Lynn: Your Mom is OK. She’s playing the piano.”

Family Taking Care of Family

That’s pretty standard among The Arbors’ 11 assisted living communities. A family-owned and -operated business, The Arbors team members take pride in welcoming residents and their loved ones into the family.

“Once a family comes through my door, they’re part of my family forever,” says Ashley Harris, marketing director at The Arbors at Winthrop. “If I see their mom having a blast, I’ll shoot them pictures.”

“In terms of care, we all sit down a few times a week and go through each resident to make sure they’re doing all right,” Harris continues. “If we notice any change, we immediately notify their family. They’re always kept in the loop.”

Not only can families expect pictures, but each community also sends out a monthly eNewsletter that recaps the goings on, profiles a resident, and shares other news tidbits.

 Family Events and Programs

Each Arbors community also hosts a variety of activities programs that family and friends are encouraged to attend.

For example, in September 2018, The Ivy at Ellington concluded its National Assisted Living Week celebrations with a family picnic, followed by a visit from Nana’s Ice Cream Truck and a magic show by Mr. Magic.

“Family events like this, as well as our weekly socials, allow our residents and their families to come together with staff and their families to get to know each other and spend time as one big, happy Ivy family,” Bianca Syriac, marketing director at The Ivy at Ellington, wrote in the newsletter. “Here at The Ivy, family always comes first. As a family-owned company, we truly value family bonds. We welcome every new resident, staff member, and their family members with open arms.”

Come On Over!

Not only do the communities plan family events, but they also encourage families and friends to stop by and say hi to their loved ones regularly.

“We have families that come and sit and hang out and play cards,” Dessereau says. “We have a poker table and a pool table. We want the whole building to be an extension of the residents’ home. I want them to sit in the sunroom or the courtyard or the patio.”

Harris adds: “They could play horseshoes in the courtyard or pool in the lounge. We have a movie theater and a pub. Residents and their families are always out in the community common areas just interacting, having a sip of coffee by the fireplace. Our chef was born and raised in Italy, so families come in and have a delicious meal or partake in happy hour.”

Nervous No More

About a week after Janet moved into the Arbors, Lynn stopped by for dinner with her mom. As the mother and daughter were leaving the dining room, one of the cooks said, “Good evening, Mrs. Janet!” Haley responded with surprise, “You know my mother’s name?” To which the cook responded, “Of course, I know her name!”

Harris isn’t surprised to hear this.

“We love your loved one like an extension of our own family,” she says. “They know that we are a family company, and we actually mean it.

If you want to learn more about how The Arbors supports family caregivers, download our eBook “How Moving My Loved One to The Arbors Eliminated My Caregiving Challenges”.

 

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Having “The Talk” With Your Parent: It’s Time for Assisted Living
Talking to your aging parent about moving to an assisted living community isn’t easy.

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-The Challenges of Aging: How to Handle Your Aging Parent’s Difficult BehaviorsDifficult behaviors in elderly adults are very common. They may be an expression of frustration your loved one feels or a symptom of early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

This guide will provide you with skills and knowledge on how to handle difficult behaviors your aging parent may be experiencing.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Becoming a Family Caregiver: What You Need to Know Before Deciding to Take Care of a Loved One
Becoming a family caregiver can be a rewarding experience. It also has its challenges.

There are many questions to answer before making the decision to take care of a loved one.

This guide will provide answers to questions you may have on this topic.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Helping Your Parent Manage DepressionIs your parent or loved one depressed, or just in a bad mood?

What does medication and illness have to do with depression?

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Is It Depression? A Guide to Identifying and Addressing Depression in Aging AdultsHas your aging parent recently lost interest in activities they used to enjoy? Have you noticed a change in their mood and behavior?

This guide will provide you with resources and tools on how to identify depression, what are the common causes of depression, and how to promote mental health in your aging loved one.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Does your loved one need more support than what they are getting? Would they benefit from some assistance with daily activities?

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Why We Chose the Arbors Assisted Living and Memory Care: A Collection of Stories from Residents Living at The ArborsWhere do you start searching for assisted living or memory care communities?

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-7 Warning Signs It’s Time to Make the Move to Assisted Living
Has your dad stopped getting together for lunches or outings with friends or visits with neighbors? Have you stopped enjoying time with your parents because you’re a caregiver?

Choosing an assisted living community is a big decision. Learn how to find the right one for you and your loved one.


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Guide-Getting Your Affairs in Order
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, and disasters, man-made or natural, can happen at any time, anywhere.

Yet older adults are among the most vulnerable during a crisis. That’s why it’s critical that seniors, and those who care for them, prepare for emergencies.


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Guide-Guide to Making the Move to Assisted Living
Moving to assisted living is a life-changing event.

This guide provides tips and ideas on downsizing, what to pack and how to make the transition smooth for your senior parent.


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Guide-Solutions to Common Caregiving ChallengesIn this eBook, you’ll learn how to talk with family and friends about caregiving challenges, how to deal with a parent who is resistant to help, how to get more caregiving help from your siblings, and how to keep your job while caregiving.


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How Moving My Loved One to The Arbors Eliminated My Caregiving ChallengesHave you had to cut back your hours at work to care for your mom? Are you worried about administering medications or injections?

Have you stopped getting together with friends, either because you don’t have the time or you’re too exhausted? Are you becoming the invisible second patient?


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Guide-When is the Right Time for Memory Care?In this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, including the early symptoms of dementia; the seven stages of dementia and the symptoms that typically accompany each one; and the signs it’s time to start exploring your memory care options.


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Guide-What to Look for in a Memory Care CommunityIn this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between assisted living and memory care, how healthcare professionals are trained in dementia care, common features of a memory care community, and questions you should ask when exploring your memory care options.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-Brothers and Sisters
Navigating adult sibling relationships can be a challenge, but coming together for the sake of your parent is important.

In this guide, you’ll learn about common sibling conflicts that arise when caring for parents, strategies for getting siblings on board, and where to turn to for help.


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Guide-The StandoffAssisted living can be a touchy subject. No matter how you approach it, your parent is likely to have objections to something.

As you help them transition to a new stage of life, it helps to be prepared with answers to their questions and concerns.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-11 Most Common Caregiving Challenges
A Guide to the Most Common Family Caregiver Challenges Associated with Caring for an Aging Parent.

You’ll learn about the true costs of being a family caregiver, common family conflicts that can occur when caring for parents, and some of the unexpected challenges of caregiving.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-Checklist_ Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living Community
This checklist will help to make sure you are getting the most out of your visit to The Arbors.

The list details what important questions to ask during your visit so you are able to make an enlightened choice and find the best assisted living community for your needs.

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Guide-What is Assisted Living Really LikeIf you’re unsure what Assisted Living looks like in real life, whether there is a difference with nursing homes or a desire to see how community life unfolds, then this guide is exactly what you need.

A guide to discover the Care Team and a Typical Day in Assisted Living.

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You’re probably wondering how much the different senior living options compare to your current situation.
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