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From Respite Resident to Ivy at Ellington Family Member

Frank* and Elinor* loved their eight-room colonial overlooking the Ellington Ridge Country Club and had no plans to move anytime soon. A crisis changed everything.

A Car Accident

Forgetfulness and memory problems are normal parts of aging, and no one wanted to believe that Elinor’s memory issues were anything more than that. Who doesn’t sometimes have trouble driving to a familiar location or remembering the rules of a favorite game? But then she got into a serious car accident while she was driving.

A severe injury to Elinor’s leg made getting up and down stairs nearly impossible, and the worsening memory loss meant that driving wasn’t an option anymore, either. The doctors said it was time for memory care — but Frank wasn’t ready to commit.

In the past few years, he’d dealt with a lot of change — most of it unwanted. It was frustrating and sometimes scary.

A Place to Recover

Fortunately, about 3 miles down the road was The Ivy at Ellington, an assisted living community that offers short-term respite stays. Short-term stay residents live in fully furnished private one-bedroom apartments with a modern kitchenette, walk-in shower, and spacious living room, and they receive the same comforts and amenities as assisted living residents.

Although Frank didn’t want to move, the short-term stay allowed him to feel like he was in a little bit more control of the situation. “We needed to find someplace for Elinor to recovery from her horrendous auto accident,” he says. “We also wanted to try this place out a little bit.”

At The Ivy at Ellington, short-term stays last a minimum of 30 days or a maximum of 90 days, so Frank and Elinor didn’t need to pack up all their belongings or sell the house. After Elinor was discharged from the hospital, the couple simply packed a suitcase and showed up.

A Support System

In The Ivy at Ellington’s respite apartment, Elinor got the care she needed while she recovered from the car accident, and Frank got the chance to interact with others having similar experiences, spend time in a social environment that encourages friendships, and enjoy healthy restaurant-style dining throughout the day.

“The people were all very nice,” Elinor says. “And I didn’t even have to cook a meal.”

As their respite stay was coming to an end, Frank realized caring for Elinor, himself, and a 2,000-square-foot house at 78 years old was too much. He also realized there were advantages to assisted living and memory care that he hadn’t anticipated.

Instead of taking care of the house or providing care for each other, Frank and Elinor had more time to spend with each other. Additionally, Frank could see that moving in when he was still active and independent allowed him time to be able to be involved in the choice and meant he was well enough to make friends with the other residents.

After testing the waters of assisted living in respite care, Frank and Elinor decided they wanted to become members of The Ivy at Ellington family.

“Respite care is a good interim step if you’re not sure about coming in here or if you need immediate help,” Frank says.

If you need short-term relief as a caregiver or if your parents want to test the waters of assisted living, schedule a tour of The Ivy at Ellington today.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Bienvenido a nuestro nuevo sitio web farmafelicidad.com. Ahora formamos parte de la familia Pfizer, ofreciéndole acceso a una de las mayores organizaciones médicas y de investigación del mundo y al nombre que está detrás de algunos de los medicamentos más conocidos del mundo.

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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.

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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
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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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.


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Guide-Brothers and Sisters
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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.

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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.


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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.

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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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