Earlier this year, I completed my Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) training as part of Compass Plus, Compass’s division focused on serving older adults.
The education proved invaluable—especially recently, when I helped my parents move into an assisted living home. Moving from a house to an apartment, and from a town that’s been home for 25 years to a new city, has certainly been a rough transition. It’s been 30 days now, and there have been some highlights. There have been tears and frustration as well, but for today, I’m going to reflect on the positives!
Finding a PCP (new doctor that is, “primary care provider” if you don’t know the acronym) is a harder task than I expected. My dad was discharged from the rehab facility with instructions to “book a doc appointment in the next two weeks for follow up.” But when I called to try to schedule an appointment, I was offered appointments 60 to 90 days in the future. Persistence rewarded me and my parents are both now happily in the care of a wonderful new doctor who is cheerful, energetic, caring, and detail-oriented.
Since their first month in the new home was December, they enjoyed seasonal festivities. The decorations are abundant and music often fills the space. There is live music every week, but during the holidays many groups come caroling. We enjoyed the special “family Christmas dinner” and visited with Santa.
Lots of year-round fun was enjoyed too. Root beer floats are served every Saturday, happy hour is every “Thirsty Thursday” and the weekly drumming exercise class is my mom’s favorite. It’s surprisingly very fun!
My dad graduated from wheelchair to walker and one day last week we walked the three blocks to nearby Grady’s Pub where a cold beer was my dad’s reward. We had a great time and were delighted to discover such a fun venue in the neighborhood.
Here’s hoping that they settle in and that was don’t have to move their bookcase again any time soon!
