My dad is 85 and has Alzheimer’s. He and my mom have been married for 63 years. The last year his disease progressed to a place that I thought I was going to lose my mom to the stress of caring for him. I thought she was going to have a heart attack or stroke. I was having to stay at their house over night at times because my dad would act crazy and sometimes be violent. I always had my phone with me and panicked if I missed a call from my mom. We began the search for help and found our way to Arden Courts at the recommendation of a friend. From the first meeting with Donna, we were interested. We toured several other facilities and even thought we could try to keep him home a little longer. After several months, we finally made our decision and moved dad into Arden at the end of December 2024. It was hard, so hard to leave him that first day. Not being able to explain to him what was happening was the hardest. The staff at Arden Courts reassured us and gave us suggestions and encouragement throughout the whole process.
Dad has lived at Arden Courts for 2 1/2 months now. My mom attends a support group for caregivers. She has started to meet friends for lunch and attend church and ladies groups. She goes out to dinner with us and enjoys herself again.
My mom and I have lunch together, go shopping and plan for trips to visit my grandson. All things that we had stopped because it was just too hard with my dad at home. My mom is 81. I love having her nearby and also love her independence.
I am now a daughter again to my mom. I am also a daughter again for my dad and visit him often and although the visits are still hard and he wants to go home, we are able to take walks and share snacks and visit.
The staff at Arden Courts has been amazing throughout the whole process. The nurses and caregivers, the event staff crew, even the finance office has adopted my dad as part of the family. It really is a family at Arden Courts. As in any family, everything is not always perfect, but we keep trying new and different ways to love each other.
Thank you to the whole Arden Courts staff for loving my dad and helping me be his daughter again!
Written by Sherrie Bennett, Daughter of Harry Poole, Resident of Arden Courts – A ProMedica Memory Care Community (Seminole)