Navigating Alzheimer’s: A Journey Finding Care and Support

Linda, Carol and Herbie’s Story

“Lisa’s guidance has been invaluable.  I had no idea what to look for, what questions to ask, or how to evaluate the reputation of facilities.  Lisa is an expert, with no agenda other than to help our family, and she understood what we needed to look for.”

Herbie and Carol lived in Florida while their daughter, Linda, lived in the DC area.   They had an active life filled with friends, family visits, and many activities, but when Carol was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, things began to quickly change for the worse. 

During Covid, as Carol became less independent, Herbie struggled to provide for her.  Frustrated by a lack of support and services, he was overwhelmed and exhausted.  Linda needed to find help.   

A friend recommended she turn to Iona Senior Services, a unique organization that helps people in Linda’s exact situation, and in many other challenging situations along the aging journey.  As a nonprofit organization, Iona’s staff is solely focused on educating, advocating and providing community-based services to help people age and live well.

Linda was introduced to Lisa, a social worker with over 20 years of eldercare experience, who met with Herbie and Linda to help process support options.  As Lisa helped them evaluate paths it became clear that Herbie could still thrive and have a vibrant life in his community, and her mom needed a community of specialized support.  Linda and Herbie made the decision to move Carol into a memory care facility closer to Linda while her father would continue to live independently in Florida.  

“As we entered a new normal, Lisa helped us understand what that new normal was going to look like.  She outlined what that path was most likely going to be and how best to navigate this transition. “

Help managing the physical transition

Lisa evaluated and recommended three different communities in the DC area, but felt that the Cohen Rosen house in Rockville, Maryland would be the best fit for Carol to thrive.  Lisa had extensive experience with the staff at Cohen Rosen and knew how the facility was run.  To ensure that Carol’s transition went well, she joined Linda in meetings with the medical and program staff to discuss Carol’s case and how she was adjusting to the facility.  As an expert in eldercare, Lisa 

was able to ask the right questions about Carol’s disease progression and to help Linda understand what she could expect going forward. 

From her time with the family, Lisa also understood who Carol was as a person and that she liked to be productive and busy. She suggested that Linda ask the staff to give Carol light jobs, like folding laundry, to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  This went a long way to easing Carol’s transition and giving her a sense of belonging. 

“I wouldn’t have even known to ask for something like that and it made such a difference for my mom’s everyday life.” 

Helping to manage the emotional transition

Lisa helped Linda and Herbie process the emotional transition, working through their feelings of guilt on making this difficult move even though it was the right one for Carol and the family.  She also coached Herbie and Linda on how to communicate with Carol about what was happening in a calm and reassuring manner.

Lisa helped Linda adjust to the sudden additional burden of caring for Carol in addition to her own family, and she met with Herbie regularly to coach him on how to live alone.  She helped him set up processes to manage the house, cook regular meals, and develop a schedule to take his medications consistently.    She also encouraged him to make friends and engage in local activities.  Coming from Lisa, a neutral and trusted consultant, Herbie really valued this guidance and began to thrive in his new normal.  

Guidance and support going forward

Recently, Carol has entered a more advanced stage of dementia, vacillating between being in a state of anxiety and sleep.  As this is a completely new behavior pattern for Carol, Linda reached out to Lisa for strategies for how to manage her anxiety and provide her with as much fulfillment as possible.  

“I trust Lisa and value her guidance as an expert.  She has seen this all before and often can come up with really useful ideas or solutions that make a positive impact on my mom’s life.”