Pictured is Bonnie (Left) and Mother, Melba Saunders (Right)
By Bonnie Herren
Growing old is a fact of life, and more than half of older adults will need some sort of long-term care or support with daily activities. Fortunately, there are many options available to assist those who need help transitioning to a new phase of life. The laudable work done by caregivers in long-term care facilities all too often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. That is why National Assisted Living Week, which is observed Sept. 8 to 14, is the perfect opportunity to say thank you to those who help us care for loved ones, such as my mother.
My mother Melba, the youngest of nine children, grew up on a farm in Hancock County and moved to Macon after she graduated high school. She worked at Southern Bell as a telephone operator back when everyone had to have an operator to connect their calls. She met my dad while serving as a church secretary. They married in 1960, and she devoted herself to raising her family. When my father passed away in 1991, my mother was on her own for the first time in almost 30 years.
She adapted quickly by becoming active with her friends, church and grandchildren. About eight years ago, we noticed she began to forget appointments she made or events she planned to attend. Daily mail, scam phone calls and normal bills confused her. When this amazing Southern cook started asking me how to make many of her signature dishes, I knew she was developing Alzheimer’s disease. But it wasn’t until a series of other health-related incidents, including a broken hip and congestive heart failure, that we realized she could no longer live on her own. She needed extra care that my brother and I weren’t able to provide on a daily basis.
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My mother thrived in this environment. She found a true sense of community and made dozens of new friends. She went to the church services held every week, and participated in the games and activities that the community provided. She even raved about the food. As a picky eater, it was no small compliment.
The staff always went the extra mile. They helped her manage her medication and washed her clothes. I leaned on them and they leaned on me; we were a team. Most importantly, they treated my mother like she was family.
Although she was happy in assisted living, her Alzheimer’s was advancing. Three years to the day from when we moved her into assisted living, we moved her into the memory care unit. The ability to keep her at the same community as her needs developed was another assurance during this whole process.
My mother just celebrated her 92nd birthday. I don’t know how many more birthdays I’ll get to spend with her, but I do know that assisted living probably extended and improved her life. I am grateful not only for the staff at her community, but for the people all over the country who are helping families like mine take care of their aging loved ones. During National Assisted Living Week, we should all say express our appreciation for the professionals who take care of our seniors – and will one day take care of most of us.
Bonnie Herren retired as a Group Director for the Air Force Sustainment Center and now lives in Snellville.
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