Dena Kleinsorge Moves to Heidi’s Assisted Living
A week ago, today, Mom moved into Heidi’s Assisted Living in Montrose. She had been in Sunrise Creek Memory Care Unit for two week prior. Sunrise Creek was a beautiful place. But, Mom is more functional than most of the Alzheimer’s residents that are there. Mom doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. She is having some OCD types of thoughts and the on-going insomnia that she was suffering from was a precuser to hallucinations that have haunted her. But, she still has a lot of life to live and I’m trying very hard to give her every chance to live it.
She saw Dr. Paula Trautner, a prominent local psychiatrist, on Monday before we moved her and I have to admit that I was almost hoping that Dr. Trautner would discourage the move. I was worried about the heavy decisions that I’ve had, moving her from home to Crossroads, where she lost herself…..then into Sunrise Creek, where the atmosphere was peacefully grave…..and NOW, yet another move to Heidi’s. Mom was beginning to feel somewhat safe at Sunrise Creek, though it didn’t feel like the right place for her to me. I thought that possibly I was being selfish and Pollyannaish, wanting to see possibilities where there were none…..wanting so desperately for this place, this place of resigned acceptance of nothing more than calm comfort and safety, NOT to be the end of the what my dear mother has to wish for in this life. I knew that moving her would uproot her, yet again, and that it would take more time and energy for all of us, again and I was leaving for Mexico for a week on Saturday after her move on Monday. I wanted to be sure that I was being moved to do the right thing. So, if Dr. Trautner was in the least discouraging about moving her, I was prepared to leave her right where she was.
But, Dr. Trautner didn’t discourage the move. The visit with her was great. Mom was open and articulate. She shared some of her dilutions with her and spoke frankly about them. I was there and filled the doctor in on the insomnia and some other fears that Mother had. She was encouraging that the medication that Mother is on will help the acute problems that she’s having and that when she settles in, Dr. Trautner thought that her memory would return, at least some.
Niki and I spent the first two nights on the floor of her new room. It’s big and has enough room for her bed, the love seat, her TV and a sculpture or two. She has the portrait painting that she did of Daddy on the wall as you first walk through the door and her gigantic painting of them with the horses by the creek, near her bed. She has a private bathroom, which is much better than the last place, where she had to share with someone who couldn’t remember to unlock the door from the other side.
Mother still remembers everyone and most all events, unless she’s tired and in a bad mood and then she doesn’t want to work at thinking about it. But, she’s responding well at Heidi’s, playing BINGO, eating better and beginning to smile and sing more, again. She is a joy to be around and I encourage all of you to visit, if you can. It’s Heidi’s Chateau, in Montrose on Sunnyside, just East of the golf course.
I’m writing from Mexico, where it’s been windy and wet since I arrived. My leg is healing, though the infection isn’t gone. Niki is in Iowa with Craig and Stefi and she’s been sick with the flu. Life is precious. Tell everyone that you love them, right now. And give as many people as you can a hug. I wish the dogs were here to curl up with, tonight.
I’m going to go down to Smokey’s parking lot, use their wireless connection and post this. My INTERNET isn’t working at the condo.
I love you!