When Did You Move Your Alzheimer’s Loved One to a Nursing Home?

Alzheimer’s Decisions

Moving an Alzheimer’s family member to a nursing home presents a heartwrenching challenge for many people.  Some have made promises that they would never do this.  Others feel it’s their responsibility to care for their parent, spouse or sibling at home.

However, there comes a time, I realized, when I couldn’t care for my mother, and she couldn’t care for her sister any longer   Mother was developing Alzheimer’s when I had to make other arrangements for the sister with Alzheimer’s who lived with her.

Mother finally needed more care than I could give her when I moved her to the nursing home full time.  I had to realize I wasn’t superwoman and there was a point when both of us would become unable to function.

I had to make the decision for both Mother and Auntie.  I also had to help Mother adjust to Auntie being away from her.  These did turn out to be decisions that resulted in good care for both ladies and were decisions they eventually accepted with grace.

Moving one’s family member to a nursing home isn’t an easy decision.  It becomes emotionally draining and sometimes objectionable to other family members.  

When did you realize you had to make this decision?