5/5 DON S. 1 year ago on Google
Open
letter
to
those
seeking
care
at
an
assisted
living
facility.
I
must
share
my
wife's
as
well
as
my
own
experience
with
the
Bristol
at
Holtsville.
It
is
natural
that
as
anyone
facing
a
sudden
and
dramatic
change
from
a
way
of
living
that
they
have
enjoyed
their
entire
life
to
an
uncertain
future
would
be
concerned,
even
fearful
when
they
suddenly
come
to
realize
that
all
that
has
changed.
The
loss
of
ones
freedom
to
come
and
go
whenever
or
where
ever
they
please,
most
likely
on
their
own,
has
usually,
quite
suddenly,
been
taken
away
from
them.
There
may
be,
quite
naturally,
a
reluctance
to
enter
into
this
“new
world”.
I
know
it
was
for
my
wife.
With
reluctance,
fear
and
resentment
but
unfortunately
with
no
option
she
was
forced
to
accept
the
situation.
Admittedly
it
took
a
while
for
her
to
accept
this
new
“environment”
but
with
the
caring
and
professionalism
of
the
ENTIRE
staff,
from
administration
to
housekeeping
to
maintenance,
as
well
as
the
folks
in
their
“wellness
center”
she
came
to
not
only
accept
the
reality
of
her
situation
but
to
actually
THRIVE
in
it.
Even
though
she
has
lost
the
comfort
and
familiarity
of
her
home
I
can
honestly
say
that
she
is
actually
better
off
in
her
new
environment.
One
may
question
why,
how
could
that
be?
Let
me
explain
the
reasons.
For
one,
since
we
could
not
afford
a
full
time
nurse,
which
she
would
have
required
,
as
“home
health
aids”
are
neither
equipped
nor
allowed
to
administer
the
level
of
care
my
wife
required
she
is
now
being
cared
for
properly,
under
professional
supervision.
But
even
more
than
that,
the
environment
at
the
faculty
has
eradicated
her
fears
and
concerns
about
living
in
this
new
environment.
For
several
years,
like
many
seniors,
few
people
“came
to
visit”
my
wife
and
as
her
mobility
declined
her
ability
to
socialize
diminished
and
she
became
“lonely”.
The
psychological
burden
of
loneliness
is
difficult
for
those
who
are
not
in
that
position
to
appreciate
and
may
be
difficult
for
them
to
comprehend.
At
Bristol,
although
it
did
take
two
attempts,
she
has
made
friends,
lots
of
them,
and
that
is
primarily
what
has
actually
made
her
life
better.
I
would
visit
my
wife
on
a
weekly
basis,
probably
not
as
often
as
she
would
like
but
being
eighty
years
of
age
myself
and
running
my
own
business
that
was
the
best
I
could
do,
yet
quite
incredibly
staff
members
knew
me
and
greeted
me
by
name.
At
times
I
can't
even
remember
why
I
entered
the
bathroom
yet
these
folks
at
Bristol
knew
not
only
my
name
but
they
knew
where
my
wife
was
whenever
I
arrived.
I
went
to
take
my
wife
out
for
her
birthday
and
the
receptionist
said,
“you're
a
day
early”,
which
I
was.
Incredible
that
staff
would
know
my
wife's
birthday,
something
that
demonstrated
the
level
of
care
being
afforded
my
wife.
Whenever
I
would
visit
I
would
see
that
the
ENTIRE
staff,
from
maintenance
to
supervision
would
greet
her,
talk
to
her,
as
he
would
to
them.
SHE
HAD
FRIENDS,
SHE
HAD
COMPANY,
SHE
HAD
COMPANIONSHIP.
Few
things
in
life
could
be
more
important
than
that
and
the
staff
at
Bristol
has
provided
all
that
and
more.
Although
it
was
a
struggle
for
a
few
months
in
the
beginning
my
wife
is
enjoying
a
safe
and
satisfying
life,
something
I
sincerely
doubt
she
could
have
had
had
she
remained
in
her
home.
Additionally
the
burden
of
her
care
has
been
largely
lifted
from
my
shoulders
as
I
am
sure
that
she
is
getting
better
care
and
a
better
life
than
I
could
have
provided
her
on
my
own.
It
may
be
difficult
at
first
but
given
a
chance
it
will
prove
the
very
best
solution
to
the
inevitable
effects
of
the
passing
of
time.
Don
Sterling
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