So, my parent are moving to ALF on Monday. Mom has mild to moderate dementia, mainly short term memory loss. My question is how important might it be for her to keep her current bed? She sleeps in a full size bed by herself. My dad thinks they should take one of their twin beds for her, since she only sleeps on one side of the bed anyway. I'm thinking that we should take her current bed to keep as many things the same as possible. She's used to that mattress and headboard. They do have enough room for the full size one. I worry about her waking up in an unfamiliar bed. Thoughts on this? Thanks.
When my Dad moved into Assisted Living, I was able to use his double bed, and was able to put his highboy dresser to the left of the bed, plus his nightstand which he was use too. Dad was use to nightlights so that helped as I think waking up in a totally dark room would be unnerving, I know it is for me.
Mom lasted 2 months with us and then we moved her to AL. All those items were still available, and it was suggested by the AL director to furnish Mom’s room with familiar items. Well, golly gee! “My chair!” “My dresser!” Words from a woman who was living in her own world.
Bottom line, I regret not trusting my instincts & bringing those items to our home with Mom. Would the outcome have been the same, with Mom moving to AL? Probably. I do believe that Mom wouldn’t have been as stressed if she had familiar items surrounding her.
So your Mother has sheets for a full size bed - a very good reason to take her current bed. Not only is she used to it, she's used to her own sheets.
Good Luck.
Mom was in a nice AL. I noticed her room wasn't being dusted and questioned it. Seems one of the cleaning people had broken an expensive figurine dusting. So, she was told not to dust where there were figurines. But, she also didn't dust Moms headboard, TV stand or the window ledge.
Prayers for your journey...and most of all enjoy her.
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