Your move to Oak Park is what is generally refered to as "placement". Now there's a word that strikes fear into the hearts of many caregivers/families. Isn't "how did you decide when it was time for placement?" one of the most frequently asked questions? Yes, it is & here's how it happened for us. ~ ~

We were sitting in the screenroom one day when Mom said:

were ready to move on & be with others your own age. So placement was not as traumatic for us as it might have been. I knew, you knew: it was time.

A few days after you moved into Oak Park, I asked you "how you liked it?" "I hope God lets me stay here forever", you answered. Wow! That really blew me away. And made me so happy that you were happy.

On January 16th, 2000, you came down with a cough & cold. A drug interaction between the Xanax you were on & the cough medicine you were started on, led to several trips to the doctor, then the emergency room & finally admission to the hospital. Your mentation & level of functioning really diminished during the hospitalization. The Case Manager at the hospital & the admitting Doctor recommended that you be placed in a facility that was better able to cope with your current mental status. After considering several suggestions made by the Case Manager, I called a facility I heard about from an aide at Oak Park, Gerri Ellis, who had trained there. She was so impressed by how happy the residents were & their extensive use of music for different activities. The name of the assisted living facility is:

Wandering Oaks' philosophy of care:

~ to specialize in residents with dementia
~ to provide care 24hours a day/ 7 days a week
~ to prohibit the use of diapers
~ to prohibit the use of physical & chemical restraints
~ to provide all personal items & clothing
~ to serve family style meals with real potatoes & home-made bread
~ to use music therapy extensively &
~ to use validation therapy instead of reality orientation

All of these & so much more.....almost too good to be true! Hopefully, you will regain your previous level of functioning & find happiness in your "new home".

The owner & administrator came to the hospital to interview us. They said they would accept you as a resident & would pick you up the next day for transfer to their facility. They felt it best for me not to be there so that you would not associate me with the transfer. They recommended I wait at least a week to visit so that you would have a chance to settle in.

Went to see you at Wandering Oaks for the first time and cried all the way home! Click on the button below to find out "why".

We celebrated with cake, ice cream, flowers, balloons & lots's of birthday greetings. Enjoying the cake & ice cream below........

Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves. You smiled the whole time & thanked everyone for their "Happy Birthday" wishes. Happy Birthday from me too, Sweetie!