Ashton Gables and my Midgie

I really don't know how to start this story about mom and how things are right now? She has made some progress in the last weeks at Meadowood Health and Rehab but not to the point of being self supporting or living at 513 Alice Street. This has presented Jack and me with some life changing decisions for her and for all of us, but prefaced with her safety and best interest in mind.

Meadowood has a good physical therapy program but when it comes to the aminities of her whole life in mind, it is lacking. Jack and I (and Karen and Vicki) have looked at no less than 10 or 12 facilities to find the one that "fits mom's needs". Jack found two and I found one and it boiled down to Galleria Woods in Vestavia, Ashton Gables in Hoover, and "The Oak at Parkwood" on 150 between Hoover and Bessemer. All three are relatively new, and each have seen mom and she will fit in with their program(s) for dementia patients.

Wednesday morning I met Jack at Jim n' Nicks Barbeques' parking lot on 31S, and we drove to met Judith (Judy) Bradley at Ashton Gables. You walk into a large family room with a dining room adjoining with a baby grand piano on the left. There are large chairs, sofas all in a circle with most of them occupied by the patients. It is new, it is all carpeted, and the paint is fresh and clean. First impression is important. We met Judy and went in her office and talk a little but soon she gave us a walk through of the facility.

Judy showed us some of the room, both semi-private and private but all were relatively the same as far as size is concerned. They were spacious and had the personal beds, dressers, and bureaus making each room look like home. I was impressed as was Jack. The important thing was the ratio of staff to patient and how they knew where everyone was all the time. How?

The entire facility has infared cameras and they have motion pads on the beds and chairs on patients like mom who requires some assistance when she is up or on her walker. When she goes to bed, the motion detector is under the bedcover and if she gets off the bed, someone's pager goes off with the patient name and room number on the display. Their computer system tracks all these actions and soon they have a program designed for mom based on her habits and needs. I loved the fact that anytime she may be alone, an alarm goes off if she misbehaves.

Jack and I talked to Judy again in her office and then we left and Jack and I talked in my car. The other facilities are good, really good, but this one has an edge when it comes to mom's total safety at all times. We realize at almost 91, just one fall, would possibly break a hip and she would be in the hospital for a long stay. We decide!

Bottom line, I have a bunch of paper work to complete and get back to Judy by Monday. But we are satified she will be in the nicest and safest place she can possibly be. We have a staff and family meeting at Meadowood next Wednesday November 30th and we plan to move mom and her furniture on about the same day or next day. So you guys now know what I know. Go to Ashton Gables via Google with your browser and you can find exactly where it is located just off 31S in Shelby county.

Love you all and keep mom and all of us in your continued prayers. We hope and pray this will be a great experience for mom. Again, News at 11:00/Jeff