It’s good to know that the facility your husband is currently in is fine – although you may not feel it is the right place for him at this time, it’s equally important to consider the kind of care he is receiving. If he is being treated well and the care is good, that’s already a big plus. It’s understandable that you would want your husband to be surrounded by others who are at similar levels, and it is believed that individuals with dementia can benefit most from socializing in a cognitively-stimulating group. However, you may want to give this place a try and see about your husband’s options before making the switch. Some facilities offer different units or levels that may have higher-functioning residents. Other facilities create smaller groups depending on ability. And sometimes, residents on certain units may seem more deteriorated due to their physical/medical status, but cognitively are still functioning at high or moderate levels. Your best bet is to start a conversation with facility staff, raising your concerns about whether or not your husband is appropriate for the unit. Allow them the opportunity to cater an individualized plan for your husband, and see if he responds well to it. If you find that the facility doesn’t offer anything that is appropriate or sufficiently stimulating for your husband, you may want to consider a transfer at that time. However, consider that a transfer could be hard on your husband, as change of environments tend to be disorienting for individuals with this diagnosis.

misty

8/ 3/09 6:32pm

Thank you for your answer. It gives me much information to think about.