“The Move-In”

Thoughtful reflections in 2026/8

Moving into assisted living is a big change. Focus on making the new room safe, familiar, and comfortable, rather than trying to bring everything at once. Can always

bring more later. Bring Clothing, bathroom items, medical essentials, and comfy items (blankets, cherished items). Move in their items ahead of the actual day they move in. This can make a big difference.

What to tell them: A calm, confident message is usually more reassuring. Keep it simple, truthful. Also have that discussion with the administration on ideas. Keep in mind it doesn’t always go as planned. That is OK. Deep breath and pivot, they will pivot with you!

Be it temporarily or long term stays here at Prestige Living LLC in Fort Collins, CO, we encourage families to stay connected and engaged with family members living with us. It is so vital to their feelings of well-being that they are at home when they can share their space here with family.

The Latest at Prestige

“Keeping it Interesting”

Thoughtful reflections in 2025

Do you play cards or board games with you loved one? Simple games can keep their minds active. Short things like go fish or Memory Card games. You can do a short internet search to find game that might be suitable for playing within your loved one’s ability. Set a timer to play 5 minutes and do a check in because you do not want them getting frustrated or overwhelmed. Then switch to something else. We want to give them a mind workout but not a mind overload.

I also want to remind everyone that our hands are very important as we get older. I have talked about hand yoga before, and I am sure I will talk about it again because in my mind a little time makes a huge difference. Let’s get whatever exercise in that we can when we can. Do a simple search on exercises for the elderly and you will find so many. Pick what will work for you and your loved one! I know that some places have these things but our loved ones might be in that place of privacy and do not want to participant until they are more comfortable with their new living space.

“Moment to Share”

I want to take a moment and share about our home and what it means to our loved ones.

When I say our loved ones, I mean everyone that comes to stay with us, be it long or short term, they become our family. We share our lives and our hearts every day.

We have 8 rooms, both single and shared so that they are affordable and can meet those tight budgets. We work with whatever financial outcomes you are currently trying to deal with but I stress that this is based on availability.

We can have a hard conversation with you and hopefully give you options that might fit your loved ones needs. We might not be able to house your loved one but hopefully direct you in the right way to ease your mind and be able to seek out the right place for them.

We want to see everyone that stays with us or not, have the best life possible.

Be it temporarily or long term stays here at Prestige Living LLC in Fort Collins, CO, we encourage families to stay connected and engaged with family members living with us. It is so vital to their feelings of well-being that they are at home when they can share their space here with family.

I was wondering? What do I have in my mind that is valuable to those around me or what is the legacy I am leaving behind.

“Value and Legacy”

My kids told me recently that I am the matriarch of the family. What does that mean to me and to them. I ponder what to pass on to them and what those that have gone before me, passed on to me. Some things are passed on by actions we do or event we create and others are what we say and teach them.

All my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are gone. My sibs and I are the current legacy to our family.

What can we do, to first off, letting those know that they are valuable and that they contain a plethora of information to leave as a legacy. How do we show them that they are important and will not be forgotten? These things are tough to do these days because we are all so busy just trying to figure out how our current life in this world.

I have written a letter to my kids to let them know I love them and that they ALL matter because we all do plain and simple. Love is not conditional or given and taken away at will. Despite differences, these are the days we come together and love on one another because we ALL have value and a legacy to pass on.

Love your loved one and ask them how they see their legacy and anything special they want to pass on. Getting them to open up about these things may be tough but if we share with them, hopefully they can pass on something never expected and could change someone for a life time to come.

I know that we all may not be able to communicate with our loved ones but at least trying and sharing their value, in that brief moment they may take that in.

“The Transition”  9/1/26

Transitioning into an assisted living home is a major life change, and adjustment usually takes time. A person may feel relieved, sad, anxious, hopeful, or even angry – sometimes all at once. These reactions are normal.  We ALL need time to adjust.

Some Tips: Include the resident in decisions . Maintain important routines, Visit consistently,  Maintain important routines, and   Review the care plan.

The Good: there is the safety piece, staff 24/7, help with medication, personal care, and emergencies. Plus less daily stress, more social connections, better support. and peace of mind.

The difficult: loss of independence, leaving home, less privacy, unfamiliar surroundings, less privacy.

A helpful message during this transition:

This is not about giving up independence. It is about receiving enough support to live safely, comfortably, and with greater peace of mind.

Be it temporarily or long term stays here at Prestige Living LLC in Fort Collins, CO; we encourage families to stay connected and engaged with family members living with us. It is so vital to their feelings of well-being that they are at home when they can share their space here with family.