An Open Letter to Loved Ones

National Assisted Living Week takes place September 7-13, and it serves as a unique opportunity for all of us to recognize the important role that senior living communities can play in enriching the lives of our seniors. This year’s theme is Ageless Adventure, and we will explore that theme in our blog this month. First, however, we want to begin by recognizing the loved ones of our seniors: those who have been a family caregiver, those who have been faced with tough decisions to make on behalf of their loved one, and for those who find themselves somewhere in between it all.

An open letter to loved ones.

Sometimes you feel at peace with the decision. Other times you feel guilty. Often, you have this overwhelming sense that you didn’t do enough, or that you did something wrong. The decision to have your loved one live in a care community can feel like you’ve committed a steep betrayal. As you lie awake at night you may think to yourself, “what kind of daughter am I? Did I really do my best? Was it enough? I didn’t have the resources to do in-home care. My children needed me.”

As you prepare yourself for another day in this impossibly difficult landscape, there are a few things you need to know:

You did everything you could.

In so many ways, walking a loved one through this chapter of their life is a sacred journey. In other ways, it is one of the most complicated experiences in life. Being responsible for your loved one’s care and medical needs is hard. Balancing your own life on top of that is hard. Difficult thoughts and emotions are frequent companions here.

Even here, you’re still walking alongside them.

The steps you take might look different now than they used to, but you’re still here; still taking each step. Your loved one is so lucky to have you. No one knows them like you do. You are still their fiercest advocate. In case you don’t hear it enough, thank you for all you do. Past, present, future; every challenge you’ve been faced with, you have met head-on. You’ve arrived at each crossroads with love in your heart and the desire to do your best for your loved one, and that’s exactly what you’ve accomplished.

We want you to know that we are here for you, too.

We personally understand the ways in which this transition can be difficult, and our promise to you is that we will continue doing everything we can to bring you peace of mind. 

This National Assisted Living Week, we want to pour into you. We want to remind you that you matter, and that you haven’t failed your loved one. You have always been an important part of their life, and you always will be.

Now, take a deep breath. We will walk through this together.