Man With Dementia Comes Out of His Shell After Switching Assisted-Living Communities

Laurie Malcolm’s father, who has dementia, used to be outgoing. But after he moved  to an assisted living community, that changed. He stayed in his room, unwilling to participate in activities. “He was calling dozens and dozens of times a day,” Malcolm tells the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. “And we know he was just terribly lonely.”

So she and her sisters transferred him to another assisted living community called Sedgewood Commons. Sedgewood is a homelike facility that does things differently, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network reports. They learn who the people were before the diagnosis and allow them some control over their lives, such as when they get up in the morning.

Malcolm says since she and her sisters moved him here to Sedgewood, he’s changed. She says she’s realized that deep down, he still is the person she used to know.

“Here, I don’t know just how they do it,” she says. “I think they establish a very caring, loving relationship with these people and he’s now been more willing to come out and start participating in things.”

Malcolm’s story is yet another example of how finding the right fit in a retirement community can make such a difference.

You can search for assisted living communities in your area—and read reviews of them—here.

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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area