Welcome Home, Brien!

For the last 6 months, Brien has unfortunately been bouncing between the hospital and a rehab facility because of repeated UTIs, weakness, and digestive issues. And although we always hoped he'd be able to return to the independent living home he's lived in for at least the last 40 years, the determination was finally made that he will not regain the independence and mobility that he needs to go back. So we needed to find a new permanent home for him.

Although we were sad that he had to say goodbye to the friends and staff he loved as family for all these years, there was a silver lining: Brien could move closer to us! So we set about finding him a good nursing home in our area.

After a fairly comprehensive search, we landed on a place that fit our needs: a skilled nursing facility, recommended by a consultant, that accepts Medicaid, and had an immediate opening for him. Amazingly, it's so close to our house that we can walk there! That's not why we chose it -- it was the best of the options that checked our boxes -- but it was a very happy coincidence! 

We moved Brien as soon as we returned home from our cruise. Because he is confined to a wheelchair now, he required special transportation. He was sitting like a king the whole way!

Now he's set up well in his new home. We brought the kids over to help decorate Brien's half of the room with pictures on the walls, little trinkets, and a fun comforter on his bed. He had a roommate who was pretty loud (yelling during the night, unbeknownst to us), and Brien wasted no time asking for a different roommate. I was proud of him for advocating for himself! Now he has a new roommate who is very quiet.

One of the nice things about skilled nursing facilities that accept Medicaid is that the government requires them to provide activities for the residents. Multiple times a day, Brien has arts and crafts, music, games, and even visiting performers like magicians and choirs. There's a parlor where he can hang out with other residents to watch TV, and a dining room where he shares meals. A visiting doctor, dentist, podiatrist, and stylist take care of all his needs right there. And there are in-house physical therapists who already have a game plan for him to continue working on his strength and independence. First on our list of priorities: regain the ability to get in and out of a car, so we can take him on outings. 

"I think I'm gonna like this place," he tells me every time we see him. And fortunately, that's often -- MJ and I are able to visit multiple times a week. It's so close, we can easily swing by just to check in, or talk to his nurses or social worker in person, or have lunch with him. Grandpa and Grandma stop by often too. And we've submitted Amber's vet records so she can visit too, something Brien is very excited about!

I am so thankful for many things: that this move went smoothly, that Brien is close by for us to visit, that he is part of our lives, and that we can include him in so much more from now on. It is such a blessing.