Written by Bob Francis | 08 December 2010

As I started to panic I thought I could call some of the facilities to get an idea of what to expect. I checked at the DSHS web site and found there are over 300 possible living arrangements in just Spokane County!! I made a couple of phone calls but nobody had a vacancy. Did I have to call all of them? Even if they did have a vacancy how could I pick one?

All of a sudden I thought of a friend of mine that was currently in the health care field working for an Assisted Living Facility in Spokane. it was 9pm when I called. I explained the situation I was in and that I had no idea of what I was doing and that I needed help but couldn’t find anyone that I could call.

She told me that she would help me find a place in Spokane. WOW! I felt a sudden relief. I was no longer panicked. Jacq then proceeded to tell me about the marketplace and about the options for my father. A whole new world was starting to open to me that has been there for a long time but I was not aware.

We spent the next couple of hours talking about who my father was. What was his general mood like, what kink of foods did he like, mental state, physical abilities, what he used to do work and social wise, what was his total income per month and what his finances looked like. These are all very important topics in order to find a good match so we took our time going through them.

The next morning (around 6am) I got a call from an RN friend of Jacq that wanted to do a phone assessment. This is a more detailed assessment of my fathers state of mind, physical state and his current medical state along with detailed medication plan. Before he can go into a facility this needs to be done in person but to start the search process we got a good head start over the phone.

I felt a huge burden starting to lift off my shoulders. Was I really going to get some help? I told Jacq that I was finding horror stories on the internet about senior abuse, identity theft, terrible living conditions etc. She told me not to worry and that I should concentrate on making plans to move him to Spokane.

The next evening at 9pm Jacq called me to tell me she found three options and explained them to me along with her recommendation. I put dad on the phone and the three of us discussed the options. Dad made a decision sight unseen. I made flight reservations at 10pm. Could this be for real?

We arrived in Spokane at 11am the next morning and I drove him straight to the Adult Family Home we decided on. It was a newer home which was well landscaped and taken care of. Dad was approving of what he saw. We were met at the door by Jacq and the RN who had done the phone interview. She was there to do a physical assessment for placement into the home.

Inside the house was very clean and smelled fresh. We met a couple of the residents along with the main caregiver. The paperwork was also done and waiting for signatures. The home was very inviting. My father looked happy but was this going to last? He had lived on his own for so long. Was this really going to work out? I left that afternoon with hope but also with a little doubt.

The next day I tried to call but they were all at an outing. Movies and dinner! I saw my father that evening but only for a short time. He was tired but said he had a great time. I talked to the staff that said he was rather reserved but that it was only the first full day there.

A month went past and he really enjoys being there. I called Jacq and thanked her and asked her why she wasn’t doing this as a business. “Do you have any idea what you did for us emotionally and financially?” I asked her. Not only did she help us through the situation but she would also go once a week to the home to check on my father to ensure he was satisfied with his decision.

I now had other work to be done. Dad needed his Medicare plan changed for the state of Washington, Financial planning to ensure his money would last, new id card and handicap placard, a new primary care physician, a new financial institution as he was with a local bank, trips to the doctors and more! These will be topics for my blogging.

But for now we are getting ready to pick up dad and take him out for a Thanksgiving feast. Thanks again Jacq, we are very thankful for you!