For those of you who have a loved one in an AL facility, what have you found to be the best way to communicate with nurses and aids? For instance, I told my mom on Christmas Eve that I would be back the next day (yesterday) at 1:00 to take her to dinner. She remembered the part about my coming, but told the nurses she didn't know what time. I keep forgetting that my mom's mental abilities are failing and that she obviously didn't remember what I had told her. The nurses call me for important reasons, but can't call for every little thing. I was thinking of hanging a white board or something similar near her door. That way I can write down information my mom is likely to forget. Does this seem like an idea that would work? My mom has only been in AL since Wednesday, so we're still working out the kinks.
You could also get a large calendar, especially a pretty one with photos of something that's a favorite of your mother (gardens, roses, dogs, cats, landscapes, etc.) and write down this information on it, so she can check if she needs to. A white board could work for her as well.
The reason I suggest a large calendar though is because your mother can see at a distance what outings and appointments she might have, and if the photos are lovely it's a brief method of providing some quick relaxation.
An important thing to remember is that what worked to help mom at home probably will not work for caregivers in a facility. Does she have dementia? If so that more than likely will make the transition even more difficult. If she is competent then hopefully she realizes that the staff do not read minds. She needs to tell them what is and is not working.
Good luck on this change in your lives, it is definitely a tough one!