Anyone got any positive stories of elderly relative improving in a care home?

[EyesWithAFace]

I've got another thread going on about my DM being discharged from hospital for a 4 week assessment of her needs. I feel terrible about it, as we always swore we would never put her in a care home (not that 'we' put her in there, it was decided for us by the NHS/Social Services).
I have no idea what will happen next, although realistically she probably won't be allowed to go back to her flat as it's not safe (she's had a few falls, usually in the night on her way to the toilet). It's also a first floor flat with no outdoor space, so she's quite isolated there.
She's had a rough year or two for various reasons, including lockdown of course, and has been diagonised with depression/low mood. She is very withdrawn and unsociable.

Although I hate the idea of her being in a home, I'm trying to think positively in that maybe it will ultimately be better for her. Maybe she will start integrating with the other residents and even join in some of the activities. She has never been very outgoing/gregarious, but was OK in small groups of friends/relatives.

Has anyone seen a positive change in thier elderly relative, moving from being home alone into a communal environment? Physically and/or mentally? Even if they weren't especially sociable beforehand?

My MIL is extremely shy, quiet and reserved, always has been. She has Parkinson’s and dementia so it’s hard to tell how « happy» she is, or otherwise. But she is clean, dressed in clean clothes, fed and given drinks, she takes her medication on time, her incontinence is managed. FIL and SIL can visit her now and not have to worry about caring for her.

I think that after a lifetime of skivvying around after other people, and always putting herself last, MIL is enjoying the endless cups of tea (made by someone else) and biscuits / cakes (ditto).

My uncle had to go into a care home when he was about 88. He was profoundly deaf, living alone in a 3 bed semi (my aunt had died a couple of years prior) and falling a lot.

The result was the relief of massive stress for my cousins and he made good friends with two other male residents. The staff would often send photos of "the Three Musketeers" together to my cousins. He lived there safely and happily for 3+ years and eventually died quite peacefully with pneumonia.

I wish my Mum (90) would make the same choice.

Not a nursing home per se, but the residential side of a home (there was a nursing home part in the same building). My parents neighbour sold up and moved in. It was a beautiful setting. She loved it there: activities available if she wanted to join in, no worries about cooking, housework etc. if she needed anything, she only had to ask. She wished she had made the move years before.

I think one of the biggest benefit is to the close family members who are otherwise doing much of the caring. It allows the visits to be true visits to spend time with their loved one and not having to change soiled bedding and underwear.
I truly wished my MIL did this, unfortunately her wish was to die at home, which she did, and the caring aspect nearly killed my DH in the process.