Moving homes is reportedly one of the most stressful life events a person can experience. Therefore, you can expect your parent or other relative to struggle with transitioning to assisted living.
Luckily, experts have created many assisted living transition tips. This article will list and detail eight of them. If you are about to move a relative into a senior living facility, read on.
1. Include Your Relative in the Decisions
Your relative will live in the assisted living community for years. If they don’t feel comfortable in it, they will have a difficult time there.
Therefore, ask them for their opinion. Listen to their responses. As a result, your loved one will feel more in control.
In addition, you’ll feel you’re leaving your loved one well-provided for.
2. Start the Process as Early as Possible
If you’re thinking about a senior living transition, start as soon as possible. Don’t wait until your relative makes you feel too stressed.
Doing so will make you want to rush. In consequence, you and your relative will feel more stressed. You might also make poor decisions.
3. Choose an Assisted Living Community With Care
As we mention in our how to choose assisted living article, it’s hard to choose the right place. There are a lot of details you need to consider. Experts also encourage visiting each facility.
Therefore, don’t rush through the process. Instead, be patient with yourself. Give the process the care that it needs.
4. Downsize Gradually
Don’t get rid of most of your loved one’s possessions right away. They may need something they won’t think of until they’ve moved in.
Instead, wait until they’ve been in the facility for a month or so. Then, you can start discussing what they need and don’t need.
5. Be Sure to Visit
Eventually, your loved one will get used to their new surroundings. They’ll probably also be able to make new friends. Until that time, though, they may feel stressed.
You can ease this with regular visits. Consider making these more frequent at the start. You can lessen them once your loved one is comfortable.
6. Make Their Room Look Like Home
Having precious objects can make a new place more comfortable. However, there are many other ways to make a care home feel like home.
Consider rearranging the furniture so it’s like their old room. Make sure their precious items are in plain view.
7. Help Your Loved One Participate in Activities
Your loved one’s new facility will probably have plenty of activities for them to join. Make sure that they have a schedule of these.
You can also take part in some of these activities yourself.
8. Use Your Social Support Network
You may not have to support your loved one on your own. Consider friends, family members, and other social support network members who could also help. Reach out to them if you need to.
Consider Our Assisted Living Facility
Above all, remember that assisted living transitioning can be a difficult time for your loved one. Be there for them and let them know that you’ll be there for them. Doing so will make this time in their life much easier.
While you’re looking for a senior living facility, consider ours. Our services will provide your loved one with caring staff, healthy meals, and high-quality healthcare. Contact us with any questions you may have.
