Helping an Aging Loved One Make a Smooth Transition to Assisted Living.
Moving to an assisted living community doesn’t have to be stressful and overwhelming. These tips can help you plan for a smooth transition.
When a senior loved one is considering moving to an assisted living community, families often feel overwhelmed. With so many choices to consider and important decisions to make, it’s easy to understand why. Even after the decision to move is made, finding the right community and planning the transition can be emotional and time intensive.
Arrow Senior Care helps make the transition to assisted living smoother for older adults in southern California. We connect you with communities that are in your price range and offer the services and amenities your senior loved one needs and wants. With our help, you can feel confident you are making an informed choice.
Here are a few of our suggestions on helping the senior in your life smoothly transition to their new community.
4 Tips for Making a Smooth Transition to Assisted Living
Tip #1: Get involved at the community prior to moving
Change can be difficult at any age, but especially for seniors. Many are giving up a home they’ve lived in for decades and even raised a family in. It’s also common for older adults who are moving to worry their friends and family will forget about them.
One step you can take to help a loved one ease into their new life is to encourage them to get involved with the community’s social activities before moving day. It’s a great way to meet their new neighbors.
Assisted living communities are generally happy to have potential residents and their family members enjoy lunch or dinner at the community prior to the big day. Getting familiar with some of the routines and community processes will also help make the transition a little easier.
Tip #2: Don’t try to downsize the house in a day or two
Families often underestimate how physically and emotionally exhausting it is to downsize a senior’s home. They set unrealistic deadlines for how much and how fast they can clean out the house and pack belongings for the move.
Remember, you’ll likely need to sell some items in an estate or garage sale, donate unneeded belongings, and pack the things that will be moving with the senior. That all takes time to sort and arrange.
Unless the senior has sold the house and must be out in a short amount of time, try to set reasonable goals and expectations.
Tip #3: Make the new apartment look familiar
While it might be tempting and easier to sell or donate the senior’s current belongings and buy new, that isn’t usually the best course of action. Being in a new environment surrounded by new people can be overwhelming. Having an apartment to retreat to that looks and feels like “home” might help the senior settle in faster.
As you plan how to decorate the senior’s new assisted living apartment, try to include their favorite furniture, belongings, and treasures. A loveseat they sit on to watch television, their favorite chair, and familiar wall décor can help them feel more at home from the first day they move in. Wait to tackle any redecorating projects until the senior is settled.
Tip #4: Understand there will be ups and downs
As with any of life’s major transitions and changes, there will be good and bad days. This is true for you and for the senior you are helping. Your role will likely change from hands-on caregiver to spouse or adult child again. For many, that changing role takes some adjusting.
When you find yourself struggling or witness your senior loved one having a bad day, remember that this is normal. Give yourself permission to feel down while also making a commitment to accept and embrace the opportunities the move offers.
Free Advice and Guidance from a Senior Care Advisor.
We hope these tips help you create a more seamless transition to an assisted living community.
If you have questions about independent living, assisted living, or memory care communities in Orange County, California, give us a call. We’ll be happy to provide advice and guidance for your search. Our assistance is always free for older adults and their families. Click Below to learn more about how it works.
