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Are you considering moving your senior loved one to an assisted living facility? If you are, you may have discovered the stress, anxiety, and time that can consume you, making you feel overwhelmed. But you don’t have to feel this way. To avoid any added struggles in this difficult process, read on for some tips about how you can approach steps before, during, and after the move.
Help Seniors Move to an Assisted Living Facility
Are you considering moving your senior loved one to an assisted living facility? If you are, you may have discovered the stress, anxiety, and time that can consume you, making you feel overwhelmed. But you don’t have to feel this way. To avoid any added struggles in this difficult process, read on for some tips about how you can approach steps before, during, and after the move.
Steps to take
It’s better to prepare ahead of time to make sure you are fully organised in moving your senior relative in this overwhelming time. From managing emotions to communicating efficiently, taking a few steps ahead of time can be wise. Before the move, you can help pack for your family member. If your family member is moving into assisted living, they may not be capable of packing for themselves, meaning that effort in this area will go a long way in making the transition go smoothly. Since seniors often spend time collecting items over the years, there may be too much to take with you during the move. Therefore, you need to think about which items you will take, and which will be left behind. The left items need to be sold or given away to free up space. It’s recommended to pack when the senior loved one is not present to minimise any upset that packing up belongings may trigger.
Additionally, transportation will need to be arranged for the move. Making it tailored to your loved one’s needs is essential for a stress-free process, so it might be worth planning for extra travel time to allow for regular stops. This will provide an opportunity for your elderly relative to stretch their legs, have a loo break, and get the fresh air they need.
Furthermore, you could also attempt to personalise your senior loved one’s new living space ahead of time. Creating a homely feel in the new residence may be just what the senior needs to settle into their new assisted living accommodation. For example, hanging personal photos up, taking familiar ornaments, and scattering their usual cushions and bedding can be a great way to reduce anxiety. Seeing familiar things can reassure your elderly parents that they are moving into a comforting, safe space.
During the actual move-in, you may want to encourage your loved one to socialise with other residents in the assisted living complex. There may be communal spaces or activity clubs on offer to socialise with other seniors. This can help adjust your relative to their new surroundings.
Listening to your elderly loved one is also important. Moving house is a big deal at any stage of your life – let alone for seniors. Therefore, acknowledging their queries and concerns is important to help make the process as worry-free as possible for them. Empathy is important to reduce stress and can even deepen your bond with your loved one.
Whilst moving in, you also may want to check in with the staff. Ensure you know when you can visit your loved one and how they will help your loved one in the transition process. This can help reassure you as well as your family member.
Moving to an assisted living home for seniors is just the start of the process. After the move, there are certain actions you are advised to carry out to maintain the happiness of your senior relative. Staying well-connected after the move-in is crucial. This can help improve the mental health of your elderly parent and demonstrate your care for them. Ensure that you know when to visit and stick to a routine if possible. Whilst in Covid-19, you may want to teach your elderly parent how to video chat so that you can maintain a safe distance whilst communicating. If using technology is unlikely, you can also opt for a traditional phone call to raise their spirits.
Furthermore, you need to keep an open mind. It can sometimes be difficult for seniors to adjust to assisted living, so be wary of unusual behaviours and consider moving them to a different facility if this negative manner continues.
Asking for advice
If you’re struggling to pick the right facility for your senior loved one, you can always ask for advice and help from the Placement Consultants. This company hires trained staff who understand the differences of the available facilities and have impressive experience in helping previous seniors find their perfect assisted living home. Providing the best guidance to help you feel reassured throughout the process, this company also offer practical assistance to meet every individual need.
Recommended Assisted Living Locations:
- Blue Skies of Tri-city – Assisted living
3218 Mira Mesa Ave, Oceanside, CA 92056, United States - Blue Skies of Temecula – Assisted Living
45410 Bayberry Pl, Temecula, CA 92592, United States - Blue Skies of San Marcos – Assisted Living
1119 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078, United States - Blue Skies of Oceanside – Assisted Living
322 Keyport St, Oceanside, CA 92057, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Niguel – Assisted Living
25437 Via Estudio, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Hills – Assisted Living
25811 Tree Top Rd, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, United States
