Many seniors find it challenging to move from a home they have lived in for several years to assisted living. It is a significant adjustment in their lives, and families must work to overcome any fears the senior has about this move. The following tips will help families as they work with the seniors to take these first steps in transitioning to assisted living.
Prepare the Senior for the Move
Families often look for more assisted living information before approaching this topic with their loved ones. Doing so is usually a mistake. They need to help the seniors prepare for this transition from day one. It begins with choosing the right community where the senior must have some say and where they will reside.
Cost
Cost plays a role in the community a senior chooses, and finances should be discussed before transitioning to assisted living. With this information, seniors and their loved ones can decide how best to pay for this care when needed.
Visiting Communities
Once a few communities have been selected, it is time to schedule tours of each one. The family should visit multiple times at different points throughout the day. They should explore the community during mealtime when a social event occurs and when residents have downtime. During these times, they can talk with family members to share more information about life within the community and its culture.
Planning the Move
Family members should work with the senior to pack their items efficiently and deliberately. Seniors may bring treasured items to their new community and must decide which items will accompany them. They then need to determine which items should be handed down to family members and which can be donated to charity or thrown away. A checklist for this process helps immensely, mainly when the senior shows signs of memory loss. They can refer to this checklist and learn which steps to take next.
Family members should take care of household chores with the seniors. For example, they will need to cancel their cable and internet subscriptions and any other subscriptions they have. Mail must be forwarded to the senior living community, and the individual must update their address on bank accounts, credit card statements, and other essential documents. The senior should also keep track of all moving expenses because they can deduct them from their taxes.
The Emotional Transition
Families often focus on the physical transition from the senior’s home to assisted living. They completely overlook the emotional transition that must also take place. Seniors might look forward to the move because they know they won’t have to worry about housekeeping, meal preparation, and other daily tasks. Nevertheless, they may still have some fears and apprehensions. Family members should be there to support them and help ease their worries until they begin making friends in their new community. Staff members can also help with this process as they have encountered it with other residents.
Preparing the New Living Accommodations
Family members should be present on the first day to help the loved ones set up their new living space. Seniors often appreciate having their furniture and decorations arranged much as they were in their previous homes. Sentimental items should be displayed prominently to provide them with comfort as they adjust their new living arrangements.
Families must stay involved in the weeks following the senior’s transition to assisted living. The seniors do not want to feel like they have been forgotten or left behind. Having the family involved initially will help the senior adjust to living within the community. They can begin making friends and getting to know the daily routine. Over time, the family may find that the seniors no longer have time for them because they love life so much in the community. The senior will thrive in ways the family may not have imagined possible.
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