Moving is one of the hardest things to do in life, whether you're looking for your first place or downsizing after you retire. For seniors, moving from the home they've lived in all their lives to a place where they can get help with daily tasks can add to the stress of moving.
Your parent may find it hard to go through their things, say goodbye to places they are used to, and adjust to a new way of life when they start getting help with daily care.
Here are five ways to make the move to an assisted living facility easier.
1. Start the change early
Think about how your parent might feel about moving to a place with help. If you think they would do better if they were involved, you might want to look for a community with them. On the other hand, some families might want to show their elderly loved one what options are available in the community first.
If it seems hard to start looking for a place to live as a senior, you can ask one of the following experts for help:
An Expert on Senior Living. Our local experts on senior living can help for free with everything from helping veterans get their benefits to helping you figure out how much care your loved one needs. They will help you think about things like cost, location, and your lifestyle, such as whether or not there are options that are pet-friendly.
A geriatric care manager. These licensed professionals can give you an initial assessment of your parent's care needs, make suggestions for short-term and long-term care plans, and give you useful, unbiased advice as you look at senior living options.
With our complete guide, you can talk about senior living with confidence and knowledge.
Our step-by-step advice can help you start a good conversation, tell your family what to expect, and think about what to do next.
2. Pick out your parents' favorite things for their new home.
Your parent's new home will probably have less space, and getting rid of things can bring up a lot of feelings and memories.
You might want to hire a senior move manager. These professionals are trained to help seniors and can come up with creative ways to help your loved one downsize in a way that is easy and respectful. They are especially important if your parent has a lot of special things or if you live far away.
Make a "safe passage" for things that are important to you. Let your parent tell you about the important pieces and help them find a new home for everything they can't take with them. This advice is backed up by a study in Ageing & Society that was paid for by the National Institutes of Health.
Have an estate sale. You can sell things or give them to a good cause.
3. Help with how things work
Even though your parent has a lot to deal with on an emotional level, you can help with other tasks.
Keep up with bills. Cancel any bills that come out every month at your parents' house, like gas, electric, cable, etc.
Sort out utilities. Set up any utilities that your parents might want in their new apartment. Each neighborhood has a different way of handling utilities, and your parent may be in charge of things like internet and cable.
Make a schedule. Hire movers and get help from other family members. For example, one person could spend the day with your parent while another helps set up the furniture in their new place.
Plan how they will adjust. Plan for your parent's first few days by meeting with the activities director or the person who will take care of them in the community. Will someone help your parent meet their new neighbors and find places to do things?
4. Be available
Even if your parent says they'll be fine, you might want to plan to spend the first few days with them in their community. If your parent wants your help, you could spend this time eating with them in the dining room, playing games with them, or just walking around the grounds with them.
If your parent wants to get used to the new place on their own, you can use this time to get to know the caregivers and other people who work in the community. By getting to know the new people on your parent's care team, you can all work better together to help your parent.
5. Plan to visit
Your parent or other loved one will probably have a lot of activities and social events to look forward to, but family will still be a big part of who they are.
A study in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work found that seniors in assisted living facilities worry about losing family ties.
Make sure you visit your parent often, and ask other family members to do the same.
Talk to an expert on senior living.
Make plans ahead of time for trips. Hang a calendar for your parent that tells them when to expect you and what time.
Take turns. If you have more than one family member in town, plan to see your loved one alone once a week or once a month.
Make a calendar for the group. Plan visits from family and friends so you know your loved one will have the company they want or need.
Plan group visits
Getting together with family and friends can also be fun. With your help and support, your loved one will be able to live a full and happy life in their new senior living community. Even though this is a hard time for your parent, you should also take care of your own feelings.
Seeing a loved one move into an assisted living facility is a big change for many people, but once they get used to it, many seniors find that they like it better. With your help, your loved one might start to feel at home before you know it.
No comments:
Post a Comment