On last report, an estimated 800,000 Americans are now residing in assisted living communities, and that number is expected to grow moving forward. With that being the case, if you’re preparing to transition a loved one to this type of community, you’re not alone by any means. Though knowing hundreds of thousands of other people have gone through the process before you may provide a certain amount of comfort, it can still by a trying process.
Moving to an assisted living community can certainly be an emotional experience for your loved ones and for you. Although everyone involved may realize that it’s a necessary transition, it tends to be a difficult one nonetheless. This guide offers help from Belmont Village to ease the transition for you and your loved ones.
Finding the Right Community for Your Loved One
One of the most effective ways to make the transition a smooth one is to find the right assisted living community for your loved one. Research different communities to learn about the care, services, features, and amenities they offer. Look into the experience levels of their staff members, their staff-to-resident ratios, and whether they offer care that’s specific to your loved ones’ unique needs both now and in the future.
Visit communities with your loved ones to see how they react to them and how happy other residents seem to be. Learning as much as you can about different communities will help you find the best one for your loved ones. That, in turn, will make the move much easier for everyone.
Keep Your Loved One’s Needs and Wishes in Mind
Another way to make the move less stressful is to keep your loved one’s wishes and needs in mind every step of the way. Don’t try to take over when choosing an assisted living community, deciding which items to bring, packing, unpacking, and carrying out other phases of the process. Though you may need to help and make certain decisions on behalf of your loved ones, be sure to avoid leaving them out altogether. If they feel included and at least partially in control, they’ll feel better about the transition overall.
Blend the Old With the New
Blending some old, familiar items with the new surroundings can also make the transition go more smoothly. Suddenly finding yourself in a new, unfamiliar environment can be disconcerting for anyone, and your loved ones are no exception. Allow them to bring at least a few items from their old home to add to the new one, such as pictures, knick-knacks, and photo albums. You can even help them arrange their new home similarly to their old one. That will make their surroundings feel more like home.
Stay in Touch
Staying in touch with your loved ones after they move into an assisted living community can make the transition easier as well. Many experts note that maintaining a certain amount of distance for a few weeks can help loved ones acclimate to life in assisted living more successfully. Still, you don’t want them to feel like you’re abandoning them. Don’t step out of the picture altogether, but try to find a balance between holding on and letting go for those first few weeks. From there, you and your loved ones can create schedule for keeping in touch that works well for you and them.
Helping Your Loved One to Thrive in Assisted Living
Moving loved ones to an assisted living community can be a highly emotional experience for them and for you. Keep the tips listed here in mind to help make the transition less traumatic. Along the way, the staff of your loved ones’ assisted living community can work with you and provide help and advice that’s specific to your loved ones’ situation to further facilitate the move and help them to thrive in their new environment.