When your parent or other family member has made the decision (or the decision has been made for them if the former is simply not possible) to move to an assisted living community, then you will no doubt be feeling a range of emotions and perhaps even conflicted as to whether it is the right decision.
It is important to remember that the move to a reputable and established assisted living facility is the best decision for an older adult who can no longer, or simply no longer desires to, live independently in their own home.
Continue reading to discover how best to prepare your aging loved one for their move into an assisted living facility.
Talk Openly And Honestly
The worst possible way to handle this situation is to simply ignore the proverbial elephant in the room and by avoiding any talk or even reference to the impending move.
If your loved one has made the decision themselves, then it is up to you to inject as much enthusiasm and excitement into the planning and moving as possible; and if the decision has been made for them, then it is your job to make them see that this may actually be an exciting next chapter in their life.
Be open, honest, and authentic in all communications and never exclude them from any decisions, from financial planning to what to pack and what to leave; the bottom line is that they are the one who is moving home and they should be involved in every stage of the process.
Take Them On A Tour
Before the moving day, take your loved one for a thorough tour in and around the facility. Prestigious, established, reputable, and renowned assisted living facilities will be more than happy to have their staff show you and your loved one around the buildings and grounds, and it may be helpful for you to encourage communication with current residents in the community.
Start Packing In Good Time
When it comes to the eve of their move to an assisted living community, you certainly don’t want your loved one to feel rushed and stressed because they feel as though they have forgotten an important item.
If they take daily prescribed medication, for example, an incredibly beneficial idea would be to create a ‘first morning’ pack to aid their transition when they wake up in their new bed for the very first time. Sentimental items that are important to your loved one can also be packed, as well as fresh clothes, the book or magazine they are currently reading, and photographs of their family members and friends.
Help Them With Any Administrative Responsibilities
One task that many people often forget when moving, whether that be to assisted living communities or not, is to take care of the associated and wholly necessary administrative responsibilities.
Together with your loved one, redirect any newspaper or magazine subscriptions, inform the phone and utility companies of the move, contact any banks or savings accounts, and be sure to contact your loved one’s friends and family members and pass on their new address.
Speak Your Mind