Senior Care Home Move in Day
The day a senior moves into a new long term care home can be either a very positive or negative experience. A good quality home will have a sound process in place to ensure that things go smoothly. However as a family member there are a few things that you can do as well to make the move in day as easy as it can be.
• Keep the day as normal as possible for the senior- Of course any moving day is tough even under the best conditions but try and do everything possible to keep the senior in their routine. My grandmother ate the same breakfast every day, and when she wasn’t able to her chances of having a bad day increased dramatically. These types of routines provide peace and comfort and can help to sooth some of the anxiety associated with moving.
• Have someone focus on just the senior- If you are fortunate enough to have help during the move in day assign someone just to stay with and essentially cater to the needs of the senior. Knowing that the senior is well taken care of and that all of their needs are being met frees you up to oversee the move in processes, sign documents, etc. There are also many senior options available that can help with the transition and beyond such as using care managers or private duty care givers.
• Bring favorite furniture and pictures- The senior’s new home in a long term care community should not look foreign to them. Ideally they will collaborate with you in deciding on what to bring. If they are not able to do so try and pick out pieces and items that you think are favorites and have sentimental value.
• Do everything you can to eliminate fear of the unknown- As with most of us fear of the unknown can be anxiety provoking so getting the senior involved in the decision making and keeping them informed can help. Although this may slow things down a bit try and focus on the long term results of getting the senior in to the new home with as little fear and anxiety as possible which will help them to adapt and accept their new surrounding.
These tips are general in nature so please keep in mind that nothing replaces your knowledge of your loved one’s likes and dislikes. Although the transition to a senior care home can be tough at times I know from first hand experience the oversight provided combined with the socialization opportunities helps to provide most seniors with a richer quality of life.
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By Assisted Living Retirement Homes, January 12, 2010 @ 9:08 am
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