Tips for making the move easier for elderly into a Senior Care Facility

Have you had the difficult conversation or “talk” with your parent or loved one about life and the changes that lie ahead?  If you are like many of us, this “talk” is often dreaded and can be challenging of sorts.  Moving your elderly loved one into an assisted living or senior care facility is not an easy talk to have with an aging parent. It is more likely to be met with less resistance when it’s handled gently, with empathy, care and love.

To help ease the transition, here are some tips to help make the decision easier for you and more acceptable to your loved ones.

Involve your loved one in the decision as early as possible. One of the first decisions will be what type of senior facility is right and then you can discuss which specific facility it will be. Choosing a facility can be done well ahead of time so your loved ones can visit from time to time and get to know some of the staff and residents. This can help ease the transition from home to a senior care facility since the surroundings will be unfamiliar.

When making visits to facilities being considered, be sure to dine at the facility so you and your loved one know what the food will be like.  Typically, having good food and having snacks available throughout the day that your loved one enjoys will help comfort them during the transition.

Get a schedule of planned activities and classes so you and your loved one can participate in activities. Let your loved one choose the activities that interest them. Knowing they won’t be left alone just sitting in their room or apartment with little to do will help keep their mind occupied and challenged and will also allow them to have fun.

When moving elderly parents into an assisted living, a nursing home or any senior care facility, giving them the chance to have input into the decision making process can make it easier. Be sure you approach it from the view point that you care about them enough to want to be sure they are not alone should something happen and you will be less worried about them knowing they are in good hands.  Enabling them to give input into what they like and dislike can be empowering and rewarding as seniors like to be heard. When moving your elderly loved one, on-going communication is critical especially when they don’t want to move.

Additionally, making sure they can take some furniture with them so the new living space feels more familiar often helps. Some facilities offer empty rooms or apartments so residents are able to furnish the space with familiar pieces to make it feel just like home which gives their new home that extra touch.

At the Small ALF Coalition, we understand the difficulties of moving an elderly loved one and would be honored to help ease the transition.  Please click here or call us at 813-857-2551 for more information.