Make Moving a Parent to Senior Care Easier
Moving to senior care isn’t as easy as we would like to think. As your loved one is transitioning to a nursing home, your involvement is important to make sure they adjust to their new home. Here are some suggestions that can help the move go well.
Planning the Move & Setting Up the New Environment
To make the move less stressful, help your senior with packing. Don’t just tell them what and what not to pack. Having choices about what to bring can help them keep their identity and bring comfort.
Establishing a Familiar Environment
When figuring out what to take, it is smart to hold on to belongings a little longer, even if there isn’t much space for it. Settling into a new place can be hard, and this can make it more comforting. Creating a familiar environment, instead of buying new furniture or belongings, can help the move and the senior adjust.
What to Pack When Moving to Assisted Living
As stated before, creating a familiar setting will help your senior adjust. When making decisions about what’s important to keep, think about things they enjoy and try to recreate the look and feel of what they like. Don’t waste money on new items. Keep it simple.
Here’s a list of items your parents can possibly bring to assisted living:
Basic Furniture
- Sofa
- Chairs
- End tables
- Nightstand
- Coffee table
- Lamps
Decor
- Picture Frames
- Keep-sakes
- Artwork
- Clock
- Vase of flowers
Clothing
- Casual clothing
- Pajamas
- Sweaters
- Jackets/Coats
- Formal clothing (if there is an occasion)
Working with Staff
Most of you who are moving seniors to a retirement community or long-term care community for the first time are not sure of what the different staff members do. Often, what is your job and what is their job is unclear. To avoid any confusion, work with staff.
Designating a Primary Point Person
Find out who the main person is for what you would like assistance with. It can be helpful to ask the manager for job descriptions of what everyone does, if available. You also want to make it clear who the point person for your family is so the staff knows who to go to in case of an emergency.
Medication Management
Be sure you understand the policies on medications. There can be a confusion on who is in charge of the medications in certain assisted living communities. This can vary from state to state, or even within the same city.
Next time you’re moving a senior to assisted living, plan ahead and create an environment that will help the families enjoy visits and keep family ties.
Source: aplaceformom.com
