When you make the choice to move a loved family member into senior living, everything is complicated. However, after you make the choice and you know what the best option is, it is time to plan the move. This is a moment that is quite emotional for the entire family and for the seniors. A truly sensitive approach is needed. Fortunately, you can ease emotions and make the transition a really seamless one. To make everything better, OZ Senior Living Architecture Firm recommends the following.
Timing Has To be Strategized
Always carefully pick the move date. You need to choose a date that perfectly aligns with the schedule and the routine of all people involved. Whenever possible, choose the date that will make every single person feel comfortable. This can instantly lessen nerves, tensions and this overall daunting move.
You Might Need A Support Network
Talk with the friends and family members that are supporting the process. They can easily make this shift so much more approachable. After moving in, it is also important to expand the current support network with trusted nursing or senior home employees. The support network is vital since it makes literally everyone involved feel at peace.
Don’t Neglect Downsizing
No matter what you might think right now, downsizing will have a painful effect on the family. It will take a long time to adjust. A way to diminish the effects is to simply use the support network you created in a creative way. Hand over some of the items that the loved senior might love in the future. Then, when the senior is ready, the person holding it can give it. It is always difficult to part away from sentimental items and you do not know what you will want to have when you are old. Remember that and make it easy for the senior to have what he/she wants.
Talk About Feelings
Moving into a senior home facility is a completely new experience so it is normal to feel down. All people involved should show empathy. You want to counteract the normal fear of something unknown by talking about what is happening. You will be surprised to see how communicating feelings helps. All people involved have to be on the exact same page. There will be some conflicts that are going to appear and they have to be solved as soon as possible. Frequent communication allows discussing everything that is important.
Stay Kind
This process is heart-wrenching. It is in many cases initiated by someone’s death or health declining. Even feeling lonely can make this change a necessity. With all this in mind, it is really important that you are patient. This offers so many wonderful opportunities to interact and make the transition simpler. Be open and focus on the advantages of moving to a senior care facility. If you do a little bit of research you are surely going to be surprised about how many you can find. If you focus on the positives, the entire move is much simpler.
Tammie~
It is typically a difficult decision, what can be good is if a senior is independent enough to be in a senior living situation that is independent, where you still buy your own food, cook yourself, etc. It can help them to give up living in a home that may not be best for them anymore. Then, of course, sometimes, a senior needs assisted living. Watch out, it is extremely expensive. I was just looking up costs a couple of weeks ago, glad I was sitting down when I saw the prices.
A lot to factor in when moving, especially when seniors are in the equation