Moving your senior parent to an assisted living facility is tough on the whole family. The changes to everything normal and comforting can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for seniors. Working with facility and family members to create a seamless transition to assisted living can help your senior parent adapt more quickly.
The simple act of packing up your parent’s belongings for the move to assisted living can trigger sadness, depression, and anxiety. It’s essential to focus on providing support from when the initial decision is made until the moving day. There will be many ups and downs, so it’s vital that you stay patient and on the plan.
The process of transitioning your senior parent to assisted living can put the whole family under strain. Maintaining a positive attitude and working with a top-quality facility like Longhouse Communities can help you adjust to the move. Let’s look at a few key ways to help reduce anxiety for your parents transitioning to assisted living.
Have Patience
Moving your senior parent to an assisted living facility may elicit their resistance. However, more than 80% of seniors claim they would want to age in their own homes as long as possible if given a choice. If the time has come when independent living is no longer safe, moving to assisted living could be necessary.
As an adult child, you must choose assisted living with empathy and patience. Your parents will have to give up everything that makes them comfortable during their transition, putting them under stress. Take it slow with the packing process, and be patient enough to give your parents the time they need to adjust.
Comfort Items
In many cases, if you have essential items around you that bring you joy, where you are doesn’t matter as much. Keeping comfort items with your senior parent as they transition to assisted living is not the only kind; it can help them adjust more quickly.
Your parents may be unable to take everything they would like with them, but allowing them to take essential items can help the process progress more smoothly. These items may include a favorite photo, a comfortable pillow, or a chair; try to make arrangements so that these comfortable items will accompany your parents to their new home.
Get Involved
Helping your parents get involved in the community when they move can make it easier for them. Taking the initiative to join activities with your parents, take a tour, and meet their neighbors could help them feel less overwhelmed. Most assisted living communities have a wide range of activities, clubs, and outings for their residents. If your parents are reluctant to get involved, go along with them to help them adjust.
Parents who are new to an assisted living environment may struggle with feelings of loneliness and abandonment. You must set up a regular visiting schedule and don’t neglect to spend time with them. Your visits will become something that you both look forward to.
If you are preparing to move your senior parent to an assisted living facility, you need to be ready for a challenging journey. Staying patient, listening with empathy, getting involved, and staying in touch are effective ways to help reduce your parents’ anxiety as they adjust to their new life.
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