Tips On What To Bring To Assisted Living While Transitioning

1. Tips On What To Bring To Assisted Living While Transitioning resthaven.org

2. Even the thought of transitioning to an assisted living community can seem intimidating to your loved one when they have lived in their own house for most of their life. It is a challenge for a senior to spend their years adjusting to an entirely new place. Moving out comes with its own worries and anxieties, and it can be hard to remove them altogether. A huge part of comfort comes from feeling familiar and at home. However, here are some tips to help ease your loved one's transition to make them feel at home even while they are away from home.

3. Once you and your loved one have decided the transition is to happen, get in touch with the assisted living care community you have chosen, and work it out together. Help them make the new place look, feel, smell, and sound like home to your family member. This will help your loved one to transition to the environment quite smoothly.

5. Here is a list of things that must be brought to an assisted living community while transitioning:Set up your loved one’s new living space • The most effective way to make your loved one will feel at home is by making their new living space familiar. Make sure you arrange the furniture in a similar fashion as they were in their previous home. Decorate their room with sentimental items in a way that they are noticeable; these things are precious and can go a long way. Make sure the layout of the room is as close to the layout of their home as possible. • Contact your assisted living service community and know about their packing, moving, and unpacking services, which will help you in the process. Creating a familiar, functional, and comforting space will go a long way.

6. Keep it simple • Allow the room to have wide walking paths, leave plenty of space in the room clear. Bring their favorite blanket, pillow, and chair but avoid bringing in bulky furniture pieces and keep it simple. Include their favorite items • Including the items that bring your loved one joy will help ease them, especially if they are having a tough time parting with an item. Items that are close to their heart will give them warmth and a home-like feeling while staying away from home. Give them photographs that they can cherish and remain connected to the memories you created. Provide them items to play with that keep them occupied and happy at the same time, it could be board games they play or any item that will make them feel at home.

7. Keep in mind that some things have to be left behind. • Avoid bringing anything breakable or irreplaceable to an assisted living community. Things like high-valued jewelry or family heirlooms should be left back at your home. Avoid buying new stuff until your loved one gets settled into the assisted living community and later keep a check on them if they need anything.

8. Pack efficiently • It is essential to first check if the assisted living care community you chose offers packing services. This helps in smoothing the process of transitioning to the assisted living community. Make sure you prioritize the basic stuff while packing and avoid stressing about doing everything right away. Keep the process organized, make a list, and save time. Pack the essentials first, like toiletries, medications, clothing, and bedding. Once the big items are done, move on to the smaller ones that may be important to your loved one, it may have any emotions attached to it or any item they like to keep to themselves. The task of packing becomes much easier and would not overwhelm you if you approach it in a step-by-step manner with no rushing.

9. Help them cope with the emotional transition • Regardless of the fact that you or your loved ones have prepared yourselves for this move, there may still be some fears and apprehensions. So taking your time with emotions is okay and normal. Seeking help is perfectly fine during such times; it could be anyone from your trusted closed ones, whether friends, family, spiritual guides or even online resources. Seeking help when you need it is okay, and talking through your fears and anxieties is a step towards overcoming them. Ultimately, it is important to be patient with the process and handle things as smoothly and maturely as possible.

10. Summary • Ultimately, it is all about creating a space for your loved one where they feel at home; bringing them the same connection is an essential part here. Most importantly, choose the kind of assisted living services for your loved ones that give them the same comfort and care and give them a sense of belonging where they know that they are always being heard and taken care of.

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