15 Ways to Help Ease the Transition to Senior Living

Moving is a stressful situation for anyone. Transitioning your aging parent into senior living is no exception. The act of moving can be stressful for any senior. It has been suggested that it can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days for older adults to fully adapt from a move-in. Now that you or your loved one has moved into a senior living community, here are some tips on how to help them have a smooth transition to  senior living.

Allow time for emotional adaptation

An average of three to six months is typically needed for an individual to adjust to a new apartment and a new environment. This range can vary greatly depending on the person and how they handle change, as some people adapt more quickly than others. Despite being prepared, there will still be fears and apprehensions when moving to a new community. This is typical since no one can completely ready themselves for this transition in their lives. Make sure to connect with your social circles such as family members or friends during the process so they can provide support for your loved ones' well-being during this transition.

Acknowledge and answer your loved ones’ concerns

Being an advocate for your loved one is a great opportunity to get all of their questions answered. Moving into new surroundings with new people is nerve-wracking and your loved one may hesitate to speak up with all the change happening. Speak up for your loved one and make sure they get all of their questions answered for the best senior care possible. Eliminate any fears by speaking directly with the staff about any concerns they may have.

Set up your loved ones' new living space

One of the first logical things to do is to set up the new space that you or your loved one will be living in. A great way to make your loved one feel at home is to arrange their furniture and decorations in a similar fashion to their previous family home. Keep all of their sentimental belongings displayed visibly, as these possessions will make your loved one feel at home and make things feel more familiar.

Surround the living spaces with personal belongings

Most seniors have to downsize their belongings when they move into retirement communities. While their new home may not feel familiar to them their belongings will help with that. Make sure to display any prominently important possessions such as furniture, photographs, and heirlooms. Having familiar things around them will help their new living space feel like home.

Get to know the neighbors

The great thing about senior living is all the neighbors and new friends that can be made. They might be on the same floor or even in the same hallway. Since your neighbors have already had the same experiences after they have moved in they will be a good resource. The new neighbors can be a great support network while your loved one is trying to navigate their new surroundings. Staying socially active can help your loved ones feel like they really belong.

Spend time with your loved one

Now that the move is over and your loved one is on their own it’s time to help them get adjusted. Visiting your loved one regularly is very important. It may be daily for a while and then when they are more comfortable in their new home it can lessen to weekly. This all depends on how quickly your loved one adjusts to their new surroundings.  Regardless of frequency, it is important to visit as much as possible. Having you there will help your loved one adjust better without feeling abandoned. Try to come up with a consistent visitation schedule if possible.

Make sure to ask lots of questions during your visits or communications. Use Alexa, Facetime, or Skype if you can’t be there in person. Find out if your loved one is in need of anything or if they need help specifically with daily living. 

Learn to advocate for your loved one from afar. When you don’t live nearby but still need to stay in the loop of your loved one’s care you can do the following:

• Visit the community and talk to the staff as often as possible. Make personal contacts with the staff in case you have any follow-up questions.
• Schedule regular follow-up calls to the care team for updates.
• Stay in touch with your loved one regularly.
• Ask a friend or another relative to make frequent visits.
• Consider hiring a professional like a geriatric caseworker or eldercare manager to visit and report back to you.

Share a meal

Mealtime is a great time for socialization. Not only will this allow you to spend time with your loved one but also to help your loved one become acquainted with their neighbors. Encourage your loved one to make friends and schedule mealtimes with their new acquaintances. They might be hesitant to visit the dining hall at first: go with them if you can for a few meals to help them feel more comfortable in this more communal environment.

Medication management

Before your loved one moves to senior living, having their medications and care plan in order is most important. Some senior living facilities may provide help with medication but not all do. The responsibility of taking daily medications is left to you and your loved one. It is also important not to forget about keeping over-the-counter medications up to date as well. Make sure all medications are set up through a pharmacist and that your loved one has an easy plan on how to receive refills.  

Set new routines and keep the old

Just because your loved ones' living space has changed doesn’t mean your routine should. Did you enjoy reading together? Going for walks? Putting puzzles together? Keeping up those routines can help your loved one with their living transition. Also, help your loved ones to make new routines in their new accommodations.  Make sure to keep up any routines that will make the adjustment to their new home that much easier.

Get to know the community, caregivers, and staff members

During the first several weeks your loved one will have the opportunity to interact with new neighbors, caregivers, and the staff at the facility. Familiarize yourself with the community. Find out about all the activities, how to obtain transportation, meal hours, menus, and the layout of the community. The staff will be interacting with your loved one often so don’t hesitate to bring up any issues you may foresee or any questions you might have about your loved ones’ care. Every visit is a good time to ask plenty of questions to the staff to find out how your loved one is adjusting. The more you find out about their experience the more you will be able to help behind the scenes.

Get involved

Almost all senior living facilities offer social programming, groups, and clubs. Make sure your loved one gets a copy of the social calendar and they know where to meet up for the outings. The events that are held are a great way for your loved one to discover what is available and get to know other residents. Once they have been to a couple of functions not only will they make friends but they will have their own favorite activities to look forward to each week.

Stay healthy

Social and emotional wellness is important but so is physical. Encourage your loved one to engage in recreational activities to stay active. This will not only keep them mentally sharp but contribute to their physical fitness overall.

Stay involved in the outside community

If there were things that your loved one enjoyed before they moved into their new community make sure they still can. Many communities offer transportation services to the grocery store, religious services, or even to the doctor. Allow your loved ones to come and go as they please just like they used to.  If transportation is not available in the community, find a service for them to get where they need to go.

Limit new things

With so much change going on it is often best to limit new things as best as possible. Moving is a huge adjustment as well as making new friends, eating new foods, and starting new routines. Adding anything else new into their life can just add to their overwhelm. Try to limit the number of new things that they must learn to avoid overwhelming them.

Build a team

The staff, caregivers, support staff, and even the chef should be part of your team. Talk to them about any concerns you or your loved one may have and let them help your loved one with the transition to their new community. Introduce yourself and your loved one when you visit. The more the staff gets to know you the more inclined they will be to speak to you about any problems that may arise or when there is good news.

Speak up about your loved ones’ intimate needs, for example: not liking to shower in the morning, sleeping in every day, or dietary restrictions. Express these intimate needs so that your loved one can have their schedule adjusted according to their needs and routines.

The journey to senior living takes time, research, and plenty of patience. There may be a few bumps in the road but hopefully, the end outcome for your loved one is health, friendship, and happiness.