When helping a loved one move into a new senior living community it is important for the transition to be as seamless as possible for everyone involved. However, this is easier said than done. Not only is the difference in environment to be factored, but also the lifestyle changes which invariably come into play once anyone sets foot in unfamiliar surroundings. This can make the whole process a bit overwhelming. While your loved ones may face some teething problems, they will soon settle down.That said, with the support of family members and staff from the care home, the shifting process can be made a lot more smoother.In this guide, you will find tips to help a loved one move into residential care and settle down well to give you peace of mind.
Converse about the transition to a care home
Supporting someone to transition into a new environment can be emotional and incredibly challenging so speak to the person you care for and involve them in the decision making. Speaking to the one you care before making any decision will ensure they feel respected, heard and show that you are concerned about their welfare.At times the person you are caring for might want to stay at home. In such cases involve your loved one, the GP or the current healthcare team with an honest conversation to ensure everyone feels involved and their well-being is given top priority.
Choose the right place for whom you care
Sometimes the person you are caring for may require specialized treatment and physical comfort from a life-threatening illness and where your prognosis is measured in months and not in years. An important decision to make while shifting your loved one to a new place would be which facility will be most suitable. So do a thorough research to know the services offered and if your loved one will be comfortable in that setting. Both a nursing home and a hospice are equipped to provide holistic end-of-life care, but choosing between the two will depend on the needs of the person you are caring for.
In such cases hospice can be helpful for patients with life-limiting conditions as it offers palliative care for comfort and special support to allow your loved one to live with dignity for their remaining days of life.
Help them to settle in the new home
On the first day itself of the transition, just after moving in, make it a point to spend some extra time with your loved on as settling in a new environment will feel a bit strange. Take time out to do a little tour of the home, get introduced to the care home staff and other residents and also help your loved one to unpack to ease the shifting and settling process. Knowing whom to inform in case of an emergency in the care home also goes a long way in making the transition easy and seamless.
Encourage your loved one to actively participate in the in-house activities over the week. If they hesitate, you can also take part with them in the initial days to get rid of any nervousness and help them settle in seamlessly.
Get them to know their neighbours
Social connections play a critical role when leading a high quality of life by promoting emotional, physical and mental health as well as giving a sense of belonging. Your senior community, apart from offering a safe and comfortable place to stay will provide a vibrant environment where all are considered as one big family. So encourage your loved one to be social and get to know their neighbors and build relationships to feel a part of the new environment and feel at home among like-minded people.
From fitness classes, arts and crafts or a game night, there are plenty of activities for everybody in which your loved one can get involved in order to build a strong social network .
Involve them in the moving process
When the time to move comes, help the person you care for to pack and make sure to involve them in the entire transition process as far as possible. This will ensure they feel a sense of ownership and empowerment over the whole experience. Take personal items the loved one is familiar with to create a welcoming and comfortable environment at their new abode. Incorporate personal touches by hanging special photographs, favourite bed clothes and linen which are cherished to contribute to their welfare and emotional well-being during their stay to make the transition process easier.
Ensure they have the important telephone numbers of friends and close family members readily available to enable them to stay in touch and feel connected at all times.
Establish a routine
In order to promote a sense of familiarity for a loved one when transitioning into a new residential setting it is important to develop some kind of a routine. You can do this by establishing a schedule for calls, visits and recreational activities which will help your loved one to always feel connected to their support networks. Additionally, getting familiar with the surroundings provides a sense of security and continuity which will make the transition process more manageable, both for you and the person you are caring for.
In the end
Lastly, shifting someone you dearly love from home to a residential care, especially at the end of life, can be hugely emotional for you as well as the loved one you have been caring for all your life. As this caring role evolves further, you will need to make many changes in your daily routine, but what is more important is to acknowledge these feelings and allow them to be expressed.
Remember, there are many other care givers like you who go through similar feelings of grief and guilt during the transition period, especially if the decision made was against the wishes of the loved one. What is important to know that a decision like this can never feel right or easy to make despite the fact that it is for your loved one’s benefit.
