Helping Your Elderly Loved One Adjust to a Nursing Home

Assisted living and nursing home facilities are designed to cater to an elder’s needs, however, when someone who has been living independently for years has lost his or her independence, the transition of moving and adjusting to a new residence can be long and arduous. Fortunately, there are ways to help your elderly loved one adjust to his or her new life while remaining safe and happy:

Choose the Right Facility

The most important thing you need to do before moving your elderly loved one into an assisted living facility or nursing home is to choose the right one. Selecting a facility should not be done quickly nor without a good deal of research. There are many factors to consider when choosing a nursing home, including but not limited to: in close proximity to you and other family members, if the home offers specialized care, the overall atmosphere, and if your elderly loved one approves. It’s also a good idea to visit the facility more than once and make sure all of your questions are answered. Even though you won’t be residing in the facility, you should feel good when you visit (ie. feel no “red flags”).

The Move

Before the moving date, spend time helping your loved one sort through his or her personal items. This process may end up stirring up a lot of unexpected emotions, so do your best to be patient. For many elders, an assisted living facility or a nursing home is the next step after living in his or her own home for decades. Imagine if you had to downsize all of your possessions to fit into a space the size of your living room.

Encourage your loved one to store valuables and other heirlooms with family members or in a storage facility and try to help him or her select items that will be of use such as a radio, television, recliner, books, and photographs of family and friends. Allowing your loved one to have some control will help him or her cope with some of the losses that he or she may experience in the move.

Be Present

Once your elder has moved into his or her new facility, make sure you show your support and visit often. Even though he or she may need some time to get settled, seeing a familiar face like yours can help him or her get through the difficult transition. In addition, visiting often can keep you alert to any mental or physical changes your elder may be facing. With frequent visits, you are more likely to notice any signs of nursing home abuse or other changes in health or behavior.