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Moving a parent into assisted living is never easy.
Even when it's clearly the right decision, it doesn't feel like it right away. You'll feel guilty, anxious and worry constantly that your parent will feel out of place and forgotten.
But what if…
…it didn't have to feel that way? It's possible for your parent's transition into assisted living to feel like a fresh start instead of an ending. But it takes preparation and the right facilities.
Let's take a closer look.
What You'll Learn
Why Transition Weeks Are the Most Important
Why Personalized Senior Assistance is Key
How To Prepare Your Parent To Move In
How To Make Their New Room Feel Like Home ASAP
Questions To Ask When Touring Assisted Living Communities
Transition Weeks Are The Most Important
The first couple weeks in assisted living set the tone for the next several months.
Seniors move into a brand new routine with unfamiliar faces in a completely different environment. That's overwhelming (for you and your parent) no matter how you slice it.
Here's the secret your friends may not tell you.
…
Communities that provide exceptional care and attention during transition weeks help new residents feel at home much faster. Think of it this way — if a facility takes extra care to onboard new residents with personalized senior assistance, like assisted living in Tigard, they're setting themselves apart from the competition. That means better care for your parent.
If that's hard to believe, consider this: 7 out of 10 people will require assisted living care at some point. That means tens of millions of families have gone through this very transition.
Personalized Senior Assistance = Everything
Personalized senior assistance is what separates assisted living communities that feel like home from ones that don't.
The sad truth is that most facilities operate using generic programs. One-size-fits all activity schedules, group meals, and board games don't do much to make your parent feel special. But when a facility makes an effort to learn your parent — their habits, routines, medical requirements, hobbies — you can see the difference.
So what does personalized senior assistance look like?
Care plans designed around the individual — not the illness/diagnosis
Attendants that know residents by name, inside and out
Daily routines that resemble home life as much as possible
Activities centered around true interests vs filling time
Personalized care should be every senior living community's modus operandi.
Practical Tips To Help Your Parent Feel at Home
There are plenty of things you can do to make your parent feel right at home before they move in and after they settle.
Bring Their Favorite Things
This should be your number one priority. Parents often feel safest when surrounded by their favorite items from home. Bring their favorite chair, wall hangings, keepsakes, blankets, etc.
Don't wait for their room to be fully set-up. Bring these essential items on day one so they can instantly feel at home.
Create a Routine ASAP
Like any of us, seniors want structure to their day. Get your parent on a regular schedule as soon as possible. Work with the caretakers to match their routine at home wherever possible. When should they wake up? Eat meals? Participate in activities?
Introduce Activities One by One
Throwing your parent into a whirlwind of activities, groups, and events can do more harm than good. Help them feel comfortable by introducing activities and events one at a time. Start with one group activity. Then introduce another activity. Slowly let them become comfortable with new experiences.
Visit Often, But Don't Hover
Visiting family is crucial but there is such a thing as overdoing it. Just because your parent is living in assisted living, doesn't mean they don't want space to meet new friends. Set a regular visiting schedule so your parent can look forward to your visits. But stay flexible. If you're frequently canceling visits or making unplanned anxious visits, you might be slowing down the transition process.
Helpful Questions To Ask When Touring Facilities
At the end of the day, transitioning to assisted living smoothly starts with choosing the right community.
As of today, over 800,000 Americans live in assisted living facilities. And although most are great, that many communities will inevitably produce some bad apples.
Ask questions. Demand answers.
Some of the most important questions you should be asking include:
What's the staff-to-resident ratio? (The lower the better)
What's the staff turnover rate? (Higher rates may point to a toxic work culture)
How do staff members interact with residents when you tour?
What activities does the community offer? Do they cater to the individual?
How are individualized care plans developed? Who creates them? Are family members consulted?
How does the facility feel? Homey and cozy or sterile?
This isn't an exhaustive list. But asking these questions can help you weed out a lot of terrible facilities.
Tip: Do your research online ahead of touring communities. Look at their website. Better yet, call them and ask questions over the phone. If they aren't comfortable answering simple questions via phone, you can bet they won't be open and transparent when you visit.
Keeping Connected After Moving In
Seniors who have strong family connections throughout their stay in assisted living experience better outcomes.
Less depression. Faster transitions. Higher satisfaction with life in general. That's why it's so important to keep your parent connected to you. Visit often. Call. Text. FaceTime.
Pro-tip: Keeping your parent connected with their caretakers is just as important. Check in with caretakers. Ask them how they think your parent is adjusting. Request frequent updates on their care plan. A senior's needs will change over time. By staying engaged with both your parent and their caretakers, you can ensure their care is always meeting their needs.
Wrapping Things Up
Moving a parent into assisted living is stressful. Nobody wants their parent to feel lonely or like they aren't wanted.
But with the right preparations and senior living community, it doesn't have to feel that way. Help your parent feel at home by:
Finding a community that specializes in personalized senior assistance
Bringing their favorite items day one
Establishing a regular routine early on
Getting your parent involved with caretakers AND peers
Having patience. Good things take time.
Good assisted living communities aren't the end of the world. In fact, they can be a great new beginning your parent deserves.
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