Today, many older Americans are moving into senior living communities. A significant percentage of these seniors need the support provided by an assisted living program. For various reasons, the transition into this kind of program can be challenging. Fortunately, you can do things to reduce the difficulty of making it through the transition period. In turn, you can make it easier for your loved one to get started in assisted living for seniors.
Familiarizing Yourself With Their Specific Assisted Living Program for Seniors
All assisted living programs for seniors are designed to meet the needs of older adults. These needs often revolve around support for activities of daily living, such as:
- Getting in and out of a chair or bed
- Showering or bathing
- Dressing
- Walking
- Eating
- Using the toilet
However, not all programs are the same. There are multiple levels of assisted living services. Ensure you thoroughly understand the types of services your loved one requires. Then match their needs to the assisted living levels provided by your chosen community. Consultation with that community should help ensure that everyone is on the same page about what’s required.
Figuring Out the Logistics of the Transition to Assisted Living
When planning a move into an assisted living community, you must keep a wide range of details in mind. You must also prioritize those details in a way that makes sense. The logistics of this process can seem overwhelming. But with advance planning, you can help everything go as smoothly as possible.
What kinds of things should you include on your logistics checklist? To an extent, the answer to this question depends on the details of your situation. However, topics of concern for most people moving into assisted living include:
- Hiring a moving company
- Confirming financial arrangements with your chosen community
- Canceling or disconnecting utilities or other services
- Informing important contacts and service providers of your change in address
- Transferring medication prescriptions
- Preparing for the switch to a new nursing support team
Make a separate checklist for each of these tasks. Then start with the most important items and work your way down your list.
Downsizing in the Context of Their New Space
Chances are that your loved one will need to downsize before moving to an assisted living community. The downsizing process can be both intimidating and frightening. They must choose which belongings to take with them and which to leave behind. How can you make this process less stressful and more positive?
One way to make downsizing easier is to focus on its role in helping to set up your loved one’s new home. Examine their new space’s layout and plan where certain types of items might go. Then, with this plan in mind, your loved one can make selections that fit the space available to them. They may still find it hard to let go of some belongings. However, they now have a workable context for their downsizing efforts.
It’s also essential to understand the types of items that your loved one will be able to keep in their assisted living apartment. This varies from program to program. Ask the assisted living community if they have any restrictions on what residents can bring with them. Knowing this information upfront can help make the process of choosing items much easier.
Learn More About Making the Transition to Assisted Living at Parkway Place
These are just some of the things you can do to ease your loved one’s transition to assisted living. For advice on other steps you can take, talk to the senior living experts at Parkway Place. We’re happy to help lighten the load of moving to a new senior community.
Parkway Place takes a full-spectrum approach to senior assisted living. No matter your loved one’s needs, we offer services that support their desire to live life to its fullest. For more details, just call us today at 281.305.1846 or reach out through our online contact form.