If you’re the primary caregiver for a parent or other loved one who recently moved into assisted living, you may feel at a loss. You don’t want to overstep boundaries or intrude on your loved one’s new life, but you also want to ensure they’re comfortable and happy in their new home. This can be a difficult balance to strike! Fortunately, there are ways that you can help your loved one feel at ease without infringing on privacy or independence. In this article, we’ll walk through some of those strategies so that moving day for both of you goes smoothly and painlessly—plus advise about when it might be okay (or not!) for family members to visit during their first few days in assisted living care.
Stay For A Few Meals
If you are staying for a few meals, ensure that the food is the same as your loved one’s. Do not just bring their favorite dish because they will not be able to eat it if all the other residents eat something else.
If your loved one is in a shared room, ask if they want to eat with you. This can help alleviate some of their anxiety about eating alone and allow them to get some extra company during this time.
If your loved one is in a private room, ask if they would like to eat together. If so, make sure that there is enough space for both of you at the table or else go somewhere else (such as outside). It may also be helpful for someone else from caregivers or family members come join too so that it doesn’t feel quite so much like an interrogation from strangers asking personal questions about where people grew up and how many kids they have had throughout their lives — which makes sense given how exhausting those kinds of conversations already can be even without Alzheimer’s disease being involved!
Explore The Facility Together
You should also explore the senior-friendly independent living community together. You should ask if you can see the rooms, talk to residents and staff, and see how they interact with each other. When you do this, it’s important to remember that everyone is different and may have a different experience at any given place.
Ask questions about what activities are available at the senior-friendly independent living community and how often they happen. Are there organized games or classes? Is there a swimming pool? Does the community offer transportation for errands in town? Find out about meals the retirement community provides—are there options for special diets? Does it have an on-site kitchen, or does food come from outside sources? Find out more about team members’ backgrounds (where did they work before?) and what makes them unique; ask about their training in helping residents live independently; inquire about their availability 24/7 (or whatever hours are offered).
Finally, find out more information on security measures taken at each facility: How do they maintain confidentiality among residents’ medical records without exposing them unnecessarily; how do they protect against break-ins or theft; how much access is given to strangers during daytime hours?
Help Them Settle Into The Room
Once they’ve settled in, the next step is to help your loved one get comfortable. This can be a stressful process, so it’s important that you’re there for them and ready to answer any questions.
In the beginning, it’s best if your loved one unpacks their things as much as they feel comfortable doing so while you are there. If they have trouble doing this on their own, consider asking a friend or family member to help with this task instead—it will make your loved one feel more independent and empowered!
