How Families Can Help Ease The Transition Into A Memory Care Home

The time for moving your loved one into a memory care community is an emotionally challenging one. It is important to remember that the decisions you and your family make about what happens next are the best decisions you can make for your loved one who may be dealing with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. As the transition begins, your senior loved one may experience a range of emotions including heightened agitation and anxiety. With thoughtfully planned strategies and asking the right questions of what happens next with your loved one, you’ll feel at ease knowing that they are in the best of hands when it comes to compassionate care.

The transition process can be tough for both you and your senior loved one. Yet, it’s possible to make it as easy as possible even if the emotions still linger.

Acknowledge Your Emotions, But Listen First

Transitioning your loved one into a memory care setting comes with a wide variety of emotions, including guilt, fear, and grief. Underneath these, you’ll feel more relieved knowing that they are being cared for by a highly skilled care team that knows what to do in order to fulfill your loved one’s needs.

One thing to do during the transition phase is to acknowledge those emotions you are feeling. Then, listen to your loved one about things like what comforts them, what they miss from home, and what they might be nervous or anxious about. Validating those feelings can help you build trust between you two while also reducing mutual anxiety that you both may share. It’s okay to say things like “I miss how things were, too” as a way to show your loved one that when it comes to this monument change in their life, they are not alone.

Building Familiarity Before Moving Day

Prior to moving them into a memory care community, it may be a good idea to consider some of the following steps so that your loved one is able to ease into the transition without a lot of agitation, confusion, or frustration. These steps include:

• Arranging a tour at a memory care home with you walking alongside your loved one.

• Bring small, personal items from home such as family photos, beloved keepsakes, blankets they love, etc.

• Stick to the daily routines such as morning rituals, meal times, and favorite past times as much as possible even in the new living setting.

• Visit the “Main Street” area of the memory care community with your loved one. There, you both can interact with the small town setup that allows them to engage and socialize with other residents in fun spaces like movie theater, hair salon, and the Town square. Exploring Main Street can help build that familiarity for your loved one that they used to have when they were young. So whenever they visit, they know where they are.

Familiarity is a way to make sure your senior loved one feels safe and secure, especially in the beginning of their transition to memory care. You can help decorate their living space featuring numerous items from home. This can lessen the gap between the home they knew well to the new home they can soon be accustomed to.

Be Gradual In The Transitional Approach

As the transitional approach begins, make the pace as gradual as possible. There’s no need to move everything in a single day. For example, here are some things to do as part of the transitional phase if and when done at a gradual pace:

• You and your loved one can visit the memory care community for short periods. Talk to the staff and even participate in some activities that your loved one might enjoy.

• Arrange for certain meals or spend a few afternoons on the community grounds.

• Consider a night stay with your loved one to ensure that they can acclimate on their own.

With this gradual approach, you can reduce the massive overload of anxiety and stress that your senior loved one may have during their transition. Such chaos and overload can cause your loved one to become frustrated, agitated, and disoriented about what’s going on. The more gradual their transition is from home to memory care, the better.

Ready to Give Your Senior Loved One The Compassionate Memory Care They Deserve? Explore Ellery Arbor Memory Care Today 

Your senior loved one may be facing one of the most pivotal moments of their lives. The transition into memory care can be a daunting and intimidating thing. At Ellery Arbor Memory Care, we do our best to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible and get the best care. When they settle in, they can participate in sensory-rich activities that bring them joy, experience the wonderful Main Street, and be at peace knowing they are being taken care of. Contact us today for more information.