With the moving date for your loved one to start their new phase of life living in a senior living community fastly approaching, the time has come to start preparing them, both physically and emotionally, for the move.
So, with this in mind, continue reading to discover a concise guide to helping your loved one move to senior living.
Speak to Them
The first step to getting them ready for a big move is letting them know why they’re making this move. Let them know that they will be much more comfortable, be able to make acquaintances and be safer with medical assistance close at hand. Do not try to make this move without communicating with them as this will make the move much more complicated and difficult for them, and remember to let them know that even though they are moving to a senior living facility, you will be close and available to visit them as much as possible.
Consider Hiring Senior Relocation Experts
Suppose your family member or close friend is moving to an assisted or independent living facility far away from their current home or in another state. In that case, it may well be worth considering hiring senior relocation experts.
Not only will this result in the assurance that all your loved one’s prized possessions and other belongings will be safely and securely packaged and arrive at their new home in the same condition, but this may also reduce the emotional attachment to the process and make the overall move easier for everyone.
Make Sure the Journey is Relaxed and Stress-Free
Naturally and entirely understandably, your loved one will feel a mixture of emotions on the actual day of the move. This is why it is essential to make the journey on the day of the move itself as relaxed and stress-free as possible. There are several ways to do so.
Firstly, ensure that your loved one is comfortable and that you plan for extra breaks and rest stops, especially if the journey is more than a couple of hours.
Secondly, remember to pack any medication in an easily accessible bag in the front of the car.
If you are still debating whether or not your loved one would prefer to live in an assisted living facility, you may want to consider effective short-term rehabilitation for seniors instead.
Focus on the Positives
Whether the decision to move to a senior living community was entirely your loved one’s or is the result of numerous lengthy discussions, it is essential to remain positive, both internally and verbally, about the move.
Moving to a thriving assisted living community will be of huge benefit to your close friend or family member, who will be able to relax in the knowledge that monotonous tasks associated with running a home will be taken care of for them, such as paying the bills and cleaning the house.
Even this final piece of important advice sounds somewhat obvious upon reading; the truth is that in the hectic packing and moving madness, important things such as medication can be forgotten.
Working with a local geriatric care manager, for example, will ensure that all of your loved one’s medical notes are transferred to their new home in a senior living facility and that the medical staff there are armed with all the information regarding their past and present medical history.
In addition, also be sure to ensure your loved one still retains comprehensive health and medical insurance, which will cover any and all treatment and care received in their new home.
